Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 08, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the English River Estuary in Parksville. The morning started out with light rain and calm winds, but the rain showers stopped shortly after we began and it was quite warm, making for a great morning of birding. We heard and then saw a Ringed-neck Pheasant at the base of a short bush at the edge of the meadow. A Merlin, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Cooper’s Hawk were seen in the same area along the meadow.  Six Western Meadowlarks were perched on a bush in the meadow. Four Gadwall were swimming in the flooded estuary. Twenty Trumpeter Swans were heading down the island high above us. Over forty Bald Eagle were circling overhead and  perched on the tall conifers all morning. 

 

                                                                Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Four enthusiastic  birders saw and heard the following sixty-one species:

Canada Geese

Trumpeter Swan

 American Widgeon

 Mallard

 Harlequin Duck

Gadwall

 Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter

 Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

 Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

 Common Merganser

 Common Loon

 Pacific Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

  Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

 Great Blue Heron

 Bald Eagle

Merlin

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Coopers Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

 Mew Gull

 California Gull

 Thayer's Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

 Anna's Hummingbird

 Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

  Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Ringed-neck Pheasant

 American Robin

Varied Thrush

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

 Bewick's Wren

 Pacific Wren

 Bushtit

 Golden-crowned Kinglet

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 European Starling

Western Meadowlark

 Spotted Towhee

Red-wing Blackbird

Brewers Blackbird

 Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

 Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill

American Goldfinch

 House Finch

Pine Siskin

 

                                                           Ring-necked Pheasant: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on December 15, 2015 will be going to  Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about  9:10 a.m. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.co

Nanaimo bird report, December 06, 2015

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, December 06, 2015
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning started out with lots of rain, and a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. A large flock of gulls were resting on the flooded area, including one Ring-billed Gull and one Hooded Merganser with a flock of Canada Geese. A Red-tailed Hawk was preening on a tall tree close to the trail.

Hooded Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Two birders saw and heard the following twenty-three species:

Canada Geese

  American Wigeon

Bufflehead

  Mallard

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher

 Bald Eagle

 Red-tailed Hawk

 Ring-billed Gull

 Mew Gull

 California Gull

Thayer's Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

  American Robin

Northwestern Crow

  Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Spotted Towhee

 Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

 Golden-crowned Sparrow

 Dark-eyed Junco

Tuesday, December 01: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with very strong cool winds from the south side of the Strait of Georgia. We saw Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters Long-tailed Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye riding the wild surf on the water. Large numbers of Canada Geese, Mallard, American Widgeon and a Eurasian Widgeon were seen on the flooded French Creek. We watched as a big flock of House Finch rested and fed from a short berry bush close to the trail.

Eurasian Widgeon: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-eight species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

American Widgeon

Eurasian Widgeon

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

                                                     Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Belted Kingfisher

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Rock Dove

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

American Robin

                                           Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

                                                   House Sparrow 

House Finch: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

********************************************************************************
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. on 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.
*****************************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on December 08, will be going to the Shelly Road side of Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Kids playground at  9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of Highway 19a  at about 9:05 a.m.
*****************************************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on December 13, 2015 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the beach side of the church camp (off Arlington Road on the ocean side of highway 19a) in
Nanoose Bay at about 9:15 a.m.

************************************************************************* 

Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count --Friday, 18th December 2015.

Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca
*************************************************************************************

Parksville Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, December 20, 2015.

Please contact Sandra Gray, 250 248-5565 or saninerr@shaw.ca
*************************************************************************************
Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, December 27th, 2015.

Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca
**************************************************************************************
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.co

 

TO UN-SUBSCRIBE FROM THESE EMAILS, PLEASE REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL WITH “REMOVE” IN THE SUBJECT LINE.  Thanks….

Christmas Bird Count Information

Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count --Friday, 18th December 2015.
Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

 *************************************************************************************

Parksville Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, December 20, 2015.
Please contact Sandra Gray, 250 248-5565 or saninerr@shaw.ca

 *************************************************************************************
Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, December 27th, 2015.
Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

At the store we have the checklists available for the Backyard Bird Feeder Christmas Bird Count for the following regions:

 

Parksville/ Qualicum

 

and

 

Nanaimo

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 01, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with very strong cool winds from the south side of the Strait of Georgia. We saw Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters Long-tailed Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye riding the wild surf on the water. Large numbers of Canada Geese, Mallard, American Widgeon and a Eurasian Widgeon were seen on the flooded French Creek. We watched as a big flock of House Finch rested and fed from a short berry bush close to the trail.


Eurasian Widgeon: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-nine species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

American Widgeon

Eurasian Widgeon

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Belted Kingfisher

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Rock Dove

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

American Robin

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

                                                                House Finch: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on December 08, will be going to the Shelly Road side of Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Kids playground at  9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of Highway 19a  at about 9:05 a.m. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.co

 

 

Nanaimo bird report, November 29, 2015

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, November 29, 2015
The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and cool. The tide was high we saw many Mew Gulls, Ring-bill Gulls, Thayer's Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls on the estuary and gravel bars. White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finch and Pine Siskins were plentiful along the side of the estuary giving us great views.

 

Dark-eyed Junco: Ralph Hocken photo.

Eleven birders including a visiting birder from Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Mallard

American Widgeon

Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Northern Pintail

Green-wing Teal

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Mew Gull

Ring-bill Gull

Thayer's Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

Steller’s Jay

Northern Flicker

Downy woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

California Quail

American Robin

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Anna’s Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin                                                 

 

An American Kestrel was seen along highway 19 near the equestrian facility in Nanoose Bay.

Saturday, November 28:

A Townsend’s Warbler was seen near the Casabas shopping centre in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, November 24: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with a strong winds blasting off the Strait of Georgia.  Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatcher, Killdeer and Black Turnstones were seen on the gravel bars from the viewing platform. A Marbled Murrelet and several Common Murre were seen flying down the Strait. A Red Crossbill flew in to the top of a conifer next to the road giving us great views. Six Trumpeter Swan flew just overhead and landed in the estuary. Many Bald Eagles were seen overhead throughout the morning. 

Trumpeter Swans: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Winnipeg and Prince Albert was and heard the following forty-four species:

Trumpeter Swan

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

American Widgeon

Northern Pintail

Green-wing Teal

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Barrows Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

Ring-bill Gull

Thayer's Gull

California Gull

Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Red Crossbill

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow 

                                                                                                  

Red Crossbill: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty Brant and over two thousand Dunlin were seen near the tide line at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville.  

A Yellow-billed Loon and fifty Brant were seen offshore on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

A Northern Saw-whet Owl was seen in a garden 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. on 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.
*****************************************************************************************

The Tuesday bird walk on December 01 will be going to Columbia Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot next to the Lions Club kids playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Bld. off Columbia Drive at about 9:15 a.m.

*****************************************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on December 06, 2015 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the beach side of the church camp (off Arlington Road on the ocean side of highway 19a ) in
Nanoose Bay at about 9:25 a.m.
************************************************************************* 

Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count --Friday, 18th December 2015.
Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca
*************************************************************************************

Parksville Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, December 20, 2015.
Please contact Sandra Gray, 250 248-5565 or saninerr@shaw.ca
*************************************************************************************
Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, December 27th, 2015.
Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca
**************************************************************************************
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.co