The Backyard's weekly bird walks will be resuming on Tuesday, September 8th and Sunday, September 13th. Locations will be posted once decided.

Sunday, 14 February 2016

Nanaimo bird report, February 14, 2016

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.

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Sunday, February 14, 2016 

The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. Eight male Common Mergansers were seen along the river at the start of the walk. Two Bald Eagles were talking loudly from their nest across the river. Brant, Common Murre, Common Loons, Pacific Loons and Long-tail Ducks were resting on the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched on a log in the meadows.
 
                                                                Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Nine birders saw and hear the following fifty species.
Canada Geese
Brant
American Wigeon
Common Goldeneye
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Horne Grebe
Red-neck Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
White-wing Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Murre
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Sharp-shined Hawk
Northern Shrike
Black Turnstone
California Quail
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
European Starling
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin   

Friday, February 12.
A Peregrine Falcon was seen at the corner of Campbell and Shelby Street in Nanaimo.  

Tuesday, February 09.
 The Tuesday morning bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was draped in heavy fog making for a challenging time looking for birds. Two singing Belted Kingfishers were seen racing up the river calling all the time. We saw a Merlin flying high up near the top of the conifers. Several Anna's Hummingbirds were seen perched just off the trail through out the walk, giving us great views.  There were large numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos moving in and out of the underbrush along the trail. 
   
                                                                  Anna’s Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty birders including visiting birders from Winnipeg, Langley and Seattle saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow 

                                                    Dark-eyed Junco: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Monday, February 08. 
A Turkey Vulture was seen near Enos Lake in Nanoose Bay. 

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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. ******************************************************************************* 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 16,2016 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Bld. (off Columbia Drive) at about 9:15 a.m. 

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The Sunday bird walk on February 21, 2016 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the beach near the church camp off highway 19 and Arlington Road at about 9:15 a.m. 

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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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.co

 

 

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 09, 2016

The Tuesday morning birdwalk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was draped in heavy fog making for a challenging time looking for birds. Two singing Belted Kingfishers were seen racing up the river calling all the time. We saw a Merlin flying high up near the top of the conifers. Several Anna's Hummingbirds were seen perched just off the trail through out the walk, giving us great views.  There were large numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos moving in and out of the underbrush along the trail.
Anna’s Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty birders including visiting birders from Winnipeg, Langley and Seattle saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow
 
 
 
 
 

 

Dark-eyed Junco: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 16,2016 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Bld. (off Columbia Drive) at about 9:15 a.m.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
 
thebackyard@shaw.ca

Sunday, 7 February 2016

Nanaimo bird report, February 07, 2016

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.

********************************************************************
February 07, 2016
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  We spotted one Northern Harrier sitting in the field for most of the morning eating his newly caught prey.  A flock of Western Meadowlarks flew into a big bush not far from us. A large number of Bald Eagles were perched in the tall conifer trees along the walk.  Northwestern Crows and Common Ravens were frolicking high above during the morning.
Eleven birders saw and hear the following Twenty-seven species.
Trumpeter Swan
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Green-wing Teal
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
American Robin
Western Meadowlark
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch 

Tuesday, February 02.
The morning was mostly cloudy with a little sunshine and a stiff breeze off the Strait of Georgia. Hundreds of Common Murre and Pacific Loons were seen flying above the water during the morning.  Several Brant Geese flew in and landed near the shore. A Virginia Rail was heard singing near the marsh where the Mallards usually rest near the road. Horned Grebes, Bufflehead, three Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneye were seen offshore. Three Pileated Woodpeckers and a large mixed flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets were feeding just off the trail keeping us entertained as we entered the forest.
Seventeen birders including a visiting birder from Seattle saw and heard the following forty-species:
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Wing-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Virginia Rail
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Varied Thrush
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow                                                          

********************************************************************
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. *******************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on February 09, 2016 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

****************************************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on February 14, 2016 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:25 a.m.

***************************************************************************************
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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.co

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

Bird walks

********************************************************************
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.
*******************************************************************************

The Tuesday bird walk on February 09, 2016 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road (on the Oceanside of highway 19a) at about 9:10 a.m.

****************************************************************************************

The Sunday bird walk on February 07, 2016 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.

***************************************************************************************

                                                   Mainland Mountains from Rathtrevor: Len Bettam  Photo.

Tuesday, 2 February 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 02, 2016

The morning was mostly cloudy with a little sunshine and a stiff breeze off the Strait of Georgia. Hundreds of Common Murre and Pacific Loons were seen flying above the water during the morning.  Several Brant Geese flew in and landed near the shore. A Virginia Rail was heard singing near the marsh where the Mallards usually rest near the road. Horned Grebes, Bufflehead, three Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneye were seen offshore. Three Pileated Woodpeckers and a large mixed flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets were feeding just off the trail keeping us entertained as we entered the forest.

                                                            Pileated Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders including a visiting birder from Seattle saw and heard the following forty-species:
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Wing-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Virginia Rail
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Varied Thrush
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow

 

 
 
                                                            Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 09, will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville 

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com