Nanaimo Weekly Bird Report December 12, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

December 12, 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.
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Photo: Trumpeter Swan (R. Hocken)

Sunday December 8, 2019:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. Weather was overcast with a cool breeze. There were a few hunters about the estuary and some of the birding activity was quiet. From the viewing mound we watched as a Northern Harrier was busy hunting and also had a quick view of Western Meadowlarks. There were plenty of Common Ravens about but no Short-eared Owl was seen.

Eleven birders saw the following 34 species:

Trumpeter Swan

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Pied-billed Grebe

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

House Finch

American Goldfinch

  

Tuesday December 10, 2019:



A small flock of Snow Geese and a Great White-front Goose were seen at the Parksville Community park.

Photo: Canada, Greater White-fronted, and Cackling Goose (R. Hocken)

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary. The weather was cool with temperatures around one degree wind was light and rain to start the bird walk. The walk started at the Brant viewing stand at the north end of the Qualicum Beach, but unfortunately there were no Brant seen but a fair bit of activity on the water with Surf, Black and White-winged Scoters. Also seen there were Marbled Murrlet, Common Murre, Dunlin and Black-bellied Plover. At the estuary Anna’s Hummingbirds were busy and a Northern Shrike was also seen.

Twelve birders heard and saw the following 44 species:

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tail Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Northern Shrike

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

House Sparrow

Photo: Golden-crowned Sparrow (R. Hocken)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

This week we received a few calls of odd looking birds. A Junco with a black and white head, American Robin with white blotches were some of the reports. This is a condition call Leucism, partial loss of pigmentation to the feathers so the feathers are white instead of black or whatever colour. Most reports have been with the Dark-eyed Juncos, Spotted Towhees and American Robins but this week we had one that was a Song Sparrow with a white head and a brown spot on its crown. Interesting to watch these birds as I have noticed that they are not always welcomed in the flock and just follow. At the feeders they are lower on the pecking order when feeding. Let us know if you are seeing something like this at your feeders.  

Photo: Leucism Dark-eyed Junco (customer photo)

 

The Sunday Bird Walk January 5, 2020:

The next Sunday Bird Walk will be January 5, 2020

The Tuesday Bird Walk December 17, 2019:

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Columbia Beach.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay road and Franklin’s Gull road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the parking area on Admiral Tryon blvd at 9:15.

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