Subject: [Tweeters] Nanaimo bird alert
Date: Mar 11 15:02:29 2007
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

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

Sunday March 11, 2007:
There were torrential rains and although four brave souls came out, the
Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled.
A VARIED THRUSH has been singing all day at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature
Store along Metral Drive in north Nanaimo.
Six AMERICAN COOTS and two RINGED-NECKED DUCKS were seen at Buttertubs Marsh
in Nanaimo.
A HERRING GULL, CALIFORNIA GULLS, THAYERS GULLS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS,
AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, MALLARDS, CANADA GEESE
and a GREAT BLUE HERON were seen at the Nanoose Bay Estuary in Nanoose Bay.

Saturday March 10:
A RINGED-BILLED GULL was spotted at the tideline off Johnstone Road at
Columbia Beach.

Friday March 09:
Two RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were seen in the 5500 block of Kenwill Drive in
North Nanaimo.
A flock of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were spotted at Buttertubs March in Nanaimo

Thursday March 08:
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was spotted at feeders in the 5700 block of Garnet
Place in Nanaimo.
A flock of SWALLOWS were seen in the 3700 block of Jingle Pot Road in
Nanaimo.

Wednesday March 07:
"RARE BIRD ALERT:
"EASTERN TOWHEE"
The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road
side. Among the highlights was the sighting of a EASTERN TOWHEE near the
corner of the pond on the South West corner of the walk. We head a "CHINK
CHINK CHEE" repeated about eight times and we finally found the bird perched
at the top of a bush. It looked like a SPOTTED TOWHEE but it had no spots on
it's wings. However it did show a little white at the base of it's
primaries. The song was recognized by a birder from down East and he
confirmed that it was an EASTERN TOWHEE.
Also a GLAUCOUS GULL was seen high above us as it flew over. A NORTHERN
HARRIER was spotted working the fields near the R.V. Resort.
Two GADWALL were seen near the ocean along with a large flock of DUNLIN and
a single SANDERLING. Two BARRED OWLS were heard as we finished up the walk.
The weather was sunny and almost hot, with calm winds.
Seventeen birders found the following fifty-three species:
CANADA GOOSE, BRANT, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, NORTHERN PINTAIL,
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GREATER SCAUP, SURF SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER, LONG-TAILED
DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, PACIFIC
LOON, COMMON LOON, HORNED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT,
GREAT BLUE HERON, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER,
SANDERLING,
DUNLIN, MEW GULL, THAYER'S GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, BARRED
OWL, DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, HUTTON'S VIREO, STELLER'S JAY,
NORTHWESTERN CROW, COMMON RAVEN, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BUSHTIT,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, BEWICK'S WREN, WINTER WREN, MARSH
WREN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, AMERICAN ROBIN, EUROPEAN
STARLING, SPOTTED TOWHEE, EASTERN TOWHEE, FOX SPARROW, SONG SPARROW,
DARK-EYED JUNCO and HOUSE FINCH.

Tuesday March 06:
Several dozen TREE SWALLOWS were seen flying over Somenos Marsh in Duncan.
A BARRED OWL was seen in the 400 block of Hillcrest Avenue in Nanaimo.

Monday March 05:
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS 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
*********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, March 25, 2007 at 7:30 pm.
Springwood Middle School,
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday, April 12, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
EVERYONE IS WELCOME ON THE WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRD WALK, sponsored by the
BACKYARD WILDBIRD AND NATURE STORE. We will be ?Fair Weather Birders? for
the winter--snow, rain and/or heavy winds will deter us. We will leave The
Parksville Civic and Technology Centre on Jensen Avenue and McCarter Street
at 9 a.m. every Wednesday, and go to a different area in and around
Parksville/Qualicum Beach each week. BRING YOUR BINOCULARS AND JOIN US FOR
A MORNING OF BIRDING.
**********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walk on March 14, 2007 will be going to Columbia Beach.
We will meet at the east parking lot of The Parksville Civic and Technology
Centre at Jensen Avenue and McCarter Street at 9:00 a.m. in Parksville or at
the parking area off Admiral Tryon Boulvard at Columbia Beach at about 9:15
am.. To get to Columbia Beach, take Highway 19a to Columbia Drive--across
from Windsor Plywood. Follow Columbia Drive to the "T" intersection. Turn
right on Admiral Tryon Blvd. and travel about 100 feet to a parking area
next to the ocean.
**********************************
EVERYONE IS WELCOME ON THE SUNDAY MORNING BIRD WALK, sponsored by the
BACKYARD WILDBIRD AND NATURE STORE. We leave the store at 9 a.m. and go to
a different area in and around Nanaimo each week. BRING YOUR BINOCULARS AND
JOIN US FOR A MORNING OF BIRDING.
*************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 18, 2007 will be going to Neck Point Park in
Nanaimo, weather permitting--winds, torrential rains and snow will deter us!
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Parking lot at Neck Point Park
off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 a.m.
*****************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia
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