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11 May NANAIMO, Vancouver Island, B.C.BIRD ALERT, MAY 11,/08 ["backyard_store" ] 11 May Sunday bird walk, May 11, 2008 ["backyard_store" ] 08 May Wednesday bird walk ["canadianrobin2003" ] 07 May Cosmic Mind Bop!!!! Out of Town! ["fgfgrere" ] 06 May RBA Victoria, BC - May 6, 2008 [David Allinson ] 06 May Backyard birds ["canadianrobin2003" ] 06 May RBA Victoria, BC - May 6, 2008 [David Allinson ] 04 May Nanaimo bird alert, May 04, 2008, Vancouver Island B.C. ["backyard_store" ] 04 May Sunday bird walk, May 04, 2008 ["backyard_store" ] 02 May RBA Victoria, BC - May 2, 2008 [David Allinson ] 02 May New 'Wild Bird Center' in Langford ["David Allinson" ] 30 Apr Re: A neat yardbird!! [Joy & Cam ] 30 Apr RBA Victoria, BC - April 30, 2008 [addendum] [David Allinson ] 29 Apr WHIMBREL SIGHTING ["cpbartle" ] 29 Apr A neat yardbird!! ["canadianrobin2003" ] 27 Apr Beaverhill Lake ["canadianrobin2003" ] 25 Apr RBA: Eastern Pheobe and Golden Eagle ["cpbartle" ] 24 Apr Calliope Hummingbird occurence ["fgfgrere" ] 24 Apr Wednesday bird walk, April 23, 2008 ["canadianrobin2003" ] 22 Apr NANAIMO BIRD ALERT FOR APRIL 21/08 ["cpbartle" ] 22 Apr Nanaimo bird alert ["canadianrobin2003" ] 19 Apr More on the Edmonton Waxwings ["canadianrobin2003" ] 18 Apr Wednesday bird walk ["canadianrobin2003" ] 18 Apr Bohemain Waxwings ["canadianrobin2003" ] 16 Apr Eurasian Collared-Dove in Sooke ["fgfgrere" ] 16 Apr Bohemain Waxwings ["canadianrobin2003" ] 15 Apr BRAMBLING ["cpbartle" ] 13 Apr Nanaimo bird alert, April 13, 2008, Vancouver Island B.C. ["backyard_store" ] 13 Apr Sunday bird walk ["backyard_store" ] 11 Apr Cinnamon Teal ["canadianrobin2003" ] 11 Apr Re: Pesticides in Latin America killing NA songbirds ["fgfgrere" ] 10 Apr Pesticides in Latin America killing NA songbirds [Aziza Cooper ] 10 Apr First Violet Green Swallow noticed today - ["Malcolm" ] 10 Apr Backyard birds ["canadianrobin2003" ] 09 Apr Wednesday bird walk, April 09, 2008 ["canadianrobin2003" ] 08 Apr SAY'S PHOEBE ["cpbartle" ] 06 Apr Nanaimo bird alert, April 06, 2008 ["backyard_store" ] 06 Apr Nanaimo bird alert, April 06, 2008 ["backyard_store" ] 06 Apr Hawks in Parksville ["canadianrobin2003" ] 06 Apr MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS ["cpbartle" ] 03 Apr Orange-crowned Warbler ["canadianrobin2003" ] 03 Apr Wednesday bird walk, April 02, 2008 ["canadianrobin2003" ] 31 Mar American Kestrel ["canadianrobin2003" ] 30 Mar Nanaimo bird alert, March 30, 2008 ["backyard_store" ] 30 Mar Sunday bird walk ["backyard_store" ] 30 Mar RBA Victoria, BC - March 30, 2008 [David Allinson ] 29 Mar Barrow's Goldeneye's by the thousands ["backyard_store" ] 27 Mar Johnstone Road ["canadianrobin2003" ] 26 Mar Wednesday bird walk, March 26, 2008 ["canadianrobin2003" ] 26 Mar Wednesday bird walk, March 26, 2008 ["canadianrobin2003" ] 26 Mar Turkey Vulture ["canadianrobin2003" ] 25 Mar Female Rufous ["canadianrobin2003" ] Subject: NANAIMO, Vancouver Island, B.C.BIRD ALERT, MAY 11,/08 From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:56:01 -0000 The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Nanaimo Bird Alert To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 or www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Also check the Birdstore Blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on these site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. Sunday, May 11, 2008 The Sunday Bird Walk went to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo Among the highlights were the sightings of over ten different Wilson's Warblers. A Barred Owl sat in plain view giving us great views as he looked down on us. Black-throated Gray Warblers, Orange- crowned Warblers and Townsend's Warblers songs kept us looking high up into the trees. Eighteen birders saw and heard the following forty-four species of birds: Mallard, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Red- tailed Hawk,Turkey Vulture, Barred Owl, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Band-tailed Pigeon, Cassin's Vireo, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Brown-headed Cowbird, European Starling, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch and Pine Siskin. Six Semiplalmated Plovers, a Western and a Least Sandpipers were seen at French Creek. Saturday, May 10: A Caspian Tern was seen near the tide line at Columbia Beach. A Townsend's Solitaire, Lincoln's Sparrow, Savanah Sparrow, Hermit Thrush and a Orange-crowned Warbler were seen in a yard in Parksville. Friday, May 09 A male Bullock's Oriole, Virginia Rail, Purple Martin and Yellow Warblers were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. An Osprey landed on the nesting platform at Buttertubs Marsh and sat there for at least 20 minutes. Also seen at Buttertubs Marsh were a Great Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, a Bewick's Wren, a Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbirds, Violet- green Swallows and European Starlings. Thursday, May 08: A Townsend's Solitaire was seen at the Biological Station in Nanaimo. It was moving between a small tree in a planter and a puddle on the main patio. A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen at Chase River in south Nanaimo. Wednesday, May 07: The Wednesday Bird Walk went to went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Seven birders found fifty-four species of birds during the morning. Included in the highlights were the sightings of a Wilson's Warbler and several Rough-winged Swallows. Two Merlins flew right over us as we watched from the boardwalk on the mud flats. At the ocean we saw Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Pigeon Guillemot, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous- winged Gull and two flocks of Brant Geese. Seven birders found the following fifty-four species of birds: Canada Goose, Brant, Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double- crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Least Sandpiper, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red- breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black- throated Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow. An Evening Grosbeak was seen at Chase River in south Nanaimo. Two Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Gulfview and Tiki Way in Nanaimo. Tuesday, May 06: Two Caspian Terns and a Purple Martin were seen flying over Cowichan Bay. Sunday May 04: Three American Goldfinch were seen at feeders along Overlook Drive in Nanaimo. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca *********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monthly Meeting, Monday May 26, 2008 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ************************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Monthly Meeting Thursday June 12, 2008 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ----------------------------------------------- The Wednesday Bird Walk for May 14, 2008 will be going to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or the parking area off Powder Point Road about 100 yards past the four way stop at Anchor Drive and Powder Point Road at about 9:20 A.M. ***************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on May 18, 2008, will be going to Beck Creek in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area on Maki Road (near the Southgate Shopping Centre off Highway One) near Living Forest Campground about 9:25 A.M. ************************************** Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Sunday bird walk, May 11, 2008 From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:21:33 -0000 Hi birders, The Sunday Bird Walk went to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo Among the highlights were the sightings of over ten different Wilson's Warblers. A Barred Owl sat in plain view giving us great views as he looked down on us. Black-throated Gray Warblers, Orange- crowned Warblers and Townsend's Warblers songs kept us looking high up into the trees. Eighteen birders saw and heard the following forty-four species of birds: Mallard, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Red- tailed Hawk,Turkey Vulture, Barred Owl, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Band-tailed Pigeon, Cassin's Vireo, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Brown-headed Cowbird, European Starling, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch and Pine Siskin. GOOD BIRDING Neil Robins nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Wednesday bird walk From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 03:12:20 -0000 Hi birders, The Wednesday Bird Walk went to went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Seven birders found Fifty-four species of birds during the morning. Included in the highlights was the sighting of a Wilson's Warbler, several Rough-winged Swallows. Two Merlins flew right over us as we watched fron the wooden walkway on the mud flats. At the ocean we saw Pacific Loons, Common Loon, Pigeon Guillemot, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull and two flocks of Brant Geese. The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area is on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. Participants meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road in Parksville at 9:00 A.M. Snow, rain and/or heavy winds will deter us--but we will plan a walk for every week. Everyone is welcome to bring their binoculars and join us for a morning of birding. For the weekly location of the birdwalk,The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 1-888-249-4145. Seven birders found the following fifty-four species of birds: Canada Goose Brant Mute Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Pintail Harlequin Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Pacific Loon Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Merlin Least Sandpiper Mew Gull California Gull Herring Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Pigeon Guillemot Rock Dove Band-tailed Pigeon Rufous Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Northwestern Crow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch American Robin Orange-crowned Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Wilson's Warbler Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin House Sparrow Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Cosmic Mind Bop!!!! Out of Town! From: "fgfgrere" <h17893121aln AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 07:00:00 -0000 Hi All Birders, Peter Hamel called me tonight to let me know about a long overdue mega rarity for Canada and BC. On April 23, 2008 he found and photographed an adult EURASIAN DOTTEREL at Sandspit Airport !!!! I remember when I got off the plane there in mid May 1993 and the first bird I found was an adult male Bar-tailed Godwit. I told Margo Hearne that the airport was going to get a Dotterel as it looked more like the tundra than anywhere else along the coastline of BC and all these years later it did! Congrats to them for a wonderful find. I would be on the lookout for this bird in southcoastal Alaska this Spring and hopefully along the coastline this fall. 72nd Street turf farm comes to mind or the Iona North Arm Jetty would a spot to maybe bump into this bird. Or maybe out at Port Renfrew on the beach? Anyhow we all can dream!! Also present were 2 Bramblings! Time to move to the Queen Charlotte Islands where the all the real fun is at! No maybe not as the weather up there is harsh! Cheers! Rick Toochin Sooke, BC Subject: RBA Victoria, BC - May 6, 2008 From: David Allinson <passerine AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 22:01:42 -0700 - RBA * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * May 6, 2008 * BCVI060508 - Transcript Hello birders! This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, May 6, 10 pm update. Compiled and transcribed by David Allinson. Feature Birds --------------------------- WANDERING TATTLER Tuesday, May 6 44 CASPIAN TERNS were counted at Esquimalt Lagoon off Ocean Blvd in Colwood. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS continue at the Ogden Point Breakwater off Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront. Monday, May 5 A WESTERN KINGBIRD was at the summit of Mount Douglas Park in Saanich just below the observation platform. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE continue here as well. Sunday, May 4 A STILT SANDPIPER was in the lagoon at Witty's Lagoon Regional Park off Metchosin Road in Metchosin. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS remained on the Ogden Point Breakwater. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were again on Mount Tolmie, but another two were also at Mount Douglas Park in Saanich. A GOLDEN EAGLE was over Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. Saturday, May 3 The first OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS of the year were reported at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria and in a yard in The Highlands. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS remained at the Ogden Point. 24 WHIMBREL and a MARBLED GODWIT continued at the Victoria Golf Club off Beach Drive in Oak Bay. A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was also present. 16 CASPIAN TERNS were tallied at Esquimalt Lagoon off Ocean Blvd in Colwood. At Clover Point off Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront were 2 late SURFBIRDS. There were single SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at Rapiers Pond off Charlton Road at West Burnside Road, and at Hastings Flats off Hastings Street in Saanich. 2 GOLDEN EAGLES were over Goldstream Provincial Park in Langford. A SOOTY GROUSE was also heard there. Friday, May 2 A WESTERN KINGBIRD was on Mount Tolmie Park just below the summit in the meadow of camas flowers. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained on Mount Tolmie as well. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS were again on the Ogden Point breakwater at the foot of Dallas Road. The first WARBLING VIREO of spring was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. To report bird sightings of interest, please leave your name and telephone number as well as the details of your sighting at the end of this greeting. For those receiving the transcript only, note the RBA # is 592-3381. For information about Victoria birding or to summon birders to confirm a rare bird, please call either Barbara Begg at 656-5296, or me David Allinson at 391-1786. Photos of rare or unusual birds are appreciated and may be e-mailed to rba2 AT vicnhs.bc.ca . For more information about the Victoria Natural History Society, visit our website at http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/. Good birding and wishing you lifers all! David Allinson passerine AT shaw.ca Victoria, BC Subject: Backyard birds From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 18:32:50 -0000 Hi birders, Chipping Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Violet-green Swallows, Band-tailed Pigeons, Pine Siskins, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Pileated Woodpeckers, Rufous Hummingbirds, Northwestern Crows, Brewer's Blackbirds, Bald Eagles, American Robins, Red-tailed Hawks and Common Ravens all seen from the backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: RBA Victoria, BC - May 6, 2008 From: David Allinson <passerine AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 09:07:47 -0700 - RBA * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * May 6, 2008 * BCVI060508 - Transcript Hello birders! This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, May 6, 9:00 am update. Compiled and transcribed by David Allinson. Feature Birds --------------------------- WESTERN KINGBIRD STILT SANDPIPER Monday, May 5 CORRECTION: A WESTERN KINGBIRD was at the summit of Mount Douglas Park in Saanich just below the observation platform. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE continue to be reported here. Sunday, May 4 A STILT SANDPIPER was with a dowitcher sp. in the lagoon at Witty's Lagoon Regional Park off Metchosin Road in Metchosin. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS remained on the Ogden Point Breakwater off Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were again on Mount Tolmie, but another two were also at Mount Douglas Park in Saanich. A GOLDEN EAGLE was over Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. Saturday, May 3 The first OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS of the year were reported at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria and in a yard in The Highlands. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS remained at the Ogden Point breakwater at the foot of Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront. 24 WHIMBREL and a MARBLED GODWIT continued at the Victoria Golf Club off Beach Drive in Oak Bay. A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was also present. 16 CASPIAN TERNS were tallied at Esquimalt Lagoon off Ocean Blvd in Colwood. At Clover Point off Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront were 2 late SURFBIRDS. There were single SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at Rapiers Pond off Charlton Road at West Burnside Road, and at Hastings Flats off Hastings Street in Saanich. 2 GOLDEN EAGLES were over Goldstream Provincial Park in Langford. A SOOTY GROUSE was also heard there. Friday, May 2 A WESTERN KINGBIRD was on Mount Tolmie Park just below the summit in the meadow of camas flowers. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained on Mount Tolmie as well. The birds were in the "Warbler Triangle" which is the set of paths on the east side just below the summit amongst the Garry oaks. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS were again on the Ogden Point breakwater at the foot of Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront. The first WARBLING VIREO of spring was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. Thursday, May 1 A GLAUCOUS GULL was reported from Cattle Point in Uplands Park off Beach Drive in Oak Bay. This is a late record for this species. The observer did not mention the age/plumage of this bird. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS were on the Ogden Point breakwater. A single SOLITARY SANDPIPER remained at "Rapiers Pond" which is a vernal pond located off Charlton Road at the corner of Burnside Road West in Saanich. Year after year in spring this remains one of the more reliable locales for this migrant shorebird. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were again reported near the summit of Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich. The first BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK of the year was photographed in a yard in the Highlands. At the Victoria Golf Club off Beach Drive in Oak Bay 24 WHIMBREL, 1 MARBLED GODWIT, and 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE remained. An AMERICAN BITTERN was again spotted at Swan Lake. To report bird sightings of interest, please leave your name and telephone number as well as the details of your sighting at the end of this greeting. For those receiving the transcript only, note the RBA # is 592-3381. For information about Victoria birding or to summon birders to confirm a rare bird, please call either Barbara Begg at 656-5296, or me David Allinson at 391-1786. Photos of rare or unusual birds are appreciated and may be e-mailed to rba2 AT vicnhs.bc.ca . For more information about the Victoria Natural History Society, visit our website at http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/. Good birding and wishing you lifers all! David Allinson passerine AT shaw.ca Victoria, BC Subject: Nanaimo bird alert, May 04, 2008, Vancouver Island B.C. From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 22:34:50 -0000 The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Nanaimo Bird Alert To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 or www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on these site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. May 04, 2008 Sunday The Sunday Bird Walk went to Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Among the highlights was the sighting of several flycatching Yellow-rumped Warblers. Two male Wilson's Warbler put in a quick appearance and disappeared into the low bushes. Two Northern Rough-wing Swallows flew by and the songs of Black-throated Gray Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers and Townsend's Warblers kept us looking high up in the trees. Twenty-three birders saw and heard forty-six species of birds: Surf Scoters, Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese, Brant Geese, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Barred Owl, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-wing Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Band-tailed Pigeon, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Brown-headed Cowbird, European Starling, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin. Saturday, May 03: Several Evening Grosbeaks were seen in the area of Morden Colliery Provincial Park parking lot. Two Townsend's Solitaires were seen at Wallbeach in Nanoose Bay. Six Wilson's Snipe, several Peeps and one Killdeer were seen at the Kay Road drainage Ponds in Parksville. Friday, May 02 A Lincoln's Sparrow was seen along Andrea Crescent in Upper Lantzville. An American Goldfinch was seen in the 3700 block of Jingle Pot Road in Nanaimo. Thursday, May 01: Three Hermit Thrush were foraging and chasing each other. Six Golden- crowned Sparrows, and a Lincoln Sparrow were seen in a yard in the 5300 Block of Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo. An Osprey flew over Upper Lantzville. Wednesday, April 30 2008, The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. Ten birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species of birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Belted Kingfisher, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rufous Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, American Dipper, Violet- green Swallow, American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Cassin's Vireo, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin. Greater White-fronted Geese were seen in a field near Holden Corso and White Road in Cedar. Tuesday, April 29: A single Whimbrel was seen from the spit this morning at Piper's Lagoon Park on the inside mud flats. Monday April 28: Three American Goldfinch were seen in the 2000 block of Cedar Road in Cedar. A male Golden-crowned Kinglet was seen feeding in a yard in French Creek. Saturday April 26: A flock of Evening Grosbeaks were seen in the 3900 block of Valewood Drive in Deerwood Park in Nanaimo. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca *********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Monthly Meeting Thursday May 8, 2008 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monthly Meeting, Monday May 26, 2008 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ************************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ----------------------------------------------- The Wednesday Bird Walk for May 07, 2008 will be going to Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:05 A.M. ***************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on May 11, 2008, will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary off Nanaimo Lakes Road at about 9:20 A.M. ************************************** Good Birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Sunday bird walk, May 04, 2008 From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 21:58:28 -0000 The Sunday Bird Walk went to Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Among the highlights was the sighting of several flycatching Yellow-rumped Warblers. Two male Wilson's Warbler put in a quick appearance and disappeared into the low bushes. Two Northern Rough-wing Swallows flew by and the songs of Black-throated Gray Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers and Townsend's Warblers kept us looking high up in the trees. Twenty-three birders saw and heard forty-six species of birds: Surf Scoters, Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese, Brant Geese, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Barred Owl, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-wing Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Band-tailed Pigeon, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Brown-headed Cowbird, European Starling, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin. Neil Robins nanaimo British Columbia Subject: RBA Victoria, BC - May 2, 2008 From: David Allinson <passerine AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 11:01:46 -0700 - RBA * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * May 2, 2008 * BCVI020508 - Transcript Hello birders! This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Friday, May 2, 11 am update. Compiled and transcribed by David Allinson. Feature Birds --------------------------- GLAUCOUS GULL WANDERING TATTLER TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE Friday, May 2 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained on Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich. Today the birds were in the "Warbler Triangle" which is the set of paths on the east side just below the summit amongst all the Garry oaks. However, the birds have also been reported from the northwest side. However, any hilltop at this time of year can be a good location for this species (for example, Mount Douglas, Mill Hill, Christmas Hill, and anywhere in the Highlands). The first WARBLING VIREO of spring was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. Thursday, May 1 A GLAUCOUS GULL was reported from Cattle Point in Uplands Park off Beach Drive in Oak Bay. This is a late record for this species. 2 WANDERING TATTLERS were on the Ogden Point Breakwater at the foot of Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront. The birds were towards the outer end of the breakwater. A single SOLITARY SANDPIPER remained at "Rapiers Pond" which is a vernal pond located off Charlton Road at the corner of Burnside Road West in Saanich. Year after year in spring this remains one of the more reliable locales for this migrant shorebird. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was again reported near the summit of Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich. The first BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK of the year was photographed in a yard in the Highlands. At the Victoria Golf Club off Beach Drive in Oak Bay, 24 WHIMBREL, 1 MARBLED GODWIT, and 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE remained. An AMERICAN BITTERN was again spotted at Swan Lake. Wednesday, April 30 RARE BIRD ALERT: A possible LEAST FLYCATCHER was heard at Trevlac Pond at Trevlac Park. This is located in the 4400-block of Prospect Lake Road south of the Prospect Lake Golf Course. Confirmation is requested. A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was visiting feeders at a private location in Saanich. Other locations to be on the lookout for this annual migrant include Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, Viaduct Flats, Rithet's Bog, Elk Lake/Beaver Lake Regional Park, and Somenos Marsh in Duncan. In the morning there were 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at Rapiers Pond located off Charlton Road. Nearby at Hastings Flats off Hastings Street there were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. This is an exceptional record as spring/adult Pectorals are rather rare in Victoria and quite different in appearance from the predominantly fall immatures that are common here in late summer-fall. Joining the WHIMBREL flock at the Victoria Golf Club fairways off Beach Drive in Oak Bay was a MARBLED GODWIT. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was over Jennings Lane at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park in Saanich. Tuesday, April 29 A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at "Rapiers Pond" off Charlton Road. The WHIMBREL flock at the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay continues to grow with 27 birds in total now. Monday, April 28 An AMERICAN BITTERN was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. Also present was a SORA and a NORTHERN HARRIER as well as the first WESTERN TANAGER of the year. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained on the northwest side of Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich. 23 WHIMBREL were on the fairways of the Victoria Golf Club. Sunday, April 27 RARE BIRD ALERT: 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in a yard on the west side of the old golf course off Otter Point Road in Sooke. While the acceptability status of this species is still somewhat vague for the province and the possibility of an escaped cage bird is always possible, nevertheless there is no doubt that this species continues to undergo a rapid expansion throughout North America since its introduction in the mid-1980's. An adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was observed from the ferry between Mayne and Pender Islands. A GREEN HERON was seen at Somenos Marsh in Duncan. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE were on the northwest side of Mount Tolmie. Another TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was observed near Port Renfrew. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was heard again in the Mount Wells area in Langford. 2 skeins totaling an estimated 2-3000 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were migrating high over the University of Victoria area. This Saturday, May 3rd the VNHS Saturday Birding group will be going to Beacon Hill Park as part of Camas Day activities. Meet at the flag pole at the top of the hill at 7:00AM. For those that are interested we will be doing some shorebirding afterwards along the Victoria waterfront. To report bird sightings of interest, please leave your name and telephone number as well as the details of your sighting at the end of this greeting. For those receiving the transcript only, note the RBA # is 592-3381. For information about Victoria birding or to summon birders to confirm a rare bird, please call either Barbara Begg at 656-5296, or me David Allinson at 391-1786. Photos of rare or unusual birds are appreciated and may be e-mailed to rba2 AT vicnhs.bc.ca . For more information about the Victoria Natural History Society, visit our website at http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/. Good birding and wishing you lifers all! David Allinson passerine AT shaw.ca Victoria, BC Subject: New 'Wild Bird Center' in Langford From: "David Allinson" <passerine AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 04:01:58 -0000 FYI - Long overdue for the burgeoning Western Communities, a new backyard nature store has opened today in Langford. The store is located at 2455 Millstream Road #105 - this is just north of the TransCanada Hwy and right at corner of McCallum Road (beside the PetroCanada and McDonalds on the east side of Millstream Road). Chris Audet is the owner. 590-SEED(7333) langford AT wildbird.com http://wildbird.com/stores/lnf/ Cheers, David Allinson Langford Subject: Re: A neat yardbird!! From: Joy & Cam <joyandcamfinlay AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:49:11 -0700 Neil No firs in Edmonton, only white spruce. Where abouts is your daughter's house as we know that city fairly well? If you like I can put you in touch with some very good birders there who can show you some neat places. Contact me privately for info on places and people there. Cam Finlay Saanich but formerly from Edmonton. ----- Original Message ----- From: canadianrobin2003 To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 4:34 PM Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] A neat yardbird!! Hi birders, We are still in Edmonton at our daughters home, I was watching and listening to a pair of Merlins just across the street in the tall Spruce Trees. I was stittng on the deck and I heard a bird calling it was a Eastern Kingbird who landed at the top of a very tall fir tree, just for a moment then was gone!! Also there were three flocks of Boheman Waxwings flying by. Lots of Ring-billed Gulls and a Franklin's Gull drifting high up in the sky. Back to Parksville tomorrow. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville british Columbia Subject: RBA Victoria, BC - April 30, 2008 [addendum] From: David Allinson <passerine AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:32:50 -0700 - RBA * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * April 30, 2008 * BCVI300408 - Transcript Hello birders! This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, April 30, 7:30 pm update. Compiled and transcribed by David Allinson. Feature Birds --------------------------- YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD MARBLED GODWIT SOLITARY SANDPIPER Wednesday, April 30 A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was visiting feeders at a private location in Saanich. Other locations to be on the lookout for this annual migrant include Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, Viaduct Flats, Rithet's Bog, Elk Lake/Beaver Lake Regional Park, and Somenos Marsh in Duncan. This morning there were 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at "Rapiers Pond" which is a vernal pond located off Charlton Road at the corner of Burnside Road West in Saanich. Year after year in spring this remains one of the more reliable locales for this migrant shorebird. Nearby at Hastings Flats off Hastings Street there were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Joining the WHIMBREL flock at the Victoria Golf Club fairways off Beach Drive in Oak Bay was a MARBLED GODWIT. Tuesday, April 29 A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at "Rapiers Pond" off Charlton Road. The WHIMBREL flock at the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay continues to grow with 27 birds in total now. Monday, April 28 An AMERICAN BITTERN was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. Also present was a SORA and a NORTHERN HARRIER as well as the first WESTERN TANAGER of the year. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained on the northwest side of Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich. 23 WHIMBREL were on the fairways of the Victoria Golf Club. Sunday, April 27 RARE BIRD ALERT: 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in a yard on the west side of the old golf course off Otter Point Road in Sooke. While the acceptability status of this species is still somewhat vague for the province and the possibility of an escaped cage bird is always possible, nevertheless there is no doubt that this species continues to undergo a rapid expansion throughout North America since its introduction in the mid-1980's. An adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was observed from the ferry between Mayne and Pender Islands. A GREEN HERON was seen at Somenos Marsh in Duncan. 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE were on the northwest side of Mount Tolmie. Another TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was observed near Port Renfrew. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was heard again in the Mount Wells area in Langford. 2 skeins totaling an estimated 2-3000 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were migrating high over the University of Victoria area. Saturday, April 26 RARE BIRD ALERT: A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD made a brief appearance and was photographed at a feeder in the Highlands. This is either the same or perhaps a different bird as recorded last week in Saanich. RARE BIRD ALERT: A possible RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was seen at Goldstream Provincial Park. The bird was seen between the picnic area and the river. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was on the grounds of Government House off Rockland Ave in Victoria. The WHIMBREL flock at the Victoria Golf Club totaled 17 individuals. 14 CASPIAN TERNS were tallied at Esquimalt Lagoon off Ocean Blvd in Colwood. A pair of CINNAMON TEAL was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. Friday, April 25 Multiple reports were received for a continuing EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Sooke off Otter Point Road near the golf course. However, 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES have been seen together in this general area. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was seen and heard in the Mount Wells area. At the summit of Mount Wells two SOOTY GROUSE were heard hooting. Meanwhile, in the Martindale Valley of Central Saanich, two TRUMPETER SWANS were in the L-Reservoir. 270 BRANT and 24 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were tallied from Island View Beach Regional Park in Central Saanich. This Saturday, May 3rd the VNHS Saturday Birding group will be going to Beacon Hill Park as part of Camas Day activities. Meet at the flag pole at the top of the hill at 7:00AM. For those that are interested we will be doing some shorebirding along the Victoria waterfront afterwards. To report bird sightings of interest, please leave your name and telephone number as well as the details of your sighting at the end of this greeting. For those receiving the transcript only, note the RBA # is 592-3381. For information about Victoria birding or to summon birders to confirm a rare bird, please call either Barbara Begg at 656-5296, or me David Allinson at 391-1786. Photos of rare or unusual birds are appreciated and may be e-mailed to rba2 AT vicnhs.bc.ca . For more information about the Victoria Natural History Society, visit our website at http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/. Good birding and wishing you lifers all! David Allinson passerine AT shaw.ca Victoria, BC Subject: WHIMBREL SIGHTING From: "cpbartle" <cbpear AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:53:43 -0000 A Whimbrel was seen this morning on the mud flats of Pipers Lagoon in north Nanaimo. Colin. Subject: A neat yardbird!! From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:34:50 -0000 Hi birders, We are still in Edmonton at our daughters home, I was watching and listening to a pair of Merlins just across the street in the tall Spruce Trees. I was stittng on the deck and I heard a bird calling it was a Eastern Kingbird who landed at the top of a very tall fir tree, just for a moment then was gone!! Also there were three flocks of Boheman Waxwings flying by. Lots of Ring-billed Gulls and a Franklin's Gull drifting high up in the sky. Back to Parksville tomorrow. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville british Columbia Subject: Beaverhill Lake From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:59:08 -0000 Hi birders, Marilynne,I and our five year old grandson, Aaron, went to Beaverhill Lake about sixty clicks east of Edmonton. We saw a small flock of Tundra Swans just off the highway, a flock of Horned Larks, several flocks of Snow Geese, one flock of Greater White-fronted Geese, several flocks of Canada Geese. We also saw several Red-tailed Hawks, a Rough- legged Hawk and one Swansain's Hawk. Two American Avocets,many Mallards, Northern Shovellers, Common Goldeneyes and American Wigeon. The weather is warm, sunny and fifteen degrees celius. The snow is going fast, the small sloughs are frozen the big ones are melting. Spring in northern Alberta. We will soon be back to spring on Vancouver Island. Good birding Neil Robins Edmonton Alberta Subject: RBA: Eastern Pheobe and Golden Eagle From: "cpbartle" <cbpear AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:47:49 -0000 Hi Birders, We recieved a report here at the bird store of an Eastern Pheobe seen at a pond at the end of Viking Way in Columbia Beach (just north of Parksville). There is a photo on the home page of this group if you'd like to check it out. Also, a Golden Eagle was seen flying over Protection Island in Nanaimo Harbour. It was identified by the large white window in each wing and the shape of the head. Both birds were seen on Tuesday, April 22nd. Happy Birding! From the folks at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Nanaimo, BC Subject: Calliope Hummingbird occurence From: "fgfgrere" <h17893121aln AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:00:36 -0000 Hi Island Birders, I just read with interest that a friend has a male Calliope Hummingbird coming to his yard in Victoria. This is the exact window for this very rare species on Vancouver Island. In Vancouver they are also a rarity but a bit more regular. There we would get 1-3 per Spring. I suspect on the Island it is far less as the range of this interior bird is much further away. I had one a male on Mt Newton a couple of years ago at this time of year. I also had a male in Jordan River last year at this time of year. They may well be the same status as Vancouver but I doubt it. I was amused to read that someone thought they saw them all the time. I think this person is sadly mistaken. The window for this bird is 3rd week of April to the second week of May. Hope this help all those hummingbird folks out there! Rick Subject: Wednesday bird walk, April 23, 2008 From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:30:48 -0000 WEDNESDAY BIRD WALK APRIL 23, 2008 The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Top Bridge Trail, starting out from Craig Road in the industrial park. Sixteen birders found twenty-eight species with good looks at Chipping Sparrows, Orange-crowned Warblers, killdeer and Yellow-rumped Warblers, both Myrtle and Audubon species. The many Rufous Hummingbirds were busy putting on a show during the walk with great views of the males flashing some colour. Some other highlights of the walk were a Black-throated Gray Warbler singing at the top of a Cedar tree and a Killdeer in an open patch that allow us to observe moving through the grasses. Black-throated Gray Warbler, photo by Ralph Hocken The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Stores weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area meets on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am at the Parksville Visitors Centre at highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road. Snow, rain and /or heavy winds will deter us but we will plan a walk for every week. Everyone is welcome, bring your binoculars and join us foe a morning of birding. For the weekly location of the bird walk call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at 1-888-249-4145. Good birding! Top Bridge Trail bird walk total list. 28 species seen by 16 birders. Bald Eagle Canada Goose Mallard Cooper's Hawk Killdeer Rufous Hummingbird Northern Flicker Common Raven Northwestern Crow Violet-green Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Bewick's Wren Ruby-crown Kinglet American Robin European Starling Orange-crown Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler, Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon Black-throated Gray Warbler White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Red Crossbill Purple Finch Pine Siskin Subject: NANAIMO BIRD ALERT FOR APRIL 21/08 From: "cpbartle" <cbpear AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:38:45 -0000 The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Nanaimo Bird Alert April 21 2008 To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 or www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on these site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. HIGHLIGHTS: Brambling Mountain Bluebird Black-throated Gray Warbler Sora April 21, 2008 Monday 3 Mountain Bluebirds, I male 2 female, were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary perched atop the old fence posts in the middle of the estuary. A flock of 100 plus Greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying over Hemer Park heading north. Wilson's Snipe was seen at Neck Point Park, in the pond next to the parking lot. April 20, 2008 Sunday A female Wilson's Warbler and a Chipping Sparrow were seen in a backyard on the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive Nanaimo. The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park, where 16 birders saw and heard 45 species. Some of the highlights from the walk: Red- necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Northern Pintail, Wilson's Snipe, Rufous and Anna's Hummingbird, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red Crossbills. The list: Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Surf Scoters, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Black Oystercatcher, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye, Glaucous-winged Gull, Wilson's Snipe, Bald Eagle, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bushtit, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin. 2 Hermit Thrush are visiting a backyard on Western Acres road in south Nanaimo. April 19 2008, Saturday Cassin's Vireo and Hermit Thrush were seen amongst the snow in the Foothills development in upper Lantzville. Savannah Sparrow was hanging out in a backyard on Neyland Street in Nanaimo. April 18, 2008 Friday The Brambling is still frequenting the backyard on the Pacific Rim Highway in Ucluelet. It has been there for the past week. Pair of Mouring Doves has been frequenting the area of Phantom road and Aulds road in Lantzville. Sora was seen in the Morning Star Golf Course holding pond. April 17 2008, Thursday An Osprey has been busy on the nest located next to the Island Highway near Collier Dam Park. Northern Harrier was seen flying over Andrea Crescent and the Winchelsea View golf course in upper Lantzville. Golden Eagle was sighted flying over Hamilton Marsh in Qualicum Beach. At Union Bay Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and 23 Western Grebes were seen along with a Northern Rough-winged Swallow. April 16 2008, Wednesday The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary where13 birders saw and heard 52 species. Some of the highlights: Northern Shoveler, Hermit Thrush, Anna's Hummingbird, Red Crossbills. American Kestrel. The list: Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Canada Goose, Brant, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, American Kestrel, Band-tailed Pigeon, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, European Starling, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Song Sparrow, Dark- eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Golden-crown Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Red Crossbill, House Finch, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin. April 14 2008, Monday A Barred Owl was seen at Morrell Lake in Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary, south Nanaimo For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca *********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Monthly Meeting Thursday May 8, 2008 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monthly Meeting, Monday April 28, 2008 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ************************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ----------------------------------------------- The Wednesday Bird Walk for April 23, 2008 will be going to Top Bridge Trail meeting at the beginning of the trail on Craig road and Tuan road. Also meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. ***************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on April 27, 2008, will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville, on Normarel drive. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of the marsh by the power lines. ************************************** Subject: Nanaimo bird alert From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:17:50 -0000 NANAIMO BIRD ALERT APRIL 21, 2008 The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Nanaimo Bird Alert April 21 2008 To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 or www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on these site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. HIGHLIGHTS: Brambling Mountain Bluebird Black-throated Gray Warbler Sora April 21, 2008 Monday 3 Mountain Bluebirds, I male 2 female, were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary perched atop the old fence posts in the middle of the estuary. A flock of 100 plus Greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying over Hemer Park heading north. Wilson's Snipe was seen at Neck Point Park, in the pond next to the parking lot. April 20, 2008 Sunday A female Wilson's Warbler and a Chipping Sparrow were seen in a backyard on the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive Nanaimo. The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park, where 16 birders saw and heard 45 species. Some of the highlights from the walk: Red- necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Northern Pintail, Wilson's Snipe, Rufous and Anna's Hummingbird, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red Crossbills. The list: Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Surf Scoters, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Black Oystercatcher, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye, Glaucous-winged Gull, Wilson's Snipe, Bald Eagle, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bushtit, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin. 2 Hermit Thrush are visiting a backyard on Western Acres road in south Nanaimo. April 19 2008, Saturday Cassin's Vireo and Hermit Thrush were seen amongst the snow in the Foothills development in upper Lantzville. Savannah Sparrow was hanging out in a backyard on Neyland Street in Nanaimo. April 18, 2008 Friday The Brambling is still frequenting the backyard on the Pacific Rim Highway in Ucluelet. It has been there for the past week. Pair of Mouring Doves has been frequenting the area of Phantom road and Aulds road in Lantzville. Sora was seen in the Morning Star Golf Course holding pond. April 17 2008, Thursday An Osprey has been busy on the nest located next to the Island Highway near Collier Dam Park. Northern Harrier was seen flying over Andrea Crescent and the Winchelsea View golf course in upper Lantzville. Golden Eagle was sighted flying over Hamilton Marsh in Qualicum Beach. At Union Bay Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and 23 Western Grebes were seen along with a Northern Rough-winged Swallow. April 16 2008, Wednesday The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary where13 birders saw and heard 52 species. Some of the highlights: Northern Shoveler, Hermit Thrush, Anna's Hummingbird, Red Crossbills. American Kestrel. The list: Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Canada Goose, Brant, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, American Kestrel, Band-tailed Pigeon, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, European Starling, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Song Sparrow, Dark- eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Golden-crown Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Red Crossbill, House Finch, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin. April 14 2008, Monday A Barred Owl was seen at Morrell Lake in Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary, south Nanaimo For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca *********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Monthly Meeting Thursday May 8, 2008 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monthly Meeting, Monday April 28, 2008 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ************************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ----------------------------------------------- The Wednesday Bird Walk for April 23, 2008 will be going to Top Bridge Trail meeting at the beginning of the trail on Craig road and Tuan road. Also meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. ***************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on April 27, 2008, will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville, on Normarel drive. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of the marsh by the power lines. ************************************** Subject: More on the Edmonton Waxwings From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:39:51 -0000 Hi birders, Greetings from Edmonton. This afternoon I saw the same flock of about 200 Bohemain Waxwings perched in a fir tree singing their quiet song. Then a Merlin spooked them and they flew. There is lots of Mountain Ash trees in this area so I shall see them agaim I have also seen hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls flying over and a few on the ground, they are in breeding plummage and look very clean. Neil Robins Edmonton Alberta Subject: Wednesday bird walk From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:02:47 -0000 WEDNESDAY BIRD WALK APRIL 16, 2008 The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Thirteen birders found fifty- one species of birds and among the highlights of the morning were two Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warblers, American Kestrel, Northern Shoveler, and Red Crossbills up close. The group was also able to observe a pair of Bushtits busily building their nest and had great views of the Rufous Hummingbirds that were busy throughout the park. Fifty-one species seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, Parksville. Common Loon Canada Goose Brant Black Oystercatcher Red-necked Grebe Northern Shoveler Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Gadwall Green-winged Teal Mallard Northern Pintail Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser California Quail Band-tailed Pigeon American Kestrel Bald Eagle Mew Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Northwestern Crow Common Raven Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglets Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Bushtit American Robin Varied Thrush Hermit Thrush European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Spotted Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Red Crossbill House Finch Purple Finch Pine Siskin The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Stores weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area meets on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am at the Parksville Visitors Centre at highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road. Snow, rain and /or heavy winds will deter us but we will plan a walk for every week. Everyone is welcome, bring your binoculars and join us foe a morning of birding. For the weekly location of the bird walk call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at 1-888-249-4145. Good birding! Subject: Bohemain Waxwings From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:50:06 -0000 Hi birders, Greetings from Edmonton. This morning I saw the same flock of about 200 Bohemain Waxwings eating Mountain Ash Tree berries and singing their quiet song. I also heard and saw Black-billed Magpies, White-breasted Nuthatchs, House Sparrows and Black-cappedChickadees are coming to the feeders we got from Nanaimo, the like the medium chip seeds. Its very windy and cool about -3 degrees C... Good birding Neil Robins Edmonton Alberta Subject: Eurasian Collared-Dove in Sooke From: "fgfgrere" <h17893121aln AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:47:32 -0000 Hello All Island Birders, There is an adult EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Sooke along Pyrite Drive in the 2100 block. I got about 10 killer pictures of the bird today. There are many bird feeders in area it can come into feed so if you look for the bird travel around the entire area. I had the bird on the side of the road out the car window which made taking photos a snap! Hope it hangs around. Way to go Denise Gubersky on refinding this bird! Cheers! Rick Toochin Subject: Bohemain Waxwings From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:58:36 -0000 Hi birders, Greetings from Edmonton. I was out for a walk with my grandson this morning and about 200 Bohemain Wings were devoring a Mountain Ash Tree Berrys and singing their quiet song. We also heard and saw Black-billed Magpies, White-breasted Nuthatchs, House Sparrows and Black-capped Chickadees were singing up a storm. A few snow flurries were here today as well as sunshine. Good birding Neil Robins Edmonton Alberta Subject: BRAMBLING From: "cpbartle" <cbpear AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:09:24 -0000 Just recieved a report, Monday April 14/08, of a Brambling visiting a backyard on the Pacific Rim highway in Ucluelet. The Brambling is an Eurasian species that makes occasional visits along the west coast down into the northern states. In the past there have been other sightings of Brambling on Vancouver Island, in Campbell River, Port Alberni, and Tofino. For an update on this bird contact The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store. Good birding, Colin. Subject: Nanaimo bird alert, April 13, 2008, Vancouver Island B.C. From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:19:20 -0000 To report your sightings please phone the Store at 390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029 Check out the birdstore blog. www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on these site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date and location of your sighting. Sunday April 13, 2008: The Sunday Bird Walk went to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of a pair of Bushtits working on their sock shaped nest and a pair of Brown Creepers building their nest under the bark of a tree. We two Townsend's Warblers gleaning insects from Arbutus Trees. We heard and saw several Orange-crowned Warblers singing from high perches. Two male Downy Woodpeckers spent a long time trying to get the attention of a female Downy Woodpecker. We got a quick glance of a Hermit Thrush on the low bushes. Twenty-seven birders found the following forty-six species of birds: Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Bald Eagle, Merlin, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hutton's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Red- breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin. A Vesper Sparrow was spotted on the fence along the Simpson Road at the south end of the Nanaimo Airport. Saturday April 12: A pair of Cinnamon Teal were seen at the mouth of French Creek. A Wilson's Snipe was seen in a yard at Qualicum Beach. Friday April 11: Four male American Goldfinch were seen coming to feeders in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane. Two American Goldfinch were seen at feeders in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville. Thursday April 10: A pair of Cinnamon Teal were seen at the mouth of French Creek. A male American Goldfinch was seen along Superior Road in Lantzville. Wednesday April 09: A Bullock's Oriole was seen in the 1700 block of Centenary Drive in Nanaimo. A Common Yellowthroat was spotted at Somenos Marsh in Duncan. Band-tailed Pigeons were seen along Westwood Ridge in Nanaimo. The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Springwood Park in Parksville. Fourteen birders found twenty-eight species of birds during the morning. Included in the highlights was the sighting of a Brown Creeper flying into it's nest under the bark of an Alder Tree. It flew out after a few minutes and then went back into the nest several times. It was definitely getting the nest ready for eggs. We found a round hole in a snag and then noticed a female Northern Flicker looking down at us! We also saw an Orange-crowned Warbler and heard a Cassin's Vireo, California Quail and a Ring-necked Pheasant during the walk. There was a continual course of songs through out the morning. Fourteen birders found the following twenty-eight species of birds: Ring-necked Pheasant, California Quail, Bald Eagle, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Cassin's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin. Tuesday April 08: Two Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Stillin Drive in Ladysmith. A juvenile Anna's Hummingbird was visiting flowering currant bushes in the 1000 block of Dunsmuir Crescent in Ladysmith. A Say's Phoebe was seen in a backyard in the 4200 block of Discovery Drive in Campbell River. Monday April 07: A Wilson's Snipe, a Ring-necked Pheasant and a Peregrine Falcon were seen at the Cottonwood Golf Course in south Nanaimo. A female Mountain Bluebird and a Savannah Sparrow were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Sunday April 06: A Western Kingbird was seen flycatching at the end of Sebastion Road in Lantzville. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca *********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Monthly Meeting Thursday April 17, 2008 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monthly Meeting, Monday April 28, 2008 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ************************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ----------------------------------------------- The Wednesday Bird Walk on April 16, 2008 will be going to the Shelley Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or at the Oceanside end of Shelley Road in Parksville at about 9:15 A.M. ***************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on April 20, 2008, will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 A. M. ************************************** Good Birding! Neil Robins Nanaimo Subject: Sunday bird walk From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:42:07 -0000 Hi birders, The Sunday bird walk went to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of a pair of Bushtits working on their nest, a pair of Brown Creepers also building their nest under the bark of a tree. We two Townsend's Warblers gleaning insects from Arbourtes Trees. We heard and saw several Orange-crowned Warblers singing from a high perch. Two male Downy Woodpeckers spent a long time fighting over a female Downy Woodpecker. We got a quick glance of a Hermit Thrush on the low bushes. Twenty-seven birders found the following forty-six species of birds: Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Bald Eagle, Merlin, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hutton's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Cinnamon Teal From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:30:03 -0000 Hi birders, I just had a report of a Cinnamon Teal at French Creek. We have also had two American Goldfinch at our feeders in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Re: Pesticides in Latin America killing NA songbirds From: "fgfgrere" <h17893121aln AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:47:07 -0000 Thanks Anina --- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, Aziza Cooper wrote: > > Dear Friends, buy ORGANIC fruits and veg only, and > save the songbirds! > > Aziza > > Pesticides in Latin America killing NA songbirds > > > > Published on Friday, April 4, 2008 by The > Independent/UK > American Songbirds Are Being Wiped Out by Banned > Pesticides > by Leonard Doyle > > The number of migratory songbirds returning to North > America has gone > into > sharp decline due to the unregulated use of highly > toxic pesticides and > other > chemicals across Latin America. > > Ornithologists blame the demand for out-of-season > fruit and vegetables > and > other crops in North America and Europe for the > destruction of tens of > millions > of passerine birds. By some counts, half of the > songbirds that warbled > across > America's skies only 40 years ago have gone, wiped out > by pesticides > or loss of > habitat. > > Forty-six years ago, the naturalist Rachel Carson > wrote Silent Spring, > a study > of the ravages caused to wildlife, especially birds, > by DDT. The > chemical's use > on American farms almost eradicated entire species, > including the > peregrine > falcon and bald eagle. > > The pesticide was banned and bird numbers recovered, > but new and highly > toxic > pesticides banned by the US and European Union are > being widely used in > Latin > America. > > Because of changed consumer habits in Europe and the > US, export-led > agriculture > has transformed the wintering grounds of birds into > intensive farming > operations producing grapes, melons and bananas as > well as rice for > export. > > Ornithologists say another silent spring is dawning > across the US as > birds are > being poisoned by toxic chemicals or killed as pests > in their winter > refuges > across South and Central America as well as the > Caribbean. They say > that many > species of songbird will never recover, and others may > even become > endangered > or extinct if controls are not put in place or > consumer habits changed. > > More problems await those birds which make it home. > Millions of acres > of > wilderness the birds use as nesting grounds have been > ploughed under in > the > drive to grow corn for ethanol, for bio-fuel. > > Some 150 species of songbirds undertake extraordinary > migrations up to > 12,000 > miles every year as they move from the south to > nesting grounds in the > US and > Canada every spring. Ornithologists say that almost > all these species > are at > risk of poisoning. > > The migratory songbirds in most trouble include the > wood thrush, the > Kentucky > warbler, the eastern kingbird and the bobolink, > celebrated by the 19th > century > American poet Emily Dickinson as "the rowdy of the > meadows". > > Bridget Stutchbury, an ornithologist and professor at > York University > in > Toronto, said: "With spring we take it for granted > that the sound of > the > songbirds will fill the air with their cheerful > sounds. But each year, > as we > continue to demand out-of-season fruits and > vegetables, fewer and fewer > > songbirds will return." > > The bobolink songbird has experienced such a steep > decline, it has > almost > fallen off the charts. The birds migrate in flocks > from Argentina, > Bolivia and > Paraguay to the east coast of the US, feeding on grain > and rice, > prompting > farmers to regard them as a pest. Bobolink numbers > have plummeted > almost 50 per > cent in the past four decades, according to the North > American Breeding > Bird > Survey. > > Rosalind Renfrew, a biologist who studied bobolinks as > they were > feeding in > rice paddies in Bolivia, found about half of the birds > had been exposed > to > toxic chemicals banned in Europe and the US. Some 40 > to 50 species, > which > include the barn swallow, the wood thrush the > dickcissel as well as > migratory > birds of prey, are starting to disappear. > > It is only recently that the decline has been > definitively linked to > the use of > toxic pesticides in the Caribbean and across Latin > America. "Everyone > who has > looked for pesticide poisoning in birds has found it," > Professor > Stutchbury > said. "When we count birds during our summers we are > finding > significant > population declines in about three dozen species of > songbirds." > > She wrote in the comment pages of The New York Times: > "They are the > modern-day > canaries in the coal mine." She said: "The imported > fruits and > vegetables found > in our shopping carts in winter and early spring are > grown with types > and > amounts of pesticides that would often be illegal in > the United > States." > > Growers are using high doses of pesticides, which the > World Health > Organisation > calls class I toxins. These are also toxic to humans > and are either > restricted > or banned in the US and EU. But controls in Latin > American countries > are easily > flouted. > > "I believe that if we don't make drastic changes quite > literally > many birds > which are common now are going to become rare," said > Professor > Stutchbury. > > Testing by individual EU countries and the US Food and > Drug > Administration > reveals that fruits and vegetables imported from Latin > America are > three and > sometimes four times as likely to violate basic > standards for pesticide > > residues. > > © 2008 The Independent > > These icons link to social bookmarking sites where > readers can share > and > discover new web pages. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > Subject: Pesticides in Latin America killing NA songbirds From: Aziza Cooper <tanageraz AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:44:38 -0700 (PDT) Dear Friends, buy ORGANIC fruits and veg only, and save the songbirds! Aziza Pesticides in Latin America killing NA songbirds Published on Friday, April 4, 2008 by The Independent/UK American Songbirds Are Being Wiped Out by Banned Pesticides by Leonard Doyle The number of migratory songbirds returning to North America has gone into sharp decline due to the unregulated use of highly toxic pesticides and other chemicals across Latin America. Ornithologists blame the demand for out-of-season fruit and vegetables and other crops in North America and Europe for the destruction of tens of millions of passerine birds. By some counts, half of the songbirds that warbled across America’s skies only 40 years ago have gone, wiped out by pesticides or loss of habitat. Forty-six years ago, the naturalist Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, a study of the ravages caused to wildlife, especially birds, by DDT. The chemical’s use on American farms almost eradicated entire species, including the peregrine falcon and bald eagle. The pesticide was banned and bird numbers recovered, but new and highly toxic pesticides banned by the US and European Union are being widely used in Latin America. Because of changed consumer habits in Europe and the US, export-led agriculture has transformed the wintering grounds of birds into intensive farming operations producing grapes, melons and bananas as well as rice for export. Ornithologists say another silent spring is dawning across the US as birds are being poisoned by toxic chemicals or killed as pests in their winter refuges across South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. They say that many species of songbird will never recover, and others may even become endangered or extinct if controls are not put in place or consumer habits changed. More problems await those birds which make it home. Millions of acres of wilderness the birds use as nesting grounds have been ploughed under in the drive to grow corn for ethanol, for bio-fuel. Some 150 species of songbirds undertake extraordinary migrations up to 12,000 miles every year as they move from the south to nesting grounds in the US and Canada every spring. Ornithologists say that almost all these species are at risk of poisoning. The migratory songbirds in most trouble include the wood thrush, the Kentucky warbler, the eastern kingbird and the bobolink, celebrated by the 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson as “the rowdy of the meadows”. Bridget Stutchbury, an ornithologist and professor at York University in Toronto, said: “With spring we take it for granted that the sound of the songbirds will fill the air with their cheerful sounds. But each year, as we continue to demand out-of-season fruits and vegetables, fewer and fewer songbirds will return.” The bobolink songbird has experienced such a steep decline, it has almost fallen off the charts. The birds migrate in flocks from Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay to the east coast of the US, feeding on grain and rice, prompting farmers to regard them as a pest. Bobolink numbers have plummeted almost 50 per cent in the past four decades, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Rosalind Renfrew, a biologist who studied bobolinks as they were feeding in rice paddies in Bolivia, found about half of the birds had been exposed to toxic chemicals banned in Europe and the US. Some 40 to 50 species, which include the barn swallow, the wood thrush the dickcissel as well as migratory birds of prey, are starting to disappear. It is only recently that the decline has been definitively linked to the use of toxic pesticides in the Caribbean and across Latin America. “Everyone who has looked for pesticide poisoning in birds has found it,” Professor Stutchbury said. “When we count birds during our summers we are finding significant population declines in about three dozen species of songbirds.” She wrote in the comment pages of The New York Times: “They are the modern-day canaries in the coal mine.” She said: “The imported fruits and vegetables found in our shopping carts in winter and early spring are grown with types and amounts of pesticides that would often be illegal in the United States.” Growers are using high doses of pesticides, which the World Health Organisation calls class I toxins. These are also toxic to humans and are either restricted or banned in the US and EU. But controls in Latin American countries are easily flouted. “I believe that if we don’t make drastic changes quite literally many birds which are common now are going to become rare,” said Professor Stutchbury. Testing by individual EU countries and the US Food and Drug Administration reveals that fruits and vegetables imported from Latin America are three and sometimes four times as likely to violate basic standards for pesticide residues. © 2008 The Independent These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Subject: First Violet Green Swallow noticed today - From: "Malcolm" <groundswell AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:01:53 -0000 maybe one raised in the nestbox at the end of the house. Both Flickers and red squirrel taking nesting material into the supposed Flicker box - we'll see who wins out. Subject: Backyard birds From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:41:27 -0000 Hi birders, We have Band-tailed Pigeons stopping in our neighbourhood for a fuel stop, they eat a lot of seed! Also a Sharp-shinned Hawk has been stopping to feed on the feeders feeding at the feeders!!! Cheers Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Wednesday bird walk, April 09, 2008 From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:37:36 -0000 Hi birders, The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Springwood Park in Parksville. Fourteen birders found twenty-eight species of birds during the morning. Included in the highlights was the sighting of a Brown Creeper flying into it's nest under the bark of an Alder Tree. It flew out after a few minutes and then went back into the nest several times. It was definitely getting the nest ready for eggs. We found a round hole in a snag and then noticed a female Northern Flicker looking down at us! We also saw an Orange-crowned Warbler and heard a Cassin's Vireo, California Quail and a Ring-necked Pheasant during the walk. There was a continual course of songs through out the morning. Fourteen birders found the following twenty-eight species of birds: Ring-necked Pheasant California Quail Bald Eagle Rufous Hummingbird Northern Flicker Cassin's Vireo Northwestern Crow Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Red Crossbill Purple Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: SAY'S PHOEBE From: "cpbartle" <cbpear AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:34:38 -0000 Just had a report of a Say's Phoebe seen in Campbell River. It was first seen on Monday April 7/08 on Discovery Drive. To see a picture check out the photos under The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store. Good birding, Colin. Subject: Nanaimo bird alert, April 06, 2008 From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:57:25 -0000 To report your sightings please phone the Store at 390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029 Check out the birdstore blog. www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on these site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date and location of your sighting. Sunday April 06, 2008: The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. Among the highlights of the morning was the sighting of a Short-eared Owl and seven Western Meadowlarks on the Estuary. On the way out of the Estuary several of us saw three Lesser Yellowlegs and a Yellow-rumped Warbler feeding on a gravel bar on the Nanaimo River. Four birders stopped at the south end of the Nanaimo Airport and found three males and one female Mountain Bluebird on the fence off Simpson Road. Thirteen birders found the following Forty species of birds: Canada Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Common Mergansers, Northern Pintail, Buffhead, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Short- eared Owl,Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, Violet- green Swallows, Bushtits, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red- winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and Pine Siskin. A Three-toed Woodpecker was seen in a yard along Gulfview Drive in north Nanaimo. A Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen at suet feeders along Lakeshore Drive in Cinnabar Valley in south Nanaimo. Saturday April 05: Six Mountain Bluebirds were spotted at the south end of the Nanaimo Airport along the fence on Simpson Road. Friday April 04: Fifty Canada Geese in a "V" formation were seen leading a flock of thirty Trumpeter Swans also in a "V" formation, the flocks were low and spectacular. Thursday April 03: A male and female Mountain Bluebirds were seen along Simpson Road at the south end of the Nanaimo Airport. Wednesday April 02: The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Nine birders found forty-six species of birds. Among the highlights of the morning was the sighting of a three male Rufous Hummingbirds perched on a near by bush. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Purple Finch, House Finch, White- crowned Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Spotted Towhees and California Quail serenaded us throughout the morning with courting songs--a true sign that spring is here! A female Red Crossbill landed on a hydro pole along the road and we watched as she ate insects from the hydro pole. Nine birders found the following forty-six species: Canada Goose, Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, Long- tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red- breasted Merganser, California Quail, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red- breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow. Tuesday April 01: A Townsend's Solitaire was seen in a backyard in the 300 block of Clarkson Place in Parksville. Monday March 31: A Yellow-rumped Warbler, a Red-breasted Sapsucker and a Rufous Hummingbird are visiting feeders in the 4700 block of Shell Beach Road in Ladysmith. Friday March 28: Silver Pheasants were seen in a backyard along Bayshore Drive and at the south end of Waldbank Road in Nanaimo. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca *********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Monthly Meeting Thursday April 17, 2008 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monthly Meeting, Monday April 28, 2008 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ************************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ----------------------------------------------- The Wednesday Bird Walk on April 09, 2008 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. We will meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or at the west end of Despard Road off Highway 4a in Parksville at about 9:15 A.M. ***************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on April 13, 2008, will be going to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the top of Rutherford Road across from the Quilted Duck at about 9:20 A. M. ************************************** Good Birding! Neil Robins Nanaimo Subject: Nanaimo bird alert, April 06, 2008 From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:46:31 -0000 Hi birders, The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. Among the highlights of the morning was a great sighting of a Short-eared Owl and seven Western Meadowlarks on the Estuary. On the way out of the Estuary several of us saw three Lesser Yellowlegs and a Yellow- rumped Warbler feeding on a gravel bar on the Nanaimo River. Four birders stopped at the south end of the Nanaimo Airport and found three male and one female Mountian Bluebirds on the fence off Simpson Road. Thirteen birders found the following Forty species of birds: Canada Goose, Double-creasted Comorant, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Common Mergansers, Northern Pintail, Buffhead, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Short- eared Owl,Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, Violet- green Swallows, Bushtits, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red- winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and Pine Siskin. Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Hawks in Parksville From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2008 03:00:14 -0000 Hi birders, We had a Sharp-shinned Hawk in the backyard yesterday with a Pine Siskin in its talons. Today there was a Red-tailed Hawk being mobbed by a murder of Northwestern Crows above the fields east of Medidian Way in Parksville. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS From: "cpbartle" <cbpear AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:38:33 -0000 Had a report this afternoon, Saturday April 5, of 6 Mountain Bluebirds seen at the south end of the Nanaimo Airport. Park on Simpson road to see the bluebirds, which can be accesed off of Cedar road in the industrial area. Good birding, Colin. Subject: Orange-crowned Warbler From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:38:20 -0000 Hi birders, I just heard a Organge-crowned Warbler singing near the bushes off Meridian Way in Parksville, ya hoo first of the season!!! Cheers Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Wednesday bird walk, April 02, 2008 From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:34:39 -0000 Hi birders, The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Nine birders found forty-six species of birds. Among the highlights of the morning was the sighting of a three male Rufous Hummingbirds perched on a near by bush. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Purple Finch, House Finch, White-crowned Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Spotted Towhees and California Quail serenaded us throughout the morning with courting songs--a true sign that spring is here! A female Red Crossbill landed on a hydro pole along the road and we watched as she ate insects from the pole. The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area is on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. Participants meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road in Parksville at 9:00 A.M. Snow, rain and/or heavy winds will deter us--but we will plan a walk for every week. Everyone is welcome to bring their binoculars and join us for a morning of birding. For the weekly location of the birdwalk, please call Neil Robins at (250) 954-1928 or the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at (250) 390-3669. Nine birders found the following forty-six species: Canada Goose Brant Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup Surf Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser California Quail Pacific Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Mew Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Rufous Hummingbird Northern Flicker Northwestern Crow Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin House Sparrow Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: American Kestrel From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:43:14 -0000 Hi birders, On our way home from the Bird Store yesterday, we spotted an American Kestrel perched on the Hydro line overlooking the Ugly Dwarf Meadows, near the ESSO station at Nanoose Bay. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Nanaimo bird alert, March 30, 2008 From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:56:13 -0000 To report your sightings please phone the Store at 390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029 Check out the birdstore blog. www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on these site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date and location of your sighting. Sunday March 30: The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The outstanding highlight of the morning was the sighting of three Virginia Rails and we heard the call of a Sora. We saw several Yellow- rumped Warblers, Tree and Violet-green Swallows hawking insects and three Turkey Vultures soaring high in the sky. Seventeen birders found the following forty species of birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, a Pied- billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Coot, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallows, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, Brown Creepers, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden- crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow. A Pileated Woodpecker is visiting suet feeders along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo. Saturday March 29: A Rufous Hummingbird, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, two Pileated Woodpeckers, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, California Quail, Pine Siskins are frequenting a yard along Lancewood Avenue in Lantzville and two Barred Owls are calling at night. Over 5,000 Barrow's Goldeneye's in two hugh rafts were seen just outside Boat Harbour south of Cedar. Wednesday March 26: The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Ten birders found forty-five species of birds. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of our first Turkey Vulture of the season. We saw steady streams of Black, Surf, White- winged Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks flying up and down the Strait of Georgia. There were approximately six hundred Brant Geese feasting on the eel grass along the tide line. A large raft of Red- breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks were seen not far from shore. There were several Red Crossbills on the beach just in front of us and Golden- crowned Kinglets kept us entertained as they hawked insects on the low bushes along the forest trails. Ten birders found the following forty-four species: Brant, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red- necked Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous- winged Gull, Common Murre, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red- breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden- crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin. A Pileated Woodpecker is visiting suet feeders along Pheasant Terrace in Nanaimo. Tuesday March 25: A partial Albino American Robin was seen at Deep Bay. Monday March 24: Over fifty Violet-green Swallows, a Northern Shrike, a Greater Yellowlegs and seven Western Meadowlarks were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Both Anna's and Rufous Hummingbirds are coming to feeders in the 4600 block of Lost Lake Road in Nanaimo. Saturday March 22: A Rufous Hummingbird has returned to feeders along Gary Oaks Drive in Nanoose Bay. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca *********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monthly Meeting, Monday March 31, 2008 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ************************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Monthly Meeting Thursday April 17, 2008 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday 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 Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ----------------------------------------------- The Wednesday Bird Walk on April 02, 2008 will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side in Parksville. We will meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 A.M. ***************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on April 06, 2008, will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A. M. ************************************** Good Birding! Neil Robins Nanaimo Subject: Sunday bird walk From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:07:24 -0000 Hi birders, The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Among the highlights of the morning was a great sighting of a three Virginia Rails and we head a Sora. We saw several Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tree and Violet-green Swallows hawking insects and three Turkey Vultures soaring high in the sky. Seventeen birders found the following forty species of birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, a Pied- billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Gloucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Coot, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallows, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, Brown Creepers, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden- crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: RBA Victoria, BC - March 30, 2008 From: David Allinson <passerine AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:19:16 -0700 - RBA * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * March 30, 2008 * BCVI300308 - Transcript Hello birders! This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, March 30, 11 am update. Compiled and transcribed by David Allinson. Feature Birds --------------------------- MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD Saturday, March 29 A male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was on Cordova Spit, just north of the sewage plant at the north end of Island View Beach Regional Park in Central Saanich. Please respect private property here. MOURNING DOVES have been reported from a number of locales over the past week, including Lochside Trail in the Martindale Valley of Central Saanich and at Parker Park in the Cordova Bay area. Monday, March 24 A PINE GROSBEAK was heard singing on the ridge behind the Turnstone development in Happy Valley in Langford. Saturday, March 22 An AMERICAN BITTERN and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were reported from Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. 4 MOURNING DOVES were along a section of the Galloping Goose Trail in the Western Communities. 20 WESTERN GREBES were offshore at Devonian Regional Park in Metchosin. To report bird sightings of interest please leave your name and telephone number as well as the details of your sighting at the end of this greeting. For information about Victoria birding or to summon birders to confirm a rare bird, please call either Barbara Begg at 656-5296, or me David Allinson at 391-1786. Photos of rare or unusual birds are appreciated and may be sent to rba2 AT vicnhs.bc.ca . For more information about the Victoria Natural History Society, visit our website at http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/. Good birding and wishing you lifers all! David Allinson passerine AT shaw.ca Victoria, BC Subject: Barrow's Goldeneye's by the thousands From: "backyard_store" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:32:08 -0000 Hi Birders, We just received a report of 5,000 Barrow's Goldeneyes in two hugh rafts just outside of Boat Harbour south of Cedar. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo, British Columbia Subject: Johnstone Road From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:17:48 -0000 Hi birders, I just returned from Johnstone Road where long lines of seabirds are heading down the Strait of Georga. A small cloud of Dunlin put in a short appearance and then settled down on the tide line. Good birding Nril Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Wednesday bird walk, March 26, 2008 From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:21:56 -0000 Hi birders, The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Ten birders found forty-five species of birds. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of our first Turkey Vulture of the season. We saw steady streams of Black, Surf, White-winged Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks flying up and down the Strait of Georgia. There were approximately six hundred Brant Geese feasting on the eel grass along the tide line. A large raft of Red-breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks were seen not far from shore. There were several Red Crossbills on the beach just in front of us and Golden-crowned Kinglets kept us entertained as they hawked insects on the low bushes along the forest trails. The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area is on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. Participants meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road in Parksville at 9:00 A.M. Snow, rain and/or heavy winds will deter us--but we will plan a walk for every week. Everyone is welcome to bring their binoculars and join us for a morning of birding. For the weekly location of the birdwalk, please call Neil Robins at (250) 954-1928 or the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at (250) 390-3669. Ten birders found the following forty-five species Brant Mallard Greater Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Pacific Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Black Oystercatcher Mew Gull California Gull Thayer's Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Common Murre Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Northwestern Crow Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickade Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Purple Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Subject: Wednesday bird walk, March 26, 2008 From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:32:01 -0000 Hi birders, The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Ten birders found forty-five species of birds. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of one Turkey Vulture. We saw steady streams of Black, Surf, White-winged Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks flying up and down the Strait of Georgia. A large raft of Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergangers and Long-tailed Ducks were seen not far from shore. We saw several Red-crossbills on the beach not far from us, the Golden-crowned Kinglets kept us entertained as they moved very quickley hawking insects on the low bushes. The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area is on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. Participants meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road in Parksville at 9:00 A.M. Snow, rain and/or heavy winds will deter us--but we will plan a walk for every week. Everyone is welcome to bring their binoculars and join us for a morning of birding. For the weekly location of the birdwalk, please call Neil Robins at (250) 954-1928 or the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at (250) 390-3669. Ten birders found the following forty-five species Brant Mallard Greater Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Pacific Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Brandt's Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Black Oystercatcher Mew Gull California Gull Thayer's Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Common Murre Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Northwestern Crow Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickade Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Purple Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Coloumbia Subject: Turkey Vulture From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:00:32 -0000 Hi birders, I spotted my first Turkey Vulture of the year at Rathtrevor Provincial Park.**** SPRING INCHES A LITTLE CLOSER---ITS HAILING OUTSIDE NOW!!!! Cheers Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Female Rufous From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:28:49 -0000 Hi birders, Marilynne and I had a female Rufous Hummingbird at the feeders this morning..They have arrived... Lots of sightings of the Rufous coming in! Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia