Subject: [Tweeters] Nanaimo Bird alert
Date: Apr 23 16:35:05 2006
From: The Backyard - thebackyard at shaw.ca


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 23, 2006:
Two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, PURPLE FINCH and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen
in the 6000 block of Sierra Way in Nanaimo.
An OSPREY was seen on it's nest just off Highway 19 south of Nanaimo Lakes
Road.
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Morrell Nature Sanctuary in Nanaimo.
Twenty-seven birders found thirty-five species. Among the highlights were:
TOWNSEND'S SOLITARE, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, CASSIN'S
VIREO and several HERMIT THRUSH.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS were seen in a field behind
Lodgepole Road in Parksville.
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and a CHIPPING SPARROW were seen in the forest behind
Buckerfields in Parksville.

Saturday April 22:
Over 300 DUNLIN and ten BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were seen near the shore at
the bottom of Johnstone Road in Parksville.
Two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were spotted at the Englishman River Estuary in
Parksville.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen in the 3600 block of Sundown Drive up from
Piper's Lagoon in Nanaimo.

Friday April 21:
A flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in the 3000 block of Norman Road in
YellowPoint.
Two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen at the Englishman River Estuary in
Parksville.
A BALD EAGLE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, COMMON MERGANSERS, two GREAT BLUE HERONS
and SAVANNAH SPARROWS were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south
Nanaimo.
WINTER WRENS, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, a PILEATED and a HAIRY WOODPECKER
were seen along the Cable Bay Trail in Cedar.
One OSPREY, six RING-NECKED DUCKS, a COMMON LOON, five DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS and a pair of HOODED MERGANGERS were seen on Holden Lake at Hemer
Park in Cedar.
A pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at Green Lake in north Nanaimo.
A NORTHERN HARRIER was spotted at the Englishman River Estuary in
Parksville.

Thursday April 20:
One WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen at the Pacific Biological Station
between the Annex and Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.
Three to five BUSHTITS and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen in the 700 block
of Kasba Circle in Parksville.

Wednesday April 19:
A completely white-tailed CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE was visiting feeders in
the 1400 block of Hess Road on Gabriola Island.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen in Lantzville.

Tuesday, April 18:
A CASSIN'S VIREO and large numbers of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH were seen at
Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
Several BALD EAGLES were playing in the wind high above Goose Spit in Comox.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED, THAYER'S, BONAPART'S GULLS and one GLAUCOUS GULL were seen
along the tide line. Off-shore SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were skimming
the surf.
Over 2000 BRANT GEESE were seen at the tide line at Rosewell Creek.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, NORTHERN FLICKERS, BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRDS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were seen in a backyard along Meridian
Way in Parksville.
About 100 SURF SCOTERS, over 100 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and BLACK SCOTERS were
seen at Ladysmith Harbour.
One female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD was visiting feeders in the 2500 block of
Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.
Two AMERICAN KESTRAL and a PURPLE FINCH were seen at the end of Kaye Road in
Parksville.
Two PILEATED WOODPECKERS, HOUSE FINCH, SPOTTED TOWHEES and three NORTHERN
FLICKERS were seen at suet feeders in the 400 block of Rowan Drive in
Qualicum Beach.
Four EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in the 2100 block of Michigan Way in
Nanaimo.
SILVER PHEASANTS were seen off the steps down to the ocean at Blueback Road
and Icarus Drive in Nanaimo.

Monday April 17:
A HERMIT THRUSH and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER were seen behind the Government
Weigh Scales in Parksville.
Several RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and PURPLE FINCH were seen in the 200 block of
Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.
Four large flocks of BRANT GEESE were skimming the water at Rathtravor
Provincial Park in Parksville.
A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen on the tide line at Columbia Beach in French
Creek.
Over 1000 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen at the
Ladysmith Harbour.
80 to 100 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen high above the 2500 block of
Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Sunday April 16:
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and three RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were seen at the
Top bridge Park in Parksville.
A pair of NORTHERN FLICKERS are visiting feeders along Johnstone Road in
Parksville.
A PILEATED WOODPECKER and a pair of BUSHTITS were seen nesting at Neck Point
Park in Nanaimo.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were seen in a yard along Sunset Road in Nanaimo.

Saturday April 15:
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, a GADWALL and a BLACK DUCK were
seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
A pair of PIED-BILLED GREBE were spotted building a nest at Brookwood Marsh
in Nanaimo.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen in the 1000 block of Dunsmuir Crescent in
Ladysmith.

Friday April 14:
A VIRGINA RAIL, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and a OSPREY were seen at Buttertubs
Marsh 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
www.thebirdstore.ca
********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Springwood School Parksville
Monday, April 24, 7:30 pm.
Mariana Vetrici wil 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.
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday, May 11, 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
*************************************
The next Sunday Bird Walk, April 30, 2006 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh.
Meet at the Bird Store at 8:30 am or at the parking lot off Bowen Road 8:45
am.
**************************************
"PURPLE MARTINS "
Please send your first sighting reports with location, date, time and
observer
information to Bruce Cousens at pmartins at island.net.
*************************************
Here's a few birding tips from-- http://www.birding.bc.ca/
TIP #1 - Start early in the day:
1) It really helps to get to the birding location before it is
disturbed by the general public and their dogs. Once the
rest of the public arrives, the birds tend to move off to more
inaccessible locations.
A big advantage with being first on the trail is that you
are much more likely to have a close-up view of a bird which
otherwise would move off when it is disturbed by a jogger or
dog.
2) Dawn chorus, as the name implies, is at it's best in the early
morning and its the best time to hear rare and migrating
species.
By mid-morning, the chorus may still be going but many
individuals are now becoming quiet as a bird's song is also a
dinner bell for predator species. (Otherwise why not sing all
the time...)
TIP #2 - Bad weather can lead to better birding during migration (Bird
Fallouts) Watch the weather reports.
A few days of bad weather can make for excellent birding on the
days following. During migration, bad weather may pause, stall or
shorten a migration leg for a group of migrating birds.
These birds then fallout / concentrate at a location that is on
the edge of a large crossover point (large body of water,
flatlands, urban area) to either wait out the bad weather
and/or rest and gather energy for the next migration leg.
Here's some places to look.
- The first point of land, the first few hilltops, first treed
areas on the other side of a large body of water or flat or urban region.
-The last point of land, last hilltop, last treed areas before
crossing a large body of water or flat or urban region.
-Hilltops in an otherwise flat or urban region.
-Treed oasis in a prairie/grassland or urban area.
-The edge habitat between water, grass, open and treed areas.
(This is always a good place to look for birds)
*********************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia
**********************************
Red-breasted Sapsucker : Photo by Ralph Hocken



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