WEEKLY BIRD REPORT October 10, 2018

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo bird Report, October 10, 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 was seen and location of your sighting. *********************************************************** October 3, 2018 3 Greater White-fronted Geese were seen in the center field of the Vancouver Island University track.  Oct 8, 2018 A Barred Owl was seen and heard in the hospital area near Forest  drive and Honeysuckle terrace. On the waterfront there have been regular reports of Pacific Loons along with the Common Loons and also a report of Red-throated Loon off of Pipers lagoon. Sunday Bird Walk, October 07, 2018 The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. It rained all morning but, for the positive, the winds were calm. A very large flock of Canada Geese were resting on the Marsh all morning. Many Wood Ducks, several American Coots, two Greater Scaup and six Pied-billed Grebes were just off shore. A Merlin was perched on the top of a very tall tree near the trail. An Anna’s Hummingbird was spotted resting close to the trail. Merlin: Photo by Ralph Hocken  Two rather wet birders saw and heard the following eighteen species: Canada Geese Mallard Wood Duck American Coot Greater Scaup Pied-billed Grebe Merlin Eurasian Collared Dove Anna’s Hummingbird Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Marsh Wren Bewick’s Wren Golden-crowned Sparrow American Goldfinch American Robin Song Sparrow Spotted Towhee House Finch :   Wood Duck: photo by Raiph Hocken  Tuesday bird walk, October 09, 2018 The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny with strong winds on the Strait of Georgia. We heard and saw a huge amount of American Robins, during the morning. Four Red Crossbills were seen perched high at the top of a tall Conifer Tree and a flock were seen flying over the tall trees. Two Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Cooper’s Hawk and a Merlin flew over head. Two Northern Shovelers were spotted just off the mud flats. A Clark’s Grebe was spotted off shore and three Western Grebes were seen a little further off shore. A Band-tailed Pigeon being chased by a Cooper’s Hawk was spotted. Pacific Loons and Common Loons were heading up the Strait. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was preening itself just off the trail. Red Crossbill: photo by Ralph Hocken Twenty-one birders including three visiting birders from Victoria and two visitors from Ships Point saw and heard the following fifty-three species: Canada Geese American Widgeon Mallard Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Harlequin Duck Northern Shoveler Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser Clark’s Grebe Western Grebe Red-necked Grebe Horned Grebe Pacific Loon Common Loon Common Murre Killdeer Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Merlin Iceland(Thayer’s) Gull Mew Gull California Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Northern Flicker Common Raven Northwestern Crow Eurasian-collared Dove Band-tailed Pigeon American Robin Cedar Waxwing Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Anna’s Hummingbirds Bewick’s Wren Pacific Wren European Starling Lincoln’s Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red Crossbill Song Sparrow Spotted Towhee Dark-eyed Junco Brewer’s Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch Backyard Happenings More of the sparrow family are arriving at many backyard feeders including a Harris Sparrow in the Hammond Bay area. Golden-crowned Sparrows are arriving and very vocal around the store and at my backyard feeders. Juvenile White-crowned Sparrows are still about as well. For some lucky backyard birders the American Goldfinch are still about and busy feeding on Nyjer seed and sunflower seed. Problems with wet bird seed with these storms passing through, try using less seed in your bird feeder, enough for a day or a half day instead of filling it full. Even with all the rain we have had the birds are busy in the bird baths so remember to keep them clean and topped up with fresh water. Good birding Colin Please NoteCheck this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! The Sunday Bird Walk on October 14, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15am. The Tuesday Bird Walk on October 16, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the end of Shelly Road on the oceanside of Highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:10 am. 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

                 Tuesday bird walk, October 09, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny with strong winds on the Strait of Georgia. We heard and saw a huge amount of American Robins, during the morning.  Four Red Crossbills were seen perched high at the top of a tall Conifer Tree and a flock were seen flying over the tall trees. Two Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Cooper’s Hawk and a Merlin flew over head.  Two Northern Shovelers were spotted just off the mud flats. A Clark’s Grebe was spotted off shore and three Western Grebes were seen a little further off shore. A Band-tailed Pigeon being chased by a Cooper’s Hawk was spotted.  Pacific Loons and Common Loons were heading up the Strait.  A Lincoln’s Sparrow was preening itself just off the trail.

Red Crossbill: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-one birders including three visiting birders from Victoria and two visitors from Ships Point saw and heard the following fifty-three species:

Canada Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Northern Shoveler

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Clark’s Grebe

Western Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Common Murre

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Merlin

Iceland(Thayer’s) Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Eurasian-collared Dove 

Band-tailed Pigeon

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Anna’s Hummingbirds

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

European Starling

Lincoln’s Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Red Crossbill

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Purple Finch

House Finch

American Goldfinch

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 Sunday Bird Walk on October 14, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on October 16, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the end of Shelly Road on the oceanside of Highway 19a in Parksville at 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: ww.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo bird Report, October 07, 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, October 07, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. It rained all morning but, for the positive, the winds were calm.  A very large flock of Canada Geese were resting on the Marsh all morning. Many Wood Ducks, several American Coots, two Greater Scaup and six Pied-billed Grebes were just off shore. A Merlin was perched on the top of a very tall tree near the trail.  An Anna’s Hummingbird was spotted resting close to the trail. 

                                                                  Merlin: Photo by Ralph Hocken

Two rather wet birders saw and heard the following eighteen species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Wood Duck

American Coot

Greater Scaup

Pied-billed Grebe

Merlin 

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Marsh Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Sparrow

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

House Finch

Tuesday bird walk, October 02, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with very strong winds on the Strait of Georgia. A Cedar Waxwing was seen in a bush just off the trail at the start of the walk. Several Savannah Sparrows were spotted on a snag along the waterfront. A huge flock of Mew Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were resting along the shoreline. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a single Vaux’s Swift, flying high above us.  A Western Grebe was spotted just off shore with a Horned Grebe, a Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loons and Common Loons. We spotted a Downy Woodpecker high up in a tall tree at the end of the walk.

                                           Cedar Waxwing: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Seventeen birders including two visiting birders from Toronto saw and heard the following forty-four species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

American Wigeon
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Pacific Loon 
  Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant

Mew Gull

California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow
American Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Vaux’s Swift

European Startling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

                                        Downy Woodpecker: 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 October 09, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 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 in Parksville at about 9:10 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on October 14, 2018 will be going to  Neck Point Park in Nanaimo Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 am.

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C. 

V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

                                              www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo Bird Report October 3, 2018

Nanaimo Bird Report, October 3, 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, September 30, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelley road side. Weather was cloudy and cool but no rain during our walk and the tide was high. Things were quiet walking through the woods but picked up closer to the estuary where we saw a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers. There was not much action on the water but did see Surf and White-winged Scoters fly by. Other highlights, flocks of Cedar Waxwings and we had great views of Red Crossbills feeding in the tree beside the new viewing mound.

Red Crossbill: Photo by Ralph Hocken

Seven birders saw and heard 38 species:

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant

Harlequin Duck

Mallard

American Wigeon

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Mew Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Chestnut-backyard Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Bushtit

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Brewer’s Blackbird

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Backyard bird sightings:

Song Sparrows are starting to be a frequent visitor to my backyard feeders, along with the Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrows and more Dark-eyed Juncos. I have also heard that Fox Sparrows are making an appearance at some feeders. House Finches and American Goldfinch are busy at the feeders along with the Bushtit’s but Chickadee’s and nuthatch are quiet and that may have something to do with a good natural seed crop. Wondering where the Steller’s Jays are, well if the natural seed crop is good we may not see any of them this year unlike last year but we are here of more Pine Siskins visiting the backyard feeders so we will see if it is a big year for them.

American Goldfinch in winter plumage: Photo Rick Harbo

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 2, 2018.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with very strong winds on the Strait of Georgia. A Cedar Waxwing was seen in a bush just off the trail at the start of the walk. Several Savannah Sparrows were spotted on a snag along the waterfront. A huge flock of Mew Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were resting along the shoreline. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a single Vaux’s Swift, flying high above us.  A Western Grebe was spotted just off shore with a Horned Grebe, a Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loons and Common Loons. We spotted a Downy Woodpecker high up in a tall tree at the end of the walk.

Cedar Waxwing: Ralph Hocken photo

Seventeen birders including two visiting birders from Toronto saw and heard the following forty-four species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

American Wigeon
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter 

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe 

Pacific Loon 
Common Loon 

Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant

Mew Gull

California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull 

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow
American Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Vaux’s Swift

European Startling

Spotted Towhee 

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

Downy Woodpecker: photo by Ralph Hocken

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 Sunday Bird Walk on October 07, 2018 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh, Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Buttertubs Drive at the marsh entrance at about 9:15am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on October 09, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 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 in Parksville at about 9:10 am.

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C.

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com