BIRD REPORT
“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.
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Sunday, March 20, 2016:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The
morning was cloudy but warm and the winds were calm. We saw four Western
Meadowlarks perched in a short bush not far from the trail. Tree Swallows and
Violet-green Swallows were hawking insects overhead all morning. A Northern
Shrike was perched on a short bush and we watched as it flew out for prey
several times and returned to it’s perch.
Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Twenty-six birders including visiting birders from Langley and Oliver saw
and heard the following thirty-eight species:
Canada Geese
American Widgeon
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Green-wing Teal
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Doubled-crested Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Northern Shrike
Glaucous-winged Gull
Greater Yellowlegs
Killdeer
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
American Robin
Western Meadowlark
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch
Thursday, March 15:
Red Crossbills were spotted in the Stephenson Point area of Nanaimo.
We have received several reports of Rufous Hummingbirds returning in
Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay and Parksville.
Wednesday, March 14:
More than twelve Red Crossbills were seen visiting a backyard in the Cedar
area.
Tuesday, March 13:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach
and the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The morning was mostly sunny with a
few clouds and the winds were calm. Black Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers,
Black Oystercatchers, Brant Geese, Bonaparte's Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's
Gulls and a Western Gull were plentiful on the gravel bars offshore from the
viewing platform. Two American Dipper’s were seen just off the road, near the
parking lot at the fish hatchery, singing and catching fish. Further along the
trail we saw and heard Red-breasted Sapsuckers tapping on the top of the hydro
poles. There were large flocks of Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows flying
high overhead, hawking insects.
American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following fifty-three species:
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Goose
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Mew Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Turnstones
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
American Dipper
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Violet-green Swallow: 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. 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.
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The Tuesday bird walk on March 22, will be going to Port Alberni, Meet at
the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Kids Playground
at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area in Port Alberni near the river (follow
highway 4 into Port Alberni until you come to the tee intersection. Turn left
and then right onto the parking area along the water) We will meet there about
10:00 a.m.
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The Sunday bird walk on March 27, 2016 will be going to Neck Point Park in
Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point
Park off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.
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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
