The Nanaimo Bird Alert
provided by
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
To report your sightings phone
The Bird Alert at: 390-3029 or
The Store at: 390-3669
e-mail: thebackyard at shaw.ca
Website: www.thebirdstore.ca

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.

Sunday April 09, 2006:
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, a yellow variance HOUSE FINCH and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
are coming to feeders in the Little Qualicum River Estates just north of
Qualicum Beach.
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Fifteen
birders found thirty-six species. Among the highlights were a pair of
PEREGRINE FALCONS, a MERLIN, GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and a
kettle of TURKEY VULTURES circled above us.
The sightings for today were:
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Geese
Wood Duck
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
BuffleHead
Ring-neched Duck
Hooded Merganser
Red-tailed Hawk
Merlin
Pergrine Falcon
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch

Saturday April 08:
Two PIGEON GILLEMOTS were seen offshore at French Creek.
A MERLIN and PILEATED WOODPECKERS were seen along Ermiskin Avenue in
Parksville.
A small flock of PURPLE MARTINS were seen on Newcastle Island.

Friday April 07:
A RUFFED GROUSE was seen at the Englishman River Estuary Shelly Road side.
PINE GROSBEAKS were seen at feeders in 3300 Opal Road in Nanaimo.

Thursday April 06:
An estimated raft of 3000 BLACK, SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen
moving around Hornby Island. Also in the same area were BARROW'S and COMMON
GOLDENEYES and HARLEQUIN DUCKS.
Five BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, four CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEES, three STELLER'S JAYS, EUROPEAN STARLINGS, two VARIED THRUSH,
AMERICAN ROBINS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS were seen at the 3400 block of Harris
Crescent at Whiskey Creek.
Fifteen SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, two GREATER YELLOWLEGS and two MARBLED
GODWITS were seen on the Tofino mudflats.

Wednesday April 05:
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS have return to the 5300 block of Scenic Place in
Nanaimo.
A pair of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH have arrived at feeders along La Couvee Way in
Qualicum Beach.
A pair of OSPREY were spotted at Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS have returned to feeders along Howard Avenue in Nanaimo.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen and heard in a front yard in the 1100 block
of Pintail Drive in Qualicum Beach,
Three MARBLED GODWITS--two offshore and one on a rock off Tofino
Harbour--were sighted.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen in the 2500 block of Cameo Drive on
Gabrolia Island.
Fifteen EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen along Erminskin Avenue in Parksville.

Tuesday April 04:
One MOURNING DOVE was seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side
in Parksville.
A large flock of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH are visiting feeders in the 1400 block
of Hess Road on Gabriola Island.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have returned to feeders
along the Port Alberni Highway in Coombs.
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was seen in a garden just north of the Little Qualicum
River.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS are visiting feeders in the 2500 block of Cameo Drive on
Gabrolia Island.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen near the Cowichan River just west of Duncan.
"RARE BIRD ALERT"
A pair of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, along with a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a RING-NECKED
PHEASANT, several WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and SAVANNAH SPARROWS were seen at the
Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo..
The PAINTED BUNTING continues to be seen under the feeders in the 900 block
of Damelart Way in Brentwood Bay.
There have been a great number of reports of RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS returning
. A true sign of spring--it's great to have them back!

Monday April 03:
"RARE BIRD ALERT"
A male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD along with a NORTHERN SHRIKE and several SAVANNAH
SPAROWS were seen near the Viewing Tower at the Nanaimo River Estuary in
south Nanaimo.
A HUTTON'S VIREO was seen at the top of Corfield Road in Parksville.

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
www.thebirdstore.ca
*************************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday, April 13, 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Springwood School Parksville
Monday, April 24, 7:30 pm.
Mariana Vetrici will speak on
"How Superior Seedlings are Produced
for Reforestation"
*********************************
Nanaimo Field Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, April 26, 7:30 PM,
Bowen Park Activity Centre,
Nanaimo.
**********************************
There will not be a Sunday Bird Walk on April 16, 2006. "HAPPY EASTER!"
The bird walks will resume on April 23.
**************************************
PURPLE MARTINS should begin to show up in the next week or so.
Please send your first sighting reports with location, date, time and
observer
information to Bruce Cousens at pmartins at island.net.
*************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia
**********************************



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