Short-eared Owl at the Nanaimo River Estuary: Ralph Hocken Photo.
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 November 29, 2009:
Three male Red-winged Blackbirds, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Flickers, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch, California Quail and Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 2500 block of Lyburn Crescent in Nanaimo.
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Rathrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
We had a morning with a stiff wind off the water but sunny periods making it rather pleasant.
The big surprise of the morning was when we heard and saw an American Kestrel fly from the top of a tall Fir tree. It is unusual to see an American Kestrel in forested areas. We saw eight Brant Geese near the tideline and Black Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones on a narrow gravel bar. There was a Red-throated Loon on the surf not far offshore. A flock of Red-crossbills kept us looking upwards all morning.
Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species of birds:
Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Black Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstones, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbill.
Thursday November 26:
A Nashville Warbler was seen in a backyard in Columbia Beach.
Hundreds of Barrow's Goldeneye were seen along the Nanaimo River.
Four Short-eared Owls and several Western Meadowlarks were seen on the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Wednesday November 25:
A Palm Warbler was seen with a Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The Palm Warbler was seen along the long Hawthorn hedgerow to the right of the tall Oak Tree.
Tuesday November 24:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and the winds off the water were brisk. The highlights of the morning included watching three flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese and one flock of Snow Geese as they flew high overhead heading down the Island. We saw one lone Brant Goose in with a flock of Mallards near the shoreline and two other larger flocks over the water. Bufflehead, Horned Grebes, Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pacific Loons and Common Loons were further offshore. We watched as eight male and female Purple Finch and three Varied Thrush ate the berries on a low bush near the marsh area.
Nine birders saw and head the following forty-three species of birds: Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and Red Crossbill.
Christmas Bird Counts, 2009:
Volunteers are needed to help with the Bird Studies Canada annual Christmas bird count in
all areas. Count birds at your home feeders or join a small team in the field.
All levels of experience are welcome.
Friday, December 18, 2009: Nanoose/Lantzville CBC
Contact Rhys Harrison--rhysharrison@shaw.ca or (250) 468-5466.
Sunday, December 20, 2009: Parksville / Qualicum Beach CBC:
Contact Sandra Gray--saninerr@shaw.ca
Sunday, December 27, 2009: Nanaimo CBC:
Contact Carlo Pavan--nanaimoite@gmail.com
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
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The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday December 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
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Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday January 25, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
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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.
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The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 01, 2009 will be going to the Shelly 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 at the Oceanside end of Shelly Road at about 9:10 A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on December 06 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A.M. .
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Good birding
Neil Robins
THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
