The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted by 8am the day of the walk.

Sunday 13 July 2008

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029
Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on these site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

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

Sunday, July 13, 2008:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. Among the
highlights was the sighting of a Cassin's Vireo gleaning insects from the leaves in a tall tree. We saw an American Robin fly into it's nest to feed four chicks. The sighting of the morning was a Red-eyed Vireo going to and from it's nest in the big leaf Maple Trees (the trees known as the Warbler Trees as we usually see a great number of Warblers in it). We were all able to watch the Vireo peer into the nest and then move into it and nestle down. We could see it's head with the red eye and eye streak. The Vireo left the nest and returned several times. It was a fantastic sight for us all.
Fifteen birders found the following thirty-three species of birds:
Turkey Vulture, Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven ,Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and American Goldfinch.
Saturday, July 12:
An Osprey was spotted circling above the Country Club Shopping Centre and the old Island Highway in Nanaimo.
Approximately fifty Common Nighthawks and twelve Black Swifts were seen hawking insects for about 45 minutes over the 2500 block of Glenayer Drive in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.
A Western Meadowlark was seen in the saltmarsh habitat on the short grass at the end of Seabroom Road off Kaltasin Road in Sooke.
Red-necked Phalaropes, a Red Phalarope and Heermann's Gulls were seen off Jordan River north of Sooke.
Wednesday, July 09:
A Barred Owl with two fledglings was seen at Bowen Park in Nanaimo.
Tuesday, July 08:
Five Caspian Terns were seen in with California and Glaucous Gulls resting along the gravel on the Columbia Beach side of the mouth of French Creek. Flying over head were several Purple Martins and a Belted Kingfisher.
There were many Canada Geese and a family of Common Mergangers with fourteen youngsters along French Creek.
A Heerman's Gull, three Caspian Terns and four Western Sandpipers were seen on the ocean across from Judges Row in Qualicum Beach.

Monday, July 07:
Two Eurasian Collared-Doves were seen along Grant Road near Otter Point Road in Sooke.

Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows were seen along Quenell Road in Cedar.

A Trumpeter Swan was spotted in with a flock of Canada Geese on a pond just off Doole Road near Yellow Point Road in Cedar.
For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
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The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday September 11, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
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Arrowsmith Naturalists
Annual Picnic--July 28, 2008.
Monthly Meeting,
Monday September 22, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
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Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
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The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Wednesday mornings will not be held during the summer months. We will resume the Wednesday bird walks in
the fall.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on July 20, 2008, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area on the Bowen Road side of Buttertubs Marsh at about 9:20 A.M. Thanks Susan for leading the walk.
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Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

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