WEEKLY BIRD REPORT October 10, 2018

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo bird Report, October 10, 2018. BIRD REPORT“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING: To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca. Please remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date the species was seen and location of your sighting. *********************************************************** October 3, 2018 3 Greater White-fronted Geese were seen in the center field of the Vancouver Island University track.  Oct 8, 2018 A Barred Owl was seen and heard in the hospital area near Forest  drive and Honeysuckle terrace. On the waterfront there have been regular reports of Pacific Loons along with the Common Loons and also a report of Red-throated Loon off of Pipers lagoon. Sunday Bird Walk, October 07, 2018 The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. It rained all morning but, for the positive, the winds were calm. A very large flock of Canada Geese were resting on the Marsh all morning. Many Wood Ducks, several American Coots, two Greater Scaup and six Pied-billed Grebes were just off shore. A Merlin was perched on the top of a very tall tree near the trail. An Anna’s Hummingbird was spotted resting close to the trail. Merlin: Photo by Ralph Hocken  Two rather wet birders saw and heard the following eighteen species: Canada Geese Mallard Wood Duck American Coot Greater Scaup Pied-billed Grebe Merlin Eurasian Collared Dove Anna’s Hummingbird Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Marsh Wren Bewick’s Wren Golden-crowned Sparrow American Goldfinch American Robin Song Sparrow Spotted Towhee House Finch :   Wood Duck: photo by Raiph Hocken  Tuesday bird walk, October 09, 2018 The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny with strong winds on the Strait of Georgia. We heard and saw a huge amount of American Robins, during the morning. Four Red Crossbills were seen perched high at the top of a tall Conifer Tree and a flock were seen flying over the tall trees. Two Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Cooper’s Hawk and a Merlin flew over head. Two Northern Shovelers were spotted just off the mud flats. A Clark’s Grebe was spotted off shore and three Western Grebes were seen a little further off shore. A Band-tailed Pigeon being chased by a Cooper’s Hawk was spotted. Pacific Loons and Common Loons were heading up the Strait. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was preening itself just off the trail. Red Crossbill: photo by Ralph Hocken Twenty-one birders including three visiting birders from Victoria and two visitors from Ships Point saw and heard the following fifty-three species: Canada Geese American Widgeon Mallard Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Harlequin Duck Northern Shoveler Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser Clark’s Grebe Western Grebe Red-necked Grebe Horned Grebe Pacific Loon Common Loon Common Murre Killdeer Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Merlin Iceland(Thayer’s) Gull Mew Gull California Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Northern Flicker Common Raven Northwestern Crow Eurasian-collared Dove Band-tailed Pigeon American Robin Cedar Waxwing Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Anna’s Hummingbirds Bewick’s Wren Pacific Wren European Starling Lincoln’s Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red Crossbill Song Sparrow Spotted Towhee Dark-eyed Junco Brewer’s Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch Backyard Happenings More of the sparrow family are arriving at many backyard feeders including a Harris Sparrow in the Hammond Bay area. Golden-crowned Sparrows are arriving and very vocal around the store and at my backyard feeders. Juvenile White-crowned Sparrows are still about as well. For some lucky backyard birders the American Goldfinch are still about and busy feeding on Nyjer seed and sunflower seed. Problems with wet bird seed with these storms passing through, try using less seed in your bird feeder, enough for a day or a half day instead of filling it full. Even with all the rain we have had the birds are busy in the bird baths so remember to keep them clean and topped up with fresh water. Good birding Colin Please NoteCheck this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! The Sunday Bird Walk on October 14, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15am. The Tuesday Bird Walk on October 16, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the end of Shelly Road on the oceanside of Highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:10 am. Good birding Neil Robins THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE 6314 Metral Drive Nanaimo B.C.V9T-2L8 Phone: 250-390-3669 Fax: 250-390-1633 Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca  Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com