Nanaimo Bird Report, March 3, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo Bird Report, March 3, 2019 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. *********************************************************** Please Note Please check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! ***********************************************************

Sunday Bird Walk, March 3, 2019 This weeks bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The weather was overcast with a chilly breeze to start the walk. On the water to start there was a lone Canada Goose in Hammond Bay, and also saw Surf Scoters flying mostly southward with one White-winged Scoter. One highlight of the walk was a good view of a male Red Crossbill singing. 16 birders including birders from Edmonton, Washington state, Campbell River and Deep Bay saw and heard the following 32 species. Red Crossbill, photo by Ralph Hocken Common Loon Pacific Loon Red-necked Grebe Canada Goose Double-created Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Mallard Harlequin Duck Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Glaucous–winged Gull Mew Gull California Gull Bald Eagle Anna’s Hummingbird Northern Flicker Common Raven Northwestern Crow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Bewick’s Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Spotted Towhee Dark-eyed Junco Red Crossbill Purple Finch Pine Siskin March 1, 2019: TURKEY VULTURE was seen soaring above the Crescent Heights area near Vancouver Island University. February 28,2019: RED-TAILED HAWK was seen perch on a pole at Robbins Park in south Nanaimo. February 26,2019: BARRED OWL was seen along the trail at Buttertubs Marsh near the modular home park. February 26,2019: BLACK OYSTERCATCHER was seen in downtown Nanaimo harbour. The Tuesday bird walk was a day trip to the Salton Sea. Four birders braved cool temperatures and steady wind, but had a sunny walk. List for the day was 55 species. Highlights were flocks of Long-billed Curlews, White-faced Ibis, Cattle, Snowy and Great Egrets on the farm fields, Gambel’s Quail, Abert’s Towhee, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Snowy Plover, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Loggerhead Shrike and Common Moorhen. We saw two Burrowing Owls at their burrows and a Greater Roadrunner hunting along the roadside.  Bird walk report provided by Graham G. Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, February 26, 2019 The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River, in Parksville. The morning was sunny but cool with calm winds. Several Brown Creepers were creeping up the trees along the river path. Three flocks of Surf Scoters and one flock of White-winged Scoters were heading up the Strait of Georgia. One Greater Scaup was spotted not far from shore. Several Anna's Hummingbirds were seen just off the trail. A Peregrine Falcon flew over head. Two Western Meadowlarks were perched in a tree along the fence line at the Community Park. Nineteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-eight species: Canada Goose Greater White-fronted  GooseGadwall Green-winged Teal American Wigeon MallardNorthern  Pintail Green-winged Teal Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Greater Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Pacific Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Brandt’s Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Killdeer Mew Gull Iceland (Thayer's) Gull California Gull Herring Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Anna's Hummingbird Northwestern Crow Common Raven Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker European Starling Brewer’s Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird Chestnut-backed Chickadee Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch Bushtit Brown Creeper Pacific Wren Bewick’s Wren American Robin Varied Thrush Western Meadowlark Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Pine Siskin House Sparrow Western Meadowlark, photo by Ralph hocken. The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 05, 2019 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River 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 on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 am. The Sunday Bird Walk on March 10, 2019 will be going to Englishman River Estuary, Shelley road side of the estuary. Meet at The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00am or at the parking lot at the end of Shelley Road at about 9:20 am. Good birding! Colin. ***********************************************************

Links to Upcoming Local Events Vancouver Island University Science and Technology Leecture Series (Every Wednesday evening from ~7:00pm-8:00pm January to April) Lecture for March 7 2019 :  Clean Coal… VIU Style Green Second Life for Former Mine Workings Legacy (Presented by: Jeff Quibell, Principal Engineer, Falcon Engineering)

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, February 26, 2019

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, February 26, 2019The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River, in Parksville. The morning was sunny but cool with calm winds.  Several Brown Creepers were creeping up the trees along the river path. Three flocks of Surf Scoters and one flock of White-winged Scoters were heading up the Strait of Georgia.  One Greater Scaup was spotted not far from shore.  Several Anna's Hummingbirds were seen just off the trail.  A Peregrine Falcon flew over head. Two Western Meadowlarks were perched in a tree along the fence line at the Community Park.

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:
Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Killdeer
Mew Gull
Iceland (Thayer's) Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Anna's Hummingbird
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
European Starling
Brewer’s Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Western Meadowlark
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch 

Pine Siskin
House Sparrow

      Western Meadowlark: 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 Sunday Bird Walk on March 03, 2019 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00am or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park, off Hammond Bay Road, at about 9:15am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 05, 2019 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River 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 on the ocean side of highway 19a 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

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report, February 24, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo Bird Report, February 24 2019 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. *********************************************************** Please Note Please check this site  (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)  early Tuesday and Sunday mornings  to see if the walks have been cancelled! *********************************************************

Sunday Bird Walk, Feb 24 2019: The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds. Two female Downy Woodpeckers were seen just off the trail. They entertained us royally as they challenged each other quite often.  Three large flocks of Canada Geese  flew over head and landed on the marsh. Green-wing Teal, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers and Common Mergansers were seen on the marsh all morning. Four Cedar Waxwings were feeding on berries on a tree near the trail.  Twelve birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species: Canada Geese Mallard Green-wing Teal Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Glaucous-winged Gull Rock Pigeon Northwestern Crow Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickadee American Robin Cedar Waxwing Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker Spotted Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Song Sparrow European Starling Brown Creeper Bewick’s Wren Marsh Wren Anna’s Hummingbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin Golden-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Pine Siskin House Sparrow          Downy Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo: Tuesday bird walk, February19, 2019: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville, February 19, 2019. It was great to be out birding again after the snowy weather. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of four Surfbirds in with a flock of at least two thousand Dunlin, a large number of Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers along the shoreline—a birding paradise!  A large raft of Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup were seen offshore in Craig Bay.  A Western Gull, a Common Murre and a Pigeon Guillemot were heading up the Strait of Georgia.  A Brown Creeper and two Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen at the base of a tall conifer tree near the trail.  A Purple Finch was heard singing and then seen perched on a short bush along the trail.                      Nineteen birders including visiting birders from Washington State, Alberta and Manitoba saw and heard the following forty-seven species Brant Canada Goose Greater White-fronted Goose  Mallard Northern Pintail American Wigeon Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Bufflehead Barrow’s Goldeneye Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Pacific Loon Common Loon Red-neck Grebe Horned Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Brandt’s  Cormorant Bald Eagle Surfbird Black-bellied Plover Black Turnstone Dunlin Black Oystercatcher Common Murre Pigeon Guillemot Mew Gull Iceland(Thayer's) Gull California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Northwestern Crow Common Raven Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Anna’s Hummingbird Bewick’s Wren Brown Creeper Golden-crowned Kinglet Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Pine Siskin Purple Finch Dark-eyed Junco                                                             Surfbird: Ralph Hocken Photo: A flock of Canada Geese with a Greater White-fronted Goose were seen at the Parksville Community Beach before the walk. Please NoteCheck 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 February 26, 2019 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River 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 ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 am. The Sunday Bird Walk on March 03, 2019 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00am or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15am. 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

Tuesday bird walk, February19, 2019

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville, February 19, 2019.

It was great to be out birding again after the snowy weather. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of four Surfbirds in with a flock of at least two thousand Dunlin, a large number of Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers along the shoreline—a birding paradise!  A large raft of Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup were seen offshore in Craig Bay.  A Western Gull, a Common Murre and a Pigeon Guillemot were heading up the Strait of Georgia.  A Brown Creeper and two Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen at the base of a tall conifer tree near the trail.  A Purple Finch was heard singing and then seen perched on a short bush along the trail. 

                                                                        

 Surfbird: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Nineteen birders including visiting birders from Washington State, Alberta and Manitoba saw and heard the following forty-seven species

Brant

Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose 

Mallard
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-neck Grebe

Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt’s  Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Surfbird

Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Dunlin

Black Oystercatcher
Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Mew Gull
Iceland(Thayer's) Gull
California Gull

Western Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Anna’s Hummingbird

Bewick’s Wren
Brown Creeper

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow
Pine Siskin

Purple Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

A flock of Canada Geese with a Greater White-fronted Goose were seen at the Parksville Community Beach before the walk.

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 February24 2019 will be going to the Buttertubs Marsh in  Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Buttertubs on the Bowen Road side about 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on February 26, 2019 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 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

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