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 15 September 2013


NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca  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, September 15th , 2013:


The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was foggy and cool with poor visibility over the water.

 



Fox Sparrow, Ralph Hocken photo

 

Highlights included first of season Fox Sparrow and three Common Loons still in partial breeding plumage. Sixteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-eight species: Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Great-blue Heron, Glaucous-winged Gull, Merlin, Killdeer, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-necked Grebe, Gadwall, Harlequin Duck, Common Loon, Northern Pintail, Western Grebe, Bewick’s Wren, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Brewer’s Blackbird.

 

 

 

Wednesday, September 11th,  2013:

 

An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen on Hodges Road in French Creek.

 

Tuesday, September 10th , 2013:

 

RARE BIRD ALERT: NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH

 

A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was seen in the mud pond by the parking lot at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

 

An adult WESTERN GULL was seen at the Englishman River Estuary.

 

A RED-THROATED LOON was seen at the end of Entwhistle Drive in Lantzville

 

An early LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen offshore in Lantzville.

 

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary. The morning was sunny, calm, and warm.  We were rewarded with the sighting of a Western Grebe at the Viewing Station.  At the Estuary we watched as a Northern Harrier searched the grasses for food.  A few other highlights of the morning were the sighting of both Common and Caspian Terns, as well as a Wandering Tattler.
22 birders saw and heard the following 44 species:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Common Murre, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Wandering Tattler, Black Turnstone, Killdeer, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Common Tern, Caspian Tern, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, House Finch, Barn Swallow, Eurasian-collared Dove and Rock Pigeon.

 

 

Monday, September 9th, 2013:

 

RARE BIRD ALERT: SABINE’S GULLS

 

Two SABINE’S GULLS were seen at Deep Bay with 1 PARASITIC JAEGER.

 

Three more SABINE’S GULLS and 2 PARASITIC JAEGERs were seen offshore at Nile Creek north of Qualicum.

 

A first of season FOX SPARROW was seen at Holden Creek.

 

RARE BIRD ALERT: BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER

 

A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen at French Creek.

 




Buff-breasted Sandpiper, John Purves photo

 

RARE BIRD ALERT:  STILT SANDPIPER

 

Two STILT SANDPIPERs were seen in the mudflats at the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side in Parksville.

 

 

RARE BIRD ALERT:  LAZULI BUNTING

 

A first year LAZULI BUNTING was spotted at Robins Park on Fifth and Park Ave in Nanaimo.  The bird was seen along the edge of the Cat Stream. 

 



Lazuli Bunting, Russell Cannings photo

 

Sunday, September 8th , 2013:

 

Four SANDHILL CRANEs were seen flying over the south end of Gabriola Island.

 

 

 

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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 September 17th will be going to Columbia Beach. Meet at Parksville Community Park at the Lions Playground parking lot at 9:00 am or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:15 am.
 
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The Sunday Bird Walk on September 22nd will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary.  Meet at the store at 9:00 am or at the Brant viewing platform on Highway 19a near Garret Road at 9:30 am.  We will then proceed to the old A-frame house at the Estuary.
 
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Good birding,
Ryan Cathers

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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