Nanaimo bird report, September 10, 2017

"Nanaimo bird report”

Explore Nature ---Go Birding
To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail
thebirdstore@shaw.ca

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                  Sunday Bird Walk, September 10, 2017:

The Sunday bird walk went to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and calm winds. Turkey Vultures flew over head all morning.  A Great Blue Heron, a Glaucous-winged Gull and a Pelagic Cormorant were perched on a island just off shore.  We spotted a young Red-breasted Sapsucker tapping on a tree near the trail.  A pair of Hairy Woodpecker put on a great show for us while they were feeding on a tall tree along the trail.  A family of Brown Creepers were feeding on a tree next to the trail.  A Fox Sparrow and a Song Sparrow played hide and seek with us for a long time.

Hairy Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Ten birders saw and heard the following twenty-two species:

Turkey Vulture

Great Blue Heron

Glaucous-winged Gull

  Double-crested Cormorant

  Pelagic Cormorant

  California Quail

Downy Woodpecker

  Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

                                                        Red-breasted Sapsucker

Anna’s Hummingbird

Bushtit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Brown Creeper

  Berwick’s Wren

American Robin

  Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 05, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and smoky with a light breeze off the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Barred Owl as it moved along the forest.   It stopped to look us over, giving us great views. We watched as Cedar Waxwings, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, an Orange-crowned Warbler, a Cassin’s Vireo and a Willow Flycatcher came and went as they fed on a berry tree just off the trail.  We saw a Merlin perched on a big snag near the strait.  One Pigeon Guillemot and two Marbled Murrelets were seen near the shore heading down the Strait of Georgia.  Three River Otters were seen walking along a gravel bar.  We spotted Two Pacific White- sided Dolphins swimming just off shore going down the Strait. We watched in fascination as five Killer Whales headed up the Strait, diving and surfacing above the water.   Much to our enjoyment they turned around and headed down the Strait, doubling our pleasure. We were entertained for about forty-five minutes. 

It was a Whale of a Bird Walk this morning! 

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-three species: 

Canada Geese

Mallard

                                                                  Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Harlequin Duck

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Merlin

Sharp-shinned Hawk

 Barred Owl

Great Blue Heron

California Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

 California Quail

Steller’s Jay

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Berwick’s Wren

  American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Cassin’s Vireo

 Willow Flycatcher

 Spotted Towhee

 Song Sparrow

 White-crowned Sparrow

 House Finch

 Purple Finch 

American Goldfinch

Five Killer Whales

Two Pacific White-sided Dolphins

Three River Otters

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 go to a different location in the Oceanside area.

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 12, 2017, will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the Lions Club Playground parking lot) at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive on the Oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

The Sunday Bird walk on September 17, 2017 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Parking lot of Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.

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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 05, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and smokie with a light breeze off the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Barred Owl as it moved along the forest.   It stopped to look us over, giving us great views. We watched as Cedar Waxwings, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, an Orange-crowned Warbler, a Cassin’s Vireo and a Willow Flycatcher came and went as they fed on a berry tree just off the trail.  We saw a Merlin perched on a big snag near the strait.  One Pigeon Guillemot and two Marbled Murrelets were seen near the shore heading down the Strait of Georgia.  Three River Otters were seen walking along a gravel bar.  We spotted Two Pacific White- sided Dolphins swimming just off shore going down the Strait.

We watched in fascination as five Killer Whales headed up the Strait, diving and surfacing above the water.   Much to our enjoyment they turned around and headed down the Strait, doubling our pleasure. We were entertained for about forty-five minutes.  It was a Whale of a Bird Walk this morning!

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Harlequin Duck

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Merlin

Sharp-shinned Hawk

 Barred Owl

Great Blue Heron

California Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

 California Quail

Steller’s Jay

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Berwick’s Wren

  American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Cassin’s Vireo

 Willow Flycatcher

 Spotted Towhee

 Song Sparrow

 White-crowned Sparrow

 House Finch

 Purple Finch 

American Goldfinch

Five Killer Whales

Two Pacific White-sided Dolphins

Three River Otters

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 12, 2017, will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the Lions Club Playground parking lot) at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive on the Oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 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, September 03, 2017

Nanaimo bird report”

Explore Nature ---Go Birding
To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail
thebirdstore@shaw.ca

Please remember that when reporting a sighting leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                       Sunday Bird Walk, September 03, 2017:

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and hot, with an occasional cool breeze. Many Common Ravens were seen overhead all morning. A Northern Shoveller, four Green-wing Teal, two Gadwall and nine Common Mergansers was seen along the river.  A Northern Harrier put in a quick appearance and then disappeared.  We heard several Steller’s Jays during the walk.  Four Greater Yellowlegs and one Lesser Yellowlegs were seen along the shore.  A Willow Flycatcher was spotted perched on a bush near the trail. 

Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species:

Northern Shoveller

Green-wing Teal

Gadwall

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Barn Swallow

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Willow Flycatcher

Bewick’s Wren

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

House Finch
American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Saturday, September 02:

A Common tern was seen at the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

Thursday, August 31:

Steller’s Jays have been seen in Nanoose Bay.

Common Raven: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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 go to a different location in the Oceanside area.

The Tuesday Birdwalk on September 05, 2017, will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the Lions Club Playground parking lot) at 9:00 a.m or at the end of Shelly Road on the Oceanside of highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

The Sunday Birdwalk on September 10, 2017 will be going to the Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at Parking lot of Moorecroft Park (follow Northwest Bay Road to Stewart Road and follow the signs to Moorecroft) at about 9:30 a.m.

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

Nanaimo bird report, August 27, 2017

Nanaimo bird report”

Explore Nature ---Go Birding

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail
thebirdstore@shaw.ca

Please remember that when reporting a sighting leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                                             Sunday Bird Walk, August 27 2017:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  The morning was sunny with cool winds.  Wood Ducks, Green-wing Teal, Hooded Merganser and two Pied-billed Grebes were seen at the start of the walk. We had great views of a Cooper’s Hawk perched at the top of a conifer tree next to the trail. Two Cedar Waxwings were spotted at the top of a snag, giving us great looks.  A Western Tanager stopped at the top of a tree long enough to give us a good look at it.

Pied-billed Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-two birders including a visiting birder from Seattle saw and heard following twenty-nine species:

Canada Geese

Mallard,

Wood Duck

Green-wing Teal

Hooded Merganser

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron,

Turkey Vulture,

Cooper’s hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian-collared Doves

Rock Doves

Tree Swallow

Northern Flicker

Anna’s Hummingbird

Orange-crowned Warbler

Cedar Waxwing

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

California Quail

Chestnut-backed Chickadee,

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Marsh Wren

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

House Finch

House Sparrow.

 

Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Wednesday August 23

A Great Horned Owl was seen at Neck Point Park on the trail near the last Beach. 

                   The Tuesday Birdwalks will resume on September 5, 2017.

The Sunday Birdwalk on September 03, 2017 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at end of Raines Road at about 9:30 a.m

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 Metral Drive Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo bird report, August 20, 2017

Nanaimo bird report”

Explore Nature ---Go Birding

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail
thebirdstore@shaw.ca

Please remember that when reporting a sighting to please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

Sunday Bird Walk, August 20 2017

The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  The morning was sunny with calm winds.

Over twenty Steller’s Jays flew into the trees not far from the trail.  This is the first time we have seen the Jay’s for about two years—a great sight!  A large number of Killdeer, Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and a Semi-palmated Plover were seen on the mudflats. Thirty Common Mergansers were seen on the gravel bar just off shore. We spotted a lone White-winged Scoter flying just above the water, heading up the Strait of Georgia.  A Merlin flew in chasing a flock of Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers but left empty handed.  A Ring-necked Pheasant was seen along the Art Gallery fence and again just off the trail near the end of the walk.

Steller’s Jay: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Sixteen birders including a visiting birder from Seattle saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Common Merganser

White-winged Scoter

Common Loon

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Semi-palmated Plovers

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Ring-necked Pheasant

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Brown Creeper

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick's Wren

Cassin’s Vireo

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

California Quail

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

                                                                    Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch 

Ring-necked Pheasant: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Birdwalks will resume on September 5, 2017.

The Sunday Birdwalk on August 27, 2017 will be going to the Buttertubs marsh in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the Bowen Road side of Buttertubs at about 9:15 a.m.

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 Metral Drive

 Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com