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 17 September 2017

Nanaimo bird report, September 17, 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, to leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                  Sunday Bird Walk, September 17, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and calm winds. Turkey Vultures flew over head heading south all morning.  A Merlin was spotted perched high at the top of tree.  A flock of Surf Scoters, a flock of White-wing Scoters and a flock of American Widgeon were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. Twenty Black Turnstones were seen on the point giving us great views. A Black Oystercatcher was spotted on a rocky island just off shore. Many  Bonaparte Gulls were seen flying down the strait.

White-winged Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:
American Widgeon
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter
Double-crested Cormorant
  Pelagic Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Black Turnstone
Black Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron
Mew Gull
Bonaparte Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
  Brown Creeper
  Berwick’s Wren
  Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Merlin: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 12, 2017 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. We heard and then saw a Cassin’s Vireo.  Chestnut-backed Chickadees flew in the bushes just off the trail.  Several Cedar Waxwings flew in and landed in the tall trees near the trail.  A large flock of Canada Geese, several Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teal and an American Wigeon were resting along the mudflats.  Large numbers of Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover and Killdeer were feeding along the mudflats.  White-winged Scoters, a Double-crested Cormorant, a Pelagic Cormorant and three Common Loons were seen on the Strait.                                                 
Semipalmated Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Ontario, Washington and Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
White-winged Scoter
American Wigeon
Harlequin Duck 
                                                 Northern Pintail
  Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great-blue Heron
Heermann’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Loon
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Least Sandpiper
Killdeer
Cooper’s Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Eurasian-collared Dove
Cassin’s Vireo
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Brewer’s Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
                                                               Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Purple Finch 

Saturday, September 16:
Two Baird Sandpipers were spotted at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

 A Townsend’s Solitaire, a Sooty Grouse and a Northern Pygmy Owl were seen on Little Mountain near Parksville.

Northern Pygmy Owl: John Morrison Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 19, 2017, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant Viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.

The Sunday Bird walk on September 24, 2017 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:30 a.m.

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




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