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 30 September 2012

Nanaimo bird report, September 30.


 


 Northern Harrier: 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 September 30, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to The Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cool with fog on the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included

seeing three female Northern Harriers flying low to the ground hunting for prey. We saw many Savannah Sparrows

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Great Blue Heron, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, Bufflehead, American Widgeon, Doubled-crested Cormorant,  Belted Kingfisher, European Starling, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk,  Northern Harrier, Killdeer, California Gull,  Glaucous-winged Gull,  Northern Flicker,   American Robin,  Cedar Waxwing, Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Bewick’s Wren,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow,  White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and House Finch.
Saturday, September 29:
A kettle of about fifty Turkey Vultures were seen circling and heading south above a house on Western Acres Road in Nanaimo.   

Tuesday, September 25:  The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny with the feel of autumn in the air. The bird of the morning was the unusual sighting of a Black-and-White Warbler feeding on insects in a tree near the trail. Black and White Warblers are normally observed east of the Rockies and have only been sighted here on rare occasions. We saw and heard a Cassin’s Vireo feeding on a large bush near the trail. Both the Warbler and the Vireo co-operated and we were able to watch them both for a long period of time. A Steller’s Jay and a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows were singing and feeding next to the trail. A Western Grebe and a Red-necked Grebe were seen just off shore at low tide. 
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-three species:
Canada Geese, American Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Western Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Coopers Hawk, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Eurasian Collared- Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Cassin’s Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Belted Kingfisher,
Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,
Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow,
Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch.
 

Thursday, September 27:
The BC Naturists bird walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds and sea. Among the highlights were the sightings of three Western Grebe’s, two Marbled Murrelets, Common Murre and several Pacific Loons racing down the Strait of Georgia just above the water.

Fifty birders saw and heard the following thirty-one species:

Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Western Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin. 

A Western Meadowlark was seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

Sunday September 23:
 A White-throated Sparrow was seen in a backyard along Chestnut Street in Parksville.
 

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. *************************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on October 02, 2012 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor provincial Park at about 9:10 am.
*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday October 07, 2012 will be going to the Neck point Park in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking lot at 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.com
*********************************************************************

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 25, 2012

                                          Steller's Jay: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny with the feel of autumn in the air. The bird of the morning was the unusual sighting of a Black-and-White Warbler feeding on insects in a tree near the trail. Black and White Warblers are normally observed east of the Rockies and have only been sighted here on rare occasions. We saw and heard a Cassin’s Vireo feeding on a large bush near the trail. Both the Warbler and the Vireo co-operated and we were able to watch them both for a long period of time. A Steller’s Jay and a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows were singing and feeding next to the trail. A Western Grebe and a Red-necked Grebe were seen just off shore at low tide.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species:
Canada Geese
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared- Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Cassin’s Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch

The Tuesday bird walk on October 02, 2012 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 23 September 2012

Nanaimo bird report, September 23, 2012

Townsend's Warbler and an Anna's Hummingbird: Photo by a Birdstore Customer.

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 September 23, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cool with fog on the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included seeing two male Townsend’s Warblers and a flock of Bushtits feeding on a apple tree near the trail.  We saw six Pacific Loon’s in breeding plumage gleaming on the water.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Surf Scoter, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,  Bushtits, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Anna’s Hummingbird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Townsend’s  Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Saturday September 22:
A Seller’s Jay and two Dark-eyed Juncos were seen at feeders along Meridian Way in Parksville---winter is coming!

Friday Sept 21:
Steller’s Jays and a Barred Owl were seen at the end of Douglas Road in Chase River.
Steller’s Jays were seen in lower Lantzville.
Tuesday, September 18: The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was sunny and warm with a slight breeze off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included having a quick look at a Parasitic Jaeger as it flew up the Strait of Georgia. We saw several Common Loons, a Horned Grebe, a Western Grebe, six Red-necked Grebes, several Surf Scoters and a White-winged Scoter on the open water. Black-bellied Plovers, Killdeer, Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, Western Sandpipers, Bonaparte's Gulls,Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were on the gravel bar at Pebble Beach.
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe,
Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Parasitic Jaeger, Eurasian collared-Dove, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow and House Finch.
************************************************************************
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. *************************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on September 25, 2012 will be going to Englishman River Estuary Shelly Road side.  We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road (on the Ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 am.
*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday September 30, 2012 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 a.m.
*********************************************************
Monday September 24th Arrowsmith Naturalists
Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at Knox United Church at 7.30pm. (Please Note Change of Meeting Place.) A chance to hear and share what will be happening at the BC Nature Conference to be held in Parksville.
*********************************************************
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.com
*********************************************************************
””Nature by the Salish Sea"
"Nature By The Salish Sea" is the title of BC Nature's Fall General Meeting which will be held at the Quality Resort Bayside from Sept 27th -30th. The meeting, organized by Arrowsmith and Nanoose Naturalists, includes field trips, presentations, a banquet and a barbecue. For more information go to www.arrowsmithnats.org or phone 250-468-7475.

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 18, 2012

White-winged Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was sunny and warm with a sight breeze off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included seeing a quick look at a Parasitic Jaeger as it flew up the Strait of Georgia.
Common Loons, a Horned Grebe, six Red-necked Grebe, Surf Scoters, a White-winged Scoter and a Western Grebe were seen on the open water. Black-bellied Plovers, Killdeer, Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, Western Sandpipers, Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were on the gravel bar at Pebble Beach.
 
Eighteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Western Sandpiper
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Parasitic Jaeger
Eurasian collared-Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
House Finch

The Tuesday bird walk on September 25 will be going to Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



Sunday 16 September 2012

Nanaimo bird report, September 16, 2012


Warbling Vireo: 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 September 16, 2012:

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and warm. The highlights included seeing a Warbling Vireo feeding on a tall bush near the trail. We had two sightings of a large flock of Bushtit feeding and moving quickly through the bushes. The birders, as well as birding, also did a fair bit of blackberry munching throughout the morning.
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Mallards,  Wood Ducks,  American Widgeon, Hooded Merganser,  Pied-billed Grebe,  Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk,  Rock Pigeons,  Band-tailed Pigeon,  Eurasian-collared Dove,  Northern Flicker,  Anna’s Hummingbird, Common Raven, Steller’s Jay, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Bewick’s Wren,  Ruby-crowned Kinglet,  Bushtit, Cedar Waxwing,  American Robin,  Swainson’s Thrush,  Spotted Towhee,  Song Sparrow,  Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Brewer’s Blackbird,  Purple Finch,  Red-winged Blackbird,  American Goldfinch and House Finch.
 
Tuesday, September 11:
Forty-nine Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over Bowser today. 

A Northern Shrike, a Northern Harrier, Savannah Sparrows and Lincoln’s Sparrows were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and the wind and the seas were calm. The highlights included seeing three large flocks of American Widgeon flying over the water. We saw many Red-necked Grebes and Common Loons from the viewing platform off of Highway 19A. There were large numbers of Bonaparte’s Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Killdeer and Western Sandpipers on the Estuary.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-species:
Canada Goose, American Widgeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Pigeon Guillemot, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Doubled-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Western Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,Song Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling.

************************************************************************
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. *************************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on September 18, 2012 will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:20 am.
*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday September 23, 2012 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. We will meet at the bird store at   9:00 a.m. or the parking area at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:30 a.m.
*********************************************************

Monday September 24th Arrowsmith Naturalists
Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at  Knox United Church  at 7.30pm. (Please Note Change of Meeting Place.)  A chance to hear and share what will be happening at the BC Nature Conference to be held in Parksville.

*********************************************************
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.com
*********************************************************************

””Nature by the Salish Sea"

"Nature By The Salish Sea" is the title of BC Nature's Fall General Meeting which will be held at the Quality Resort Bayside from Sept 27th -30th. The meeting, organized by Arrowsmith and Nanoose Naturalists, includes field trips, presentations, a banquet and a barbecue. For more information go to
www.arrowsmithnats.org or phone 250-468-7475

 

Tuesday 11 September 2012

SANDHILL CRANES

A report of 49 Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over Bowser today.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and the wind and the seas were calm. The highlights included seeing three large flocks of American Widgeon flying over the water. We saw many Red-necked Grebes and Common Loons from the viewing platform off of Highway 19A. There were large numbers of Bonaparte’s Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Killdeer and Western Sandpipers on the Estuary.
Bonaparte’s Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-species:
Canada Goose
American Widgeon
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pigeon Guillemot
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Doubled-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Killdeer
Western Sandpiper
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling

The Tuesday bird walk on September 18 will be going to Columbia Beach.

Good birding!
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 9 September 2012

Nanaimo bird report, September 09, 2012




Sharp-shinned Hawk: 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 September 09, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with the crispness of fall in the air. The highlights included seeing a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks and comparing the sizes of the male and female as they flew and perched at the marsh area.
Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:
Red-breasted Merganser, Turkey Vulture,  Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull,  Double-crested Cormorant,  Pelagic Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher,  Downy Woodpecker,  Hairy Woodpecker,  Northern Flicker,  Pileated Woodpecker, Anna’s Hummingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Raven,  Steller’s Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Brown Creeper,  Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren,  Golden-crowned Kinglet,  Spotted Towhee,  Song Sparrow,  Dark-eyed Junco,  Pine Siskin  and  Red Crossbill.

Saturday, September 08:
A Western Tanager was spotted in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.
A Great Horned Owl was seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, September 04:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny with a cool breeze.  Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers flew low over the mud flats moving in unison for about five minutes putting on a great show.   A Merlin perched on a stump near the mudflats keeping the Sandpipers moving.  A Pectoral Sandpiper was spotted near the viewing platform.  Three Common Loons and one Bonaparte’s Gull were seen on the Strait of Georgia.
Nineteen birders, including birders from Belgium, Florida, Toronto, Winnipeg and central Vancouver Island saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Common Merganser,  Common Loon, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Black Oystercatcher,Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, California Quail, Eurasian-collared Dove, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Bonaparte’s Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin.
***************************************************************************
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. *************************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on September 11, 2012 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the viewing platform near Garrett Road and highway 19a at about 9:20 am.
*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday September 16, 2012 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking area at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen 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.com
*********************************************************************

””Nature by the Salish Sea"

"Nature By The Salish Sea" is the title of BC Nature's Fall General Meeting which will be held at the Quality Resort Bayside from Sept 27th -30th. The meeting, organized by Arrowsmith and Nanoose Naturalists, includes field trips, presentations, a banquet and a barbecue. For more information go to www.arrowsmithnats.org or phone 250-468-7475

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Parksville/Qualicum Tuesday bird walk, September 04, 2012

 
Merlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny with a cool breeze. Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers flew low over the mud flats moving in unison for about five minutes putting on a great show. A Merlin perched on a stump near the mudflats keeping the Sandpipers moving. A Pectoral Sandpiper was spotted near the viewing platform. Three Common Loons and one Bonaparte’s Gull were seen on the Strait of Georgia.
Nineteen birders, including birders from Belgium, Florida, Toronto, Winnipeg and central Vancouver Island saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Merlin
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Pectoral Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
 
California Quail
Eurasian-collared Dove
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
The September 11 Tuesday bird walk will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary. Meet at the viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 2 September 2012

Nanaimo bird report, September 02, 2012



Juvenile American Robin: 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 September 02, 2012:

The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny but with the coolness of fall in the air. The highlights included seeing a large flock of American Robins with a large number of young speckled Robins.  We heard and saw a large number of Red-breasted Nuthatch throughout the morning.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following twenty- species:
Mallard,  Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher,  Anna’s Hummingbird,  Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker  Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren,  Dark-eyed Junco,  American Robin,  Spotted Towhee, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin.

Saturday, September 01:
One lone Brant Goose along with twenty-four Bonaparte’s Gulls and over twenty Black-bellied Plovers were seen at Columbia Beach. 

Thursday, August 30:
A Steller’s Jay was seen feeding below feeders in the 400 block of Homestead Way in Ladysmith. 

Wednesday, August 29:
Fifteen Black Swifts were seen catching insects above a  house in the 500 block of Louise Road in Ladysmith. 

Saturday August 25:
”Rare bird alert-Sooty Shearwater” 

The birdstore received the following report of a Sooty Shearwater seen in the Nanaimo harbour.  Sooty Shearwaters are normally seen on the open ocean off the Westcoast.

This is the report that we received from the observer:

“Sat., Aug. 25th, around 3pm, we watched a lone seabird for about 10 minutes, bathing itself and extending its expansive wings with each bathing exercise, in the Nanaimo Harbour front marina between Cameron Island and the the Harbour front walkway - quite close to the Cameron Island walkway.  We never saw its' feet but its' bill was definitely grey.  There were 4 of us and upon coming home and studying the Coastal British Columbia bird book, we all agreed without hesitation it was a Sooty Shearwater. It put on quite the performance for some time with its' bathing and grooming.   

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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. *************************************************************************************

The Tuesday bird walk will resume on September 04, 2012 and we will be  going to the Plummer Road of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 am.

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The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday September 09, 2012 will be going to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking are at Moorecroft  Regional Park, off Stewart Road in Nanoose Bay, at about 9:25 A.M.
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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.com

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””Nature by the Salish Sea"
 

"Nature By The Salish Sea" is the title of BC Nature's Fall General Meeting which will be held at the Quality Resort Bayside from Sept 27th -30th. The meeting, organized by Arrowsmith and Nanoose Naturalists, includes field trips, presentations, a banquet and a barbecue. For more information go to www.arrowsmithnats.org or phone 250-468-7475

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