The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant Viewing Platform and the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach. The morning started out cloudy with light rain, but the sun came out, making for one of the first sunny walks in a long while!  Thousands of Surf Scoters, twenty Long-tail Ducks, several Lesser Scaup and hundreds of Greater Scaup were seen from the viewing platform.  Several Bald Eagles were seen resting on a log along the shore.  A Western Gull and thousand's of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were flying and resting on the shoreline and gravel bars all morning.  Hundreds of Common Goldeneye and Barrows Goldeneye were seen on the Strait just beyond the gravel bar at the estuary.  A large number of Common Merganser were roosting on the River.  We spotted a Cooper’s Hawk perched on a tall Conifer Tree on the estuary giving us great views. There were an estimated three thousand singing Brant Geese not fifty feet from the shore----a great sight!

 

 

 

Brant Geese: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 
 
 Fourteen birders including two visiting birders from Ottawa saw and heard the following forty-three species;

Brant

Canada Geese

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

American Widgeon

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tail Duck

Lesser Scaup

Greater Scaup

Bufflehead

Northern Pintail

Barrows Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Horned Grebe

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Sanderling

                                                          Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Western Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

 House Sparrow

                                                           California Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo

The Tuesday bird walk on March 21, 2015 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. (Turn off highway 19a at Columbia Drive, turn right at Admiral Tryon Blvd. go about one hundred yards to the parking area)

Good birding

Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 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, March 12, 2017

                          “Nanaimo bird report” 

“Explore Nature--Go Birding” 

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail thebirdstore@shaw.ca
Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings.

Sunday bird walk, March 12, 2017   

The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. A large flock of Brant Geese were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. A Eurasian Widgeon and American Widgeon were feeding on the edge of the mud flats.  Hundreds upon hundreds of  Gulls were seen on the water and flying overhead during the morning. A large flock of Dunlin was seen flying down the Strait. Bushtits, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were feeding in the bushes near the trail. A Peregrine Falcon was perched on a small tree giving us great views.

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Eurasian Widgeon

American Widgeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

                                                     Bufflehead

Greater Scaup

Long-tailed Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Dunlin

Killdeer

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Peregrine Falcon

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Quail

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, March 07,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with very strong winds off the Strait of Georgia.  We heard a Hutton’s Vireo singing just off the trail and after searching the woods, we saw the Vireo as he flew overhead.  One Eurasian Widgeon along with a large number of American Widgeon and five Gadwalls were seen along the shoreline. 

The herring spawn is on! Thousands of Surf Scoters flew in and landed just off shore.  California Gulls, Mew Gulls Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls by the thousand were seen along the shoreline and flying overhead throughout the morning.  But the biggest highlight of the morning was a Western Meadowlark singing from a bush in the meadows. Later on we watched as four meadowlarks flew into the tall grass. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched at the top of a tall bush in the meadow and watched as the shrike flew after prey and returned to the perch.                                                                        

    

                                           

                                           Eurasian Widgeon: Ralph Hocken Photo:

             Thirteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Harlequin Duck

Eurasian Widgeon

American Widgeon

Green-wing Teal

                                                          Mallard

Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tail Duck

Lesser Scaup

Greater Scaup

Bufflehead

Barrows Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Marbled Murrelet

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Northern Shrike

California Gull

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Hutton’s Vireo

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Western Meadowlark

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

                                                    Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin 
  

Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Monday, March 06:

     Twenty Northern Shoveller’s were seen north of the Brant Viewing Platform in North Qualicum Beach.

Twelve  American Goldfinch were seen coming to feeders at the Deerwood Estates near Jingle Pot Road and Biggs Road.

Bird walks this week.

The Tuesday bird walk on March 14, 2017 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. We will meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.

The Sunday bird walk on March19, 2017 will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot (off Bowen Road) at Bowen Park at about 9:15 a.m.

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 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, march 07, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with very strong winds off the Strait of Georgia.  We heard a Hutton’s Vireo singing just off the trail and after searching the woods, we saw the Vireo as he flew overhead.  One Eurasian Widgeon along with a large number of American Widgeon and five Gadwalls were seen along the shoreline. 

The herring spawn is on!  Thousands of Surf Scoters flew in and landed just off shore.  California Gulls, Mew Gulls,Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls by the thousand were seen along the shoreline and flying overhead throughout the morning.  But the biggest highlight of the morning was a Western Meadowlark singing from a bush in the meadows. Later on we watched as four meadowlarks flew into the tall grass. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched at the top of a tall bush in the meadow and watched as the shrike flew after prey and returned to the perch.

 

 

                                                                              

Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo:

 
 
             Thirteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Harlequin Duck

Eurasian Widgeon

American Widgeon

Green-wing Teal

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tail Duck

Lesser Scaup

Greater Scaup

Bufflehead

Barrows Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Marbled Murrelet

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Northern Shrike

California Gull

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Hutton’s Vireo

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Western Meadowlark

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin  

                                             Eurasian Widgeon: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday bird walk on March 14, 2017 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. We will meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m 

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 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, March 05, 2017

“Nanaimo bird report” 

“Explore Nature--Go Birding” 

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail thebirdstore@shaw.ca
Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings. 

Sunday bird walk, March 05, 2017     

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  We had snow flurries and light rain throughout the morning.  An American Coot was seen at the start of the walk. Three Trumpeter Swans, a large number of Mallard Ducks, two Wood Ducks and twelve Ring-necked Ducks were seen on the marsh.  A Cooper’s hawk was perched in a tall tree.  A Marsh Wren was spotted in the reeds near the trail.

Cooper’s Hawk: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species:

Trumpeter Swans

Canada Geese

                                                         Mallard

Wood Duck

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Pied-billed Grebe

American Coot

Belted Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Eurasian-collared Dove

Anna's Hummingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Bushtit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Great Blue Heron

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

  Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

House Sparrow

Wednesday, March 01:

Bohemian Waxwings were seen at Buttertubs Marsh near the Bowen Road Entrance

A Western Meadowlark was seen in the pasture in lower Lantzville near  Lantzville and Superior Road.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 28, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk on February 28, 2017 went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The morning was mostly sunny with cloudy periods and calm winds. The surprise sightings of the morning were a Sanderling and a Eurasian Widgeon, feeding along the shoreline at the viewing platform, with Black Turnstones, Killdeer, a Black-bellied Plover and four Black Oystercatchers.  Many Surf Scoters, four Long-tailed Ducks, two Pacific Loons and six Common Loons were seen further off shore.  Four Trumpeter Swans flew high overhead the hatchery, heading down the Island.  We spotted two singing American Dippers on the river at the Fish Hatchery.  A large number of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen feeding on a tree just off the snow covered trails.  A Cooper’s Hawk was seen flying high overhead. A large number of American Robins scurrying about throughout the morning.  A  Varied Thrush was spotted in a tree near the trail.  Three Snow Geese, feeling quite at home in the snowy conditions, flew overhead just above the trees.

American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species:

Trumpeter Swan

Snow Geese

                                                      Canada Geese

Harlequin Duck

Green-winged Teal

American Widgeon

Eurasian Widgeon

Mallard

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Double-crested Cormorant

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

                                                         Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Bonaparte Gull

Sanderling

Black Turnstone

Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

 American Dipper

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

  Downy Woodpecker

 Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird

American Robin

 Varied Thrush

 Spotted Towhee

 Song Sparrow            

Hooded Merganser:  Ralph Hocken Photo.  

This week’s Bird Walks

The Tuesday bird walk on March 07, 2017 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot next to the Lions Club Kids Playground 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 March 12, 2017 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 corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive,  off highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:30 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

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com