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.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Rare bird Citrine Wagtail still at Courtenay on November 26, 2012

 
Citrine Wagtail: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
I had the good fortune to go up to Courtenay this morning with Colin in search of the Citrine Wagtail. We arrived at the site at about 10:15 A.M. The birders there had seen the Wagtail at about 9:30 A.M. We spent the next two and a half hours scanning the edge of the field and looking for the bird with out any luck. Two Peregrine Falcons flew over, raising the Gulls and landed in the trees near the entrance to the field, and after a bit the Falcons left the area. Large numbers of Trumpeter Swans flew low over us for most of the morning. A flock of sixty Greater White-fronted Geese circled low over us and went to the field with the Swans near Comox Road.
Mike Yip and three birders from the Sunshine Coast and a birder from Comox also searched for the Wagtail, at about one o’clock Mike waved to us to come and we headed towards the brush piles and turned right onto a pair of planks to the right side of the field and there was the Citrine Wagtail.
 
We spent the next hour following the bird as it fed along the tall grass and out in the muddy field moving all the time. It flew up onto a brush just off the edge of the field and started to preen if self and a Dark-eyed Junco was preening itself just below the Wagtail. As I looked through the scope at fifty power I watched the Wagtail preen and finally got back to the field and feed. The sighting was just spectacular through the scope, up close and personal.
We saw the following twenty-five species:
Citrine Wagtail
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Mew Gull
Northern Flicker
Belted Kingfisher
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle
Greater White-fronted Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Lincoln's Sparrow
Pine Siskin
House Finch
Peregrine Falcon
Northern Shrike
Killdeer
Northern Harrier
Purple Finch
Red-tailed Hawk
 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Tuesday 27 November 2012

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 27, 2012

 
                   Common Goldeneye: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was mostly clear and the sea was calm. We spotted a small flock of Red Crossbills land on top of a conifer at the Parksville Community Park parking lot to start the morning off on a good note. The Salmon spawn has begun and there were several salmon carcasses along the beach. We could see the fins of a large number of Sea Lions above the water on the Strait. There were thousands upon thousands of birds on the water, including hundreds of Common Goldeneyes, Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pacific Loons and Common Loons. We counted eighty-six Bald Eagles perched on trees and on the gravel bars. There were a large number of Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Little Qualicum River. We saw three Bonaparte's Gulls throughout the morning.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
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
Brandt’s Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Dunlin
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Rock Pigeon
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird

The Tuesday bird walk on December 04 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 25 November 2012

Nanaimo bird report, November 25, 2012


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, November 25, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds. The highlights included hearing two flocks of Red Crossbills fly overhead. Over one hundred Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones and Dunlin were in the mud flats not far from shore. Two Marbled Murrelets flew in giving us good views through the scope.
Ten birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebes, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk,  Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Thayer’s Gull,  Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelets,, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Anna’s Hummingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pacific Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red Crossbill and Purple Finch. 

A pair of American Goldfinch and a Hermit Thrush were seen in a backyard along Honeysuckle Terrace in Nanaimo. Saturday November 24:

“Rare bird alert-Citrine Wagtail”
Citrine Wagtail: Ralph Hocken photo.
 

The Citrine Wagtail is still being seen in Courtenay. 

The Directions to the specific location: From Courtenay, cross the 17th St bridge (Courtenay River). Turn right onto Comox Road (Dyke Rd) until the Pumping Station on the right hand side of the road. There is a dirt road across the road from the Pumping Station with a For Sale sign along side of it. Walk up that dirt road towards the steel chain blocking vehicle access. The Wagtail has been observed to the left of the steel chain. Please stay on the dirt track rather than going on the fields. 

The Citrine Wagtail is a small songbird that breeds in north central Asia and winters in South and Southeast Asia. Until now there have been no confirmed sightings of the bird in Canada and only one other in North America, when it was spotted in Mississippi in 1992. 

A Peregrine Falcon was seen and photographed by the parking lot at St. Andrews United Church in downtown Nanaimo.  

Thursday November 22:
A Northern Shrike was spotted chasing a Pine Siskin in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.  

Tuesday, November 20:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with misty rain and a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia The tide was very high. Four Long-tailed Ducks, ten Brant, Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters flew past just above the water heading down the Strait. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Dunlin and Black Turnstones were on the tideline close to shore on the high tide.

Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species.
Brant, Mallard, Surf Scoter , White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck,
Bufflehead , Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser , Pacific Loon,
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Dunlin, B
lack Turnstone, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull , Eurasian-collared Dove , Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee , American Robin,
Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow  and Dark-eyed Junco.
 

“ RareBird Alert- Citrine Wagtail”

The Citrine Wagtail is still being seen in Courtenay.
Birders from Parksville, Vancouver, Calgary, California and the Sunshine Coast found the bird in the grass. It was feeding in the grass just past some trees. The Wagtail was bobbing its tail continually and moving in the tall grass giving only quick views. 

The Citrine Wagtail is a small songbird that breeds in north central Asia and winters in South and Southeast Asia. Until now there have been no confirmed sightings of the bird in Canada and only one other in North America, when it was spotted in Mississippi in 1992. 

Directions to specific location: From Courtenay, cross the 17th St bridge (Courtenay River). Turn right onto Comox Road (Dyke Rd) until the Pumping Station on the right hand side of the road. There is a dirt road across the road with a For Sale sign on the left. Walk up the dirt road towards the steel chain blocking vehicle access. The Wagtail has been observed to the left of the steel chain. Please stay on the dirt track rather than going on the fields.  

Five Surfbirds was seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. 
****************************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists Meeting
Arrowsmith Naturalists meet Monday, November 26th at 7.30pm at Knox United Church on Pym Road in Parksville.  Guest speaker will be Bruce Cousins  speaking on  "Purple Martins on Vancouver Island"

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 November 27 will be going to the Little Qualicum
 River Estuary. 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
about 9:20 A.M.
************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 02, 2012 will be going to Neck Point in
Nanaimo.  We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot
at Neck Point Park, off Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo at about 9:15 A.M.
*************************************************************************************
Christmas Bird Count - Lantzville (Nanoose estuary) and Nanoose Bay area –
Friday December 14, 2012
Contact Rhys Harrison at rhysharrison@shaw.ca
or phone (250) 248-5305
***********************************************************************************
Christmas Bird Count—Parksville/Qualicum Beach, December 16, 2012.
Contact Sandra Gray at saninerr@shaw.ca or phone 250-248-5565
 
Christmas Bird Count----Nanaimo, December 30, 2012
Contact Ryan Cathers at ryancathers@yahoo.com
or phone 250-714-3947.
 
Christmas Bird Count—Duncan, January 1,2013.
Contact Derrick Marven at marven@shaw.ca or phone 250-758-8504
*************************************************************************************
Subject: "SeaBC" Sea Bird Count Event
I'd like to encourage fellow birders to participate in this year's "SeaBC Sea Bird
 Count." You can participate in November, December or January. Hitch a coastal or
offshore ride with a sailing or fishing buddy, or count while chartering or taking
a cruise. This citizen science project, in its second year, is organized by a
group of nine long-distance birding sailors from around the world, including
Wendy Clarke, Diana Doyle, Brenda Free, Yvonne Katchor, Beth Leonard,
 Katharine Lowrie, Devi Sharp, Jeanne Socrates, and Dorothy Wadlow.
Last year's inaugural count spanned 100º of latitude, from Maine to Antarctica.
The Caribbean 1500, Baja Ha-Ha, Salty Dog Rally, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (
ARC), Seven Seas Cruising Association, Island Cruising Association,
Ocean Cruising Club, and many other organizations have adopted the project
and helped spread the word to their fleets.
This year we are encouraging participants to take digital photos of any seabirds. All data goes to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird database (www.ebird.org).
An instruction/tally sheet and additional information are available on the
community page at Facebook.com/Birding.Aboard (under SeaBC/Resources), or
 by direct PDF download at: http://tinyurl.com/SeaBC-TallySheet.
Please join the count in any way you can and contribute much-needed
information about pelagic birds!
Diana Doyle
m/v Semi-Local
St. Augustine, Florida
 

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
*********************************************************

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Citrine Wagtail update, November 20

The Citrine is still being seen in Courtenay in the same location as of November 20 at about 12:45 p.m.
 
 
 
                            Citrine Wagtail: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Marilynne and I went up to Courtenay to see the Citrine Wagtail. We met birders from Vancouver, Calgary, California and the Sunshine Coast who helped us find the bird in the grass. It was feeding in the grass just past some trees. We spotted the Wagtail bobbing it’s tail continually and moving in the tall grass giving us only quick views. We lost sight of the bird and headed back to the car—wet and cold, but happy! Paul and Rhonda drove up and we headed back down the dirt track. We couldn’t spot the bird in the area that we had previously seen it, so we walked up the road towards to some brush piles. The Wagtail flew over us showing this long tail and singing as he passed overhead. He landed out of sight near the piles of brush. The rain started pelting down and a strong wind was blowing so we headed back to our warm, dry cars.
 
The Citrine Wagtail is a small songbird that breeds in north central Asia and winters in South and Southeast Asia. Until now there have been no confirmed sightings of the bird in Canada and only one other in North America, when it was spotted in Mississippi in 1992.

Directions to specific location: From Courtenay, cross the 17th St bridge (Courtenay River). Turn right onto Comox Road (Dyke Rd) until the Pumping Station on the right hand side of the road. There is a dirt road across the road with a For Sale sign on the left. Walk up the dirt road towards the steel chain blocking vehicle access. The Wagtail has been observed to the left of the steel chain. Please stay on the dirt track rather than going on the fields.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 20, 2012

 
                     Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with misty rain and a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia The tide was very high. Four Long-tailed Ducks, Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters flew past just above the water heading down the Strait. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Dunlin and Black Turnstones were on the tideline close to shore on the high tide.
Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty-three species.
Mallard
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
The Tuesday bird walk on November 27 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary.
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 18 November 2012

Citrine Wagtail in Courteny

                            Citrine Wagtail: Ralph Hocken Photo.



The Citrine Wagtail is usually found in India. This bird is a first for Canada and only the second for North America

Direction to the site are as follows: From Courtenay, take 17th St heading east out of town. Cross the bridge and turn right. Continue towards Comox approximately 500m to the second dirt track on the left. Park here and walk up the track towards the the steel cable blocking vehicle access (~100m). The bird is being seen past this barrier on the left

Nanaimo bird report, November 18, 2012


 
 
Short-eared Owl being mobbed by Northwestern Crow: 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, November 18, 2012:

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers.  The highlights included watching  two Short-eared Owls and four Northern Harriers being mobbed by Common Ravens and Northwestern Crows for most of the morning.
Six birders saw and hear the following thirty-four species:
Trumpeter Swan,  Great Blue Heron,  American Wigeon,  Mallard, Common Goldeneye,  Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser,  Bald Eagle, Short-eared Owl, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Thayer’s Gull, Mew Gull,  Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Eurasian-collared Dove, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downey Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Lincolns Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,  Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and Pine Siskin. 

“Rare bird alert-White Wagtail”

The White Wagtail was seen again today, as well as photographed at the same location in Courtaney as reported on Wednesday November 14. 

Saturday, November 17:
A Varied Thrush was seen eating the berries off  Mountain Ash Tree in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo. 

Friday November 16:
“Rare bird alert-White Wagtail”
The White Wagtail was seen again today at the same location in Courtney as seen on Wednesday November 14. 

Thursday, November 15:
A Snowy Owl was seen sitting on a house along Orchard Circle in north Nanaimo. 

Wednesday November 14:
Rare bird alert-White Wagtail: 

Hello Fellow Bird Watchers,

        The excellent autumn weather today produced a really good bird sighting.

First we went down to the Courtenay Estuary. Going along the Comox Courtenay road from Courtenay we stopped at the sewage pumping station parking lot, on the right hand side. Directly across the road is a dirt farm road heading north thru the trees, with a large 'For Sale' sign posted. Up this farm road 100 meters there is a steel cable blocking vehicle access. Going under this we noticed an unusual gray and white medium sized bird bobbing its very long tail (With white outer tail feathers) Walking around in the mud and grass catching insects on the left hand side, just passed a small pond. It was quite tame and allowed us to get within 10 meters of it in excellent sunny/light conditions. The field marks and 'G.I.S.S.'suggests this was a first year bird. 

It did fly, in an undulating flight (Woodpecker style) and gave out a distinctive call, a very sharp loud descending buzz. We stayed around for a while and it returned to its original feeding spot while we watched it for over half a hour.

 Having experienced the Wagtail species in Sussex, England, and fifty years ago! It was great to see this type of bird once again in Canada. A good V.I.'life bird for both of us. 

David & Adel Routledge 

“Rare bird alert-Red Knot:
Ten Red Knots were seen resting on a rock outcropping at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, November 13:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy.  As we neared the Strait of Georgia we were greeted with a strong, biting wind. The walk through the forest was wind free and quite warm. The highlights included seeing hundreds of Dunlin, Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plover feeding along the tide line. We saw several Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pacific Loons and Common Loons on the rough water of the strait. A Cooper’s Hawk was spotted circling above the edge of the forest.  We had great looks at two Brown Creepers creeping up the trunks of conifer trees.
Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species:
American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead,
Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Cooper ’s Hawk, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Thayer’s Gull, California Gull,Glaucous-winged Gull, Dunlin, Black Turnstone, Black-bellied Plover, Western Sandpiper, Northern Flicker, Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin. 

A Northern Shrike was spotted sitting on a fence along Magnolia Drive in the Maple Glen area of Parksville. 

A Snowy Owl was seen sitting on a house roof along Thalia Place above the Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. 

Several White-crowned Sparrows were hanging about the feeders in a backyard in upper Lantzville. 

Monday, November 12:
An Evening Grosbeak was seen in the trees on the Seventh Fairway of Fairwinds Golf Course.
******************************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting
Arrowsmith Naturalists meet Monday, November 26th at 7.30pm at Knox United Church on Pym Road in Parksville.  Guest speaker will be Bruce Cousins - "Purple Martins on Vancouver Island"
*****************************************************************************
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 November 20 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 boulevard off Columbia Drive and highway 19a just north of the French Creek Bridge at about 9:10A.M.
************************************************************************************The Sunday Bird Walk on November 25, 2012 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:30 A.M.
 
Christmas Bird Count - Lantzville (Nanoose estuary) and Nanoose Bay area - Friday December 14, 2012
Contact Rhys Harrison at rhysharrison@shaw.ca  
or phone (250) 248-5305
***********************************************************************************
Christmas Bird Count—Parksville/Qualicum Beach, December 16, 2012.
Contact Sandra Gray at saninerr@shaw.ca or phone 250-248-5565
***********************************************************************************
Christmas Bird Count----Nanaimo, December 30, 2012
Contact Ryan Cathers at ryancathers@yahoo.com
 or phone 250-714-3947.
 
Subject: "SeaBC" Sea Bird Count Event
 
I'd like to encourage fellow birders to participate in this year's "SeaBC Sea Bird Count." You can participate in November, December or January. Hitch a coastal or offshore ride with a sailing or fishing buddy, or count while chartering or taking a cruise.
 
This citizen science project, in its second year, is organized by a group of nine long-distance birding sailors from around the world, including Wendy Clarke, Diana Doyle, Brenda Free, Yvonne Katchor, Beth Leonard, Katharine Lowrie, Devi Sharp, Jeanne Socrates, and Dorothy Wadlow.
 
Last year's inaugural count spanned 100º of latitude, from Maine to Antarctica. The Caribbean 1500, Baja Ha-Ha, Salty Dog Rally, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), Seven Seas Cruising Association, Island Cruising Association, Ocean Cruising Club, and many other organizations have adopted the project and helped spread the word to their fleets.
 
This year we are encouraging participants to take digital photos of any seabirds. All data goes to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird database (www.ebird.org).
 
An instruction/tally sheet and additional information are available on the community page at Facebook.com/Birding.Aboard (under SeaBC/Resources), or by direct PDF download at: http://tinyurl.com/SeaBC-TallySheet.
 
Please join the count in any way you can and contribute much-needed information about pelagic birds!
 
Diana Doyle
m/v Semi-Local
St. Augustine, Florida
 
 

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
*********************************************************
 

WHITE WAGTAIL confirmed

The Wagtail in Courtenay has been photographed and confirmed as a WHITE WAGTAIL.

Saturday 17 November 2012

White Wagtail photo, from the internet

 
White Wagtail: Photo from the internet.

"White Wagtail update"


 
 
Hello Fellow Bird Watchers & "Twitchers",   
This morning we again visited the site of the WAGTAIL off the Dyke road.As we first  reported on Wednesday Nov:14th @ 11:30.(See previous report BCVIBIRDS )

 We had a repeat sighting today,same 'place,same 'time.(Sorry you 'just missed it Neil & Marilyn. It was up the farm track a little further toward the burn piles.)

It was mixed in with a few sparrow species,mostly GOLD- CROWNED SPARROWS & FOX SPARROWS feeding on the ground,under the bushes,sheltering out of the south wind. Also a NORTHERN SHRIKE darted in for a 'strike at a wounded GOLD-CROWNED SPARROW while we were standing watching.'Gotta love those 'butcher birds at work.

 Upon closer examination and longer looks at the wagtail, the bird appears to be a juvenile,but, the facial pattern is similar to a"WHITE WAGTAIL"(Moncilla alba) juvenile.

 

Light silvery gray back, two wing bars,very pale white from the forehead right down the neck,to the breast areas.  No other colour noted.

                                     But, with NO sign of a breast band!!

(This is why we thought  juvi; YELLOW WAGTAIL at first. As per Sibley's bird guide.)

 

The bird also has long 'Black legs NOT 'Flesh coloured(As per Nat;Geo;bird guide 4th edition) A thin 'Black beak,with a slight eye line was noted.

It constantly wags its long tail,with white edges,as it runs and walks around catching insects on its own.We now believe this could be a "WHITE WAGTAIL" (Moncilla alba)

 

               No pictures were taken by us, at this time.    A bird of interest ?

 

                 ------------- GOOD BIRDING/TWITCHING EVERY ONE -------------

 

NOTE....

For those visiting the edge of this large rural farmers hay field a telephone number is on the 'For Sale' sign on the side of the farm road to obtain permission.

Please be very considerate to this local farmer,the crops etc.& wildlife.  Thank you.

 

David & Adel Routledge,