Mew Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
“GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”
We are happy to report that Allan Hutley has returned home to recover after time spent in hospital in Victoria. Look forward to having you join us on the bird walk soon, Allan.
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
Sunday November 20, 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was clear and cool with a strong biting wind off the Strait of Georgia.
The highlights included seeing a Northern Shrike, two Eurasian Wigeon, a Thayer’s Gull and a Herring Gull.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Killdeer, Black Oystercatchers, California Quail, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Bewick’s Wren, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin.
Friday November 18:
Two Barred Owls were heard calling in a backyard along Metral Drive near Pleasant Valley School.
Thursday November 17:
An Anna’s Hummingbird was seen at Neck Point Park.
Six Trumpeter Swans were seen flying over Cedar Road, south of Nanaimo.
Tuesday, November 15:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and clear but very cool with calm winds. The highlights included seeing two Eurasian Wigeon, near the shore. A Red-tailed Hawk was seen perched in a tall conifer tree across the River. Four Western Meadowlarks flew into a tree giving us great looks. A Peregrine Falcon was perched at the top of a tall tree on the edge of the forest. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched at the top of a small bush on the meadows. The big surprise of the morning was the sighting of a Townsend's Warbler near the end of the walk.
Sixteen birders saw and heard the following sixty-one species, making for a great morning of birding:
Canada Geese, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Greater Yellowlegs, Bonaparte's Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northern Shrike, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren,
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Townsend's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Meadowlark, Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin.
Monday November 14:
A large flock of Surfbirds being chased by a Peregrine Falcon were seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Sunday November 13:
A Pacific Wren and a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet were spotted in a backyard at Whiskey Greek.
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Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, November 28 at 7:30 pm.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
Speaker: Brian Kingzett. Topic: Deep Bay Shellfish Research Station
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Nanoose Naturalists Meeting
Thursday, December 08 at 7 pm.
@ The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
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Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
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The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 15 will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:20A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on November 27 will be going the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road (on the Oceanside off highway 19a) at about 9:30 A.M.
Good birding
Neil Robins
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
“NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT”
Will be held on Wednesday December 28th, 2011.
Organizers are looking for as many backyard feeders counter and field observers as possible.
Contact the Birdstore at 250-390--3669 or email us at: thebackyard@shaw.ca
”NANOOSE BAY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT”
Friday December 16, 2011
Contact Rhys Harrison at 250-248-5305 or email him at: rhysharrison@shaw.ca
