Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Brit Col Vancouver Island

> Home > Mail
> Alerts

Updated on Friday, February 3 at 05:09 PM EST
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Red-shouldered Hawk,©John Schmitt

3 Feb PISI flock []
3 Feb Victoria RBA, Friday, February 3 [Daniel Bryant ]
02 Feb VARC Spring Workshops ["Derek Matthews" ]
31 Jan Western Screech Owl ["gke_55" ]
30 Jan VIctoria RBA, Monday, January 30 [Daniel Bryant ]
29 Jan VARC - 2011 Year end Report ["Derek Matthews" ]
27 Jan Victoria RBA, Friday, January 27 [Daniel Bryant ]
24 Jan Victoria RBA, Tuesday, January 24 [Daniel Bryant ]
24 Jan New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland []
19 Jan Victoria RBA, Thursday, January 19 [Daniel Bryant ]
19 Jan Re: Canada Geese ["Neil Robins" ]
19 Jan Re: Summer Tanager ["marven007ca" ]
18 Jan Summer Tanager ["Neil Robins" ]
18 Jan Re: Canada Geese ["marven007ca" ]
18 Jan Canada Geese ["Neil Robins" ]
18 Jan Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 17, 2012 ["Neil Robins" ]
17 Jan New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland []
17 Jan Re: Nanaimo bird report, January 15, 2012 ["marven007ca" ]
16 Jan Nanaimo bird report, January 15, 2012 ["Neil Robins" ]
16 Jan Victoria RBA, Monday, January 12 [Daniel Bryant ]
13 Jan Victoria RBA, Friday, January 13 [Daniel Bryant ]
11 Jan Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 10, 2012 ["Neil Robins" ]
10 Jan RBA Common Redpoll []
9 Jan Birding Little-Big Year and Moorecroft Regional Park [Ryan Cathers ]
9 Jan Victoria RBA, Monday, January 9 [Daniel Bryant ]
09 Jan Nanaimo bird report, January 08, 2012 ["Neil Robins" ]
5 Jan Bike n' Bird [Ryan Cathers ]
06 Jan Common Redpoll ["Neil Robins" ]
5 Jan Victoria RBA, Thursday, January 5 [Daniel Bryant ]
4 Jan RE: [birdrepbc] Birds and window strikes ["Wayne Weber" ]
05 Jan Big Day for the Brant - April 7, 2012 ["RHYS" ]
05 Jan Birds and window strikes ["Derek Matthews" ]
04 Jan Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 03, 2012 ["Neil Robins" ]
3 Jan New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland []
2 Jan Victoria RBA, Monday, January 2 [Daniel Bryant ]
01 Jan Nanaimo bird report, December 31, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
31 Dec Congrats Ryan ["Sandra Gray" ]
29 Dec Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count [Ryan Cathers ]
29 Dec Victoria RBA, Thursday, December 29 [Daniel Bryant ]
28 Dec Nanaimo bird report, December 27, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
28 Dec White-winged Crossbill(s)? ["empidonax307" ]
28 Dec Common Redpolls ["empidonax307" ]
23 Dec Victoria RBA, Friday, December 23 [Daniel Bryant ]
22 Dec female or juv Harrier and more at the Englishman estuary ["Sandra Gray" ]
21 Dec RBA: Snowy Owl []
20 Dec Victoria RBA, Tuesday, December 20 [Daniel Bryant ]
21 Dec Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 20, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
20 Dec Re: Clay-colored or Chipping Sparrow? ["blackcappedlory" ]
19 Dec New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland []
19 Dec Clay-colored or Chipping Sparrow? ["gke_55" ]
19 Dec Nanaimo bird report, December 18, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
16 Dec Victoria RBA, Friday, December 16 [Daniel Bryant ]
14 Dec Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 13, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
13 Dec Spotted Sandpiper ["Ralph" ]
12 Dec Spotted Sandpiper ["Ralph" ]
12 Dec New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland []
12 Dec Victoria RBA, Monday, December 12 [Daniel Bryant ]
12 Dec Nanaimo bird report, December 11, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
8 Dec Victoria RBA, Thursday, December 8 [Daniel Bryant ]
07 Dec 2011 Vancouver Island Christmas Bird Count Dates ["RHYS" ]
06 Dec Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 06, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
5 Dec Victoria RBA, Monday, December 5 [Daniel Bryant ]
5 Dec Victoria RBA, Monday, December 5 [Daniel Bryant ]
5 Dec New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland []
5 Dec Hawk vs. Crows at garbage dump [Daniel Bryant ]
05 Dec 2012 Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine Registration Open ["Neil Robins" ]
05 Dec Nanaimo bird report, December 04, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
2 Dec Victoria RBA, Friday, December 2 [Daniel Bryant ]
2 Dec PISI at VIU []
30 Nov Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 29, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
29 Nov Victoria RBA, Tuesday, November 29 [Daniel Bryant ]
29 Nov Nanaimo bird report, November 28, 2011 ["Neil Robins" ]
28 Nov fall birds ["krukab2002" ]
28 Nov Snowy Owl ["Ralph" ]
28 Nov RBA: Common Redpoll [Ryan Cathers ]
27 Nov New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland []

Subject: PISI flock
From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:59:20 +0000
Hi all
Over the past few days I have a flock of Pine Siskins that have been 
exponentially increasing in size. In with them today was a male and female 
American Goldfinch. These are the first goldfinch I have had at the feeder 
since October. 


Cheers,
Ryan Cathers
Nanaimo, BC



Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, February 3
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:33:04 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* February 3, 2012
* BCVI120203
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, February 
3, 10:30 am update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm 
a rare bird, please call Rick Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
The VNHS Saturday morning birding destination this week is the Oak Bay and 
Victoria waterfront. Meet at the Cattle Point parking lot at 8 am. All are 
welcome, but no pets, please. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues in the Martindale area, having been seen most 
recently at the pig farm on Lochside Drive on Saturday, January 28. Another was 
seen at a farm in the 4100 block of Granville Avenue on Monday, January 30. 
Both birds were with flocks of other blackbirds. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
seen most recently on Monday, January 30. A SWAMP SPARROW was heard south of 
the shed on Friday, January 27. Also present at least since Thursday, January 
26, has been a COMMON TEAL. 

A SNOW GOOSE was with thirty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on William Head Road 
near Taylor Road on Saturday, January 28. Another SNOW GOOSE, or perhaps the 
same bird, was with CANADA GEESE on the Saanich Fairgrounds more recently. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
CEDAR WAXWING, TURKEY VULTURE, EVENING GROSBEAK, EARED GREBE, AMERICAN KESTREL, 
AMERICAN BITTERN, RING-BILLED GULL, SNOW BUNTING 


Thursday, February 2:
Among birds at Swan Lake were 105 COMMON MERGANSERS, four RUDDY DUCKS, six 
CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. 

At least one TURKEY VULTURE was over the Interurban campus of  Camosun College, 
near Viaduct Flats. 

A RED-THROATED LOON was on Langford Lake.
Forty-four EVENING GROSBEAKS were near the hatchery on Corfield Road in Duncan.
Three EURASIAN WIGEONS were at Roberts Bay in Sidney.

Tuesday, January 31:
Tuesday Group birders found a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Viaduct Flats and an EARED 
GREBE off of Mt. Douglas Beach. Two grebes had been seen there on Monday. 


Monday, January 30:
A MERLIN of the Taiga subspecies was at the gate of Royal Roads University. A 
similar bird was reported at the Cedar Hill Golf Club on Wednesday, January 25. 

An AMERICAN KESTREL continues in the area of Wallace Drive and Newman Road. 
Another was seen north of the Victoria Airport on Sunday, January 29. 


Sunday, January 29:
The AMERICAN BITTERN was at Swan Lake, having gone unreported for the past 
month. 

Single EURASIAN WIGEONS were at Willows Beach in Oak Bay and Roberts Bay in 
Sidney. 

Numbers of ANCIENT MURRELETS were off Glencoe Cove and Ten-mile Point, with 
three MARBLED MURRELETS also at the latter location. 

There were  fifty-six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on the Saanich Fairgrounds 
and a RING-BILLED GULL at the pig farm on Lochside Drive in the Martindale 
area. 

The SNOW BUNTING was reported again from Saanichton Spit.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was near the water end of Cherry Point Road south of 
Duncan. 


Saturday, January 28:
About a dozen AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES  were on the Lansdowne campus of Camosun 
College. 

Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, one or two EURASIAN WIGEON, and a female CANVASBACK 
were at Panama Flats. 

RUDDY DUCKS and CANVASBACKS were off Hamsterly Beach at Elk Lake.

Friday, January 27:
An EARED GREBE was on Cordova Bay off McMorran's.
Subject: VARC Spring Workshops
From: "Derek Matthews" <Derek AT birdvancouver.com>
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:28:25 -0000
The Vancouver Avian Research Centre has just posted spring dates for
Bird Monitoring and Banding and Bird Identification Workshops.

Bird Identification Workshop:

• April 28 – 29

Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop:

• May 11 – 13
• June 8 - 10

The Bird Identification Workshop is designed for beginner and
intermediate birders who may wish to participate in citizen science
projects such as the BC Breeding Bird Atlas or similar programs or who
just want to take their bird knowledge and identification skills to the
next level.

This course covers groups, topography, field marks, song, habitat, molt,
ageing and more and includes a guided field session to the Colony Farm
banding station. Although developed for beginner and intermediate
birders the ornithological aspects of the course benefit even the most
experienced birders and the workshop is invaluable for birders traveling
overseas.

The Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop is designed for people with
little or no bird banding or bird in the hand experience and provides a
fantastic opportunity to see birds up close and personal, to learn about
their plumage, molt sequences and life habits.

Most of all, these workshops are designed to be a fun and interesting
experience and a way to take your interest in birds and the environment
to the next level. See what people who have attended the workshops have
to say and why the average rating from course participants is 9.5 out of
10!!

http://www.birdvancouver.com/testimonials.html


Full details of course schedules and content and registration
information can be found online at:

http://www.birdvancouver.com/workshops.html


Derek Matthews
Vancouver Avian Research Centre
www.birdvancouver.com
Subject: Western Screech Owl
From: "gke_55" <karmanah AT islandnet.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:29:12 -0000
Hi,
I received a note from a Parks Canada biologist who encountered a Western 
Screech Owl on the night of January 29th. While she was driving from Tofino to 
Ucluelet the owl struck her car. She stopped, 

got out and found it. It was unconscious, but seemed to be breathing. She put 
it on the passenger seat and continued on down the road. After some minutes, 
she heard a noise and saw that the owl was perched on her dash. She turned on 
to a side road rolled down the window. The owl sat on her hand for a few 
minutes (which she extended out the window) and then flew off. 


Cheers,
Jerry Etzkorn
Carmanah Point Lightstation



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: VIctoria RBA, Monday, January 30
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:09:48 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 30, 2012
* BCVI120130
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, January 
30, 11 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can 
confirm a rare bird, please call Rick Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues in the Martindale area, having been seen most 
recently at the pig farm on Lochside Drive on Saturday, January 28. Another was 
seen at a farm in the 4100 block of Granville Avenue on Monday, January 30. 
Both birds were with flocks of other blackbirds. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
seen most recently on Monday, January 30. A SWAMP SPARROW was heard south of 
the shed on Friday, January 27. Also present at least since Thursday, January 
26, has been a COMMON TEAL. 

A SNOW GOOSE was with thirty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on William Head Road 
near Taylor Road on Saturday, January 28. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
AMERICAN KESTREL, AMERICAN BITTERN, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, RING-BILLED 
GULL, SNOW BUNTING, EARED GREBE, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, EVENING GROSBEAK, TURKEY 
VULTURE 


Monday, January 30:
A MERLIN of the Taiga subspecies was at the gate of Royal Roads University. A 
similar bird was reported at the Cedar Hill Golf Club on Wednesday, January 25. 

An AMERICAN KESTREL continues in the area of Wallace Drive and Newman Road. 
Another was seen north of the Victoria Airport on Sunday, January 29. 


Sunday, January 29:
The AMERICAN BITTERN was at Swan Lake, having gone unreported for the past 
month. 

Single EURASIAN WIGEONS were at Willows Beach in Oak Bay and Roberts Bay in 
Sidney. 

Numbers of ANCIENT MURRELETS were off Glencoe Cove and Ten-mile Point, with 
three MARBLED MURRELETS at the latter location. 

There were  fifty-six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on the Saanich Fairgrounds 
and a RING-BILLED GULL at the pig farm on Lochside Drive in the Martindale 
area. 

The SNOW BUNTING was reported again from Saanichton Spit.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was near the water end of Cherry Point Road south of 
Duncan. 


Saturday, January 28:
About a dozen AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES  were on the Lansdowne campus of Camosun 
College. 

Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, one or two EURASIAN WIGEON, and a female CANVASBACK 
were at Panama Flats. 

RUDDY DUCKS and CANVASBACKS were off Hamsterly Beach at Elk Lake.

Friday, January 27:
An EARED GREBE was on Cordova Bay off McMorran's.

Thursday, January 26:
Two dozen or so SURFBIRDS were at Bowker Rocks in Oak Bay.
Two TURKEY VULTURES were seen from the gravel pit in Metchosin.
Three AMERICAN DIPPERS were below the bridge at Goldstream Provincial Park. 
550 WESTERN GREBES were in Saanich Inlet, seen from Mill Bay Road. 
Two TUNDRA SWANS were on Koksilah Road south of Duncan, east of the Island 
Highway. In Duncan itself, a TOWNSEND’S WARBLER continues at a feeder, and a 
group of EVENING GROSBEAKS remains at the hatchery on Corfield Road. 


Wednesday, January 25:
Eighteen CANVASBACKS and about fifty AMERICAN COOTS were seen near the rowing 
dock at Elk Lake. Also visible to the west was one TURKEY VULTURE. 


Tuesday, January 24:
Four AMERICAN PIPITS were on the bulb fields in Central Saanich.
Subject: VARC - 2011 Year end Report
From: "Derek Matthews" <Derek AT birdvancouver.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:01:09 -0000
Hi Birders and Banders,

All the rain and snow this month has meant little or no banding at
Colony Farm but it has given us the opportunity to work on the VARC year
end report for 2011 which we've just finished and put up for anyone
interested.

http://birdvancouver.com/pdf/varc_2011yearendreport.pdf


It's a fairly large file so please give it a moment or two to load!

Cheers.

Derek

Derek Matthews
VARC
www.birdvancouver.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, January 27
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:03:38 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 24, 2012
* BCVI120124
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, January 
27, 7 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can 
confirm a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick 
Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
The VNHS Saturday Birding Group on Saturday, January 28, will be doing the 10 
km walk around Beaver and Elk Lake. Meet at 8:00 am at the main parking lot at 
Beaver Lake. To reach this parking lot, turn on to Beaver Lake Rd off Elk Lake 
Drive (parallels the Pat Bay Highway). There is a large park sign at this 
intersection. All are welcome, but no pets please. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues in the Martindale area, having been seen most 
recently with a flock of other blackbirds on Island View Road between McHugh 
and Dawson on Tuesday, January 24. 

According to a second-hand report, an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL has been in the 
Mill Bay area for at least a month and a half. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
seen most recently on Saturday, January 21. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
EARED GREBE, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, EVENING GROSBEAK, TURKEY VULTURE, SNOW GOOSE, 
AMERICAN KESTREL, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, SNOW BUNTING, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 


Friday, January 27:
An EARED GREBE was on Cordova Bay off McMorran’s.

Thursday, January 26:
Two dozen or so SURFBIRDS were at Bowker Rocks in Oak Bay.
Two TURKEY VULTURES were seen from the gravel pit in Metchosin.
Three AMERICAN DIPPERS were below the bridge at Goldstream Provincial Park. 
550 WESTERN GREBES were in Saanich Inlet, seen from Mill Bay Road. 
Two TUNDRA SWANS were on Koksilah Road south of Duncan, east of the Island 
Highway. In Duncan itself, a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER continues at a feeder, and a 
group of EVENING GROSBEAKS remains at the hatchery on Corfield Road. 


Wednesday, January 25:
Eighteen CANVASBACKS and about fifty AMERICAN COOTS were seen near the rowing 
dock at Elk Lake. Also visible to the west was one TURKEY VULTURE. 

A SNOW GOOSE was with CANADA GEESE on Metchosin Road near Swanwick Road.

Tuesday, January 24:
Four AMERICAN PIPITS were on the bulb fields in Central Saanich. A female 
AMERICAN KESTREL was on Newman Road nearby. 


Monday, January 23:
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was with many other birds on Joan Crescent in 
Victoria. 

Nineteen MOURNING DOVES and a single EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE were on Dooley Road 
in the Martindale area. Three SAVANNAH SPARROWS were in the ditch along 
Lochside Drive south of Island View Road. 

A SNOW BUNTING was at the tip of Saanichton Spit.

Sunday, January 22:
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was in a yard in Saanich.
A male AMERICAN KESTREL was spotted on Wallace Drive in Central Saanich, north 
of Newman Road. 


Saturday, January 21:
One SKYLARK and ten SAVANNAH SPARROWS were at Panama Flats.
A RED-THROATED LOON was at Esquimalt Lagoon.
Subject: Victoria RBA, Tuesday, January 24
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:56:19 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 24, 2012
* BCVI120124
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Tuesday, January 
24, 5 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 and 
leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm a 
rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues in the Martindale area, having been seen most 
recently with a flock of other blackbirds on Island View Road between McHugh 
and Dawson on Tuesday, January 24. 

According to a second-hand report, an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL has been in the 
Mill Bay area for at least a month and a half. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
seen most recently on Saturday, January 21. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, SNOW BUNTING, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, AMERICAN KESTREL, 
TURKEY VULTURE, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER 


Tuesday, January 24:
Eighteen CANVASBACKS and over two hundred AMERICAN COOTS were on Elk Lake.

Monday, January 23:
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was with many other birds on Joan Crescent in 
Victoria. 

Nineteen MOURNING DOVES and a single EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE were on Dooley Road 
in the Martindale area. Three SAVANNAH SPARROWS were in the ditch along 
Lochside Drive south of Island View Road. 

A SNOW BUNTING was at the tip of Saanichton Spit.

Sunday, January 22:
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was in a yard in Saanich.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was spotted on Wallace Drive in Central Saanich, north of 
Newman Road. 


Saturday, January 21:
One SKYLARK and ten SAVANNAH SPARROWS were at Panama Flats.
A RED-THROATED LOON was at Esquimalt Lagoon.
At least one TURKEY VULTURE was in the Royal Roads/Albert Head Lagoon area.

Friday, January 20:
Seven GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a EURASIAN WIGEON were at the Oak Bay Marina.

Thursday, January 19:
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER has been attending a feeder in Duncan.

Wednesday, January 18:
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continues at a feeder at Wascana Street and Obed 
Avenue in Saanich.
Subject: New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland
From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 24 Jan 2012 18:55:16 -0000
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the bcbirdingvanisland 
group.

  File        : /BC Winter List.xls 
  Uploaded by : marven007ca  
  Description :  

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/files/BC%20Winter%20List.xls 

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.html
Regards,

marven007ca 
 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Thursday, January 19
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:27:10 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 19, 2012
* BCVI120119
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Thursday, January 
19, 10:30 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 
250-704-2555 and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those 
who can confirm a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick 
Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
This week’s VNHS Saturday morning birding destination is Viaduct Flats. Meet 
at the viewing tower off of Interurban Road at 8 am. All are welcome. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
According to a second-hand report, an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL has been in the 
Mill Bay area for at least a month and a half. 

COMMON REDPOLLS, normally rare birds in the Victoria area, have been turning up 
in numbers this winter. Around Victoria, Redpolls have been reported recently 
at Rithet's Bog, McMinn Park, Royal Roads University, Witty's Lagoon, and 
Sooke, and on Lochside Drive near the pig farm in the Martindale area. They are 
frequently found with flocks of PINE SISKINS. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
and the VESPER SPARROW seen most recently on Sunday, January 15. 

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues with a flock of blackbirds in the Martindale area. 
It is sometimes seen along Welch and Martindale roads, and sometimes near the 
pig farm. The most recent report came on Sunday, January 15. 

A SNOW BUNTING was reported on Saanichton Spit on Sunday, January 15. Also 
present were five WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, TURKEY 
VULTURE, CEDAR WAXWING, TUNDRA SWAN, SWAMP SPARROW, AMERICAN KESTREL 


Thursday, January 19:
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER has been attending a feeder in Duncan.

Wednesday, January 18:
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continues at a feeder at Wascana Street and Obed 
Avenue in Saanich. 

Eight GREATER YELLOWLEGS were at the Oak Bay Marina.

Tuesday, January 17:
Birders with the Tuesday Group who walked the Lochside Trail north from 
Lochside Park were rewarded with a HERMIT THRUSH, ten MOURNING DOVES on Dooley 
Road, and about fifty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE just south of the pig farm. 

A Warbler of uncertain species was reported from the south side of the 500 
block of Pembroke Street in downtown Victoria. 


Monday, January 16:
Four or five TURKEY VULTURES were over William Head Road near Devonian Park.

Sunday, January15:
Fifty-six CEDAR WAXWINGS were on the grounds of Government House. A 
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was on Douglas Street, and six EURASIAN WIGEON and 
fifteen NORTHERN SHOVELERS were in Beacon Hill Park. 

A female or juvenile WESTERN TANAGER continues in an apple tree on Joan 
Crescent, close to Craigdarroch Castle. 

A TUNDRA SWAN was between Koksilah and Wilmot Roads east of the Island Highway 
south of Duncan. 


Saturday, January 14:
Two TURKEY VULTURES were over Helmcken Road and Knockan Drive. 
A SWAMP SPARROW was reported from Rithet's Bog.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was in the Vantreight bulb fields in Central Saanich.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was over Jocelyn Hill in the Highlands.

Friday, January 13:
Four RED-THROATED LOONS were seen from the end of James Island Road. 
Two SKYLARKS were near the model aircraft field off Lochside in the Martindale 
area.
Subject: Re: Canada Geese
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:06:03 -0000
Hi birders,

The light coloured Canada Geese are partially leucistic, interesting that we 
saw five of them in one flock. 


Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia.





--- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, "Neil Robins"  wrote:
>
> Hi birders,
> 
> On the Tuesday bird walk we saw a Cackling Goose in with a flock of mostly 
Richardson's Race and Common Canada Geese. Three of the Canada Geese were very 
unusual. They were light coloured with a dusting of white on their brown necks 
and heads, rather than the usual black heads and necks. 

> 
> Has anyone seen these colours in the Canada Geese?
> 
> Good birding
> Neil Robins
> Parksville
> British Columbia
>




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Re: Summer Tanager
From: "marven007ca" <marven007ca AT yahoo.ca>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:34:07 -0000
Hi
Your removal of my last message shows a real lack of respect for other 
birdwatchers on this site. 

I thank you for the last date that the Summer Tanager was seen, but that was 
not what my message asked. It is very important with such rare species to have 
all available information posted so that we have a full history for such a rare 
species. 


I did not ask for a specific location, but a little bit more information would 
have been nice. 


Derrick Marven
North Cowichan, BC

--- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, "Neil Robins"  wrote:
>
> Hi birders,
> 
> The last report that we received on the Summer Tanager was that it was seen 
on Tuesday January 10, 2012. 

> 
> "Rare bird alert –Summer Tanager "
> A Summer Tanager is still being seen in the Columbia Beach area.
> 
> Good birding
> Neil Robins
> Parksville
> British Columbia.
>




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Summer Tanager
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:28:19 -0000
Hi birders,

The last report that we received on the Summer Tanager was that it was seen on 
Tuesday January 10, 2012. 


"Rare bird alert –Summer Tanager "
A Summer Tanager is still being seen in the Columbia Beach area.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia.





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Re: Canada Geese
From: "marven007ca" <marven007ca AT yahoo.ca>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:02:35 -0000
It would be nice and considerate if you answered my question about the Summer 
Tanager before asking one of your own. 


Derrick Marven
North Cowichan, BC

--- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, "Neil Robins"  wrote:
>
> Hi birders,
> 
> On the Tuesday bird walk we saw a Cackling Goose in with a flock of mostly 
Richardson's Race and Common Canada Geese. Three of the Canada Geese were very 
unusual. They were light coloured with a dusting of white on their brown necks 
and heads, rather than the usual black heads and necks. 

> 
> Has anyone seen these colours in the Canada Geese?
> 
> Good birding
> Neil Robins
> Parksville
> British Columbia
>




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Canada Geese
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:37:08 -0000
Hi birders,

On the Tuesday bird walk we saw a Cackling Goose in with a flock of mostly 
Richardson's Race and Common Canada Geese. Three of the Canada Geese were very 
unusual. They were light coloured with a dusting of white on their brown necks 
and heads, rather than the usual black heads and necks. 


Has anyone seen these colours in the Canada Geese?

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 17, 2012
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:51:12 -0000
Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was cold with snow flurries 
and a strong biting wind off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included 
seeing a Cackling Goose in with a flock of mostly Richardson's Race and Common 
Canada Geese. Three of the Canada Geese were very unusual. They were light 
coloured with a dusting of white on their brown necks and heads, rather than 
the usual black heads and necks. We saw a flock of Black-bellied Plovers, Black 
Turnstones and Dunlin resting on the snow near the shore. The big sighting of 
the morning was twenty-eight Long-tailed Ducks in the water not twenty feet 
from the point giving us all great views of this special duck. 

Eight cold and snow blown birders including two visiting birders from Australia 
saw and heard the following forty-three species. 

Cackling Goose 
Canada Goose 
Mute Swan 
Trumpeter Swan 
Eurasian Wigeon 
Mallard 
Greater Scaup 
Harlequin Duck 
Surf Scoter 
White-winged Scoter 
Black Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Pacific Loon 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Red-necked Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Pelagic Cormorant 
Bald Eagle 
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover 
Black Turnstone 
Dunlin 
Mew Gull 
Thayer's Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Rock Pigeon 
Eurasian-collared Dove 
Northwestern Crow 
Common Raven 
Pacific Wren 
American Robin 
European Starling 
Spotted Towhee 
Song Sparrow 
White-crowned Sparrow 
Golden-crowned Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Purple Finch 
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland
From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 17 Jan 2012 14:34:57 -0000
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the bcbirdingvanisland 
group.

  File        : /BC Winter List.xls 
  Uploaded by : marven007ca  
  Description :  

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/files/BC%20Winter%20List.xls 

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.html
Regards,

marven007ca 
 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Re: Nanaimo bird report, January 15, 2012
From: "marven007ca" <marven007ca AT yahoo.ca>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:28:35 -0000
Hi
Could the backyard bird store give out anymore information on the Summer 
Tanager in the report below. Is it still coming to a feeder and how many times 
it has been seen this winter. This is very important for the records of BC. 


Derrick Marven
North Cowichan, BC

--- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, "Neil Robins"  wrote:
>
> NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
> 
> "GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
> 
> Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone 
number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. 

> To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT ... 

> 
> Sunday January 15, 2012:
> The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and calm but 
quite cool. The highlights included seeing four Red Crossbills perched on top 
of a bush close to us. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a tall tree giving us 
great looks. We spotted a Lincoln's Sparrow near the trail. 

> Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
> Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Greater 
Scaup, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, 
Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, 
Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loon, Common 
Loon, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed 
Chickadee, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Thayer's gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted 
Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Lincoln's 
Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbills, Golden-crowned Sparrow, 
Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and Red-winged Blackbird. 

> 
> Saturday January 14:
> Two Townsend's Warblers are visiting suet feeders in the Divers Lake area of 
Nanaimo. 

> 
> Friday January 13:
> A pair of Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders in the 2100 block of Boxwood 
Road in Nanaimo. 

> 
> Tuesday January 10:
> The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum 
Beach. The morning was clear and sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of 
Georgia. The surf was up and pounding into the shore. The highlights included 
seeing Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Sanderling's and a small 
flock of Dunlin near the shore at the viewing platform. Throughout the morning, 
further offshore, thousands of Common Murre were heading up the Strait. We 
counted one hundred and thirty Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Little 
Qualicum River. A large raft of Greater Scaup was not far from shore. 

> Twenty birders including two visiting birders from Australia saw and heard 
the following forty-five species of birds: 

> Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, 
Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, 
White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common 
Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, 
Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue 
Heron, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black 
Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, 
Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous Gull, 

> Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed 
Junco, Red-winged Blackbird and House Finch. 

> 
> "Rare bird alert –Summer Tanager "
> A Summer Tanager is still being seen in the Columbia Beach area.
> 
> A Common Redpoll was spotted in with a flock of Pine Siskins and an American 
Goldfinch by the Oak Trees on the Dyke at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 

> 
> Monday January 09:
> A Townsend's Warbler is visiting feeders along Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.
> 
> Thursday January 05:
> A small flock of Ring-necked Ducks were seen on the marsh at the end of 
Harwood Road in Nanaimo. 

> 
> Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
> Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm. 
> Members night.
> Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
> 
> *********************************************************
> Nanoose Naturalists Meeting 
> Thursday, February, 09, 2012 at 7:00 pm.
>  AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
> *******************************************************
> Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 

> 
> ************************************************************
> The Tuesday bird walk will be going to Deep Bay on January 17.
> We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions 
Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the Marine Harbour at Deep Bay at about 9:35 A.M. 

> ************************************************************** 
> The Sunday bird walk on January 22 walk will be going to the Plummer Road 
side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 

> We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or the corner of Plummer Road and 
Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 A.M. 

> 
> Good birding
> Neil Robins
> 
> THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
> 6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
> 250-390-3669
> thebackyard AT ...
> CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
> 
> "VIU Science and Technology Spring Lecture Series"
> 
> As part of the VIU Science and Technology Spring Lecture Series, I have 
invited Derek Matthews of the Vancouver Avian Research Centre to present some 
of the interesting bird monitoring they've been conducting. The lecture will 
take place on Wednesday, February 1, 19:00. The details are available at the 
links below. These lectures are open to everyone. 

> 
> Derek Matthews, February 1: 
http://web.viu.ca/simmsw/Lecture2012/4.Matthews/4.%20Matthews.pdf 

> 
> Lecture series website: http://web.viu.ca/simmsw/ (includes whole schedule, 
directions and campus map) 

> 
> Thanks ahead.
> Cheers, Eric
> 
> Eric Demers, Ph.D., R.P.Bio. 
> Biology Department 
> Vancouver Island University 
> Building 359, Room 207 
> Phone: (250) 753-3245 local 2033 
> 0 comments
>




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, January 15, 2012
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:45:35 -0000
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"

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

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 


Sunday January 15, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and calm but 
quite cool. The highlights included seeing four Red Crossbills perched on top 
of a bush close to us. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a tall tree giving us 
great looks. We spotted a Lincoln's Sparrow near the trail. 

Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Greater 
Scaup, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, 
Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, 
Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loon, Common 
Loon, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed 
Chickadee, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Thayer's gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted 
Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Lincoln's 
Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbills, Golden-crowned Sparrow, 
Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and Red-winged Blackbird. 


Saturday January 14:
Two Townsend's Warblers are visiting suet feeders in the Divers Lake area of 
Nanaimo. 


Friday January 13:
A pair of Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders in the 2100 block of Boxwood 
Road in Nanaimo. 


Tuesday January 10:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum 
Beach. The morning was clear and sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of 
Georgia. The surf was up and pounding into the shore. The highlights included 
seeing Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Sanderling's and a small 
flock of Dunlin near the shore at the viewing platform. Throughout the morning, 
further offshore, thousands of Common Murre were heading up the Strait. We 
counted one hundred and thirty Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Little 
Qualicum River. A large raft of Greater Scaup was not far from shore. 

Twenty birders including two visiting birders from Australia saw and heard the 
following forty-five species of birds: 

Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, 
Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, 
White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common 
Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, 
Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue 
Heron, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black 
Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, 
Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous Gull, 

Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed 
Junco, Red-winged Blackbird and House Finch. 


"Rare bird alert –Summer Tanager "
A Summer Tanager is still being seen in the Columbia Beach area.

A Common Redpoll was spotted in with a flock of Pine Siskins and an American 
Goldfinch by the Oak Trees on the Dyke at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 


Monday January 09:
A Townsend's Warbler is visiting feeders along Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.

Thursday January 05:
A small flock of Ring-necked Ducks were seen on the marsh at the end of Harwood 
Road in Nanaimo. 


Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm. 
Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.

*********************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting 
Thursday, February, 09, 2012 at 7:00 pm.
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
*******************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 


************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk will be going to Deep Bay on January 17.
We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions 
Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the Marine Harbour at Deep Bay at about 9:35 A.M. 

************************************************************** 
The Sunday bird walk on January 22 walk will be going to the Plummer Road side 
of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 

We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or the corner of Plummer Road and 
Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 A.M. 


Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

"VIU Science and Technology Spring Lecture Series"

As part of the VIU Science and Technology Spring Lecture Series, I have invited 
Derek Matthews of the Vancouver Avian Research Centre to present some of the 
interesting bird monitoring they've been conducting. The lecture will take 
place on Wednesday, February 1, 19:00. The details are available at the links 
below. These lectures are open to everyone. 


Derek Matthews, February 1: 
http://web.viu.ca/simmsw/Lecture2012/4.Matthews/4.%20Matthews.pdf 


Lecture series website: http://web.viu.ca/simmsw/ (includes whole schedule, 
directions and campus map) 


Thanks ahead.
Cheers, Eric

Eric Demers, Ph.D., R.P.Bio. 
Biology Department 
Vancouver Island University 
Building 359, Room 207 
Phone: (250) 753-3245 local 2033 
0 comments  




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Monday, January 12
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:50:55 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 16, 2012
* BCVI120116
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, January 
16, 10:30 am update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm 
a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
COMMON REDPOLLS, normally rare birds in the Victoria area, have been turning up 
in numbers this winter. Around Victoria, Redpolls have been reported recently 
at Rithet's Bog, McMinn Park, Royal Roads University, Witty's Lagoon, and 
Sooke, and on Lochside Drive near the pig farm in the Martindale area. They are 
frequently found with flocks of PINE SISKINS. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
and the VESPER SPARROW seen most recently on Sunday, January 15. 

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues with a flock of blackbirds in the Martindale area. 
It is sometimes seen along Welch and Martindale roads, and sometimes near the 
pig farm. The most recent report came on Sunday, January 15. 

A SNOW BUNTING was reported on Saanichton Spit on Sunday, January 15. Also 
present were five WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
TUNDRA SWAN, TURKEY VULTURE, SWAMP SPARROW, AMERICAN KESTREL, WESTERN TANAGER, 
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, BLACK SCOTER 


Sunday, January15:
Fifty-six CEDAR WAXWINGS were on the grounds of Government House. A 
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was on Douglas Street, and six EURASIAN WIGEON and 
fifteen NORTHERN SHOVELERS were in Beacon Hill Park. 

A female or juvenile WESTERN TANAGER continues in an apple tree on Joan 
Crescent, close to Craigdarroch Castle. 

A TUNDRA SWAN was between Koksilah and Wilmot Roads east of the Island Highway 
south of Duncan. 


Saturday, January 14:
Two TURKEY VULTURES were over Helmcken Road and Knockan Drive. 
A SWAMP SPARROW was reported from Rithet's Bog.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was in the Vantreight bulb fields in Central Saanich.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was over Jocelyn Hill in the Highlands.

Friday, January 13:
Four RED-THROATED LOONS were seen from the end of James Island Road. 
Two SKYLARKS were near the model aircraft field off Lochside in the Martindale 
area. 


Thursday, January 12:
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was at Langford Lake.

Wednesday, January 11:
Two SKYLARKS and two WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at Panama Flats.

Tuesday, January 10:
A SNOW GOOSE was on the Cedar Hill Golf Course, just south of Kings Pond.
A dozen WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and twenty-three AMERICAN PIPITS were in the fields 
adjacent to the model aircraft field. Larger numbers were there the day before. 
Six CEDAR WAXWINGS were at the pig farm. 

Four BRANT and a pair of BLACK SCOTERS were at Island View Beach.

Monday, January 9:
A single WESTERN MEADOWLARK was found feeding in grass along Bay Street beside 
Rock Bay.
Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, January 13
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:39:36 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 13, 2012
* BCVI120113
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, January 
13, 8:30 am update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm 
a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
The VNHS Saturday birding destination is Esquimalt Lagoon and environs. Meet at 
8:30 am at the parking area near the bridge. All are welcome. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
COMMON REDPOLLS, normally rare birds in the Victoria area, have been turning up 
in numbers this winter. One has been visiting a feeder in Duncan, and three 
were seen at Somenos Marsh. Around Victoria, Redpolls have been seen and heard 
recently at Rithet's Bog, Royal Roads University, Witty's Lagoon, and Sooke. 
They are frequently found with flocks of PINE SISKINS. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
seen most recently on Wednesday, January 11 and the VESPER SPARROW seen most 
recently on Sunday, January 8. A SWAMP SPARROW was heard there on Saturday, 
January 7. 

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues with a flock of blackbirds in the Martindale area. 
It is sometimes seen along Welch and Martindale roads, and sometimes near the 
pig farm on Lochside Drive. The most recent report came on Tuesday, January 10. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
WESTERN TANAGER, SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, BLACK SCOTER, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, 
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, TURKEY VULTURE 


OTHER SIGHTINGS:

Thursday, January 12:
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was at Langford Lake.

Wednesday, January 11:
A female or juvenile WESTERN TANAGER continues in an apple tree on Joan 
Crescent, close to Craigdarroch Castle. 

A GOLDEN EAGLE was on Jocelyn Ridge in the Highlands.
Two SKYLARKS and two WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at Panama Flats.

Tuesday, January 10:
A SNOW GOOSE was on the Cedar Hill Golf Course, just south of Kings Pond.
A dozen WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and twenty-three AMERICAN PIPITS were in the fields 
adjacent to the model aircraft field in the Martindale area. Larger numbers 
were there the day before. Six CEDAR WAXWINGS were at the pig farm. 

Four BRANT and a pair of BLACK SCOTERS were at Island View Beach.

Monday, January 9:
A single WESTERN MEADOWLARK was found feeding in grass along Bay Street beside 
Rock Bay. 


Sunday, January 8:
Birds found at Clover Point included nine SURFBIRDS, two SANDERLINGS, a DUNLIN, 
and a HERRING GULL. 

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was near the northwest corner of Uplands Park.

Saturday, January 7:
The VNHS birding trip to Saanichton Bay Park turned up many LONG-TAILED DUCKS 
(OLDSQUAWS) offshore, along with other birds. 

A trip to Otter Point west of Sooke turned up a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and four 
BRANT, along with other birds. 


Friday, January 6:
Fifty-six WESTERN GREBES were off Witty's Lagoon, along with three MARBLED 
MURRELETS. A TURKEY VULTURE was over Albert Head, and EVENING GROSBEAKS were at 
Tower Point.
Subject: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 10, 2012
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:35:55 -0000
Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum 
Beach. The morning was clear and sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of 
Georgia. The surf was up and pounding into the shore. The highlights included 
seeing Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Sanderlings and a small 
flock of Dunlin near the shore at the viewing platform. Throughout the morning, 
further offshore, thousands of Common Murre were heading up the Strait. We 
counted one hundred and thirty Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Little 
Qualicum River. A large raft of Greater Scaup were not far from shore. 

Twenty birders including two visiting birders from Australia saw and heard the 
following forty-five species of birds: 

Canada Goose 
Trumpeter Swan 
American Wigeon 
Mallard 
Northern Pintail 
Green-winged Teal 
Greater Scaup 
Lesser Scaup 
Harlequin Duck 
Surf Scoter 
White-winged Scoter 
Black Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Barrow's Goldeneye 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Pacific Loon 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Great Blue Heron 
Bald Eagle 
Black-bellied Plover 
Killdeer 
Black Oystercatcher 
Black Turnstone 
Sanderling 
Dunlin 
Mew Gull 
Herring Gull 
Thayer's Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Glaucous Gull 
Common Murre 
Belted Kingfisher 
Northwestern Crow 
Common Raven 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
Spotted Towhee 
Golden-crowned Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Red-winged Blackbird 
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: RBA Common Redpoll
From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:12:58 +0000
There is a CORE at Butterrtubs Marsh at 1110 with a flock of Siskins and one 
AMGO 


Ryan Cathers
Nanaimo, BC



Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Birding Little-Big Year and Moorecroft Regional Park
From: Ryan Cathers <ryancathers AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 17:26:05 -0800 (PST)
Hi all
I have always told myself that I would one day do a Birding Big year.  I 
figured that I would like to do one across Canada, but I of course do not have 
the time for that right now.  I decided in the back of my head several weeks 
ago that I would do a little big year to cover the Nanaimo Checklist Area. 
 Three days ago I decided that this year was the year. 


I have been putting together a blog site to cover my adventures which I would 
like to share with this group as I update it.   


I managed to get out to Moorecroft Park today where I met up with Guy Monty for 
a few hours.  I managed to add several species to my list including 137 
Surfbirds.  It was a fantastic experience to be surrounded by so many of these 
guys as I have never been this close, nor seen so many at one given time. 


Details are on the blog

http://nanaimobigyearbirding.blogspot.com/ 

Good birding,

Ryan Cathers
Compiler, Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, 2011/2012 

Nanaimo,BC

http://ryancathers.zenfolio.com/
Subject: Victoria RBA, Monday, January 9
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 13:43:53 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 9, 2012
* BCVI120109
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, January 
9, 1:30 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can 
confirm a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick 
Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
COMMON REDPOLLS, normally rare birds in the Victoria area, have been turning up 
in numbers this winter. One was visiting a feeder in Duncan on Monday, January 
9, with three at Somenos Marsh the preceding day, one in Sooke on Saturday, 
January 7, one at Witty's Lagoon on Friday, and two at Rithet’s Bog on 
Thursday, to cite only the most recent sightings. They are frequently found 
with flocks of PINE SISKINS. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
and the VESPER SPARROW seen most recently on Sunday, January 8. A SWAMP SPARROW 
was heard there on Saturday, January 7. 

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD continues with a flock of blackbirds along Welch and 
Martindale roads, seen most recently on Saturday, January 7. The flock included 
at least two BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS on Monday, January 2. 

The BRAMBLING on Magnum Place in Saanich, first seen on Saturday, December 31, 
was reported briefly present there on Thursday, January 5 and may still be in 
the area. 

A first winter GLAUCOUS GULL was part way down Cowichan Bay Dock Road on 
Wednesday, January 4. 

A SWAMP SPARROW was near the first bench to the southwest of Fir Tree Glen at 
Rithet's Bog on Tuesday, January 3. Attempts to relocate this bird more 
recently have been unsuccessful. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, BRANT, TURKEY VULTURE, WESTERN 
TANAGER, BLACK SCOTER, EARED GREBE 

EURASIAN WIGEON numbers appear unusually high this year. Eleven were in Beacon 
Hill Park recently, with smaller numbers being reported from a variety of 
locations in the area. 


OTHER SIGHTINGS:

Sunday, January 8:
Birds found at Clover Point included nine SURFBIRDS, two SANDERLINGS, a DUNLIN, 
and a HERRING GULL. 

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was near the northeast corner of Uplands Park.

Saturday, January 7:
The VNHS birding trip to Saanichton Bay Park turned up many LONG-TAILED DUCKS 
(OLDSQUAWS) offshore, along with other birds. 

A trip to Otter Point west of Sooke turned up a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and four 
BRANT, along with other birds. 


Friday, January 6:
Fifty-six WESTERN GREBES were off Witty's Lagoon, along with three MARBLED 
MURRELETS. A TURKEY VULTURE was over Albert Head, and EVENING GROSBEAKS were at 
Tower Point. 


Tuesday, January 3:
A WESTERN TANAGER was in a yard on Joan Crescent in Victoria. 
More than thirty CEDAR WAXWINGS were in Finnerty Gardens on the University of 
Victoria campus. 


Monday, January 2:
There were thirty CEDAR WAXWINGS, five AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and a HERMIT 
THRUSH in Uplands Park, and a BARRED OWL in Beacon Hill Park. 

In the Martindale area, thirty to forty AMERICAN PIPITS were north of the model 
aircraft field. 

A pair of BLACK SCOTERS, an EARED GREBE, and three RED-THROATED LOONS were at 
Island View Beach. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was on Saanichton Spit. 

A flock of fifty COMMON RAVENS flew over Deep Cove in North Saanich, arousing 
considerable interest on the part of two resident ravens.
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, January 08, 2012
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:04:09 -0000
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
 
"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
 
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number 
along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. 

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 

 
Sunday January 08, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The 
morning was cloudy with a wind. The big highlight of the morning was the 
sighting of a dark phased Rough-legged Hawk. We watched the hawk for the most 
part of the morning as it perched and hunted in the estuary. We were able to 
compare the Rough-legged Hawk with a Northern Harrier as they both flew over 
the estuary. 

Fifteen birders including a visiting birder from Australia saw and heard the 
following twenty-eight species: 

Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, 
Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Common 
Merganser, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, 
Northern Shrike, Glaucous-winged Gull, Mew Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern 
Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, , American 
Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Fox Sparrow and 
Golden-crowned Sparrow. 

 
Saturday January 07:
A juvenile Bald Eagle was spotted flying over Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo. 
 
A Cooper's Hawk, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Merlin and a Red-tailed Hawk were seen 
on the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville. 

 
A Tundra Swan and a Mute Swan were seen at Deep Bay.
 
Friday January 06:
Two Northern Flickers, one Northern Shrike, Pine Siskins, House Finch, Purple 
Finch, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, European Starlings and American 
Robins are visiting backyard feeders along Farquhar Street in Nanaimo. 

 
Thursday January 05:
A Bald Eagle, a Red-tail Hawk and three Anna's Hummingbirds were seen at 
Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo. 

 
Tuesday January 03:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. It was a blustery morning with 
clouds, rain and a strong wind. The surf was rolling off the Strait of Georgia 
all morning. Our highlights included seeing two Long-tailed Ducks flying right 
at us and then disappearing in the waves not far from shore. Pacific Loons and 
Common Murre were spotted flying further offshore. We spotted several Black 
Oystercatchers, one Greater Yellowlegs, over twenty Black Turnstones, two 
Sanderling, Mew Gulls, one Herring Gull, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls 
and six Brant on the gravel bar at Pebble Beach. As we were returning to our 
cars, we watched as twelve White-crowned Sparrows and one House Finch bathed in 
a puddle of water on the side of the road. 

 
Eight very wet and windblown birders, including two visiting birders from New 
Zealand and one visiting birder from Australia, saw the following thirty-five 
species: 

Brant, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, 
Long-tailed Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, 
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, 

Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, 
Black Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, 
Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, 
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, 
Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and House Finch. 

 
Monday January 02:
Eleven California Quail were seen on a front lawn feeding below the bird 
feeders in the 2300 block of Brackenwood Place in Nanaimo. 

 
A Townsend's Warbler is visiting feeders along Lantzville Road in Lantzville.
 
Ten Black Turnstones, two hundred Brant Geese and two Bald Eagles were seen at 
Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. 


Sunday January 01:
A Herring Gull, A Long-tailed Duck, A Thayer's Gull and a Rhinoceros Auklet 
were seen off Neck Point in Nanaimo. 

 
****************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting  
Thursday, January, 12, 2012 at 7:00 pm.
Annual General Meeting and Members Night.
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
*******************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm. 
Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
*********************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 


************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk will be going to The Little Qualicum River Estuary on 
January 10. 

We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions 
Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at viewing platform near Highway 19a and Garrett 
Road at about 9:15 A.M. 

************************************************************** 
The Sunday bird walk on January 15 walk will be going to Nanoose Bay.
We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or near the beach behind the Church 
camp off Arlington Road and Highway 19 at about 9:20 A.M. 

 
Good birding
Neil Robins
 
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Bike n' Bird
From: Ryan Cathers <ryancathers AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 17:04:49 -0800 (PST)
Hi all
As it is the 5th day of the new year I figured it was high time I head out to 
do a bit of birding.  (Of the non-fossil fuel burning kind).   


Last year I had the intentions of doing a Big Year on my bike, those intentions 
fizzled out embarrassingly quickly.  I am going to try to make more effort this 
year... 


I decided to head out today after class for a loop around one of the lakes in 
town.  Bonus was that it's not too far from home.  Diver's Lake can be a really 
neat place to bird, it is a fairly small lake with a fantastic marshy shore 
almost all the way around.  It has been a good spot for rails, coots, and even 
Green Herons in the past. In an hour long ride around the lake and back home i 
managed to locate the following species. 


Mallard Duck 
Bufflehead Duck 
Hooded Merganser 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Bald Eagle 
American Coot 
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch

I will admit, all of those birders who have been tooting about the benefits of 
biking and birding, I finally see why!  

Cheers and good birding!

P.s. I will be posting Nanaimo CBC final results shortly

Ryan Cathers
Compiler, Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, 2011/2012 

Nanaimo,BC

http://ryancathers.zenfolio.com/
Subject: Common Redpoll
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:49:11 -0000
Hi birders,

We had a Common Redpoll visit our backyard feeder this afternoon. First time 
this year. We are in the 100 blosk of Meridian Way in Parksville. 


Good Birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Thursday, January 5
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:50:19 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 5, 2012
* BCVI120105
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Thursday, January 
5, 10:30 am update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm 
a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
The VNHS Saturday birding destination is Saanichton Bay Park. Meet at 8 am at 
the parking lot off Mt. Newton Cross Road just east of Lochside Drive. All are 
welcome. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
A first winter GLAUCOUS GULL was part way down Cowichan Bay Dock Road.
A BRAMBLING was on Magnum Place in Saanich on Monday and Tuesday, January 2-3. 
Attempts to relocate this bird on Wednesday were unsuccessful, but it may still 
be in the area. 

The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 
seen most recently on Wednesday, January 4  and the VESPER SPARROW most 
recently on Monday, January 2. A COMMON TEAL was also there on that day. 

A SWAMP SPARROW was near the first bench to the southwest of Fir Tree Glen at 
Rithet's Bog on Tuesday, January 3. Four COMMON REDPOLLS were also there. 

At Welch and Martindale Roads, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was with a flock of blackbirds 
that included at least two BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS on Monday, January 2. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK SCOTER, EARED GREBE, COMMON REDPOLL, SNOW BUNTING, 
TUNDRA SWAN 


Tuesday, January 3:
A WESTERN TANAGER was in a yard in Victoria. 
EURASIAN WIGEON numbers appear unusually high this year. Eleven were in Beacon 
Hill Park, with smaller numbers being reported from a variety of locations in 
the area. 

More than thirty CEDAR WAXWINGS were in Finnerty Gardens on the University of 
Victoria campus. 


Monday, January 2:
There were thirty CEDAR WAXWINGS, five AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and a HERMIT 
THRUSH in Uplands Park, and a BARRED OWL in Beacon Hill Park. 

In the Martindale area, there were thirty MOURNING DOVES on Dooley Road, but no 
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES. Thirty to forty AMERICAN PIPITS were north of the 
model aircraft field. 

A pair of BLACK SCOTERS, an EARED GREBE, and three RED-THROATED LOONS were at 
Island View Beach. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was on Saanichton Spit. 

A flock of fifty COMMON RAVENS flew over Deep Cove in North Saanich, arousing 
considerable interest on the part of two resident ravens. 


Sunday, January 1:
Among the many birds found during the Duncan Christmas Bird Count were three 
COMMON REDPOLLS in separate locations, 900 RUDDY DUCKS and 400 LESSER SCAUP on 
Quamichan Lake, and a VIRGINIA RAIL and twenty EVENING GROSBEAKS at Art Mann 
Park. 

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on the grounds of Government House, and a 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was attending a feeder at Obed and Wascana Streets. 

A SNOW BUNTING and two SAVANNAH SPARROWS were among birds seen on Saanichton 
Spit. 


Saturday, December 31:
Two pairs of BLACK SCOTERS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and seven WESTERN MEADOWLARKS 
were at Island View Beach. 

A GOLDEN EAGLE was photographed on Jocelyn Hill.

Thursday, December 29:
Fifty-five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a single SNOW GOOSE, and four EURASIAN 
WIGEONS were on Maber Flats in Central Saanich. 

Two TUNDRA SWANS were south of Duncan.
Two pairs of RED PHALAROPES were seen from the MV Coho in Canadian waters.
Subject: RE: [birdrepbc] Birds and window strikes
From: "Wayne Weber" <contopus AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 19:18:13 -0800
Derek,

 

Could you please provide one or more references for your statement that
window strikes are "the biggest single cause of bird fatalities"?

 

I would not disagree that window strikes are an important cause of
fatalities. However, to say that they are "the biggest cause" seems
preposterous to me. Most birds spend most or all of their lives in areas
that have no windows.  Common sense would tell us that factors such as
starvation, predation, and habitat destruction cause far more avian
mortality, by orders of magnitude, than window strikes.

 

Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus AT telus.net

 

 

 

 

From: birdrepbc AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:birdrepbc AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Derek Matthews
Sent: January-04-12 4:38 PM
To: birdrepbc AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [birdrepbc] Birds and window strikes

 






Hi Birders and Banders,

As window strikes are such a big issue and the biggest single cause of bird
fatalities I thought I'd upload a photo I took at a lodge in Ecuador showing
a mobile they use to stop birds flying in to plate glass.

You can see from this picture that the glass is reflecting the forest in
front of the lodge and that without something like this birds are going to
be flying straight in to the glass.

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VARCWorkshops/photos/album/2133980347/pic/1924
633223/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc

The thing I really liked about these is that they're really simple to make,
cost virtually nothing and are natural and esthetic.

Please forward this to family and friends and encourage them to make and use
one if they have problems with birds flying in to windows.

Cheers.

Derek

Derek Matthews
Vancouver Avian Research Centre
www.birdvancouver.com 










[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

To contact the moderator email
bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com
Also, consider joining these groups.
bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com  an all BC group.
If you have pictures to share try this group.  
http://groups-beta.google.com/
From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the 
pictures.
Subject: Big Day for the Brant - April 7, 2012
From: "RHYS" <rhysharrison AT shaw.ca>
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:52:45 -0000
Our annual birding Big Day held to support the Brant Festival will be on April 
7th - mark your calendars and start planning. 


If anyone has suggestions to improve on last year, please let me or Sandra Gray 
know. We have the same organizing committee and are hoping to encourage even 
more teams to test their skills and have some fun. 

Rhys Harrison, Parksville, BC



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Birds and window strikes
From: "Derek Matthews" <Derek AT birdvancouver.com>
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:58:04 -0000
Hi Birders and Banders,

As window strikes are such a big issue and the biggest single cause of
bird fatalities I thought I'd upload a photo I took at a lodge in
Ecuador showing a mobile they use to stop birds flying in to plate
glass.

You can see from this picture that the glass is reflecting the forest in
front of the lodge and that without something like this birds are going
to be flying straight in to the glass.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VARCWorkshops/photos/album/2133980347/pic/\
1924633223/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc


The thing I really liked about these is that they're really simple
to make, cost virtually nothing and are natural and esthetic.

Please forward this to family and friends and encourage them to make and
use one if they have problems with birds flying in to windows.

Cheers.

Derek

Derek Matthews
Vancouver Avian Research Centre
www.birdvancouver.com
Subject: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 03, 2012
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:35:13 -0000
Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. It was a blustery morning with 
clouds, rain and a strong wind. The surf was rolling off the Strait of Georgia 
all morning. Our highlights included seeing two Long-tailed Ducks flying right 
at us and then disappearing in the waves not far from shore. Pacific Loons and 
Common Murres were spotted flying further offshore. We spotted several Black 
Oystercatchers, one Greater Yellowlegs, over twenty Black Turnstones, two 
Sanderling, Mew Gulls, one Herring Gull, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls 
and six Brant on the gravel bar at Pebble Beach. As we were returning to our 
cars, we watched as twelve White-crowned Sparrows and one House Finch bathed in 
a puddle of water on the side of the road. 

Eight very wet and wind blown birders, including two visiting birders from New 
Zealand and one visiting birder from Australia, saw the following thirty-five 
species: 

Brant
Mallard 
Harlequin Duck 
Surf Scoter 
White-winged Scoter 
Black Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Pacific Loon 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Bald Eagle 
Black-bellied Plover 
Black Oystercatcher 
Greater Yellowlegs 
Black Turnstone 
Sanderling 
Dunlin 
Mew Gull 
Herring Gull 
Thayer's Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Common Murre 
Rock Pigeon 
Eurasian-collared Dove 
Northwestern Crow 
Common Raven 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
American Robin 
Spotted Towhee 
Song Sparrow 
White-crowned Sparrow 
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland
From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 3 Jan 2012 18:37:44 -0000
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the bcbirdingvanisland 
group.

  File        : /BC Winter List.xls 
  Uploaded by : marven007ca  
  Description :  

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/files/BC%20Winter%20List.xls 

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.html
Regards,

marven007ca 
 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Monday, January 2
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 23:11:59 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* January 2, 2012
* BCVI120102
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, January 
2, 11 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 and 
leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm a 
rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW  
and VESPER SPARROW seen most recently on Monday, January 2. A COMMON TEAL was 
also there. The SWAMP SPARROW was last reported on Tuesday, December 27. 

At Welch and Martindale Roads, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was with a flock of blackbirds 
that included at least two BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS on Monday, January 2. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
BLACK SCOTER, EARED GREBE, COMMON REDPOLL, SNOW BUNTING, TUNDRA SWAN, BRANT

Monday, January 2:
There were thirty CEDAR WAXWINGS, five AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and a HERMIT 
THRUSH in Uplands Park, and a BARRED OWL in Beacon Hill Park. 

In the Martindale area, there were thirty MOURNING DOVES on Dooley Road, but no 
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES. Thirty to forty AMERICAN PIPITS were north of the 
model aircraft field. 

A pair of BLACK SCOTERS, an EARED GREBE, and three RED-THROATED LOONS were at 
Island View Beach. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was on Saanichton Spit. 

A flock of fifty COMMON RAVENS flew over Deep Cove in North Saanich, arousing 
considerable interest on the part of two resident ravens. 


Sunday, January 1:
Among the many birds found during the Duncan Christmas Bird Count were three 
COMMON REDPOLLS in separate locations, 900 RUDDY DUCKS and 400 LESSER SCAUP on 
Quamichan Lake, and a VIRGINIA RAIL and twenty EVENING GROSBEAKS at Art Mann 
Park. 

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on the grounds of Government House, and a 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was attending a feeder at Obed and Wascana Streets. 

A SNOW BUNTING and two SAVANNAH SPARROWS were among birds seen on Saanichton 
Spit. 


Saturday, December 31:
Two pairs of BLACK SCOTERS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and seven WESTERN MEADOWLARKS 
were at Island View Beach. 

A GOLDEN EAGLE was photographed on Jocelyn Hill.

Thursday, December 29:
Fifty-five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a single SNOW GOOSE, and four EURASIAN 
WIGEONS were on Maber Flats in Central Saanich. 

Two TUNDRA SWANS were south of Duncan.
Two pairs of RED PHALAROPES were seen from the MV Coho in Canadian waters.

Wednesday, December 28:
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on Beresford Street, between Beach Drive and Newport 
Avenue. 


Tuesday, December 27:
Eight WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were on Saanichton Spit. Three more were at Panama 
Flats, along with a SKYLARK. 

Eleven CANVASBACKS were on Elk Lake.
Among many birds seen at Beechey Head were 1300 COMMON MURRES, one hundred 
twenty PACIFIC LOONS, and seven 
BRANT.                                                                               

A trip up the west coast of the island beyond Sooke produced a female BLACK 
SCOTER, one or two BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, five HUTTON'S VIREOS, and four 
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. There was an AMERICAN DIPPER at Muir Creek.
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, December 31, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:20:25 -0000
 NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

 

"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
 

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

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 


"HAPPY NEW YEAR"

From all of us at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store

Denise, Colin, Tyler, Lexi, Ralph, Natalie, Ryan, Neil and Marilynne 

Friday December 30:
A Snowy Owl was spotted flying across 10th Street and the Island Highway in 
south Nanaimo. 


Wednesday December 28: 
Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count preliminary results: 

Nanaimo's annual Christmas Bird Count was held on December 28, 2011. The 
preliminary results revealed a total of 115 species. 

The weather was nice in the morning (despite the monsoon the night before) but 
took a turn for the worse at around 1300hrs. Average temperatures were from 
6-12şC. To date we have had 26 people in the field return their results as well 
as 1 backyard feeder count. 

Highlights were a Rough-legged Hawk at the Nanaimo River Estuary and a Northern 
Saw-whet Owl and a Northern-pygmy Owl. 

There were an unheard of 31 Virginia Rail counted.
Thank you everyone who participated in the count this year. I look forward to 
next years count which i believe will be held on Sunday, December 30th 2012, so 
mark your Mayan calendars! 


Good birding,
Ryan Cathers
Compiler, Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, 2011/2012 
Nanaimo,BC
http://ryancathers.zenfolio.com/ 

Wednesday December 28: 
Three Northern Flickers, four Spotted Towhees, fifteen Pine Siskins, six 
Evening Grosbeaks, four Red-winged Blackbirds, three Anna's Hummingbirds, 
European Starlings, Dark-eyed Juncos and two Steller's Jays were seen in a 
backyard along Michigan Way in Nanaimo. 


Tuesday December 27:
A Northern Shrike was spotted in a backyard on Valley Oak Drive in Nanaimo. 

Friday December 23:
One American Dipper and eight Common Mergansers were seen at the lower lake at 
Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo. 

****************************************************

Nanoose Naturalists Meeting  
January, 2012 at 7:30 pm. 
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
*******************************************************

Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm. Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.

*********************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 

************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk will be going to Columbia Beach on January 03.
We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions 
Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Bld. at 
Columbia Beach. 

************************************************************** 
The Sunday bird on January 08 walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary 
in south Nanaimo. 

We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Raines Road at 
about 9:30 A.M. 


Good birding
Neil Robins
 
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Congrats Ryan
From: "Sandra Gray" <saninerr AT shaw.ca>
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:20:23 -0000
Yeah Ryan on your first CBC compiling for Nanaimo area !!! Good luck on the 
number crunching and I am looking forward to reading the complete list of 
finds. 


The Rail count is fantastic and makes we wonder where else we are missing them 
in the Mid-Island area ?? 


Cheers 
Happy New Year 
Sandra Gray in Errington 



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count
From: Ryan Cathers <ryancathers AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:56:31 -0800 (PST)
Hi all
Yesterday, December 28th 2011 we had Nanaimo's annual Christmas Bird Count.  I 
have compiled preliminary results and have found that we have a total of 115 
species with a few areas still to report.  We also have up to 3 additional 
species awaiting further confirmation. 


Weather was quite nice in the morning (despite the monsoon the night before) 
but turned for the worse at around 1300hrs.  Average temperatures were from 
6-12'C.  As of information that I have now we had 26 people in the field and 1 
feeder counter.  I know that there are more to come as well! 


Highlights were a Rough-legged Hawk at the Nanaimo River Estuary, and two owls, 
a Northern Saw-whet Owl and a Northern-pygmy Owl at locations I will not 
disclose. 


So far I have, get this...31 Virginia Rail! And I believe there are 3 or 4 more 
to be reported.  Maybe we can hold our VIRA title again... 


Thank you everyone who participated in the count this year.  I look forward to 
next years count which i believe will be held on Sunday, December 30th 2012, so 
mark your Mayan calendars!   

Good birding,


Ryan Cathers
Compiler, Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, 2011/2012 

Nanaimo,BC

http://ryancathers.zenfolio.com/
Subject: Victoria RBA, Thursday, December 29
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:56:55 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 29, 2011
* BCVI111229
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Thursday, 
December 29, 2 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 
250-704-2555 and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those 
who can confirm a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick 
Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
The VNHS Saturday morning birding outing will be a tour of Swan Lake. Meet at 
the parking lot at 8 am. All are welcome. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The exotic sparrows continue at Panama Flats, with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, 
VESPER SPARROW, and SWAMP SPARROW seen most recently on Tuesday, December 27. 

Two more SWAMP SPARROWS were at Rithet's Bog on Friday, December 23.
A possible NASHVILLE WARBLER was in a yard in the Gordon Head area on Sunday, 
December 25. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
TUNDRA SWAN, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, BRANT, SNOW GOOSE

Thursday, December 29:
A male BLACK SCOTER was just off shore at the north end of Island View Beach.
Two TUNDRA SWANS were south of Duncan.
Two pairs of RED PHALAROPES were seen from the MV Coho in Canadian waters.

Wednesday, December 28:
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on Beresford Street, between Beach Drive and Newport 
Avenue. 


Tuesday, December 27:
Eight WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were on Saanichton Spit. Three more were at Panama 
Flats, along with a SKYLARK. 

Eleven CANVASBACKS were on Elk Lake.
Among many birds seen at Beechey Head were 1300 COMMON MURRES, one hundred 
twenty PACIFIC LOONS, and seven 
BRANT.                                                                               

A trip up the west coast of the island beyond Sooke produced a female BLACK 
SCOTER, one or two BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, five HUTTON'S VIREOS, and four 
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. There was an AMERICAN DIPPER at Muir Creek. 


Monday, December 26:
The Sooke Christmas Bird Count turned up no rare birds, but did find two dozen 
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, sixty-seven GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and a SNOW 
GOOSE in Sooke, a dozen TURKEY VULTURES in Metchosin, and twenty-seven MOURNING 
DOVES in Saseenos. 


Friday, December 23: A PEREGRINE FALCON was over the Queens Street/Douglas 
Street intersection in downtown Victoria. 

Two BRANT were at Island View Beach. A total of four EURASIAN WIGEON were 
reported during the day, one at Kings Pond, one at Albert Head Lagoon, and two 
in a pond off the Galloping Goose Trail at Lindholm Road in Metchosin. 

AMERICAN COOTS have been scarce lately, but four were on Blenkinsop Lake.
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, December 27, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:27:52 -0000
 NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
 
"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
 
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number 
along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. 

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 


"HAPPY NEW YEAR"
From all of us at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Denise, Colin, Tyler, Lexi, Ralph, Natalie, Ryan, Neil and Marilynne
 
Wednesday December 21:
 A Snowy Owl has been sighted at Pauline Haarer School in downtown Nanaimo.
 
Tuesday December 20:
The Tuesday bird walk went the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River 
Estuary in Parksville. The morning was partly sunny with a strong biting wind 
that calmed down as the morning progressed, turning into a really great birding 
day to finish off 2011. The highlights included seeing a male Northern Harrier 
in his finest colors fly over the estuary and then circle over the forest close 
to us. We spotted a Downy Woodpecker perched in a tall tree not far from the 
trail. A pair of Trumpeter Swans flew low over the water, not far from shore, 
heading up the Strait of Georgia. We were treated with a spectacular sight of 
thousands of Common Murre and hundreds of Pacific Loons riding the waves on the 
Strait 

Ten birders saw and heard the following fifty-five species:
Canada Goose, Brant, Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, 
Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged 
Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common 
Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, California Quail, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, 
Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, 
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, 
Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged 
Gull, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Downy Woodpecker, 
Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, 
Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied 
Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, 
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's 
Blackbird and House Finch. 

 
Saturday December 17:
A Clay-colored Sparrow was seen the Carmanah Point Light Station on the west 
side of Vancouver Island. 

 
****************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting  
January, 2012 at 7:30 pm. 
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
*******************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm. Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
*********************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 


************************************************************
There will be no Tuesday Birdwalk on December 27. We will resume on January 3, 
2012 and will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at Parksville Community 
Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the 
parking area of Admiral Tryon Bld. At Columbia Beach. 

************************************************************** 
There will no Sunday Birdwalk on December 25 or January 1, 2012.
We will resume on Sunday, January 08, 2012 and will be going to the Nanaimo 
River Estuary in south Nanaimo. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or 
at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A.M. 

 
Good birding
Neil Robins
 
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
                                        
*********************************************************************
 
"NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Will be held on Wednesday December 28th, 2011. 
Organizers are looking for as many backyard feeders counter and field observers 
as possible. 

Contact the Birdstore at 250-390--3669 or email us at: thebackyard AT shaw.ca
 
 
 



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: White-winged Crossbill(s)?
From: "empidonax307" <mnc.stephens AT shaw.ca>
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:31:12 -0000
I have heard from a couple reliable sources that a White-winged Crosbill(s)? 
was at Moorecroft Regional Park on the 25th, in the fir trees by the bay. 

There have been earlier reports of WWCB here recenly. 

I also learned that a Red-throated Loon was reported near that bay.

Christopher Stephens,
Parksville, BC



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Common Redpolls
From: "empidonax307" <mnc.stephens AT shaw.ca>
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:27:38 -0000
Two Common Redpolls at around 9am this morning in Parksville.
The birds were flying towards the Ermineskin Nature Park (South), and chirping 
alot. 


Christopher Stephens, 
Parksville, BC



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, December 23
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:55:51 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 23, 2011
* BCVI111223
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, December 
23, 11:30 am update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm 
a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
The VNHS Saturday morning birding outing will be a tour of the Oak Bay and 
Victoria waterfront. Meet at Cattle Point at 8 am. All are welcome. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
A VESPER SPARROW was at Panama Flats on Thursday, December 22, having been 
reported first on Tuesday, December 20. 

The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continues at Panama Flats, having been seen as 
recently as Thursday, December 22. Also there on Saturday, December 17, were 
two SWAMP SPARROWS. 

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was photographed in the Martindale area during the Victoria 
Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 17, and has been seen daily since 
then, up to Tuesday, December 20, when it was with a mixed flock of blackbirds 
including four BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. All sightings have been fairly close to 
Martindale Road, from Lochside Drive to Welch Road. 

A possible ARCTIC LOON was reported from Patricia Bay on Monday, December 19, 
but has not been relocated since. 

ROCK SANDPIPERS have been seen in the Chain Islands since November 28. 
Twenty-four were there this week, along with many other shorebirds. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
AMERICAN BITTERN, SNOW GOOSE, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, SHORT-EARED OWL, EVENING 
GROSBEAK 


Thursday, December 22:
Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and a SKYLARK were at Panama Flats.

Tuesday, December 20:
Tuesday Group birders found nothing unusual at Bowker Rocks, but a good 
assortment of woodland birds in Konukson Park and elsewhere in the Ten Mile 
Point area, including a PILEATED WOODPECKER, a PEREGRINE FALCON, and a 
territorially challenged GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET showing off its red crest. 


Monday, December 19:
The AMERICAN BITTERN continues at Swan Lake.

Sunday, December 18:
Few detailed results are yet available from the Sidney/South Saltspring 
Christmas Bird Count, which includes off-shore islands. One highlight was two 
AMERICAN KESTRELS at the Victoria airport, a male on the north side and a 
female on the south. A SNOWY OWL and a SNOW BUNTING seen on private property 
during the count have not been relocated, despite two attempts. The SNOWY OWL 
was probably the same bird seen earlier this month and last at various places 
in Oak Bay. 

A NORTHERN SHRIKE, a male NORTHERN HARRIER, and thirty WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were 
among birds seen in the Martindale area. 


Saturday, December 17:
Among the highlights of the Victoria Christmas Bird Count were a SNOW GOOSE at 
Galey Farms in the Blenkinsop valley, a GOLDEN EAGLE in Goldstream, a 
RING-NECKED PHEASANT at Hastings Flats, two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS at Albert Head 
Lagoon, a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER on private property in the Highlands, a NORTHERN 
SAW-WHET OWL and a SORA in the Prospect Lake/Quick's Bottom area, a WESTERN 
SANDPIPER in the Victoria Harbour area, and, at various locations, 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, and NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS. 


Friday, December 16:
No fewer than five WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were seen near the northwest corner 
of Uplands Park in Oak Bay. Also present were forty-five CEDAR WAXWINGS, small 
flocks of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and two HERMIT THRUSHES.
Subject: female or juv Harrier and more at the Englishman estuary
From: "Sandra Gray" <saninerr AT shaw.ca>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:06:28 -0000
Today I walked a large part of the Englishman R estuary & Rathtrevor looking 
for count week birds for Parksville Qualicum Beach CBC ... no luck finding new 
ones but I did see a female or juv Northern Harrier, brown mottled/streaked 
w/prominant white patch at base of tail, at close range as it flew about 10' 
overhead. I read that the Tuesday birders were down there and saw a male ... so 
I conclude we have two in the area !! 


I also saw a male Ring-necked Pheasant, the Northern Shrike that has been 
hanging around, ~25 eagles, a large flock of gulls that appeared to be 'the 
usual suspects' (altho I did not linger long to pick them apart as I only 
carried by binos), N. Pintail, A. Wigeon, Mallard, 3 GBHerons, Hoodies, 
C.Mergs, Bufflehead, GWTeal, a few scoters, no shorebirds this time. The woods 
were very quiet. 


After that I headed over to Rathtrevor as the tide was falling by then and was 
rewarded with lots of shorebirds, ~150 AWigeon, a few Mallard ... ~200 Dunlin, 
50+ Black-bellied Plovers, ~140 Black Turnstones ... interestingly we got just 
over 100 Turnstones on Sunday during the CBC. There were also some dogs that 
were running loose on the beach repeatedly scattering the ducks and shorebirds. 

In deeper water I could see RB Mergs, C.Murre, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, scattered 
gulls, lots of Pacific Loon and a few Common Loon. 


Blue skies today with very light wind ... a pleasure to welcome in winter when 
it's like this ! 


Cheers and Happy Birding everyone
Sandra Gray
Errington




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: RBA: Snowy Owl
From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:16:58 -0000
Hi all
A Snowy Owl has been spotted in downtown Nanaimo today. Keep an eye out for 
these guys this year as they are popping up at several locations. 


Cheers,
Ryan Cathers
Nanaimo



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Tuesday, December 20
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:39:44 -0800 (PST)
 RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 20, 2011
* BCVI111220
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Tuesday, December 
20, 6:30 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can 
confirm a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick 
Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was photographed in the Martindale area during the Victoria 
Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 17, and has been seen daily since 
then, up to Tuesday, December 20, when it was with a mixed flock of blackbirds 
including four BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. All sightings have been fairly close to 
Martindale Road, from Lochside Drive to Welch Road. 

A possible ARCTIC LOON was reported from Patricia Bay on Monday, December 19, 
but has not been relocated since. 

The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continues at Panama Flats, having been seen as 
recently as Monday, December 19. Also there on Saturday, December 17, were two 
SWAMP SPARROWS. 

An unusual Warbler, variously identified as a PALM, ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S, 
or immature YELLOW-RUMPED, was glimpsed by several observers in shrubbery near 
the corner of Windsor Avenue and Newport Road in Oak Bay on Sunday, December 
18, and Monday, December 19. 

ROCK SANDPIPERS have been seen in the Chain Islands since November 28. Twelve 
were there on Thursday, December 15. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
AMERICAN BITTERN, SNOW GOOSE, COMMON REDPOLL, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, SHORT-EARED 
OWL, EVENING GROSBEAK 


Tuesday, December 20:
Tuesday Group birders found nothing unusual at Bowker Rocks, but a good 
assortment of woodland birds in Konukson Park and elsewhere in the Ten Mile 
Point area, including a PILEATED WOODPECKER, a PEREGRINE FALCON, and a 
territorially challenged GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET showing off its red crest. 


Monday, December 19:
The AMERICAN BITTERN continues at Swan Lake.

Sunday, December 18:
Few detailed results are yet available from the Sidney/South Saltspring 
Christmas Bird Count, but most of the expected birds were located, and in fine 
weather at that. One highlight was two AMERICAN KESTRELS at the Victoria 
airport, a male on the north side and a female on the south. 

A NORTHERN SHRIKE, a male NORTHERN HARRIER, and thirty WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were 
among birds seen in the Martindale area. 


Saturday, December 17:
Among the highlights of the Victoria Christmas Bird Count were a SNOW GOOSE at 
Galey Farms in the Blenkinsop valley, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at Pt. Ellice 
House, two WILSON'S SNIPE in Cecelia Ravine, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT near the 
model aircraft field in the Martindale area, and, at unspecified locations, 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and a 
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. Reports awaiting confirmation include SWAINSON'S HAWK, 
WESTERN SANDPIPER,  SORA, and GOLDEN EAGLE. A COMMON REDPOLL was on the 
grounds of the naval base in Esquimalt, but in an area open only to those with 
a military escort. 


Friday, December 16:
No fewer than five WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were seen near the northwest corner 
of Uplands Park in Oak Bay. Also present were forty-five CEDAR WAXWINGS, small 
flocks of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and two HERMIT THRUSHES. 


Wednesday, December 14:
A SHORT-EARED OWL was over the flooded fields along Wallace Drive across from 
Stelly's School. 

A flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS flew over the Galloping Goose Trail north of Rocky 
Point Road in Metchosin. 

A TOWNSEND’S WARBLER was on the beach at the end of Austins Place in Sooke.
Subject: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 20, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:51:04 -0000
Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River 
Estuary in Parksville. The morning was partly sunny with a strong biting wind 
that calmed down as the morning progressed, turning into a really great birding 
day to finish off 2011. The highlights included seeing a male Northern Harrier 
in his finest colors fly over the estuary and then circle over the forest close 
to us. We spotted a Downy Woodpecker perched in a tall tree not far from the 
trail. A pair of Trumpeter Swans flew low over the water, not far from shore, 
heading up the Strait of Georgia. We were treated with a spectacular sight of 
thousands of Common Murre and hundreds of Pacific Loons riding the waves on the 
Strait. 

Ten birders saw and heard the following fifty-five species:
Canada Goose 
Brant 
Trumpeter Swan 
Gadwall 
American Wigeon 
Mallard 
Northern Pintail 
Green-winged Teal 
Harlequin Duck 
Surf Scoter 
White-winged Scoter 
Black Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
California Quail 
Pacific Loon 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Red-necked Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Pelagic Cormorant 
Great Blue Heron 
Bald Eagle 
Northern Harrier 
Sharp-shinned Hawk 
Black-bellied Plover 
Black Turnstone 
Mew Gull 
Thayer's Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Common Murre 
Marbled Murrelet 
Ancient Murrelet 
Downy Woodpecker 
Northern Flicker 
Northwestern Crow 
Common Raven 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
Bushtit 
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
American Robin 
Varied Thrush 
European Starling 
Spotted Towhee 
Fox Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Golden-crowned Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Red-winged Blackbird 
Brewer's Blackbird 
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Re: Clay-colored or Chipping Sparrow?
From: "blackcappedlory" <mtabak AT shaw.ca>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:21:12 -0000
 Great find Jerry: This is a Clay-Colored Sparrow. The second photo shows the 
very distinct facial pattern, and very noticeable gray nape. Chipping Sparrow 
has quite a bit less strongly patterned facial markings. 



  Mike Tabak

Vancouver



--- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, "gke_55"  wrote:
>
> I have had sparrow hanging around for about three weeks now, but can't figure 
out exactly which species it is, either a Clay-colored or Chipping Sparrow. 

> Its pretty skittery, so I can't get close at all, and it doesn't stay still 
at all as it is feeding voraciously, so the photos aren't that good. The pics 
are in the Photos section in the folder Clay colored or Chipping Sparrow. 

> Any ideas?
> 
> Jerry Etzkorn
> Carmanah Point Lightstation
> 
> p.s. it showed up November 29th and was last seen December 17th.
>




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland
From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 19 Dec 2011 21:22:35 -0000
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the bcbirdingvanisland 
group.

  File        : /BC Winter List.xls 
  Uploaded by : marven007ca  
  Description :  

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/files/BC%20Winter%20List.xls 

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.html
Regards,

marven007ca 
 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Clay-colored or Chipping Sparrow?
From: "gke_55" <karmanah AT islandnet.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:04:55 -0000
I have had sparrow hanging around for about three weeks now, but can't figure 
out exactly which species it is, either a Clay-colored or Chipping Sparrow. 

Its pretty skittery, so I can't get close at all, and it doesn't stay still at 
all as it is feeding voraciously, so the photos aren't that good. The pics are 
in the Photos section in the folder Clay colored or Chipping Sparrow. 

Any ideas?

Jerry Etzkorn
Carmanah Point Lightstation

p.s. it showed up November 29th and was last seen December 17th.



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, December 18, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:22:36 -0000
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
 
"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
 
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number 
along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. 

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 


*********************************************
"MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR"
From all of us at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Denise, Colin, Ralph, Natalie, Ryan, Neil and Marilynne
******************************************* 

 Sunday December 18, 2011: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was partly 
sunny with a strong biting winds off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights 
included seeing several Common Redpolls in with a flock of Pine Siskins high up 
in an Alder Tree. A Spotted Sandpiper was busy pumping it's tail on driftwood 
away from the rough seas next to Sunset Beach. 

Twelve birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Mallard, Bufflehead, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, 
Pelagic Cormorant, Common Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Horned Grebe, Common 
Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Spotted Sandpiper, Black Turnstone, Black 
Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, 
Pileated Woodpecker, Northwest Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned 
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Anna's Hummingbird, 
Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, Song Sparrow, Common Redpoll and 
Pine Siskin. 

 
Saturday December 17:
A Snowy Owl was observed as it was being harassed by a flock of Northwestern 
Crows at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville. (Please use caution and 
keep well away from the owls if you see them, as they are young ones who have 
left their homes on the arctic tundra in search of food and may well be weak 
and starving.) 

 
Friday December 16:
A Northern Goshawk was seen in a large Dogwood tree near the intersection of 
Kennedy and Albert Street in south Nanaimo. It was seen feeding on something in 
the tree and there was a band noticed on one leg. Please let us know if you see 
this bird. 

 
Wednesday December 14:
A Northern Goshawk was seen in a large Dogwood tree near the intersection of 
Kennedy and Albert Street in south Nanaimo. 

 
Tuesday December 13:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River 
Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and cool with calm winds. The 
highlights included seeing two juvenile Glaucous Gulls, a Herring Gull, 
Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and a Eurasian Wigeon from near the 
viewing platform. A Northern Harrier flew low across the estuary three times 
searching for prey and a Peregrine Falcon was perched in a tall conifer tree 
not far from us. A colourful male Purple Finch landed in a bush next to the 
trail and gave us great views. 

Ten birders saw and heard the following forty-seven species:
Canada Geese, Brant, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, 
Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, 
Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, 

Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked 
Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern 
Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, 
Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, 
Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, 
Bushtit,, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, 
Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird, 
Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin. 

 
A small flock of Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Beaconsfield Road and Howard 
Avenue in Nanaimo. 

 
Two Evening Grosbeaks were seen near Forest Crescent and Highway 19 in Nanaimo.
 
****************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting  
January, 2012 at 7:30 pm. 
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
*******************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm. Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
*********************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 


************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 20th will be going to the Plummer Road side 
of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville 
Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at 
the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville (on the one ocean 
side of highway19a) at about 9:10 A.M. 

 
There will be no Tuesday Birdwalk on December 27. We will resume on January 3, 
2012 and will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at Parksville Community 
Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the 
parking area of Admiral Tyron Bld. 

************************************************************** 
There will no Sunday Birdwalk on December 25 or January 1, 2012.
We will resume on Sunday, January 08, 2012 and will be going to the Nanaimo 
River Estuary in south Nanaimo. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or 
at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A.M. 

 
Good birding
Neil Robins
 
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
                                        
*********************************************************************
 
"NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Will be held on Wednesday December 28th, 2011. 
Organizers are looking for as many backyard feeders counter and field observers 
as possible. 

Contact the Birdstore at 250-390--3669 or email us at: thebackyard AT shaw.ca




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, December 16
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:56:03 -0800 (PST)
RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 16, 2011
* BCVI111216
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, December 
16, 6:30 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm 
a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
ROCK SANDPIPERS have been seen in the Chain Islands since November 28. Twelve 
were there on Thursday, December15. 

The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continues at Panama Flats, having been seen as 
recently as Thursday, December 15. Also there on Saturday, December 10, farther 
to the south, was a SWAMP SPARROW. 

An immature or female PINE GROSBEAK was on Jocelyn Hill on Monday, December 12.
The BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Beacon Hill Park has not been seen since Saturday, 
December 10. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
RING-NECKED PHEASANT, EVENING GROSBEAK, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, EURASIAN 
COLLARED DOVE, WILSON'S WARBLER, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, AMERICAN KESTREL 


Wednesday, December 14:
A SHORT-EARED OWL was over the flooded fields along Wallace Drive across from 
Stelly's School. 

A RING-NECKED PHEASANT, reported several times recently from the Martindale 
area, was seen in a field north of the model aircraft field. 

A flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS flew over the Galloping Goose Trail north of Rocky 
Point Road in Metchosin. 

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen at the beach at the end of Austins Place in 
Sooke. 


Tuesday, December 13:
Members of the Tuesday Group visited the Martindale area, where they found 
fifty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and a NORTHERN SHRIKE. 

Other birds seen in Martindale included EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES and six 
MOURNING DOVES. At least two GREAT-HORNED OWLS were heard calling in the 
vicinity of Dooley Road in the evening. 

A male WILSON'S WARBLER turned up outside the Il Terrazzo restaurant in 
downtown Victoria. 


Sunday, December 11:
The Martindale area produced sixty-five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, two 
hundred CACKLING GEESE, and a single BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD with a flock of other 
blackbirds. There were only three TRUMPETER SWANS there, but 113 more at Tod 
Flats. 

An AMERICAN KESTREL was near the corner of Stelly's Cross Road and Wallace 
Drive. 


Saturday, December 10:
Five out of season BRANT were at Island View Beach.
Birders who braved the cold to join the VNHS Saturday birding walk at Esquimalt 
Lagoon found a pair of GADWALL and a PIED-BILLED GREBE taking advantage of the 
open water. Twenty WESTERN GREBES were resting off-shore, along with four 
PACIFIC LOONS and three OLDSQUAW (LONG-TAILED DUCKS). 

There were six CANVASBACKS at Viaduct Flats and eight WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at 
Martindale. 

Among birds at the Goldsteam River estuary were twenty-four BALD EAGLES, a 
EURASIAN WIGEON, and three HERRING GULLS.
Subject: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 13, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:12:02 -0000
Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River 
Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and cool with calm winds. The 
highlights included seeing two juvenile Glaucous Gulls, a Herring Gull, 
Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and a Eurasian Wigeon from near the 
viewing platform. A Northern Harrier flew low across the estuary three times 
searching for prey and a Peregrine Falcon was perched in a tall conifer tree 
not far from us. A colourful male Purple Finch landed in a bush next to the 
trail and gave us great views. 

Ten birders saw and heard the following forty-seven species:
Canada Goose 
Brant 
Gadwall 
Eurasian Wigeon 
American Wigeon 
Mallard 
Northern Pintail 
Green-winged Teal 
White-winged Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Hooded Merganser 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Pacific Loon 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Red-necked Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Great Blue Heron 
Bald Eagle 
Northern Harrier 
Peregrine Falcon 
Mew Gull 
Herring Gull 
Thayer's Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Glaucous Gull 
Anna's Hummingbird 
Downy Woodpecker 
Northern Flicker 
Northwestern Crow 
Common Raven 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
Bushtit 
Bewick's Wren 
American Robin 
European Starling 
Spotted Towhee 
Song Sparrow 
Golden-crowned Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Brewer's Blackbird 
Purple Finch 
House Finch 
Pine Siskin

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Spotted Sandpiper
From: "Ralph" <cancoot AT yahoo.ca>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:44:59 -0000
I was at the foot of Sebastion Rd.,in Lantzville,shortly after lunch today,and 
I saw a Spotted Sandpiper. There used to be a Spotty that wintered there for 3 
or 4 years,but I haven't seen one there for 2 years.I don't know if it's the 
same bird or not. 

Cheers,Ralph Hocken
Lantzville,BC



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Spotted Sandpiper
From: "Ralph" <cancoot AT yahoo.ca>
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:16:54 -0000
I was at the foot of Sebastion Rd.,in Lantzville,shortly after lunch today,and 
I saw a Spotted Sandpiper. There used to be a Spotty that wintered there for 3 
or 4 years,but I haven't seen one there for 2 years.I don't know if it's the 
same bird or not. 

     Cheers,Ralph Hocken
            Lantzville,BC



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland
From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 12 Dec 2011 21:01:47 -0000
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the bcbirdingvanisland 
group.

  File        : /BC Winter List.xls 
  Uploaded by : marven007ca  
  Description :  

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/files/BC%20Winter%20List.xls 

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.html
Regards,

marven007ca 
 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Monday, December 12
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:04:28 -0800 (PST)
RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 12, 2011
* BCVI111212
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, December 
12, 10 am update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 
and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm 
a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER  at Beacon Hill Park has proven elusive, but was most 
recently relocated on Saturday, December 10. It has generally been found near 
the Cook Street side of the Park. 

The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continues at Panama Flats, having been seen as 
recently as Saturday, December 10. Also there, toward the south side of the 
Flats, was a SWAMP SPARROW. 

There have been multiple reports of COMMON REDPOLLS in our area over the past 
two weeks, most of them only heard, but a few seen. The latest report was of a 
single bird seen and heard near Saxe Point Park in Esquimalt on Monday, 
December 5. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, AMERICAN KESTREL, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

Sunday, December 11:
The Martindale area produced sixty-five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, two 
hundred CACKLING GEESE, and a single BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD with a flock of other 
blackbirds. There were only three TRUMPETER SWANS there, but 113 more at Tod 
Flats. 

An AMERICAN KESTREL was near the corner of Stelly's Cross Road and Wallace 
Drive. 


Saturday, December 10:
Birders who braved the cold to join the VNHS Saturday birding walk at Esquimalt 
Lagoon found a pair of GADWALL and a PIED-BILLED GREBE taking advantage of the 
open water. Twenty WESTERN GREBES were resting off-shore, along with four 
PACIFIC LOONS and three OLDSQUAW (LONG-TAILED DUCKS). 

There were six CANVASBACKS at Viaduct Flats and eight WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at 
Martindale. 


Thursday, December 8:
Bow Park in Saanich produced two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, and a juvenile 
NORTHERN SHRIKE was found at Island View Beach. 

A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at Blanshard Street and Saanich Road in Saanich.

Wednesday, December 7:
An adult NORTHERN SHRIKE, an adult MERLIN, a male EURASIAN WIGEON, and three 
RED-TAILED HAWKS were among birds seen during a visit to the Martindale area. 


Tuesday, December 6:
Two EVENING GROSBEAKS flew over Old West Saanich Road.
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen from Austins Place in Sooke. Two more were 
reported on Monday, December 5, from the Gonzales area in Victoria. 


Monday, December 5:
A DARK-EYED JUNCO of the SLATE-COLOURED sub-species was in the 2800 block of 
Graham Street in Victoria; another was seen at Government House on Saturday, 
December 3.
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, December 11, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:56:17 -0000
 NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
 
"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
 
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number 
along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. 

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 

 
Sunday December 11, 2011: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was 
partly sunny and cool with misty rain. The highlights included seeing a 
Cooper's Hawk that flew over the water and landed in a tall Oak tree giving us 
good looks. A male Anna's Hummingbird flew next to the trail right in front of 
us and we watched as he gleaned insects for a few minutes---a great close 
sighting! 

Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Trumpeter Swans, Canada Geese, Mallard, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks, Bald 
Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Hooded Mergansers, Glaucous-winged Gull, 
Great Blue Heron, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Eurasian Collared-Dove, 
Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, 
Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Varied 
Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song 
Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Dark-eyed 
Junco, House Finch, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow 

 
Saturday December 10:
A Cassin's Vireo was seen at a pond in a backyard along Ventura Drive in 
Nanaimo. 


Friday December 09:
Evening Grosbeaks were seen visiting feeders in a backyard along Doumont Road 
in Nanaimo. 

 
Two Barred Owls were seen in a backyard in the Hospital area of Nanaimo.
 
White-Throated Sparrows and Townsend's Warblers are visiting a backyard along 
Granite Park Road in Nanaimo. 


Thursday December 08:
A Northern Saw-Whet Owl was seen at the corner of Little Ford Road and Fairview 
Drive in Nanaimo. 

 
Tuesday December 06:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The 
morning was cloudy with fog over the calm water on the Strait of Georgia. 

The highlights included seeing a large mixed flock of Black-bellied Plovers, 
Black Turnstones and Dunlin on a gravel bar just off shore. We spotted one 
Common Murre further offshore. Five Trumpeter Swans flew low over the water. 
The find of the morning was the sighting of a Townsend's Solitaire high up in a 
conifer tree. 

 
Nine birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Canada Geese, Brant, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, 
Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted 
Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, 
Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, 
Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Northern 
Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, 
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Townsend's Solitaire, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, 
Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch. 

 
Saturday December 03:
A Snowy owl was seen at the top of Mount Benson. 
******************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting  
Monday, December 12 at 5:30 pm. 
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
Annual Christmas Potluck Supper. 
Guest Speaker: Anne Sifon, a falconer will talk about and demonstrate Eddie-the 
Bald Eagle. 

*******************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, January 23, 2012 at,7:30 pm. Members night.
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
*********************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 

************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 13 will be going to the Shelly Road side of 
the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville 
Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at 
the end of Shelly Road (on the one ocean side of highway19a) at about 9:10 A.M. 

************************************************************** 
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 18 will be going Neck Point in Nanaimo. We 
will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the Neck Point Park parking area 
off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 A.M. 

 
Good birding
Neil Robins
 
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
 
FreePublicLecture Sponsored by the Nanaimo Historical Society 

 
                        "North to the South Pole"
 December 14th marks the centennial of Roald Amundsen's arrival at Earth's 
South Geographic Pole, man's first `undisputed' attainment of either pole. 

 To mark this incredible achievement, Bill Merilees, (former field biologist 
with the Australian Antarctic Research Program and Antarctic cruise ship 
lecturer) will chronicle this remarkable story with a slide illustrated 
lecture. Some of the illustrations to be used come from Amundsen's expedition. 

                           December 14th, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. at Beban Park
                                        

************************************************************************************* 

 
"NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Will be held on Wednesday December 28th, 2011. 
Organizers are looking for as many backyard feeders counter and field observers 
as possible. 

Contact the Birdstore at 250-390--3669 or email us at: thebackyard AT shaw.ca
 
"NANOOSE BAY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Friday December 16, 2011Contact Rhys Harrison at 250-248-5305 or email him at: 
rhysharrison AT shaw.ca 

 
"PARKSVILLE/QUALICUM  BEACH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Sunday December 18, 2011 Contact Sandra Gray at 250-248-5565 email her at: 
saninerr AT shaw.ca 

 



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Thursday, December 8
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 12:08:00 -0800 (PST)
RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 8, 2011
* BCVI111208
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Thursday, 
December 8, noon update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 
250-704-2555 and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those 
who can confirm a rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick 
Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
The destination for this week's VNHS Saturday birding outing is Esquimalt 
Lagoon. Meet near the bridge at 8 am. All are welcome. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
The BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER reported recently from Beacon Hill Park has proven 
elusive, but was relocated on Wednesday, December 7, by at least two observers 
in the vicinity of the cricket oval near the Cook Street entrance to the Park. 

The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continues at Panama Flats having been seen from the 
dyke near the shed on Carey Road as recently as Wednesday, December 7. 

There have been multiple reports of COMMON REDPOLLS in our area over the past 
week or so, most of them only heard, but a few seen. The latest reports were a 
single bird seen at Swan Lake on Sunday, December 4 and another single bird 
seen and heard near Saxe Point Park in Esquimalt on Monday, December 5. 

A recent, but undated, report has been received of a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER just 
below the labs on Observatory Hill. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
RING-BILLED GULL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, GYRFALCON

Thursday, December 8:
A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at Blanshard Street and Saanich Road in Saanich.

Wednesday, December 7:
An adult NORTHERN SHRIKE, an adult MERLIN, a male EURASIAN WIGEON, and three 
RED-TAILED HAWKS were among birds seen during a visit to the Martindale area. 


Tuesday, December 6:
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen from Austins Place in Sooke. Two more were 
reported on Monday, December 5, from the Gonzales area in Victoria. 


Monday, December 5:
A DARK-EYED JUNCO of the SLATE-COLOURED sub-species was in the 2800 block of 
Graham Street in Victoria; another was seen at Government House on Saturday, 
December 3. 


Sunday, December 4:
Along with the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and many other sparrows, Panama Flats 
produced a WESTERN MEADOWLARK and a WILSON'S SNIPE on the central dyke. 

An adult RING-BILLED GULL and a WESTERN GULL were at Clover Point, along with 
numerous shorebirds; a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at the Vantreight bulb-fields in 
Central Saanich, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT was near the model aircraft field in 
the Martindale Flats area, and an adult GYRFALCON flew over the west end of the 
Victoria airport. 

A kayak trip around the Trial Islands produced many shorebirds, plus a MARBLED 
MURRELET and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 

Twenty-six EVENING GROSBEAKS were attending a feeder in Duncan.
Among the geese on Sahilton Road in Duncan were a TUNDRA SWAN, a SNOW GOOSE, 
and nine GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. 


Saturday, December 3:
The VNHS Saturday birding walk around the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre 
grounds turned up two or three PILEATED WOODPECKERS and a RED-BREASTED 
SAPSUCKER. 

Among the gulls at Goldstream Park were five HERRING GULLS. An AMERICAN DIPPER 
was above the bridge and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER near the Nature House. 

TRUMPETER SWAN numbers at Tod Flats have reached one hundred-eight individuals, 
and about two hundred AMERICAN COOTS were on Elk Lake. 


Friday, December 2:
Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at Panama Flats. Three more were at Saanichton 
Spit, along with three SKYLARKS. 


Thursday, December 1:
A male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on the E&N tracks in Goldstream Park, an EVENING 
GROSBEAK was on Wilson Road north of the Victoria Airport, and two male 
CANVASBACKS were at Viaduct Flats.
Subject: 2011 Vancouver Island Christmas Bird Count Dates
From: "RHYS" <rhysharrison AT shaw.ca>
Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:54:45 -0000
Here are the dates that I know. Please post any changes or additions.

I wonder if we could do a better job of spreading our dates. I'm sure we could 
get more people out if, for example, we could coordinate Parksville and Comox 
and maybe others too. Please think about it for next year. 

Rhys Harrison, Parksville, BC

Deep Bay CBC – Wednesday Dec 14th – Bill Stewart - bmstewart AT shaw. ca or call 
at 250-338-1855 


Nanoose Bay/Lantzville Friday, December 16, 2011.
Contact Rhys Harrison rhysharrison AT shaw.ca

Victoria - Saturday, December 17, 2011 (motmot AT shaw.ca; 250-652-6450)

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Sunday, December 18, 2011.
Contact Sandra Gray saninerr AT shaw.ca

South Salt Spring/Sidney - Sunday, December 18 (includes Central Saanich, North 
Saanich, Sidney)(Karen Ferguson by email at siskin59 AT shaw.ca for Salt 
Spring/motmot AT shaw.ca; 250-652-6450) (Saanich Peninsula participants are to 
meet at the Panorama Rec Centre entrance at 8:00 for assignments, unless 
otherwise arranged.) Note: North Salt Spring/Galiano Count is held the same 
day. Please 

contact Tim Marchant at tim AT villagecobbler.ca if you wish to count on North 
Salt Spring Island that day or Mike Hoebel mhoebel AT telus.net if you wish to 
count on Galiano.) 


Comox CBC – Sunday Dec 18th – Carol Muirhead - carolalain AT shaw.ca or call 
250-331-0511. 


Sooke - Monday, December 26 (Daniel Bryant, 250-361-9049; jingming AT uvic.ca)

Nanaimo December 28th Ryan Cathers ryancathers AT yahoo.com

Little River-Powell River Ferry CBC - Thursday Dec 29th – Art Martell – 
amartell AT shaw.ca or call 250-334-2979 - Meet at the Little River ferry terminal 
around 09:50h on the morning of the count. 


Duncan Sunday January 1st 2012.
Derrick Marven - marven007ca AT yahoo.ca

Campbell River CBC – Monday Jan 2nd - Luisa Richardson - Lu_rich AT shaw.ca or 
call 250-923-9918. 


Port Alberni Monday, 2nd January 2012.
Sandy McRuer 250-723-7102 or 250-723-5436






------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 06, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:53:11 -0000
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincal Park in Parksville. The 
morning was cloudy with fog over the calm water on the Strait Of Georgia. The 
highlights included seeing a large mixed flock of Black-bellied Plovers, Black 
Turnstones and Dunlin on a gravel bar just off shore. We spotted one Common 
Murre further offshore. Five Trumpeter Swans flew low over the water. The find 
of the morning was the sighting of a Townsend's Solitaire high up in a conifer 
tree. 

Nine birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Canada Goose 
Brant 
Trumpeter Swan 
American Wigeon 
Mallard 
Harlequin Duck 
Surf Scoter 
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Pacific Loon 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Pelagic Cormorant 
Bald Eagle 
Black-bellied Plover 
Black Turnstone 
Dunlin 
Mew Gull 
California Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Common Murre 
Northern Flicker 
Northwestern Crow 
Common Raven 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
Golden-crowned Kinglet 
Townsend's Solitaire 
Varied Thrush 
Spotted Towhee 
Song Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Monday, December 5
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 12:39:44 -0800 (PST)
RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 5, 2011
* BCVI111205
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, December 
5, noon update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 and 
leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm a 
rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
There have been multiple reports of COMMON REDPOLLS over the past few days, 
most of them only heard, but a few seen. The latest report was a single bird 
seen at Swan Lake on Sunday, December 4. 

The two birders who recently reported an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW at Panama Flats 
report relocating the bird over the weekend. It was with WHITE-CROWNED and 
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS in the willows to the south of the Carey Road approach 
to the flats. They also report an adult BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHER with kinglets 
high in the Douglas and Grand firs at the Cook Street entrance to Beacon Hill 
Park. 

A recent, but undated, report has been received of a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER just 
below the labs on Observatory Hill. 

A late report has been received of a pelican seen and photographed in Active 
Pass on Friday, November 25. The initial report was of an AMERICAN WHITE 
PELICAN, but examination of the photograph turns up features consistent with 
both the White Pelican and the more common BROWN PELICAN, so the identity of 
this bird remains uncertain. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
RING-BILLED GULL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, GYRFALCON

Monday, December 5:
A DARK-EYED JUNCO of the SLATE-COLOURED sub-species was in the 2800 block of 
Graham Street in Victoria; another was seen at Government House on Saturday, 
December 3.. 


Sunday, December 4:
An adult RING-BILLED GULL and a WESTERN GULL were at Clover Point, along with 
numerous shorebirds; a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at the Vantreight bulb-fields in 
Central Saanich, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT was near the model aircraft field in 
the Martindale Flats area, and an adult GYRFALCON flew over the west end of the 
Victoria airport. 

A kayak trip around the Trial Islands produced many shorebirds, plus a MARBLED 
MURRELET and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 

Twenty-six EVENING GROSBEAKS were attending a feeder in Duncan.
Among the geese on Sahilton Road in Duncan were a TUNDRA SWAN, a SNOW GOOSE, 
and nine GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. 


Saturday, December 3:
The VNHS Saturday birding walk around the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre 
grounds turned up two or three PILEATED WOODPECKERS and a RED-BREASTED 
SAPSUCKER. 

Among the gulls at Goldstream Park were five HERRING GULLS. An AMERICAN DIPPER 
was above the bridge and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER near the Nature House. 

TRUMPETER SWAN numbers at Tod Flats have reached one hundred-eight individuals, 
and about two hundred AMERICAN COOTS were on Elk Lake. 


Friday, December 2:
Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at Panama Flats. Three more were at Saanichton 
Spit, along with three SKYLARKS. 


Thursday, December 1:
A male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on the E&N tracks in Goldstream Park, an EVENING 
GROSBEAK was on Wilson Road north of the Victoria Airport, and two male 
CANVASBACKS were at Viaduct Flats. 


Wednesday, November 30:
A visit to Whiffin Spit turned up seven OLDSQUAW (LONG-TAILED DUCKS), five 
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, seven MARBLED MURRELETS, and two possible RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. 

The Martindale area produced a total of twenty-three EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES 
and seventy-two TRUMPETER SWANS.
Subject: Victoria RBA, Monday, December 5
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 12:10:43 -0800 (PST)
RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 5, 2011
* BCVI111205
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, December 
5, noon update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 and 
leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm a 
rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
There have been multiple reports of COMMON REDPOLLS over the past few days, 
most of them only heard, but a few seen. The latest report was a single bird 
seen at Swan Lake on Sunday, December 4. 

The two birders who recently reported an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW at Panama Flats 
report relocating the bird over the weekend. It was with WHITE-CROWNED and 
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS in the willows to the south of the Carey Road approach 
to the flats. They also report an adult BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHER with kinglets 
high in the Douglas and Grand firs at the Cook Street entrance to Beacon Hill 
Park. 

A recent, but undated, report has been received of a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER just 
below the labs on Observatory Hill. 

A late report has been received of a pelican seen and photographed in Active 
Pass on Friday, November 25. The initial report was of an AMERICAN WHITE 
PELICAN, but examination of the photograph turns up features consistent with 
both the White Pelican and the more common BROWN PELICAN, so the identity of 
this bird remains uncertain. 


OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
RING-BILLED GULL, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, GYRFALCON

Monday, December 5:
A DARK-EYED JUNCO of the SLATE-COLOURED sub-species was in the 2800 block of 
Graham Street in Victoria; another was seen at Government House on Saturday, 
December 3.. 


Sunday, December 4:
An adult RING-BILLED GULL and a WESTERN GULL were at Clover Point, along with 
numerous shorebirds; a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at the Vantreight bulb-fields in 
Central Saanich, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT was near the model aircraft field in 
the Martindale Flats area, and an adult GYRFALCON flew over the west end of the 
Victoria airport. 

A kayak trip around the Trial Islands produced many shorebirds, plus a MARBLED 
MURRELET and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 

Twenty-six EVENING GROSBEAKS were attending a feeder in Duncan.
Among the geese on Sahilton Road in Duncan were a TUNDRA SWAN, a SNOW GOOSE, 
and nine GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. 


Saturday, December 3:
The VNHS Saturday birding walk around the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre 
grounds turned up two or three PILEATED WOODPECKERS and a RED-BREASTED 
SAPSUCKER. 

Among the gulls at Goldstream Park were five HERRING GULLS. An AMERICAN DIPPER 
was above the bridge and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER near the Nature House. 

TRUMPETER SWAN numbers at Tod Flats have reached one hundred-eight individuals, 
and about two hundred AMERICAN COOTS were on Elk Lake. 


Friday, December 2:
Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at Panama Flats. Three more were at Saanichton 
Spit, along with three SKYLARKS. 


Thursday, December 1:
A male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on the E&N tracks in Goldstream Park, an EVENING 
GROSBEAK was on Wilson Road north of the Victoria Airport, and two male 
CANVASBACKS were at Viaduct Flats. 


Wednesday, November 30:
A visit to Whiffin Spit turned up seven OLDSQUAW (LONG-TAILED DUCKS), five 
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, seven MARBLED MURRELETS, and two possible RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. 

The Martindale area produced a total of twenty-three EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES 
and seventy-two TRUMPETER SWANS.
Subject: New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland
From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 5 Dec 2011 19:43:51 -0000
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the bcbirdingvanisland 
group.

  File        : /BC Winter List.xls 
  Uploaded by : marven007ca  
  Description : Not a bad first four days 

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/files/BC%20Winter%20List.xls 

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.html
Regards,

marven007ca 
 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Hawk vs. Crows at garbage dump
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:43:28 -0800 (PST)
Hi, folks,

CBC news is running this video of a garbage dump that is using a hobbyist's 
hawk to chase crows. 




http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/12/05/bc-video-hawks-garbage.html 


Daniel Bryant
Victoria
Subject: 2012 Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine Registration Open
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:55:45 -0000
The National Audubon Society has opened registration for their famous 6-day 
birding programs for adults, teens and families at the historic Audubon Camp in 
Maine on Hog Island. Pete Dunne, Scott Weidensaul, Steve Kress, Lang Elliott, 
Don Kroodsma, Bill Thompson III and many more expert ornithologists, 
naturalists, educators and authors will be in residence during the 2012 
sessions. 



Hog Island Audubon Camp is run by the Seabird Restoration Program (Project 
Puffin) of the National Audubon Society. All summer programs include field 
trips to nearby Eastern Egg Rock, where Dr. Steve Kress and his team of 
biologists have successfully restored an island colony of Atlantic Puffins, and 
Roseate, Arctic and Common Terns. Immerse yourself in the joy of birding with 
expert-led workshops, lively evening presentations, saltwater birding tours and 
trips to diverse habitats on the Maine coast. Roger Tory Peterson was the 
camp's first birding instructor in 1936 and many of America's finest 
naturalists, including Rachel Carson, have spent time on the 330-acre wildlife 
sanctuary, located in mid-coast Maine, on Muscongus Bay. Participants live in 
restored wooden buildings dating back to the early 1900's and are treated to 
three fabulous meals each day, prepared by chef extraordinaire Janii Laberge. 


2012 Programs:
Maine Seabird Biology & Conservation - June 3-8 & Sept 9-14
Joy of Birding - June 10-15 & June 24-29
Field Ornithology - June 17—22
Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens - June 17—22 & June 24—29 
Sharing Nature: An Educator's Week- July 19—24
Family Camp - August 19—24 
Audubon Chapter Leadership Program - August 26—31
Living on the Wind: Fall Migration and Monhegan Island - September 16—21 

For more information or to enroll, visit http://hogisland.audubon.org or call 
(607) 257-7308 x 14. You may also contact the registrar at 
hogisland AT audubon.org. $50 earlybird discount for registrations received by 
December 15th. Nearly 100 scholarships are offered each year by local Audubon 
Chapters and birding clubs - see the website for more information. We hope to 
see you on the island next summer! 


Posting submitted by: 

Erica Marx (Van Etten)
Program Coordinator 
Audubon Camp in Maine on Hog Island
National Audubon Society
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-7308 x14
evanetten AT audubon.org

 

This posting was approved by the moderator of bcbirdingvanisland




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, December 04, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:11:50 -0000
                                                       NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
 
"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
 
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number 
along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. 

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 

 
 Sunday December 04, 2011: 
The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River 
Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and cool. 

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-six species:Canada Goose, 
Brant Geese, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, 
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common 
Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted 
Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic 
Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, 
Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Herring 
Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated 
Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed 
Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned 
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Eurasian Collared-dove, European 
Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, 
Dark-eyed Junco, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin. 


Saturday December 03:
A Chipping Sparrow was seen in the 2700 block of Neyland Road in Nanaimo.  

Friday December 02:
Thirty Pine Siskins were seen flying over Vancouver Island University in 
Nanaimo. 

 
Thursday December 01:
Over 300 Pine Siskins were seen in the Springwood area of Parksville.
 
Sunday November 27: 
A Northern Goshawk was spotted flying over Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
 
Monday November 28:
A Snowy Owl has been sighted at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. 
 
Tuesday, November 29:  
The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning started out cloudy and 
calm, but soon turned cold and rainy with strong biting winds off the Strait of 
Georgia. Long-tailed Ducks are the highlight of our trip up to Deep Bay every 
year and we were not disappointed this year. We were treated with the sighting 
of four male and three female Long-tailed Ducks just offshore at the point. We 
saw several Varied Thrush on the Arbutus Trees near the parking area. We 
watched as two Pigeon Guillemot played hide and seek with us in the waves. 
Following the bird walk, Bob took us on an interesting tour of the Nile Creek 
Fish Hatchery. 

Sixteen wet but determined birders saw and heard the following forty-one 
species: 

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Greater 
Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, 
Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common 
Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, 
Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, 
Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, 
Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed 
Chickadee, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, 
Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, 
Purple Finch and House Finch. 

****************************************************** 
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting  
Monday, December 12 at 5:30 pm. 
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
Annual Christmas Potluck Supper. 
Guest Speaker: Anne Sifon, a falconer will talk about and demonstrate Eddie-the 
Bald Eagle. 

********************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, December 26 at 7:30 pm. 
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
*********************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 


************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 06 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial 
Park in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking 
lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the main parking lot at 
Rathtrevor Provincial Park, at about 9:10 A.M. 

************************************************************** 
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 11 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in 
Nanaimo. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at 
Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road at about 9:20 A.M. 

 
Good birding
Neil Robins
 
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
 
 
"NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Will be held on Wednesday December 28th, 2011. Organizers are looking for as 
many backyard feeders counter and field observers as possible.Contact the 
Birdstore at 250-390--3669 or email us at: thebackyard AT shaw.ca 

 
"NANOOSE BAY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Friday December 16, 2011Contact Rhys Harrison at 250-248-5305 or email him at: 
rhysharrison AT shaw.ca 

 
"PARKSVILLE/QUALICUM  BEACH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Sunday December 18, 2011 Contact Sandra Gray at 250-248-5565 or email her at: 
sanierr AT shaw.ca 




------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, December 2
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 17:37:46 -0800 (PST)
RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* December 2, 2011
* BCVI111202
-Transcript


This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, December 
2, 5 pm update.  To report sightings of interest, please call 250-704-2555 and 
leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those who can confirm a 
rare bird, please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 
250-885-2454. 


ANNOUNCEMENT:
This week’s VNHS Saturday birding destination is the  Juan de Fuca 
Recreation Centre grounds and nearby areas. Meet at the Park and Ride at 8:30 
am. All are welcome. 


RARE BIRD ALERTS:
A recent, but undated, report has been received of a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER just 
below the labs on Observatory Hill. 

A SNOWY OWL, present for more than a week on Trial Island and in nearby areas, 
has not been reported there since Monday, November 21. What was probably the 
same bird was seen and photographed on the roof of the Best Western Carlton 
Hotel on Johnson Street on Saturday or Sunday, November 26-27. A more recent 
report is of a SNOWY OWL on a rooftop on Dewdney Avenue in Oak Bay on 
Wednesday, November 30. 

A COMMON REDPOLL was heard flying over May Street in Victoria on Wednesday, 
November 30. 

Two RUDDY TURNSTONES were with about seventy BLACK TURNSTONES near the dock in 
Sidney on Sunday, November 27. A search on Thursday, December 1, failed to 
relocate them. 

Birders visiting Panama Flats on Saturday, November 26, reported a VESPER 
SPARROW and an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. These birds have not been relocated. 

A SWAMP SPARROW remained in the Swan Lake area until at least Saturday.

OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, EVENING GROSBEAK, CANVASBACK, OLDSQUAW

Friday, December 2:
TRUMPETER SWAN numbers at Tod Flats have reached ninety-eight individuals, 
including eleven juveniles. 


Thursday, December 1:
A male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was on the E&N tracks in Goldstream Park, an EVENING 
GROSBEAK was on Wilson Road north of the Victoria Airport, and two male 
CANVASBACKS were at Viaduct Flats. 


Wednesday, November 30:
A visit to Whiffin Spit turned up seven OLDSQUAW (LONG-TAILED DUCKS), five 
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, seven MARBLED MURRELETS, and two possible RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. 

The Martindale area produced a total of twenty-three EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES 
and seventy-two TRUMPETER SWANS. 


Sunday, November 27:
A single WESTERN MEADOWLARK was on Whiffin Spit in Sooke.

Saturday, November 26:
The VNHS Saturday birding trip to Martindale Flats turned up sixty TRUMPETER 
SWANS and a NORTHERN SHRIKE, along with the following raptors: three adult BALD 
EAGLES, two interacting PEREGRINE FALCONS, and a NORTHERN HARRIER. 

In addition to the rarities reported above, Panama Flats hosted several 
thousand ducks, nine additional species of sparrow, up to eight WILSON'S 
SNIPES, two WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and a SKYLARK. 

A single TURKEY VULTURE was over the Langford Walmart store.
Subject: PISI at VIU
From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 18:24:31 +0000
Hi all
For the past 3 days there has been a flock of what appeared to be 30 Pine 
Siskins flying back and foreth over the VIU campus. 


I just caught up to them this morning. I of course forgot my bins, even though 
I made a conscious effort to bring them just incase I did manage to track down 
the flock. 


I hope there is a Redpoll in there come Monday...

Ryan Cathers
Nanaimo, BC



Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 29, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:02:06 -0000
Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning started out cloudy and 
calm, but soon turned cold and rainy with strong biting winds off the Strait of 
Georgia. Long-tailed Ducks are the highlight of our trip up to Deep Bay every 
year and we were not disappointed this year. We were treated with the sighting 
of four male and three female Long-tailed Ducks just offshore at the point. We 
saw several Varied Thrush on the Arbutus Trees near the parking area. We 
watched as two Pigeon Guillemot played hide and seek with us in the waves. 
Following the bird walk, Bob took us on an interesting tour of the Nile Creek 
Fish Hatchery. 

Sixteen wet but determined birders saw and heard the following forty-one 
species: 

Canada Goose 
Mute Swan 
Trumpeter Swan 
American Wigeon 
Mallard 
Greater Scaup 
Surf Scoter 
White-winged Scoter 
Black Scoter 
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead 
Common Goldeneye 
Barrow's Goldeneye 
Hooded Merganser 
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Common Loon 
Horned Grebe 
Red-necked Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Pelagic Cormorant 
Great Blue Heron 
Bald Eagle 
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Pigeon Guillemot 
Rock Pigeon 
Eurasian-collared Dove 
Belted Kingfisher 
Northern Flicker 
Northwestern Crow 
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
American Robin 
Varied Thrush 
European Starling 
Spotted Towhee 
Fox Sparrow 
White-crowned Sparrow 
Golden-crowned Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Purple Finch 
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Victoria RBA, Tuesday, November 29
From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:32:50 -0800 (PST)
RBA - 250-704-2555
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and
Southern Vancouver Is.
* November 29, 2011
* BCVI111129
-Transcript
 
 
This is the Victoria
Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Tuesday, November 29, 11 am update. 
 To report sightings of interest, please call 

250-704-2555 and leave your name, message and phone number.  To summon those 
who can confirm a rare bird, 

please call Barbara Begg at 250-656-5296 or Rick Schortinghuis at 250-885-2454. 

 
RARE BIRD ALERTS:
Two RUDDY TURNSTONES were
with about seventy BLACK TURNSTONES near the dock in Sidney on Sunday, November
27.
Birders visiting Panama
Flats on Saturday, November 26 reported a VESPER SPARROW and an AMERICAN TREE
SPARROW.
A SWAMP SPARROW remained
in the Swan Lake area until at least Saturday.
There has been a late
report of a well-described RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, seen on Sluggett Road in
Brentwood Bay on Friday, November 25.
A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at
Panama Flats on Monday and Tuesday, November 21-22, but has not been reported
since. 
A SNOWY OWL, present for
more than a week on Trial Island and in nearby areas, has not been reported 
there 

since Monday, November 21. What was probably the same bird was seen and 
photographed 

on the roof of the Best Western Hotel on Saturday or Sunday, November 26-27.
Out of town, a SUMMER
TANAGER, far from its usual range, was present along Admiral Tryon Boulevard in
the French Creek area between Parksville and Qualicum Beach until at least
Thursday, November 24. A search for it by several Victoria birders on Friday,
November 25, was unsuccessful.
 
OTHER FEATURED BIRDS:
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW,
SHORT-EARED OWL
 
Sunday, November 27:
A single WESTERN
MEADOWLARK was on Whiffin Spit in Sooke.
 
Saturday, November 26:
The VNHS Saturday birding
trip to Martindale Flats turned up sixty TRUMPETER SWANS and a NORTHERN SHRIKE,
along with the following raptors: three adult BALD EAGLES, two interacting
PEREGRINE FALCONS, and a NORTHERN HARRIER
In addition to the
rareties reported above, Panama Flats hosted several thousand ducks, nine
additional species of sparrow, up to eight WILSON’S SNIPES, two WESTERN
MEADOWLARKS, and a SKYLARK.
A single TURKEY VULTURE
was over the Langford Walmart store.
 
Friday, November 25:
At least one EURASIAN
WIGEON was with AMERICAN WIGEON on the Cedar Hill Golf Course. A small flock of
adult THAYER’S GULLS was nearby. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at King’s 
Pond 

and another on Diana Road, both locations adjacent to the golf course.
 
Thursday, November 24:
Another WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW was seen in Duncan. Also there were a SHORT-EARED OWL and a MERLIN.
 
Wednesday, November 23:
Rain-flooded Panama Flats
attracted many water birds, including about thirty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
and a EURASIAN WIGEON.
 
Tuesday, November 22:
Two WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS were seen in the vicinity of Swan Lake.
Subject: Nanaimo bird report, November 28, 2011
From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:18:03 -0000
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
 
"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"
 
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number 
along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. 

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
thebackyard AT shaw.ca 

 
 Monday November 28, 2011: 
Twenty-five Common Redpolls were seen flying over Vancouver Island University 
in Nanaimo. 

The Common Redpolls are usually found in northern Canada. This the first report 
of the Redpolls for a number of years in the Central Vancouver Island. 

 
"Rare bird alert-Summer Tanager" 
A Summer Tanager was seen and photographed at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, 
November 19 in the backyard of a private residence in the French Creek area 
(the owners request that their location be kept private. The bird was last seen 
on Friday November 25. Check birdfeeders, fruit trees and berry bushes in the 
French Creek/Columbia Beach area. 

The Summer Tanager is usually found in the southern United States, Central and 
South America, with only a few records of sightings in British Columbia. 

 
A Snowy Owl was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in South Nanaimo.
 
Sunday November 27:
A McGillivray's Warbler was seen along Admiral Tryon Blvd. in Columbia Beach. 
 
Thursday November 24:
A White-throated Sparrow was seen along Bluebell Terrace in the Hospital area 
of Nanaimo. 

 
Friday November 25:
A Turkey Vulture was seen being attacked by a Common Raven and a Bald Eagle 
over Highway 19, between Jinglepot Road and Fifth Street in south Nanaimo. 

 
Tuesday, November 22: The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning 
was sunny and warm with calm winds, making for a great morning of birding. The 
highlights included seeing three Black-bellied Plover, several Black 
Oystercatcher, one Greater Yellowlegs, ten Black Turnstones and a large flock 
of Western Sandpipers on the gravel bar near Pebble Beach. Seven 
Eurasian-collared Doves were perched on trees along the road. We saw a large 
number of White-crowned Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows near the end of 
the walk. 

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-three species.
Canada Geese, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, 
White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common 
Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, 
Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, 
Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstone, 
Western Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, 
Glaucous-winged Gull, Eurasian-collared Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Northern 
Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Spotted 
Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned 
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, House Finch and House Sparrow. 

 
Tuesday November 15:
A Hermit Thrush was seen along Hartwood Crescent in the Rocky Point area of 
Nanaimo 

*******************************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, November 28 at 7:30 pm. 
Springwood Middle School, Parksville.
Speaker: Brian Kingzett.  Topic: Deep Bay Shellfish Research Station
*********************************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting  
Monday, December 12 at 5:30 pm. 
 AT  The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay
Annual Christmas Potluck Supper. 
Speaker: Anne Sifon a falconer will talk about and demonstrate Eddie-the Bald 
Eagle. 

**********************************************************
Everyone is invited to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and 
Tuesday 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 Beach 
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around 
the Oceanside area. 

************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 29 will be going to Deep Bay. We will meet at 
Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 
A.M. or at the parking area at the Deep Bay Marina, at about 9:35 A.M. 

************************************************************** 
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 04 will be going the Shelly Road side of the 
Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 
A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road (on the Oceanside off highway 19a) at about 
9:30 A.M. 

 
Good birding
Neil Robins
 
THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard AT shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
 
 
"NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Will be held on Wednesday December 28th, 2011. 
Organizers are looking for as many backyard feeders counter and field observers 
as possible. 

Contact the Birdstore at 250-390--3669  or  email  us at: thebackyard AT shaw.ca
 
"NANOOSE BAY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT"
Friday December 16, 2011
Contact Rhys Harrison at 250-248-5305 or email him at: rhysharrison AT shaw.ca 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: fall birds
From: "krukab2002" <krukab2002 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:46:43 -0000
getting more birdsin yard each day  at suet feeders
and seed tossed on ground -
 up to  34 junco - now
2 varied thrush - 8 stellers jays- 2 downy wood peckers
2 hairy woodpeckers-  2 flickers - ( 2 ravens  their here  daily)
one spotted towhee -
bowser - 



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: Snowy Owl
From: "Ralph" <cancoot AT yahoo.ca>
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:50:06 -0000
I came across a Snowy Owl today. I understand we're not supposed to disclose 
the location of Owls,so I'll just say that it's in the Nanaimo area.A couple of 
Ravens were hassling him,but he just ignored them and they went away.He looked 
pretty healthy,not that I'm a vet or anything,but he was clean and fat.I've got 
a feeling he'll stick around all winter. 

    Cheers,Ralph Hocken
           Lantzville,BC



------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com
Subject: RBA: Common Redpoll
From: Ryan Cathers <ryancathers AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:37:48 -0800 (PST)
Hi all
I just had a group of approx. 25 Common Redpoll calling and flying over VIU. 
 
Ryan Cathers
Nanaimo,BC

http://ryancathers.zenfolio.com/
Subject: New file uploaded to bcbirdingvanisland
From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 27 Nov 2011 22:47:50 -0000
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the bcbirdingvanisland 
group.

  File        : /BC Winter List.xls 
  Uploaded by : marven007ca  
  Description :  

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/files/BC%20Winter%20List.xls 

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.html
Regards,

marven007ca 
 





------------------------------------

To Post a message, send it to:   bcbirdingvanisland AT eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: 
bcbirdingvanisland-unsubscribe AT eGroups.com