The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  

The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds.  We were greeted with the sighting of Rufous Hummingbirds at the start of the walk and they entertained us for most of the morning.  We heard a Red-breasted Sapsucker’s musical tapping on tree trunk from the forest.   A small flock of Baird’s Sandpipers were seen along the incoming tide.  A very large flock of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers were running along the estuary giving us great views.  Red-neck Grebe, Surf Scoters, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loons and Common Loons were seen on the Strait of Georgia.                 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 30, 2019: 
Rufous Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-five birders including visiting birders from Australia, Ontario and Alberta saw the following fifty-eight species:

Canada Geese

Green-wing Teal

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Red-neck Grebe

Bufflehead

American Wigeon

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific loon

Common Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Short-billed Dowitcher

Baird’s Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

California Gull

Mew Gull

Bonaparte Gull

Iceland(Thayer’s)Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Caspian Tern

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Orange-crowned Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

American Goldfinch

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

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 Sunday Bird Walk on May 05, 2019 will be going to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or the parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary ( Take Wakasiah Road to Nanaimo Lakes Road and look for the sign to Morrell Sanctuary just past the underpass for Highway 19) at about 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on May 07, 2019 will be going to Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the trail head on Industrial Way and Tuan Road in Parksville about 9:10 am. 

Good birding
Neil Robins

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Three Baird's Sandpipers and a Townsend's Solitaire were seen at the ponds at Rivers Edge near Parksville.

A Osprey was spotted above the mud flats at the Plummer Roadside of the Englishman River in Parksville.

Seen by John Purves and Neil Robins today, April 29, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report                                                                                             

Nanaimo Bird Report, April 28, 2019

“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.
***********************************************************

Sunday bird walk, Legacy Marsh, April 28, 2019:The morning was sunny with a fresh breeze blowing. Eight species of warblers including Orange-crowned Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Wilson’s Warblers, Townsend’s Warblers, Yellow Warblers and a MacGillivray’s Warbler was seen during the walk. This includes all the species of warblers usually found on Vancouver Island. We heard and then saw Purple Martins high overhead.  Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawks were seen above the trees. A Red-breasted Sapsucker was spotted resting just off the trail. Cassin’s Vireos, Hutton’s Vireos and a Warbling Vireo were seen on the walk. A  Black-headed Grosbeak was spotted at the top of a snag off the trail.

 

Black-headed Grosbeak: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fifteen birders including visiting birders from Ontario saw and heard the following fifty-six species:

Canada Geese

Ring-necked Duck

Wood Duck

Hooded Merganser

Bufflehead

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northwester Crow

Common Raven

Eurasian-collared Dove

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Purple Martin

Barn Swallow

Violet Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Cassin’s Vireo

Hutton’s Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Orange-crowned Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Hammonds Flycatcher

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Bushtit

Black-headed Grosbeak

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Saturday, April 27:

”RARE BIRD ALERT”

A Calliope Hummingbird  was seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

A Blue-winged Teal was spotted at Quesnel Lake In Cedar.

Friday, April 26: 

A Cassin’s Vireo was seen in Linley Valley in Nanaimo.

 Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 23, 2019: 
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds.  A Townsend’s Warbler was spotted at the start of the walk.   A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen just off the trail.  A Hammond’s Flycatcher was heard  several times during the walk. A Pacific-slope Flycatcher, several Orange-crowned Warblers, a large number of Yellow-rumped Warblers, two Townsend’s Warblers and a Black-throated Gray Warbler were seen high up in the tall trees near the trail.  Summer is on it’s way!

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-seven birders including visiting birders from Saskatoon and Red Deer saw and heard the following fifty species:

Mallard
Bufflehead
Wood Duck
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Barred Owl
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bonaparte Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tail Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin

Monday, April 22:  

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen at the R.V. Park at Westwood Lake in Nanaimo. 

Saturday, April 20:

A Glaucous Gull was spotted off a BC Ferries east of Snake Island in the Strait of Georgia.

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 April 30, 2019 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at  about 9:10 am. 

The Sunday Bird Walk on May 05, 2019 will be going to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or the parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary ( off Wakasiah Road to Nanaimo lakes Road look for sign under Highway 19  to Morrell Sanctuary) at about 9:15 am.

Good birding
Neil Robins

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 23, 2019:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds.  A Townsend’s Warbler was spotted at the start of the walk.   A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen just off the trail.  A Hammond’s Flycatcher was heard  several times during the walk. A Pacific-slope Flycatcher, several Orange-crowned Warblers, a large number of Yellow-rumped Warblers, two Townsend’s Warblers and a Black-throated Gray Warbler were seen high up in the tall trees near the trail.  Summer is on it’s way!

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-seven birders including visiting birders from Saskatoon and Red Deer saw and heard the following fifty species:

Mallard
Bufflehead
Wood Duck
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Barred Owl
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bonaparte Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tail Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 27, 2019 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or under the Hydro lines on Normarel Drive, (off Highway 19 in upper Lantzville at Superior Road follow Superior Road to Normarel Drive) at about 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on April 30, 2019 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at  about 9:10 am. 

Good birding
Neil Robins

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report
Nanaimo Bird Report, April 21, 2019
BIRD REPORT“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:

To report your sightings please 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.
***********************************************************

April 19, 2019,

Over forty White-fronted Geese were seen flying southwest over the Nanaimo Hospital towards Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 16, 2019:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  A Wilson’s Warbler was seen at the start of the walk. We heard and then saw several Orange-crowned Warblers during the walk.  A pair of American Kestrel were perched high up in a tall tree giving us great views at the edge of the forest.  A Barred Owl was seen next to the trunk of a tree and then flew giving us an excellent sighting.  We had several sightings of male Anna's Hummingbirds during the walk.  One Red-wing Blackbird was perched high in a tree at the edge of the forest. 
Wilson’s Warbler: John Morrison Photo:

Twenty-four birders including visiting birders from Ontario and Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-six species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Barred Owl
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Red-wing Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch 
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin



Two Sooty Grouse were heard calling along Westwood Ridge in Nanaimo.

There was no Sunday Bird Walk on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019:

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 April 23, 2019 will be going to the Moorecroft Regional Park.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at Moorecroft Regional Park (follow Northwest Bay Road to Stewart Road and then follow the signs to the Park at 1563 Stewart Road) in Nanoose Bay at  about 9:25 am. 

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 27 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or under the Hydro lines on Normarel Drive, (off Highway 19 in upper Lantzville at Superior Road follow Superior Road to Normatel Drive). 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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 16, 2019:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  A Wilson’s Warbler was seen at the start of the walk. We heard and then saw several Orange-crowned Warblers during the walk.  A pair of American Kestrel were perched high up in a tall tree giving us great views at the edge of the forest.  A Barred Owl was seen next to the trunk of a tree and then flew giving us an excellent sighting.  We had several sightings of male Anna's Hummingbirds during the walk.  One Red-wing Blackbird was perched high in a tree at the edge of the forest.

        Wilson’s Warbler: John Morrison Photo:

Twenty-four birders including visiting birders from Ontario and Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-six species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Barred Owl
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Red-wing Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch 
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin

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


There will be no Sunday Bird Walk on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019:

The Tuesday Bird Walk on April 23, 2019 will be going to the Moorecroft Regional Park.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at Moorecroft Regional Park (follow Northwest Bay Road to Stewart Road and then follow the signs to the Park at 1563 Stewart Road) in Nanoose Bay at  about 9:25 am. 

Good Birding

Neil Robins

6314 Metral Drive, NanaimoV9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669 Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com