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 7 February 2016

Nanaimo bird report, February 07, 2016

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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February 07, 2016
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  We spotted one Northern Harrier sitting in the field for most of the morning eating his newly caught prey.  A flock of Western Meadowlarks flew into a big bush not far from us. A large number of Bald Eagles were perched in the tall conifer trees along the walk.  Northwestern Crows and Common Ravens were frolicking high above during the morning.
Eleven birders saw and hear the following Twenty-seven species.
Trumpeter Swan
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Green-wing Teal
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
American Robin
Western Meadowlark
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch 

Tuesday, February 02.
The morning was mostly cloudy with a little sunshine and a stiff breeze off the Strait of Georgia. Hundreds of Common Murre and Pacific Loons were seen flying above the water during the morning.  Several Brant Geese flew in and landed near the shore. A Virginia Rail was heard singing near the marsh where the Mallards usually rest near the road. Horned Grebes, Bufflehead, three Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneye were seen offshore. Three Pileated Woodpeckers and a large mixed flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets were feeding just off the trail keeping us entertained as we entered the forest.
Seventeen birders including a visiting birder from Seattle saw and heard the following forty-species:
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Wing-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Virginia Rail
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Varied Thrush
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow                                                          

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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. 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. *******************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on February 09, 2016 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

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The Sunday bird walk on February 14, 2016 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a in Parksville 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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.co

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