Nanaimo bird report, July 20, 2014

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
" EXPLORE NATURE---GO BIRDING"

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.

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Sunday, July 20, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Ladysmith Harbour in Ladysmith. The morning was cloudy with light showers throughout the morning. We spotted two Black Swifts flying low above us at the start of the walk. We saw a large number of Purple Martins sitting on their nest boxes on the harbour. Purple Martins flew close by all morning giving us great looks.

 

                                             Purple Martins: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Six birders saw and heard the following nineteen species:

Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Glaucous-winged Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, Black Swift, Bewick’s Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

 

Thursday, July 17:

A family of Cooper’s Hawks were seen in the 2000 block of Woodside Place in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, July 15:

Please note:

This was the last Tuesday bird walk for the summer season. The Tuesday bird walks will resume on Tuesday September 02, 2014.  

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and hot.

It was a morning of birding by ear for the most part—there were not many birds out in the heat. We heard Northern Flickers, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallows, Pacific Wrens, Swainson’s Thrush, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Red Crossbills, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch. We spotted a fledgling Brown-headed cowbird perched on branch and watched as a Warbling Vireo came along and fed the cowbird.  It was a rather sad sight watching the little Vireo struggling to feed the huge cowbird. 

Chipping Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Six birders including visiting birders from Ontario & Chemainus saw and heard the following thirty-two species:

Surf Scoter, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Swainson’s Thrush, Anna’s Hummingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch.

     Turkey Vulture: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

Sunday, July 13:

Forty Common Nighthawks were seen flying over the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.  

Monday, July 14:

A family of three Peregrine Falcons were seen along Linwood Place in Nanaimo.

********************************************************************************** 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. on 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 walks will resume on Tuesday September 02, 2014.

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The Sunday bird walk on July 27, 2014 will be going to the Springwood Park in Parksville. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Despard Avenue in Parksville at about 9:20 a.m.

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British Columbia rare bird alert link---
 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
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WildResearch link---
http://www.wildresearch.ca/

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West coast environment link—

http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/videos/ 

 

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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