Nanaimo bird report, November 04, 2018

Nanaimo bird Report, November 04, 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 and location of your sighting.
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The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. A Northern Harrier was spotted flying low over the fields at the start of the walk.  A flock of Snow Geese and Cackling Geese flew overhead. A Red-tailed Hawk circled high over head. We saw three Northern Shrike perched on short bushes during the morning. The bird of the morning was the sighting of a Swamp Sparrow that was seen close to the viewing tower. An American Tree Sparrow was spotted in the same area. Several White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos were seen in the field next to the river.

     

Swamp Sparrow: Photo by John Morrison:

Twelve birders including visiting birders from Comox saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:

Snow Geese

Cackling Geese

Mallard

American Wigeon

Green-wing Teal

Common Goldeneye

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Shrike

Mew Gull

California Gull

Iceland (Thayer’s) Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

European Starling

Belted Kingfisher

Western Meadowlark

Anna’s Hummingbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin
Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow 

Swamp Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow 

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Wednesday, October 31:

A Ross’s Goose and a Snow Goose were seen near the Nanaimo Yacht Club in Nanaimo. 

A Swamp Sparrow was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 30, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. 

The morning was cloudy with very calm winds on the Strait of Georgia.  One Trumpeter Swan was spotted not far from us on the bay. A Brandt’s Cormorant was spotted on the Strait.   Flocks of Canada Geese, American Widgeon and Northern Pintail flew overhead heading down the Strait. Several flocks of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were seen on the Strait all morning. Five Pigeon Guillemots and four Marbled Murrelets were seen resting on the water not far from us. The seabirds are back for the winter!  A lone Willow Flycatcher, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Golden-crowned Kinglet  were seen in a tree near the trail.

Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following fifty- four Species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-wing Teal

Bufflehead

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Ring-necked Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Iceland Gull(Thayer's Gull)

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rock Pigeon

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Northern Flicker

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Willow Flycatcher

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

House Finch

Black Scoter:  Ralph Hocken Photo: 

A Harris’s Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow three Palm Warblers and Thirteen Snow Geese and over one hundred Cackling Geese, were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Sunday, October 28:

 Six Steller’s Jays were seen in Ladysmith.

Monday, October 29:

A Steller’s Jay was seen near the Jingle Pot Pub in Nanaimo.

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 06, 2018 will be going to The Little Qualicum River Estuary.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking lot at the Brant Viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.

“There will be no Sunday bird walk on November 11, 2018”

The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 18, 2018 will be going to Buttertubs Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 am or at Buttertubs Marsh at the Bowen Road side of Buttertubs at about 9:15 am. 

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C. 

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com