Steller's Jays have been spotted! Keep your eyes open and see if you can spot any banded jays, plus the colour of the bands.

If banded jays are spotted, report them to Report Banded Birds

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, Septenber 15, 2009




Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach this week. The tide was very low exposing the far reaching rocky beach. The winds were strong, but the sun came out as the morning progressed. The highlights of the morning included seeing a total of fifty-three Black Ostercatchers feeding and resting along the tideline. Flocks of American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser and American Wigeon flew passed us over the water. The seabirds are beginning to return for the winter!

Ten birders saw the following twenty-two species of birds:
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Western Sandpiper
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday, 13 September 2009

Nanamo bird alert, September 13, 2009






Pacific Golden-Plover at the Englishman River Estuary: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on this site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting.

Sunday September 13, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.
The morning was sunny, calm and very comfortable. Nine birders heard and saw the following twenty-one species of birds: Mallard, Glaucous-winged Gull, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crown Kinglet, European Starlings, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin.

We also saw a Painted Turtle and a River Otter on the Millstone River.

Thursday September 10:
An American Kestrel was perched on a hydro line along Stanford Avenue, over looking a farm field in Parksville.

Tuesday September 08:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm--a great day to be birding. Among the highlights was the sighting of a Yellow Warbler and an Orange-crowned Warbler gleaning insects from a short bush near the trail. Overhead were four Black Swifts hawking insects. We saw Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and a Long-billed Dowitcher along the mud flats at San Pareil. There were two Harlequin Ducks, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Common Loons, Bonaparte's Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls and Mew Gulls on the Strait of Georgia.

The most exciting highlight of the morning, however, was on the mud flats of the estuary. There we saw a Pacific Golden-Plover, who is a rare fall migrant along the Pacific Coast and who winters on Pacific Islands in south-east Asia and Australia. Alongside the Pacific Golden-Plover was an American Golden-Plover who is also a rare fall migrant, usually seen east of the Rockies and who winters in South America.
Twenty birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species of birds--
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal,
Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe,
Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Merlin,
American Golden-Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer,
Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull,
Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre,
Black Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin,
American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

An Osprey flew over a water hazard at the Arrowsmith Golf Course; a Coopers Hawk flew overhead and a Bufflehead was spotted on the water.

Sunday September 06:
Eight Turkey Vultures were seen fighting the wind over French Creek.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ 250-390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday September 28, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday October 08, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
******************************************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on September 15, 2009 will be going to Columbia Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the parking area off Admiral Tryon Boulevard at about 9:20 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 20 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

Thursday, 10 September 2009

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!



THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF THE BACKYARD'S SEMI-ANNUAL SEED SALE.
THE SALE ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 12TH.


NOW IS THE TIME TO STOCK UP ON BIRD SEED
FOR THAT BUSY WINTER BIRD FEEDING!

SAVE 15 % ON MINIMUM $100.00 PURCHASE

ON JUGS, 20LB and 40LB BAGS OF BIRD SEED.

* Free Seed Storage Program
* Fresh Seed at 15 % OFF
* We take Phone Orders!

Our seed sale only happens twice a year so come in and save on your birdseed!

Purchase the birdseed you will use in the next few months at the sale price. Don’t worry about storage, just come by and pick up the seed you purchased as you need it, without the hassle of storing it! The seed will come from our store stock that is always fresh

Tuesday, 8 September 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, September 08, 2009





Pacific Golden-Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo


The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm--a great day to be birding. Among the highlights was the sighting of a Yellow Warbler and an Orange-crowned Warbler gleaning insects from a short bush near the trail. Overhead were four Black Swifts hawking insects. We saw Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and a Long-billed Dowitcher along the mud flats at San Pareil. There were two Harlequin Ducks, Horned Grebes, Rednecked Grebes, Common Loons, Bonaparte's Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls and Mew Gulls on the Strait of Georgia.

The most exciting highlight of the morning, however, was on the mud flats of the estuary. There we saw a Pacific Golden-Plover, who is a rare fall migrant along the Pacific Coast and who winters on Pacific Islands in south-east Asia and Australia. Alongside the Pacific Golden-Plover was an American Golden-Plover who is also a rare fall migrant, usually seen east of the Rockies and who winters in South America.


Twenty birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species of birds--
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Merlin
American Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Black Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Sunday, 6 September 2009

Nanamo bird alert, September 06, 2009




Bonaparte's Gull at Columbia Beach: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@...
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on this site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching
with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number,
along with the date, name and location of your sighting.

Sunday September 06, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk was rained out!

A Solitary Sandpiper was seen at the Beaver Ponds at Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary
in Nanaimo.

Saturday September 05:
Over thirty Black Swifts were seen flying over Parksville Beach in Parksville.

Friday September 04:
Three Baird's Sandpipers were seen along the sandbar at Pebble Beach in Columbia
Beach.

A Cooper's Hawk was spotted in a backyard in the 700 block of Victoria Road in
Nanaimo.

Thursday September 03:
Twelve Red-necked Phalaropes were seen off shore from the breakwater at French
Creek. Further off shore, two Parasitic Jaegers were spotted chasing Gulls at
Columbia Beach.

An Anna's Hummingbird is visiting hanging fuchsias, and a Pileated Woodpecker
was seen feeding on blackberries in a backyard on Walkem Road in Ladysmith.

Tuesday September 01:
The Tuesday Bird Walk for the Oceanside area resumed this week and went to the
Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Highlights of the morning included watching as two Black-throated Gray Warblers
and a Warbling Vireo dropped out of the sky onto a big Ash Tree. Several
American Goldfinch moved through the bushes and we watched White-crowned
Sparrows moving through bushes and along the ground. A flock of Red Crossbills
nosily flew overhead. A Spotted Sandpiper flew across the river and then bobbed
his tail as he probed along the shore for food. A Barred Owl, perched on a low
branch, gave us impressive looks until he flew into the forest. After a few
minutes he gave a few calls to let us know he was still there.
Thirteen birders heard and saw the following forty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron,
Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Killdeer, Spotted
Sandpiper, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon,
Barred Owl, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy
Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,
Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar
Waxwing, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song
Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch,
House Finch, Red Crossbill and American Goldfinch.

Wednesday September 02:
Bonaparte's Gulls, Common Loons, Red-necked Grebes, Surf Scoters, White-winged
Scoters and a Pigeon Guillemot were seen at Deep Bay.

Saturday August 29:
A Northern Pygmy Owl was heard and seen along Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo.

Wednesday August 26:
A Pacific Slope Flycatcher was seen near Parksville Bay in Parksville, landing
on a birdbath dripper and flying down into the middle of the dripper several
times.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@...
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Guest Speaker, Richard Crowley of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve.
Thursday September 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday September 28, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
******************************************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and
Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a
different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community
Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on September 08, 2009 will be going to the Plummer Road
side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's
Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the parking area at the corner of Plummer Road and
Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 13 will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Bowen Park off
Bowen Road at about 9:20 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia