The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report

Nanaimo Bird Report, May 19, 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.
*********************************************************

BIRD REPORT, May 19, 2019
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny with a calm winds.  A Pied-billed Grebe was seen diving on the marsh.  We heard and saw several Black-headed Grosbeaks and saw a male Black-headed Grosbeak  sitting on a nest.  Common Yellowthroats were heard for most of the morning.  Two Red-tailed Hawks and a Cooper’s Hawk were spotted overhead. We watched a Downy Woodpecker moving up a tree trunk, feeding along the way.  Several Band-tailed Pigeons flew overhead past the marsh.  Violet-green Swallows, Purple Martins and Tree Swallows were seen hawking insects for a good part of the morning.

Black-headed Grosbeak: Linda Stevens photo:

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Wood Duck
Mallard
Pie-billed Grebe
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Band-tailed Pigeon

Rock Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Common Raven
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
 Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Warbling Vireo
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
 American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Violet-green Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
 Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Black-headed Grosbeak
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrows

Wednesday, May 15:
A Whimbrel was seen feeding on the Kite Fields at the Parksville Community Park.  

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, May 14, 2019: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach.  The morning started with rain showers but soon the showers stopped and the winds were calm.  A Black Swift flew high overhead at the start of the walk. Swainson's Thrush were heard all morning.  We heard and saw a large number of Warbling Vireos during the morning.   A Red-breasted Sapsucker was tapping its musical song on a tree trunk.  A Belted Kingfisher was seen fishing from a perch near the river.  Two Spotted Sandpipers were flying just over the river.  Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows and a Northern Rough-winged Swallow were seen flying and hawking insects over the river.  Two Western Tanagers were seen in a tree near the trail.  A female Black-headed Grosbeak was on the ground.

Spotted Sandpiper: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Spotted Sandpiper

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Black Swift

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Warbling Vireo

Hutton’s Vireo

Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren
Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill

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 Tuesday Bird Walk on May 21, 2019 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the west end of Despaird Avenue in Parkville at about 9:10 a.m. 

The Sunday Bird Walk on May 26, 2019 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road 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