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-*q
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,
October 30, 2016:
This
Sunday’s Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The
morning was sunny and the winds were calm. A flock of Trumpeter Swans flew high overhead heading down
the island. Common Goldeneye and Barrow’s Goldeneye were seen on the Nanaimo
River.
We were entertained for most of the morning with
several sightings of a Short-eared Owl. Numerous
Northern Shrikes caught our attention on the walk and a Rough-legged Hawk was perched
on a tree near the trail. Two Wilson’s Snipe flew over and landed in the grass
near the trail giving us great views.
Several bright yellow Western Meadowlarks perched
close to the trail.
Short-eared owl being mobbed by a Crow: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Twenty birders including visiting birders from
Newfoundland and Alberta saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
Mallard
American Wigeon
Mallard
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Northern Pintail
Green-wing Teal
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Great
Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Short-eared Owl
Northern Harrier
Rough-legged Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Northern Shrike
Killdeer
Wilson’s Snipe
California Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European
Starling
Western Meadowlark
American
Robin
Bewick’s Wren
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Towhee
Savannah’s Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Friday,
October 28:
Over Twenty Snow Geese and two Trumpeter Swans
were seen on a field next to the Black Bear Pub in north Nanaimo.
Thursday,
October 27:
A Common Goldeneye was spotted at the Little
Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Wednesday,
October 26:
Many Anna’s Hummingbirds and American Goldfinch
are visiting feeders in Ladysmith.
The Rock
Wren is still being seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Parksville/Qualicum
Beach Tuesday bird walk
October 25, 2016:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach
Provincial Park. The morning started out with “hold on to your scope”
winds off the water, and the rain continued fairly steady throughout the
morning. 7 Brandt was seen flying low over the water, and both a
Sharp-shinned Hawk and Merlin were spotted over the trees.
Brant: Ralph Hocken Photo.
7 hardy, wind worn birders, who didn’t get the
memo, saw and heard the following 31 species:
Brant Geese
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Harlequin Duck
Mallard
American Wigeon
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-bellied Plover
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Canada Goose
Northern Flicker
Spotted Towhee
American Robin
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Dark-eyed Junco
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Good birding,
Rhonda Fleming
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Everyone
is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on Sunday & Tuesday. We
leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different
location in and around Nanaimo. We leave from the Parksville Community
Park at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings and go to a different location in the
Oceanside area.
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The
Tuesday bird walk on November 01, 2016 will be going once again to Rathtrevor
Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. 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
main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 a.m.
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The
Sunday bird walk on November 06, 2016 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in
Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the Buttertubs Marsh parking lot off Jingle Pot Road at about 9:20 a.m.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
A blitz survey of geese in the Nanaimo area on
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 09:00-11:00
As part of the Canada Geese project by VIU biology student Stew Pearce,
we will be conducting a blitz survey of geese in the Nanaimo area on SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 6, 09:00-11:00
We are seeking as many volunteers
as possible to help out with these surveys.
The goal of the blitz survey will be to obtain more direct estimates of
total goose abundance and distribution. The survey area between Lantzville and
Cedar will be divided into 10-20+ subsections (depending on number of
surveyors), which will be surveyed simultaneously. Individual surveyors (or
teams) will be assigned to a subsection, and will count Canada Geese and record
any neck collars present. The survey should take no more than 2 hours.
Stew will be conducting a regular count survey at the same time (along a
set survey route with 60 stops). Comparison of the blitz survey and Stew’s
regular count will provide an approximation of the detection efficiency for the
regular count surveys. In addition, these surveys will provide estimates of the
total goose population, which can be used to compare with mark-and-recapture
estimates derived from collared geese.
If you are interested in participating, please email me (eric.demers@viu.ca). Anyone can
participate – the only requirement is a pair of binoculars. More volunteers
means a more effective, thorough and synchronized blitz survey.
Thanks ahead for your help.
Cheers, Eric (and Stew)
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Good birding
