Red Crossbill: Ralph Hocken Photo
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
“GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”
Please remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
Ann Thompson who is known as the most enthusiastic and keen birder from Sunday morning bird walk suffered a stroke last month. She is in the Rehabilitation Ward of the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and doing well with her rehab. Our very best to you Ann—we have missed you.
Sunday August 14, 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and warm. The highlight of the morning was seeing a family of three Merlin perched in a snag. The Merlins flew to the top of cedar trees and then hawked dragonflies from just above our heads and then headed back to the cedar trees only to fly out once more. It was a most spectacular show!
Eleven birders saw and heard the following twenty-two species of birds:
Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Merlin, Glaucous-winged Gull, Hairy Woodpecker, Anna’s Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Band-tailed Pigeon, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Red Crossbill.
“Rare bird alert-Ruff”
A Ruff was seen at French Creek along the main creek channel from the Columbia Beach side.
The Ruff is a rare but regular Eurasian visitor to our area.
Saturday August 13:
A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen in a backyard off Bay Street in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.
Tuesday August 09:
Two male Western Tanagers were seen at Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.
Monday August 08:
The early birders went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman Rive in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm.
Seven birders saw and heard the following forty-nine species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch, Red Crossbill and American Goldfinch.
Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, Rock Pigeons, Black Oystercatchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, California Gulls and Bonaparte Gulls were seen at Columbia Beach, near the Pebble Beach Townhouse complex.
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Everyone is invited 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 season has come to a close. The bird walks will resume on September 6, 2011. Have a great summer!
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The Sunday Bird Walk on August 21 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road at about 9:15 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
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
“Pelagic birding trip in September”
WildResearch, a Vancouver base non-profit, is pleased to be offering a pelagic birding trip departing from Ucluelet on the Sunday the 18th September 2011. The ship we will be using is the M.V. Frances Barkley, a 39m (128ft), 300 ton coastal freighter. The cost per person is $200 for WildResearch members.
For details visit: www.wildresearch.ca
