RYAN CATHERS

It is with great sadness that we want to let you know that Ryan Cathers passed away on May 17, 2014. Ryan was a humble, passionate and dedicated young man with a quick smile who worked with us at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store for the past three years.  Our hearts are with his family and Deni. 

We will miss you Ryan.

Colin, Denise, Ralph, Marilynne and Neil

Nanaimo bird report, May 18, 2014

 

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

" 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 and location of your sighting. 

Sunday, May 18, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers. A Black-headed Grosbeak flew in low for a look at us at the beginning of the walk and then serenaded us with his rich song for most of the morning. An Osprey flew over the marsh twisting and turning before flying away. We saw and heard several Yellow Warblers throughout the morning.

Twenty birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:

Canada Goose Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser,  Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Osprey, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Marsh Wren, Brown Creeper, Great Blue Heron, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, European Starling, Orange-crown Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red-wing Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and House Sparrow. 

Two Common Nighthawks were seen over Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.  

Caspian Terns were seen at Entrance Island. 

Friday, May 16:

  An Evening Grosbeak has been visiting bird feeders along Laguna Way in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, May 13:

We had a beautiful sunny morning for the bird walk, with only a slight breeze.  The Yellow Warbler could be heard and seen many times throughout the morning.  We also spotted two Semipalmated Plovers in the estuary, as well as a small flock of Least Sandpiper and Western Sandpiper.  There was also a Long-billed Dowitcher along the water edge in the flats.

16 birders, including one visitor from Oliver, B.C. saw or heard the following 47 species:

Canada Geese, Brant, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Ring-necked Pheasant, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Pacific-sloped Flycatcher.

Good birding,

Rhonda

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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. on 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 May 20, 2014 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum beach at about 9:20 a.m.

 

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The Sunday bird walk on May 25 will be going Linley Valley in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the end of Burma Road at about 9:15 a.m.

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British Columbia rare bird alert link---

 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  

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WildResearch link---

http://www.wildresearch.ca/

On May 11, 2014, 81 birders went to sea on WildResearch’s pelagic seabird fundraiser. Details from the trip and the official trip list follows below.

Birding was slow as we headed out on the open water, a few Sooty Shearwaters and single Pink-footed Shearwater darted about. Shearwater numbers slowly increased, and at 21 km from shore we spotted our first Tufted Puffin.  Two Black-footed Albatross appeared and were circling the ship with one adult LAYSAN ALBATROSS!

The Laysan Albatross came in close the boat 10-15 times and then drifted off, only to return about 10min later, giving everyone on board a great view. This was the bird of the trip! The Laysan Albatross is one of the species that makes it difficult to fall asleep the night before the pelagic trip, given how difficult it is to see in British Columbia. But there it was circling close to the ship for all to see.

At 40km from shore , a Parasitic Jaeger flew in front of the boat. This was a surprise because normally we see many Jaegers and Skua during our previous pelagic trips. The next exciting species was the Wandering Tattlers; we saw a small flock of three individuals. A flock of Wandering Tattlers on BC’s coast would be unusual. A flock of wandering tattlers offshore was real surprise! The second most exciting bird was a Manx Shearwater, seen from the stern of the ship. On the return trip back to Ucluelet, we spotted another five tufted puffins. 

Overall, the trip was great. The weather was fantastic: dry, sunny, and the seas were relatively calm. 

Many people are to thank for organizing the pelagic trip logistics. Big thanks to Ian Thomas and Jay Brogan for chumming in the albatross, Russell Cannings for spotting and calling out birds, and the Captain and Crew of the MV Francis Barkley, for keeping us safe and going the extra mile to help us spot great seabirds. Thanks also to everyone that participated in WildResearch’s Spring 2014 Pelagic Trip fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you all on our next pelagic trip!

And thanks again to all our participants! Looking forward to seeing you out on our next trip.

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West coast environment link--

http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/videos/

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Good birding

Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669 

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email:  thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo bird report, May 11, 2014

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

" 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 and location of your sighting.

 

Sunday, May 11, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and calm. The sighting of the morning was a House Wren which was seen near the area of the boat house. There was also a possible second House Wren seen at the north end of the park near the lockout point.

22 birders saw and heard the following thirty six (36) species:

Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Canada Geese, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, California Quail, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, House Wren, Bewick’s Wren, European Starling, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, and American Goldfinch.

 

Saturday, May 10:

Western Tanager was seen in Stephenson Point, Nanaimo.

 

Sooty Grouse was heard calling up on Westwood ridge.

 

Friday, May 9:

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen in Buttertubs West marsh.

 

Tuesday, May 6:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm. Many Western Grebe’s, Pacific Loons, Marbled Murrelet and Common Murre were seen off shore from the viewing platform. We had excellent views of a Hammond’s Flycatcher as it rested and preened itself on a Cedar Tree just off the trail. Vaux’s Swifts and Black Swifts entertained us as they chased insects up high above us. We spotted a Willow Flycatcher feeding in a bush near the river. We heard and saw Black-throated Grey Warblers and heard Pacific-slope Flycatchers throughout the morning.

Fourteen birders, including visiting birders from Ottawa and California saw and heard the following sixty-four species:

Mallard, American Widgeon, Harlequin Duck, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Spotted Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk,

Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Western Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker,

Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Vaux’s Swift, Black Swift, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Rufous Hummingbird, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Western Tanager,

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,

Hammond’s Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch and

American Goldfinch.

 

Monday, May 5:

Brown-headed Cowbird was seen at the bird feeders in a backyard at Rutherford and Hammond Bay road in Nanaimo.

 

Sunday, May 4:

5 American White Pelicans were seen flying past at French Creek.

 

Saturday, May 3:

Western Tanager was seen in a backyard at Boat Harbour in Cedar.

 

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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. on 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 May 13, 2014 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground 9:00 am.

 

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The Sunday bird walk on May 18 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking lot off Bowen road at about 9:15 a.m.

 

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British Columbia rare bird alert link---

 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  

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WildResearch link---

http://www.wildresearch.ca/

 

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West coast environment link--

http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/videos/

 

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Good birding

Colin Bartlett.

 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669 

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email:  thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, May 06, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm. Many Western Grebe’s, Pacific Loons, Marbled Murrelet and Common Murre were seen off shore from the viewing platform. We had excellent views of a Hammond’s Flycatcher as it rested and preened itself on a Cedar Tree just off the trail. Vaux’s Swifts and Black Swifts entertained us as they chased insects up high above us. We spotted a Willow Flycatcher feeding in a bush near the river. We heard and saw Black-throated Grey Warblers and heard Pacific-slope Flycatchers throughout the morning.

Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fourteen birders, including visiting birders from Ottawa and California saw and heard the following sixty-four species:

Mallard

American Widgeon

Harlequin Duck

Black Scoter

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Spotted Sandpiper

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Bonaparte's Gull

Mew Gull

Western Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker
Steller's Jay 

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Rough-winged Swallow

Vaux’s Swift

Black Swift

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Rufous Hummingbird

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Western Tanager

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Warbling Vireo

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch 

               

Pacific Loons: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on May 13 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, May 04, 2014

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

" 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 and location of your sighting. 

Sunday, May 04, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain for most of the morning. The sighting of the morning was a Hammond’s Flycatcher. The flycatcher was feeding in a low bush just above our heads giving us excellent views for about five minutes--it was awesome!  We spotted a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers going into a nesting hole in a snag with food next to the trail.

Three very dedicated birders saw and heard the following twenty-two species:

Canada Geese, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Hairy Woodpecker, Rufous Hummingbird, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Cassin’s Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco. 

Saturday, May 03:

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen along Morell Circle at Willows Park in Nanaimo. 

A Northern Saw-whet Owl has been heard for the last week at Willows Park in Nanaimo. 

American Goldfinch are visiting feeders in the 1500 block of The Bell in Nanoose Bay and along Altavista Drive in Nanaimo. 

Three Western Tanagers were seen on the trees at the Morningstar Ponds in French Creek.  

                                   Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Three Black-bellied Plovers in breeding plumage were spotted feeding on shore at Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville    

                                  Black-bellied Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Friday, May 02:

A flock of Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, two Semipalmated Plovers and two Greater Yellowlegs were seen at the mud flats at the Englishman River Plummer Road side. 

Tuesday, April 29:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and cool with a wind off the Strait of Georgia. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of two Bald Eagle tiny fledglings peeking out of their nest close to the river.  Several flocks of Brant Geese flew in and rested just off shore.  A pair of Gadwall were in amongst the American Wigeon near the low tide shoreline. We saw many Savannah Sparrows perched on shrubs and stumps in the meadow area next to the trail. A flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers and a few Orange-crowned Warblers followed us along the meadow trail singing and feeding on the low shrubs. 

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following sixty-three species:

Canada Goose, Brant, Mallard, Green-wing Teal, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Dunlin, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Bonaparte's Gull, California Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Eurasian-collared Dove, California Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bewick’s Wren, Pacific Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch. 

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Thursday, May 08:

Nanoose Naturalists Meeting 7pm. at the Nanoose Bay Library Hall  Guest Speaker-- Paula Wild, the author of the new book on Cougars.              Visitors welcome. Donation appreciated

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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. on 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 May 06, 2014 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the Brant viewing platform at the north end of Qualicum Beach off highway 19a at about 9:20 am. 

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The Sunday bird walk on May 11 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at Neck Point parking lot off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 a.m. 

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British Columbia rare bird alert link--- http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  

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WildResearch link---http://www.wildresearch.ca/ 

Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip Announced – May 11, 2014 

WildResearch is pleased to announce that WildResearch's 2014 Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip will run on Sunday May 11, 2014! Proceeds generated from the pelagic trip fundraiser will go towards running WildResearch’s research programs. 

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West coast environment link-- http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/videos/ 

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Good birding

Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669 

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email:  thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com