July 30, 2019 Tuesday Bird Walk report

Tuesday Bird Walk

Parksville/Qualicum Beach

On July 30^th the Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Hatchery. The morning was overcast with the odd sprinkle and the winds were light. A few highlights from the walk were a singing Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Black-throated Gray Warbler all seen in one spot. We also saw 7 Turkey Vultures soaring across the sky while watching Black Swifts feeding. Our parking lot bird was seeing 2 American Dippers in the river.

American Dipper, photo by Ralph hocken

Twelve birders including birders from California and Taiwan saw and heard the following thirty seven (37) species:

Great Blue Heron

Copper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Northern Flicker

American Dipper

Belted Kingfisher

Black Swift

Pileated Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Warbling Vireo

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Wilsons Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellow-throat

Browned-headed Cowbird

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Red Crossbill

American Goldfinch

The Sunday Bird Walk: there will be NO Bird Walk on August 4^th.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on August6, 2019 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am or at the parking area on Admiral Tyron blvd, at 9:20 a.m. 



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

Good birding
Colin Bartlett

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

Nanaimo Weekly Bird Report July 28, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

July 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 July 28:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The weather was sunny with a stiff wind out of the north. It was a little quiet on the walk and not much singing happening now. On the water most of the birds were Double-crested Cormorants with a few Pelagic Cormorants, a single Pigeon Guillemot and four species of gull. As we ended the walk our last bird or parking lot bird was a Warbling Vireo.

10 birders including visitors from Palm Springs California heard and saw the following 25 species:



Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Mew Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Anna’s Hummingbird

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Northern Flicker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Pigeon Guillemot, photo by Ralph Hocken

Thursday July25:

Long-billed Dowitchers were still being seen at the Marshall Stevens estuary in Qualicum Beach. They were located at the north end in a mud channel near the beach parking area.



Tuesday July 23:

3 – Common Nighthawks were seen in the French Creek area.



Tuesday July 23:

On July 23^rd the Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer road side of the Englishman River Estuary. The morning was sunny and winds light. A few highlights of the walk was watching an adult Cedar Waxwing feeding 4 young, a mixed flock of Least and Western Sandpipers working the river edge feeding and a family of mink.

Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty seven (37) species:

Common Loon

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Semipalmated Plover

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Killdeer

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Warbling Vireo

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Semipalmated Plover, photo by Ralph Hocken.

Sunday July 21:

Approximately a dozen of each, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstone were seen at the north end of Admiral Tyron blvd in French Creek.



A couple reports from earlier this month that we have received:

June 30, Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Pipers Lagoon.

June1, a Lazuli Bunting was seen in a backyard in Comox BC, in the area of Anderton road and Ryan road.



Backyard Feeder Notes:

Where have the Pine Siskin’s and American Goldfinch gone? Activity at the backyard feeders is a little quieter and it is especially noticeable without the siskins and goldfinch. Some of this quietness is still to do with nesting as the birds finish off their second broods. Others have finished nesting and have moved on to the availability of natural seeds. Chickadees and Bushtits have finished their second broods and are visiting the feeders but it will be interesting to see if the chickadees try for a third clutch, although the two other times I have seen them try in my backyard they were unsuccessful.

Although opposite of what we are always told I find August is a good time to put our suet for the birds (if you don’t already have it out) and not have to worry about the starlings. This time of year the starlings are flocking together and feeding on insects and berries that are plentiful and I find they do not bother the suet.

With the hot summer days remember to change the sugar water in you hummingbird feeder a couple times a week or more, especially if it is in the sun for part of the day. Also give them a good cleaning each time and remove and mold.

Anna’s Hummingbirds - female, photo by Steen Petersen

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: July 30

Will be going to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am or at the Fish Hatchery (Follow Claymore Road to the entrance to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery (2.4 Km from highway 19a to the entrance to the fish hatchery just after crossing the bridge over Whiskey Creek) at about 9:20 a.m. 





The Sunday Bird Walk:

There will be no Bird Walk this Sunday August 4 long weekend.







Good birding!

Colin Bartlett









The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo Weekly Bird Report: July 24, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

July 24, 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.
*********************************************************

Long-billed Dowitcher, photo by Ralph Hocken

Sunday July 14:

4 – Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at the Marshall Stevens estuary in Qualicum Beach. They were located at the north end in a mud channel near the beach parking area.



Saturday July 20:

100 plus Common Nighthawks were seen feeding in the area of Harry Whipper Park on Hammond Bay road.



Sunday July 21:

Approximately a dozen of each, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones were seen at the north end of Admiral Tyron blvd in French Creek.



Tuesday July 23:

3 – Common Nighthawks were seen in the French Creek area.



Tuesday July 23:

On July 23^rd the Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer road side of the Englishman River Estuary. The morning was sunny and winds light. A few highlights of the walk was watching an adult Cedar Waxwing feeding 4 young, a mixed flock of Least and Western Sandpipers working the river edge feeding and a family of mink.

Cedar Waxwing, photo by John Morrison

Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty seven (37) species:

Common Loon

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Semipalmated Plover

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Killdeer

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Warbling Vireo

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch



Backyard Feeder Notes:

Chickadees have been busy at the store feeders in the last couple of weeks, especially on the peanuts. With the amount of chickadee activity the second broods may have already fledged. Along with the chickadees there have been reports of Red-breasted Nuthatches frequenting the feeders.

Rufous Hummingbirds seem to have finished nesting and left as sightings of them are fewer. This is also happening with the swallows.

We have recently received reports of Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks visiting backyard feeders.

As nesting comes to an end the birds will begin to flock for the upcoming fall and winter months. This can already be seen with the European Starlings and watch for the chickadees and finches to do the same.

Anna’s Hummingbirds - female, photo by Steen Petersen

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: July 30

Will be going to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am or at the Fish Hatchery (Follow Claymore Road to the entrance to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery (2.4 Km from highway 19a to the entrance to the fish hatchery just after crossing the bridge over Whiskey Creek) at about 9:20 a.m. 





The Sunday Bird Walk: July 28

Will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or at Neck Point Park about 9:15 am.



 

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett

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

Eastern Kingbird Sighted at Nanaimo River Estuary

Just received a report of an Eastern Kingbird at the Nanaimo River Estuary. As of 5:20pm Saturday July 7 the bird was seen along the river nearest the large oak tree.

Nanaimo Bird Walk June 30 2019

Sunday June 30:

There was no Sunday Bird Walk this week. The next Sunday Bird Walk will be on July28

Western Tanager, photo by John Morrison

Monday July 1:

30 plus Common Nighthawks were seen feeding above the Thunderbird / Forest neighborhood by the hospital for about 20 minutes

Tuesday July 2:

On July 2 the Tuesday bird walk went to Lot 10 in Qualicum Beach. The morning was overcast and winds light. Highlight of the walk was seeing the Black-throated Gray Warbler at the end of the walk. Out on the river we watched a Spotted Sandpiper along with Rough-winged Swallows flying low in front of us. We saw a beautiful male Western Tanager as we watched a young Northern Flicker poking its head out the nest waiting for lunch.

Black-throated Gray Warbler, photo by John Morrison

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following thirty one (31) species:

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Spotted Sandpiper

Barred Owl

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Warbling Vireo

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Wilson Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Red Crossbills

Backyard Feeder Notes:

The juvenile birds are busy in the backyard these days with flickers, Pileated Woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatch and starlings all busy following and begging for food. It’s fun to watch them as they feed until an adult arrives and then instantly beg to be fed until the adult leaves then go back to feeding for themselves, similar to a teenager.

The seed feeder is also busy with finches visiting but they do have a bit of competition with the squirrel.

The sparrows in my backyard are quiet but that’s because they are busy nesting with their second brood, should see them back at the feeders in a couple of weeks.

Common Nighthawks, photo by Steen Petersen

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: there will be no Tuesday Bird Walks until July 23, 2019.

On July 23 the walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer road. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am or at the end of Shelly road at 9:10 a.m. 

The Sunday Bird Walk:   there will be no Sunday Bird Walks until July 28, 2019. Please check back for the location.

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett