Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, March 13, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with a calm wind off the Strait of Georgia.  Light rain started just as we were finishing the walk.  Over three hundred Dunlin, several  Black-bellied Plovers and one Sanderling were seen feeding along the shoreline.  Hundreds of Mew Gulls,  California Gulls, Iceland(Thayer's) Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls noisily filled the shore all morning.  A very large raft of thousands of Brant, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and  Long-tailed Ducks were  seen further offshore. Pacific Loons and Common Loons were spotted even further offshore. As we were doing the tally at the end of the walk a Northern Harrier did a fly pass!

Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders including visiting birders from Edmonton saw and heard the following fifty-six species:

Canada Goose

Brant

 American Widgeon

 Green-wing Teal

Mallard

 Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

 Black Scoter

 Long-tailed Duck

 Bufflehead

 Common Goldeneye

  Common Merganser

 Red-breasted Merganser 

Pacific Loon

 Common Loon

 Horned Grebe

 Red-necked Grebe

 Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

 Double-crested Cormorant 

Pelagic Cormorant 

Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

 Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Mew Gull

 California Gull

Iceland(Thayer's} Gull

Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull 

 Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

 Black-bellied Plover

Sanderling

Northern Flicker

 Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

 Red-breasted Nuthatch 

Anna’s Hummingbird

 Brown Creeper 

Pacific Wren

 Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 American Robin

Varied Thrush 

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow 

Golden-crowned Sparrow 

Dark-eyed Junco

                                                 Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 20, 2018 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.

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

Rare Bird Alert

Hi birders,

John Purves and I were out birding today and we found a King Eider…great sighting for sure…

A King Eider in breeding plumage was seen in  with a very large raft of seabirds off the Eaglecrest area of Qualicum Beach on the ocean at about 3:00 pm today, March 12, 2018. Need a scope for sure.

King Eider

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

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo bird report, March 11, 2018

Nanaimo bird report, March 11, 2018:

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 bird walk, March 11, 2018:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny with calm winds. A large flock of Common Mergansers were seen on the bay next to the parking lot. Many Harlequin Ducks were seen along the rocks just off shore. We had great views of a singing Hutton’s Vireo seen just off the trail. A flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets were spotted near the trail. Several Double-crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorants were seen heading up the Strait of Georgia. One Brandt’s Cormorant was seen heading down the Strait. A Pileated Woodpecker was feeding on a fallen log.

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Bufflehead

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Common Goldeneye

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Horned Grebe

Bald Eagle

Mew Gull

Iceland Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

European Starling

American Robin

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Hutton’s Vireo

Anna’s Hummingbird

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Bewick's Wren

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Harlequin Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.

                                                                 Friday, March 09:  

Twelve Red crossbills were seen visiting a backyard feeder along Honeysuckle Terrace in Nanaimo.

Thursday, March 08:

Fifteen Bald eagles were seen circling high overhead above Meridian Way in Parksville.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, March 06, 2018:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with a calm wind off the Strait of Georgia—the feel of spring is in the air!  A Northern Shrike watched us from a short tree.  Three Gadwall were seen along the river.  The Strait of Georgia was covered with millions of birds! The herring spawn was in full force with thousands and thousands of Mew Gulls, Iceland Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls on the gravel bars in the estuary and on the Strait.  A Bald Eagle flew over the gulls and they  lifted and covered the sky in flight. Many flocks of Brant Geese flew down the Strait during the walk.  Very large rafts of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup stretched for a long distance from the estuary into the Strait.  An Eurasian Wigeon was spotted in with a small flock of American Wigeon just off shore.  Five Orcas (Killer Whales) put on a great show us for a very long time. It was a whale of a bird walk!  A huge flock of Common Redpolls flew overhead at the end of the walk and landed in a tree giving us great views. 

Greater Scaup: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Thirty-two birders including visiting birders from Ottawa, Saskatoon and Inverness saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:

 Canada Goose
Brant
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck

Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck
Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Brandt’s Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Northern Shrike

Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Iceland-Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Rufous Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
                                           Downy Woodpecker                                                    Pileated Woodpecker 

Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch 

Common Redpoll

Surf Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note

Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

Please Note

Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 13, 2018 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial park in Parksville.. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park about 9:10 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on Marsh 18, 2018 will be going to the Englishman River Shelly Road side in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 AM. Or the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:25 AM.

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

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, march 06, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with a calm wind off the Strait of Georgia—the feel of spring is in the air!  A Northern Shrike watched us from a short tree.  Three Gadwall were seen along the river.  The Strait of Georgia was covered with millions of birds! The herring spawn was in full force with thousands and thousands of Mew Gulls, Iceland Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls on the gravel bars in the estuary and on the Strait.  A Bald Eagle flew over the gulls and they  lifted and covered the sky in flight. Many flocks of Brant Geese flew down the Strait during the walk.  Very large rafts of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup stretched for a long distance from the estuary into the Strait.  An Eurasian Wigeon was spotted in with a small flock of  American Wigeon just off shore.  Five Orcas( Killer Whales) put on a great show us for a very long time. It was a whale of a bird walk!  A huge flock of Common Redpolls flew overhead at the end of the walk and landed in a tree giving us a great views.

Greater Scaup: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Thirty-two birders including visiting birders from Ottawa, Saskatoon and Inverness  saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:

 Canada Goose
Brant
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck

Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck
Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Brandt’s Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Northern Shrike

Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Iceland-Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Rufous Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker

                                                           Pileated Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch 

Common Redpoll

Surf Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note

Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 13, 2018 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial park in Parksville.. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park about 9:10 am.

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 04, 2018:

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 bird walk, March 04, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny with calm winds. We spotted a flock of Evening Grosbeaks high atop a very tall conifer tree just off the trail. Three Eurasian Wigeon’s were seen resting along the shore line. Buffleheads were very plentiful on the bay all morning. Large numbers of Green-wing Teal were spotted along the shore. A Northern Shrike was perched in a bush overlooking the shore. 

Evening Grosbeak: John Purves Photo:

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:

Brant Geese

Canada Geese

Eurasian Wigeon

American Widgeon

Green-wing Teal

Mallard

Surf Scoter

Northern Pintail

 Horned Grebe

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Killdeer

Bald Eagle

Northern Shrike

Northwestern Crow

Turkey Vulture

Common Raven

European Startling

American Robin

                                                         Red-winged Blackbird

Evening Grosbeak

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 27, 2018:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach.  The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. One Black-bellied Plover and five Black Oystercatchers were seen along the shore at the Brant Viewing Platform off Highway 19A. Long-tailed Ducks,  Red-necked Grebes, Horned Grebes, Common Loons and Pacific Loons were seen further off shore. Six Orca’s ( Killer Whales) were seen far off shore and entertained us for a long time. A mixed flock of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were spotted just past the gravel bar at the estuary.  Large numbers of Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup were seen just off shore.  A Herring Gull and a Western Gull were perched in with a huge mixed flock of Gulls.

Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Seattle, Calgary and Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-five species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Mallard

American Widgeon

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Long-tailed Duck

Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Common Loon 

Pacific Loon

Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Mew Gull

California Gull

Iceland(Thayer's) Gull

Herring Gull

Western Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre
Ancient Murrelet

Bald Eagle

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

American Robin

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Sparrow

Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Please Note

Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 06, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive on the ocean side of Highway 19A at about 9:10 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on Marsh 11, 2018 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 AM. Or  the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 AM.

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

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com