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

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, July 13, 2008:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. Among the
highlights was the sighting of a Cassin's Vireo gleaning insects from the
leaves in a tall tree. We saw an American Robin fly into it's nest to feed
four chicks. The sighting of the morning was a Red-eyed Vireo going to and
from it's nest in the big leaf Maple Trees (the trees known as the Warbler
Trees as we usually see a great number of Warblers in it). We were all able
to watch the Vireo peer into the nest and then move into it and nestle down.
We could see it's head with the red eye and eye streak. The Vireo left the
nest and returned several times. It was a fantastic sight for us all.
Fifteen birders found the following thirty-three species of birds:
Turkey Vulture, Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, California
Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern
Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling
Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven ,Chestnut-backed
Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's
Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray
Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red
Crossbill, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and American
Goldfinch.

Saturday, July 12:
An Osprey was spotted circling above the Country Club Shopping Centre and
the old Island Highway in Nanaimo.

Approximately fifty Common Nighthawks and twelve Black Swifts were seen
hawking insects for about 45 minutes over the 2500 block of Glenayer Drive
in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.

A Western Meadowlark was seen in the saltmarsh habitat on the short grass at
the end of Seabroom Road off Kaltasin Road in Sooke.

Red-necked Phalaropes, a Red Phalarope and Heermann's Gulls were seen off
Jordan River north of Sooke.

Wednesday, July 09:
A Barred Owl with two fledglings was seen at Bowen Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, July 08:
Five Caspian Terns were seen in with California and Glaucous Gulls resting
along the gravel on the Columbia Beach side of the mouth of French Creek.
Flying over head were several Purple Martins and a Belted Kingfisher.
There were many Canada Geese and a family of Common Mergangers with fourteen
youngsters along French Creek.

A Heerman's Gull, three Caspian Terns and four Western Sandpipers were seen
on the ocean across from Judges Row in Qualicum Beach.

Monday, July 07:
Two Eurasian Collared-Doves were seen along Grant Road near Otter Point Road
in Sooke.

Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows were seen along Quenell Road in Cedar.

A Trumpeter Swan was spotted in with a flock of Canada Geese on a pond just
off Doole Road near Yellow Point Road in Cedar.

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
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The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday September 11, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Annual Picnic--July 28, 2008.
Monthly Meeting,
Monday September 22, 2008 at 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
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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 Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the
Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Wednesday mornings will not be held during
the summer months. We will resume the Wednesday bird walks in
the fall.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on July 20, 2008, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in
Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area on the Bowen Road
side of Buttertubs Marsh at about 9:20 A.M. Thanks Susan for leading the
walk.
**************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia