Nanaimo bird report, July 28, 2013

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

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 July 14, 2013: 
The Sunday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side in Parksville.. The morning was sunny and warm with a cool wind blowing off the Strait of Georgia. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a Peregrine Falcon as it flew over us at the waters edge.  We watched as it flew  to the mudflats, pick up a shorebird and headed out of sight to feed on the prey.

 Eighteen birders, including a birder from California saw and heard the following thirty-eight species: Canada Goose, Common Merganser,, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Marbled Murrelet, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plovers, California Gull, Bonaparte Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Black-throated Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Willow Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, European Starling, Black-headed Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, and American Goldfinch.

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken .Photo. 

 

Five American Black Ducks were seen at the Cottonwood Golf Course in south Nanaimo. 

Wednesday, July 17:

A Great Horned Owl was seen along the East Wellington Overpass on Highway 19, in Nanaimo.
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Everyone is welcome 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.  **************************************************************************lWe will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

 

Sunday Bird Walk on August 04 will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.  We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at 9:20 am in the parking lot at Bowen Park near the bowling green off Bowen Road.

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Good birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo

 

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

Nanaimo Bird Alert, July 21, 2013

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

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, July 21^st, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  The morning was sunny and warm, with few birds.

 

Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Mike Yip photo

 

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following fourteen species: Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Bewick’s Wren, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, and American Goldfinch.

 

Saturday, July 20^th, 2013:

 Nine PIGEON GUILLEMOT were seen on Jessie Island near the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo.

Friday, July 19^th, 2013

 

A flock of fifty COMMON NIGHTHAWKS has been hawking insects at dawn anywhere between Brooks Landing, and Forest Park Elementary School in Nanaimo for the past two weeks.

 

PURPLE MARTINS have been seen using nest boxes near the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo.

 

Thursday, July 18th, 2013:

 

A NORTHERN FLICKER was just about ready to fledge from its nest in Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

 

Northern Flicker, Steen Petersen photo

 

 

Wednesday, July 17^th, 2013:

 

A GREAT-HORNED OWL was seen just before dusk at the East Wellington Overpass in Nanaimo.

 

Tuesday, July 16^th, 2013:

 

Six COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were hawking insects over Meridian Way in Parksville.

 

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Everyone is welcome 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 walks are finished for the summer. Tuesday walks will resume on Tuesday, September 3^rd 2013.

 

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The Sunday Bird Walk on July 28th, 2013, will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road Side in upper Parksville. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area on San Pariel Road in Parksville at 9:20 a.m.

 

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Good birding,
Ryan Cathers

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

 

 

Nanaimo bird report, July 14, 2013

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

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 July 14, 2013: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and warm with a cool wind blowing off the Strait of Georgia.   We spotted American Robins mobbing a Great Horned Owl.  A Marbled Murrelet, several Pelagic Cormorants, Surf Scoters and Double-crested Cormorants flew by along the Strait.

Sixteen birders including visiting birders from Calgary saw and heard the following thirty species:

Canada Goose, Turkey Vulture, Surf Scoters  Double-crested Cormorant,  Pelagic Cormorant,  Great Blue Heron,  Bald Eagle,  Great Horned Owl, Marbled Murrelet, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Spotted Sandpiper, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Bushtit,  Brown Creeper, Bewick’s Wren,  Pacific Wren,  Anna’s Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin,  European Starling,  Spotted Towhee,  Song Sparrow and Pine Siskin.

 

Great Horned Owl: Hans Laue Photo. 

 

Wednesday July 10:

On July 10, a Great Horned Owl was seen along the road to the over flow parking areas at Rathtrevor Park in Parksville.

 

Tuesday July 09:

On July 09, a Barred Owl was spotted twenty feet from the yellow gate on the river side path at the Englishman River Estuary on the Shelly Road side in Parksville. 

 

 

Monday July 08:

 A Family of Hammond’s Flycatchers was spotted at Springwood Park in Parksville.

 

A male Downy Woodpecker and a Hairy Woodpecker were seen visiting a feeder together in Ladysmith.

 

 

Sunday July 07:

 

Neil,

Again many thanks for today's bird walk, it was so educational for us
visitors.

Great birds and lovely companions - what more could one ask for!

Please pass on our thanks to all.

Have a good day next week at Neck Point (we saw hairy woodpecker feeding
young there).

Noel and Amanda (visiting from the UK)

 

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Everyone is welcome 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.
*************************************************************************************

We will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 21 will be going to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at 9:20 am in the parking lot at Moorecroft Regional Park off Stewart Road  (off  Northwest  Bay Road in Nanoose Bay)   Look for Park sign on Stewart Road.

 

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Good birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo

 

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

 

 

Nanaimo bird report, July 07, 2013

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

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 July 07, 2013: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was sunny and warm with a cool breeze blowing making for a great morning of birding.   An American Robin was spotted mobbing a Barred Owl. We had great views of a Western Tanager when he came down low several times to pick Thimble Berries from a low bush close to the trail. Two male Black-headed Grosbeaks put on a show as they chased each other next to the trail.  We watched as a pair of California Quail walked along the edge of the road with one tiny chick—a lovely sight  to see.  A Willow Flycatcher gave us a great performance as he sang from a low perch.

Nineteen birders including visiting birders from the United Kingdom saw and heard the following forty species:

Mallard, Turkey Vulture,  Barred Owl,  Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna’s Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird,  Belted Kingfisher,  Downy Woodpecker,  Northern Flicker,  Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,  California Quail, Violet-green Swallow,   Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren,  Marsh Wren,  Pacific Wren,  Bushtit,  Brown Creeper, Black-headed Grosbeak,  Swainson's Thrush,  American Robin,  Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher,  Willow Flycatcher,  Western Tanager,  Brown-headed Cowbird, Spotted Towhee,  Song Sparrow,  White-crowned Sparrow,  Red-winged Blackbird,  Purple Finch,  Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch and  Red Crossbill.

Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo.   

Saturday June 29:

 A White-winged Crossbill was seen at the Morell Modular Home Park in Nanaimo. 

Black-headed Grosbeak: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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Everyone is welcome 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.
*************************************************************************************

We will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 14 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15.am 

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Good birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo

 

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

Nanaimo bird report, June 30, 2013

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

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 June 30, 2013: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Hemer Provincial Park in Cedar. The morning was sunny and hot however we welcomed the coolness in the forest.  We saw a large number of Cedar Waxwing looking like a flock of Swallows hawking insects over the lake all morning.  We heard a Wilson’s Warbler singing near the trail and then we were entertained as he put on a show for us as he tried several times to capture a bug from a folded leaf until he was successful.

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

Mallard, Wood Duck, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Rufous Hummingbird,  Northern Flicker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,  Willow Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Barn Swallow,  Cliff Swallow,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Swainson's Thrush,  American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler,  Common Yellowthroat,  Western Tanager,  Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco,  Red-winged Blackbird,  American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and House Sparrow.

 

Wilson’s Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

 

Saturday, June 29:

A Great Horned Owl was seen just off Dickinson Road in north Nanaimo.

 

Tuesday June 25:

The morning was mostly cloudy, but no rain.  We were fortunate to see a Cooper's Hawk perched atop a tall evergreen, receiving quite a scolding from a crow.  

 17 birders (including visitors from Seattle) saw or heard 38 species.

Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow,, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow,

Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Western Tanager, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird,

Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and Black-headed Grosbeak.

 

 Olive-sided Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

A very special thanks to Rhonda, Paul and John for leading the Birdwalk.

 

Monday, June 24:

“Rare bird alert-Rose-breasted Grosbeaks”

A pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks has been seen visiting feeders in a yard at the top of Argyle Street just off 17^th Street in Port Alberni. Photo’s to follow.

 

Cedar Waxwings were seen in the Marsh behind Oliver Woods Rec. Center in Nanaimo.

 

Thursday, June 20:

A Pair of Bullock’s Orioles were seen in the west marsh of Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

 

Monday June 10:

A Barred Owl was spotted in the Stephenson Pont area of Nanaimo.

 

Sunday, June 09:

Two Barred Owls were seen at Bowen Park in Nanaimo. 

**********************************************************************************
Everyone is welcome 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.
*************************************************************************************

We will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 07 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or under the hydro lines along Normarel Drive in upper Lantzville. at about 9:15 am.
*********************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo

 

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