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.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Tuesday bird walk, January 31, 2012




















Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk will be going to Columbia Beach on January 31.
We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:20 A.M.
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Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk,January 24, 2012























Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was raining with very strong winds off the Straight of Georgia. We spotted a Golden-crowned Kinglet feeding down low just off the trail. Over one hundred Brant were just off shore, along with a dozen Black-bellied Plovers and about fifty Black Turnstones.
Six very dedicated birders saw and heard the following record low twelve species of birds:
Brant
Mallard
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Raven
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk will be going to Columbia Beach on January 31.
We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:20 A.M.
******************************************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Monday 23 January 2012

TUESDAY BIRD WALK, JANUARY 24, AND JANUARY 31, 2012

The Tuesday bird walk on January 24 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville!


The Tuesday bird walk on January 31 will be going to Columbia Beach!

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Light coloured Canada Geese at Deep Bay


















Light coloured Canada Geese: John Purves Photo.


The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was cold with snow flurries and a strong biting wind off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included seeing a Cackling Goose in with a flock of mostly Richardson's Race and Common Canada Geese. Three of the Canada Geese were very unusual. They were light coloured with a dusting of white on their brown necks and heads, rather than the usual black heads and necks.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk,January 17, 2012






















Long-tailed Ducks: Ralph Hocken Photo.


Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was cold with snow flurries and a strong biting wind off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included seeing a Cackling Goose in with a flock of mostly Richardson's Race and Common Canada Geese. Three of the Canada Geese were very unusual. They were light coloured with a dusting of white on their brown necks and heads, rather than the usual black heads and necks. We saw a flock of Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones and Dunlin resting on the snow near the shore. The big sighting of the morning was twenty-eight Long-tailed Ducks in the water not twenty feet from the point giving us all great views of this special duck.
Eight cold and snow blown birders including two visiting birders from Australia saw and heard the following forty-three species.
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Pacific Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Monday 16 January 2012

Nanaimo bird report, January 15, 2012





















Lincoln’s Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

“GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Sunday January 15, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and calm but quite cool. The highlights included seeing four Red Crossbills perched on top of a bush close to us. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a tall tree giving us great looks. We spotted a Lincoln’s Sparrow near the trail.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Greater Scaup, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Thayer’s gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbills, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and Red-winged Blackbird.

Saturday January 14:
Two Townsend’s Warblers are visiting suet feeders in the Divers Lake area of Nanaimo.

Friday January 13:
A pair of Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders in the 2100 block of Boxwood Road in Nanaimo.

Tuesday January 10:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was clear and sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. The surf was up and pounding into the shore. The highlights included seeing Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Sanderling’s and a small flock of Dunlin near the shore at the viewing platform. Throughout the morning, further offshore, thousands of Common Murre were heading up the Strait. We counted one hundred and thirty Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Little Qualicum River. A large raft of Greater Scaup was not far from shore.
Twenty birders including two visiting birders from Australia saw and heard the following forty-five species of birds:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous Gull,
Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird and House Finch.

“Rare bird alert –Summer Tanager “
A Summer Tanager is still being seen in the Columbia Beach area.

A Common Redpoll was spotted in with a flock of Pine Siskins and an American Goldfinch by the Oak Trees on the Dyke at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Monday January 09:
A Townsend’s Warbler is visiting feeders along Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.

Thursday January 05:
A small flock of Ring-necked Ducks were seen on the marsh at the end of Harwood Road in Nanaimo.

Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm.
Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.

*********************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting
Thursday, February, 09, 2012 at 7:00 pm.
@ The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
*******************************************************
Everyone is invited 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.

************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk will be going to Deep Bay on January 17.
We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the Marine Harbour at Deep Bay at about 9:35 A.M.
**************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on January 22 walk will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 A.M.

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

“VIU Science and Technology Spring Lecture Series”

As part of the VIU Science and Technology Spring Lecture Series, I have invited Derek Matthews of the Vancouver Avian Research Centre to present some of the interesting bird monitoring they’ve been conducting. The lecture will take place on Wednesday, February 1, 19:00. The details are available at the links below. These lectures are open to everyone.

Derek Matthews, February 1: http://web.viu.ca/simmsw/Lecture2012/4.Matthews/4.%20Matthews.pdf

Lecture series website: http://web.viu.ca/simmsw/ (includes whole schedule, directions and campus map)

Thanks ahead.
Cheers, Eric

Eric Demers, Ph.D., R.P.Bio.
Biology Department
Vancouver Island University
Building 359, Room 207
Phone: (250) 753-3245 local 2033

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk,January 10, 2012





















Brant, Black-bellied Plovers Black Turnstones and Dunlin: John Purves Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was clear and sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. The surf was up and pounding into the shore. The highlights included seeing Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Sanderlings and a small flock of Dunlin near the shore at the viewing platform. Throughout the morning, further offshore, thousands of Common Murre were heading up the Strait. We counted one hundred and thirty Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Little Qualicum River. A large raft of Greater Scaup were not far from shore.
Twenty birders including two visiting birders from Australia saw and heard the following forty-five species of birds:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Common Murre
Belted Kingfisher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Bird Report Update Tuesday Jan 10:

SUMMER TANAGER was reported up at Columbia Beach area on Monday & Tuesday.
COMMON REDPOLL was seen in with PINE SISKINS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH at Buttertubs Marsh by the oaks on the dyke.
Good birding!

Sunday 8 January 2012

Nanaimo bird report, January 08, 2012




















White-winged Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

“GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Sunday January 08, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with a wind. The big highlight of the morning was the sighting of a dark phased Rough-legged Hawk. We watched the hawk for the most part of the morning as it perched and hunted in the estuary. We were able to compare the Rough-legged Hawk with a Northern Harrier as they both flew over the estuary.
Fifteen birders including a visiting birder from Australia saw and heard the following twenty-eight species:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Shrike, Glaucous-winged Gull, Mew Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, , American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Fox Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Saturday January 07:
A juvenile Bald Eagle was spotted flying over Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.

A Cooper’s Hawk, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Merlin and a Red-tailed Hawk were seen on the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville.

A Tundra Swan and a Mute Swan were seen at Deep Bay.

Friday January 06:
Two Northern Flickers, one Northern Shrike, Pine Siskins, House Finch, Purple Finch, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, European Starlings and American Robins are visiting backyard feeders along Farquhar Street in Nanaimo.

Thursday January 05:
A Bald Eagle, a Red-tail Hawk and three Anna's Hummingbirds were seen at Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday January 03:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. It was a blustery morning with clouds, rain and a strong wind. The surf was rolling off the Strait of Georgia all morning. Our highlights included seeing two Long-tailed Ducks flying right at us and then disappearing in the waves not far from shore. Pacific Loons and Common Murre were spotted flying further offshore. We spotted several Black Oystercatchers, one Greater Yellowlegs, over twenty Black Turnstones, two Sanderling, Mew Gulls, one Herring Gull, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and six Brant on the gravel bar at Pebble Beach. As we were returning to our cars, we watched as twelve White-crowned Sparrows and one House Finch bathed in a puddle of water on the side of the road.

Eight very wet and windblown birders, including two visiting birders from New Zealand and one visiting birder from Australia, saw the following thirty-five species:
Brant, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant,
Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and House Finch.

Monday January 02:
Eleven California Quail were seen on a front lawn feeding below the bird feeders in the 2300 block of Brackenwood Place in Nanaimo.

A Townsend’s Warbler is visiting feeders along Lantzville Road in Lantzville.

Ten Black Turnstones, two hundred Brant Geese and two Bald Eagles were seen at Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Sunday January 01:
A Herring Gull, A Long-tailed Duck, A Thayer’s Gull and a Rhinoceros Auklet were seen off Neck Point in Nanaimo.

****************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting
Thursday, January, 12, 2012 at 7:00 pm.
Annual General Meeting and Members Night.
@ The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
*******************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm.
Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
*********************************************************
Everyone is invited 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.

************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk will be going to The Little Qualicum River Estuary on January 10.
We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at viewing platform near Highway 19a and Garrett Road at about 9:15 A.M.
**************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on January 15 walk will be going to Nanoose Bay.
We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or near the beach behind the Church camp off Arlington Road and Highway 19 at about 9:20 A.M.

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk,January 03, 2012





















Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. It was a blustery morning with clouds, rain and a strong wind. The surf was rolling off the Strait of Georgia all morning. Our highlights included seeing two Long-tailed Ducks flying right at us and then disappearing in the waves not far from shore. Pacific Loons and Common Murres were spotted flying further offshore. We spotted several Black Oystercatchers, one Greater Yellowlegs, over twenty Black Turnstones, two Sanderling, Mew Gulls, one Herring Gull, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and six Brant on the gravel bar at Pebble Beach. As we were returning to our cars, we watched as twelve White-crowned Sparrows and one House Finch bathed in a puddle of water on the side of the road.
Eight very wet and wind blown birders, including two visiting birders from New Zealand and one visiting birder from Australia, saw the following thirty-five species:
Brant
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia