Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 12, 2019, 
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach in French Creek. The morning was sunny but cool with very strong winds off the Strait of Georgia.  The highlight of the morning was thousands upon thousands  of Gulls either on the Strait or flying, including Glaucous Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Iceland(Thayer's) Gulls, Herring Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls. There was also vast numbers of Brant Geese on the Strait. One Glaucous Gull was seen not five feet from the shore giving us great views.  Many flocks of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks heading up the Strait. A Cooper’s Hawk was perched in a tree not far from the trail checking us over for the longest time. The Herring Spawn has arrived!

Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Ottawa and Washington State saw and heard the following fifty-seven species:

Canada Geese

Brant

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

Brandt’s Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant 

Belted Kingfisher

Greater Yellowlegs

Black Turnstone

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Glaucous Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Iceland(Thayer's) Gull

Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Anna’s Hummingbird

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

American Robin

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

House Finch
Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Glaucous Gull:   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 17, 2019 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00am or at the end of Raines Road off Cedar Road at about 9:30am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March19, 2019 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach. 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 9:25am.

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

Herring Spawn

We have received reports that the Herring Spawn has started at Northwestern Bay in Nanoose Bay. and further up the Strait of Georgia. The seabirds are coming on mass( a lot of Seabirds!!)

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8

Nanaimo bird report, March 10, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Weekly Bird Report

Nanaimo Bird Report, March 10, 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.

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Sunday Bird Walk, March 10, 2019
This week’s Sunday bird walk went the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The weather was sunny with calm winds.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen high up in the trees just off the trail at the start of the walk.  Large numbers of Bald Eagles were seen flying over head all morning.  Common Loons, Pacific Loons, a Brandt’s Cormorant, Double- crested Cormorants and one Common Murre were seen on the Strait of Georgia. Flocks of Killdeer, Black Oystercatchers and Dunlin were seen near the shore.  We heard Varied Thrush and heard and saw a Western Meadowlark near the observation ramp. We heard a Barred Owl singing at the end of the walk.

Eighteen birders including two visiting birders from Ottawa saw and heard the following fifty-six Species:
Canada Goose
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser 
Common Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Greater Scaup
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double- crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Common Murre
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian Collared Dove
Barred Owl
Anna’s Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Western Meadowlark
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin


Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Photo by Ralph Hocken Photo:

 March 9 :
A Virginia Rail was seen at Hemer Park in Cedar.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 5, 2019, 2019
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny but cool with strong winds off the Strait of Georgia.  A flock of Canada Geese, one Greater White-fronted Goose, one Snow Goose and several flocks of Brant were seen on the walk.  Six Gadwall, one Eurasian Wigeon, two Eurasian Teal were seen along the estuary. A Western Grebe, a large flock of Ancient Murrelets, many Common Murre and a Brandt’s Cormorant were seen on the Strait.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Anna's Hummingbirds and Golden-crowned Kinglets were spotted along the trails.
Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Calgary saw and heard the following fifty-four species:
Canada Goose 
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Brant
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Eurasian Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Ancient Murrelet
Common Murre
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Killdeer
Mew Gull
Iceland-(Thayer's) Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven 
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Anna's Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

   Eurasian Wigeon, Ralph Hocken Photo:

Wednesday, March 6: A Turkey Vulture was seen above Collage Heights in Nanaimo.

Friday, March 1:  A Turkey Vulture was spotted over the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.

Thursday February 28:
A Red-tailed Hawk was seen at Robbins Park in south Nanaimo. 

Tuesday February 26:
A Barred Owl was seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Two Stellers Jays were  at Hammond Bay and Vista Road.


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 17, 2019 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00am or at the end of Raines Road off Cedar Road at about 9:30am.


The Tuesday Bird Walk on March12, 2019 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area on Admiral Tryon Boulevard, off Columbia Drive on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:20am.

Good birding
Neil Robins 


THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Northern Shrike

Two Northern Shrike were seen in a backyard being chased by an Anna's Hummingbird Along Meridian Way in Parksville:

Neat sighting,
Neil Robins

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 5, 2019, 2019

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 5, 2019, 2019
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny but cool with strong winds off the Strait of Georgia.  A flock of Canada Geese, one Greater White-fronted Goose, one Snow Goose and several flocks of Brant were seen on the walk.  Six Gadwall, one Eurasian Wigeon, two Eurasian Teal were seen along the estuary. A Western Grebe, a large flock of Ancient Murrelets, many Common Murre and a Brandt’s Cormorant were seen on the Strait.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Anna's Hummingbirds and Golden-crowned Kinglets were spotted along the trails.
Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Calgary saw and heard the following fifty-four species: 
Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Brant
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Eurasian Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Ancient Murrelet
Common Murre
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Killdeer
Mew Gull
Iceland-(Thayer's) Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven 
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Anna's Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin


Eurasian Wigeon, 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 10, 2019 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00am or at the end of Shelly Road, on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:30am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March12, 2019 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area on Admiral Tryon Boulevard, off Columbia Drive on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:20am.

Good birding
Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com