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 2 April 2017

Nanaio bird report, April 02, 2017


Nanaimo bird report”

Explore Nature--Go Birding” 

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail thebirdstore@shaw.ca

Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings.

Sunday Bird Walk April 02, 2017
The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.. The morning was mostly sunny with cloudy periods and a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. A Red-breasted Sapsucker and a
Downey Woodpecker greeted us at the beginning of the walk while they were feeding in a tall snag near the trail.  Hundreds of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen throughout the morning. Two Eurasian Widgeon were in with a flock of American Wigeon along the shore.  We spotted a Rufous Hummingbird feeding in the trees near the trail.

                                         Rufous Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Eighteen birders including visiting birders from Ontario and Alberta saw and heard the following fifty-six species: 
Canada Geese
Brant
American Wigeon
Eurasian Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Horned Grebe
Bufflehead
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Violet-green Swallow
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downey Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Finch 

                                              Thursday: March 30:
A Virginia Rail was seen on Brookwood Marsh in south Nanaimo. 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday Bird Walk, March 28:
At the start of the Tuesday bird walk we scouted out a rare bird for this area—an Indigo Bunting.  We saw the Bunting where it had previously been reported, in the 4900 block of Nicholas Street in Port Alberni.  It was a rare treat to see this bird here.  The Indigo Bunting is usually seen in eastern and southern United States at this time of the year. 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Somass Estuary in Port Alberni. The morning was cloudy with light showers and calm winds.Hundreds of Violet-green Swallows and several Tree Swallows were flying overhead for most of the morning. We counted forty-two Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding in the reeds and trees along side the estuary. Twelve Gadwall, a large flock of Ring-necked Ducks, many Greater Scaup and several Lesser Scaup were seen resting on the side of the trail and flew into the ponds as we walked by.

Twelve birders including visiting birders from St Albert and Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Gadwall
                                                     American Widgeon
Mallard
Bufflehead
Green-wing Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American Coot
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Shrike
Turkey Vulture
California Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
American Robin
Indigo Bunting
Yellow-rumped Warbler
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Marsh Wren
Bushtit
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red-winged Blackbird
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
                         Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

On the drive home from Port Alberni we saw a Turkey Vulture and four Trumpeter Swans along the highway.  

Bird Walks This Week:
The Tuesday bird walk on April 04, 2017 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 a.m.


The Sunday bird walk on April 09, 2017, will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road off Cedar Road, at about 9:25 a.m. 

*************************************************************************************************
Revive the Nanaimo Naturalists’ Club
Monday April 3rd 2017 at 7 PM Vancouver Island University,
Building 180- Room 134.


 All welcome
Enjoy a great presentation by John Neville and help to get a naturalists’ club going again in Nanaimo

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

Good birding
Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
                                                        Nanaimo
  V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633


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