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 12 December 2010

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT DECEMBER 12 /2010


Greater White-fronted Geese: Ralph Hocken Photo.
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
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To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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

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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching
with: http://www.birdingpal.org/

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 12, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo
There was light rain and it was quite cool but the winds were calm. The highlights of the morning included seeing a Greater White-fronted Goose and a Canada Goose just overhead. We saw a Virginia Rail come out of the weeds, giving us great close looks at him. We saw and heard a flock of twelve Common Redpolls in a Alder Bush not far from us.
Five birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds:
Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, Doubled-crested Cormorant, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Ringed-necked Duck, Great Blue Heron, Glaucous-winged Gull, Virginia Rail,Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Belted Kingfisher, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch and House Sparrows.

Saturday December 11:
A Mute Swan was spotted near Newcastle Island at Bate Point across from the Yacht Club in Nanaimo.

"Rare Bird Alert-Harris Sparrow"
A Harris Sparrow has been visiting feeders along Green Lake Crescent in north Nanaimo.
Sunday December 12:
An Anna's Hummingbird has been observed in a yard for the first time in the 4300 block of Alderwood Drive in Port Alberni.

Friday December 10:
Twenty-four Pine Siskins are visiting feeders in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.

Thursday December 09:
A White-throated Sparrow, a Lincoln's Sparrow, a Townsend's Warbler and three Golden-crowned Sparrows are visiting feeders in the 5300 block of Hammond Bay Road in north Nanaimo.

Wednesday December 08:
Ten Evening Grosbeaks were seen near Stewart Road and Drake Street in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 07:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was windy with lots of rain. The surf was up and pounding on the shore--it was a winter storm in the making for sure! The highlights of the morning included a large number of Long-tailed Ducks just off the Point and a large mixed flock of Black Turnstones and Dunlin just along the shoreline.
Five hardy, cold, wet birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, 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, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee and White-crowned Sparrow.

Monday December 06:
Eight Evening Grosbeaks were seen in a backyard along Cosgrove Crescent in north Nanaimo.

Saturday December 03:
Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders in the 6900 block of Lancewood Drive in upper Lantzville.

Sunday November 14:
"Rare Bird Alert--Smew"
While doing the Coastal Survey a SMEW drake was spotted off of Downes Point Hornby Island.


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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CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR 2010.....

NANOOSE/LANTZVILLE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2010.
FOR DETAILS CONTACT rhysharrison@shaw.ca
or call Rhys Harrison at 250-248-5305
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PARKVILLE/QUALICUM BEACH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
SUNDAY DECEMBER 19, 2010
saninerr@shaw.ca
or call Sandra Gray at 250-248-5565
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NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2010
FOR DETAIL CONTACT thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 250-390-3669
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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. 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 December 14, 2010. will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road, on the ocean side of Highway 19A at about 9: 10 A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on December 19, 2010 will be going to Nanoose Bay
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot behind the Church Camp at about 9:20 A.M.
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Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

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