Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Brit Col Vancouver Island > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Wednesday, September 1 at 11:16 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Andean Condor,©BirdQuest

1 Sep Red-Necked Phalarope Gallery [Ryan Cathers ] 2 Sep RNPH [] 01 Sep Red-necked Phalaropes ["Ralph" ] 01 Sep LaFortune Road birds ["larusboy1" ] 31 Aug Victoria RBA, AUgust 31, 2010 [Daniel Bryant ] 31 Aug RE: This site is about birds ["Gord Johnson" ] 30 Aug Re: Three new life birds [Alan Smith ] 30 Aug Re: This site is about birds [Alan Smith ] 30 Aug Visiting Quadra Island in Sept [Kathy Hedegard ] 30 Aug This site is about birds ["Neil Robins" ] 29 Aug Re: Three new life birds ["Arnold Skei (DCCNET)" ] 29 Aug RE: RE: larusboy? ["Gord Johnson" ] 30 Aug Re: RE: larusboy? [] 29 Aug RE: larusboy? ["Gord Johnson" ] 28 Aug Re: Three new life birds [Nora Walker ] 29 Aug Parasitic Jaeger ["Colin" ] 29 Aug Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 29, 2010, ["Colin" ] 29 Aug Sunday bird walk, August 29, 2010 ["Colin" ] 29 Aug Sunday bird walk, August 29, 2010 ["Colin" ] 29 Aug Wandering Tattler ["Colin" ] 28 Aug RE: Three new life birds ["Sandy McRuer" ] 29 Aug Three new life birds ["larusboy1" ] 28 Aug Re: New Bird on site ["Colin" ] 28 Aug Greater White-fronted Geese ["Colin" ] 28 Aug BLACK-THROATED GREY WARBLER ["Neil Robins" ] 27 Aug Birding in Peru ["Neil Robins" ] 27 Aug Victoria RBA, Friday, August 27 [Daniel Bryant ] 26 Aug New Bird on site ["larusboy1" ] 24 Aug Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop ["derekjmatthews" ] 24 Aug Parasitic Jaeger ["canadianrobin2003" ] 23 Aug Victoria RBA, Friday, August 23 [Daniel Bryant ] 22 Aug Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 22, 2010, ["Colin" ] 22 Aug Re: Finger Bank [] 22 Aug Sunday bird walk, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, August 22, 2010 ["Colin" ] 22 Aug Finger Bank ["Colin" ] 22 Aug shorebird sites [Gyorgy Szimuly/WorldWaders ] 21 Aug Re: Re: more Info on this site [] 21 Aug Re: Re: more Info on this site ["Joe Crichton" ] 20 Aug RE: Re: bickering and namecalling ["Gord Johnson" ] 20 Aug Russell's report from waters off Triangle Island ["Dick Cannings" ] 20 Aug Russell's report from waters off Triangle Island ["Dick Cannings" ] 21 Aug Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke ["marven007ca" ] 20 Aug Re: One More Spot Available for Peru ["Joe Crichton" ] 20 Aug Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke ["Joe Crichton" ] 20 Aug Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke ["canadianrobin2003" ] 20 Aug Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke [Jeremy Kimm ] 20 Aug Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke ["Joe Crichton" ] 20 Aug One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke ["Jeremy" ] 20 Aug Mistake in Saturday announcement [Daniel Bryant ] 20 Aug Victoria RBA, Friday, August 20, 2010 [Daniel Bryant ] 18 Aug Botanical Beach Question [] 17 Aug Fw: PIGU [] 16 Aug Victoria RBA, Monday, August 16, 2010 [Daniel Bryant ] 15 Aug Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 15, 2010, ["Colin" ] 14 Aug Re: New photo album and a Pacific Blue Grouse story ["shelleyannepenner" ] 13 Aug Victoria RBA, Friday, August 13 [Daniel Bryant ] 13 Aug Birding in South America ["canadianrobin2003" ] 13 Aug New photo album and a Pacific Blue Grouse story [Robert McFetridge ] 13 Aug Odd Duck in Kitsuksis Creek ["shelleyannepenner" ] 13 Aug New photo album and a Pacific Blue Grouse story ["shelleyannepenner" ] 12 Aug Nanaimo River & Cedar ["Jon" ] 12 Aug Common Nighthawks ["canadianrobin2003" ] 12 Aug Oyster Bay Shoreline Protection Park [] 11 Aug RE: Vesper Sparrows, September 21, 2008 [jon carter ] 11 Aug Vesper Sparrows, September 21, 2008 ["canadianrobin2003" ] 11 Aug Sea Birds [] 10 Aug Re: Re: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River [] 10 Aug Re: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River ["canadianrobin2003" ] 11 Aug RE: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River [jon carter ] 10 Aug Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River ["canadianrobin2003" ] 10 Aug August 26th Pelagic Trip from Sooke - 2 Spots Left ["Jeremy" ] 9 Aug Victoria RBA, August 9 [Daniel Bryant ] 08 Aug Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 08, 2010, ["Colin" ] 08 Aug Sunday bird walk, August 08, 2010 ["Colin" ] 06 Aug Male Western Tanager in Errington ["dizz_belief" ] 05 Aug Common Nighthawks ["canadianrobin2003" ] Subject: Red-Necked Phalarope Gallery From: Ryan Cathers <ryancathers AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:16:23 -0700 (PDT) Hi all I parked at Columbia Beach tonight at 1900 hrs. I got all my gear ready, locked up the car, and headed along the beach in the direction of French Creek. It didnt take me long to notice that nothing was bringing much attention to itself but the gulls. Now i dont really know all the nooks and cranies of French Creek, but as i rounded the corner and had a look i started to get slightly discouraged. However i saw a "pool" and hoping it was the one that Ralph said the Lesser Yellowlegs was in i decided I'd check it out. Sure enough, there was the Lesser very actively foraging in the pool. Oh! And look! whats that little tiny white bird in the pool a few feet away? Its the Red-necked Phalarope! LIFER! I spent the next twenty minutes photographing the Phalarope and the Yellowlegs, meanwhile the sun was dieing behind me. At 2000 hrs i decided to pack up and head home. I have uploaded pictures of both birds onto my website under "French Creek: 1 Sept 2010" Thank you very much to Ralph Hocken for reporting this bird and responding to my reply. That makes two life birds this week (number 1 was two Wandering Tattlers at Neck Point) Something that almost never happens now. Enjoy, Ryan Cathers Nanaimo,BC http://ryancathers.zenfolio.com/ Subject: RNPH From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 02:21:22 +0000 Hi all The Red-necked phalarope is at the pool at french creek with a Lesser Yellowlegs. Ryan Cathers Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry Subject: Red-necked Phalaropes From: "Ralph" <cancoot AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:26:57 -0000 I saw 2 Red-necked Phalaropes at French Creek,about noon today. I'd never seen one before,I didn't realize they were so tiny! I was photographing them from the middle of the creek,and they were feeding along the edges,snapping bugs out of the air and in the water. Both of them ,at different times,swam out to the middle of the creek to check me out,and one of them flew in a tight loop around me,then they both ignored me and went back to feeding,it was like I wasn't there. If you park on the Columbia Beach side of French Creek,then look in the direction of the green bridge,that would be where I saw them. The Lesser Yellowlegs is still in the pool. Cheers,Ralph Hocken Lantzville,BC Subject: LaFortune Road birds From: "larusboy1" <larusboy1 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:43:09 -0000 Yesterday after the rains stopped the family took a walk down LaFortune Road in Cobble Hill, we had Song and House Sparrows, House Finch, Bewick's Wren, Junco's, Red-tailed Hawk, Starlings, Robins and a family of California Quail, 2 adults and 14 young, this was another new species for me. Alan Smith Cobble Hill Subject: Victoria RBA, AUgust 31, 2010 From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:26:36 -0700 (PDT) RBA - 250-704-2555 * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * August 31, 2010 * BCVI100831 - Transcript This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Tuesday, August 31, 4:30 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: The VNHS Saturday birding group will go shore-birding from Esquimalt Lagoon to Whiffen Spit this week. Meet at 7:30 am at the Helmcken Park and Ride. RARE BIRD ALERT: A bird believed to be an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER has been seen by several birders recently on Sidney Island. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH continues at or near the south end of the floating bridge at Swan Lake. The bird was last reported on Thursday. An AMERICAN BITTERN has been seen nearby by several birders. FEATURE BIRDS, RETURNING MIGRANTS: Fall migration is picking up. The past few days have seen the first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, SANDERLINGS, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, AMERICAN WIGEONS, RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN PIPITS, and BLUE-WINGED TEAL. The Kinglet was at Rocky Point, DND land not open to the public; the Wigeons were at Goodacre Lake in Beacon Hill Park; the Yellow-rump was at Langford Lake, the RUDDY DUCK was at Swan Lake; and the BLUE-WINGED TEAL, two immatures, were in the reservoir west of the Garcia Nursery in the Martindale area. Tuesday, August 31: The Tuesday Group saw or heard a total of 58 species this morning, including a SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Bowker Rocks, MARBLED MURRELETS and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES off Clover Point, and WESTERN TANAGERS, VAUX'S SWIFTS, and six species of warblers at Swan Lake. Sunday, August 29: Two BRANT were at Island View Beach. Saturday, August 28: A BARRED OWL was at Swan Lake. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was heard calling in the Highlands district. Two SOOTY SHEARWATERS and a LONG-TAILED JAEGER were seen from Tower Point in Metchosin. Thursday, August 26: A WHIMBREL, six SURFBIRDS, and both species of DOWICHERS were at Whiffen Spit, along with other shorebirds. The WHIMBREL has been present since at least Thursday the 19th. Four NORTHERN PINTAILS and shorebirds were at Albert Head Lagoon. Wednesday, August 25: The first FOX SPARROW of the season was at Blenkinsop Lake. Subject: RE: This site is about birds From: "Gord Johnson" <gw-johnson AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:50:41 -0700 Hello all, No comment. cheers, Gord Johnson Ladysmith -----Original Message----- From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Alan Smith Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 10:03 PM To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [bcbirdingvanisland] This site is about birds Not sure what all this fuss is about, I'm not accustomed to this much attention, thanks Neil for stepping in. I did try and join the other group but they would'nt let me and would not give any reason? Alan Smith ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Neil Robins To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 9:28:50 AM Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] This site is about birds Hi birders, Alan you welcome to this group, I think we can treat newcomers a lot better. I will delate your messages Gord. Lets stay with birds!!! Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Re: Three new life birds From: Alan Smith <larusboy1 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:55:13 -0700 (PDT) Thanks Arnold, I had spoken to a old timer down in Mill Bay and he had suggested that the Eagles had gone fishing for salmon. He also said that Goldstream Park has lot's when the salmon run, so i will pay a visit there soon. Alan Smith ________________________________ From: Arnold Skei (DCCNET) To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, August 29, 2010 9:30:49 PM Subject: Re: [bcbirdingvanisland] Three new life birds Hey Alan I live across the straight on the sunshine coast. Eagles are common here all year round except for the month of September. This morning 7 salmons got caught in a pool of water as the tide receded and no Eagles came by for the free for all. The gulls got them instead. The pool dried up and they were easy pickings. Our eagles seem to go off to some salmon run somewhere and we do not see them in the month of September, I know its still August but only a few days away. So maybe the same applies in your area, so you might have to wait until October when they become common again. Our peak time with eagles are the winter months of Jan. and Feb, when I think we have a lot of wintering eagles from up north. Just a little something from here, maybe it applies over there as well. Arnold ----- Original Message ----- >From: larusboy1 >To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com >Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 8:00 PM >Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Three new life birds > > >Yesterday on a walk along the waterfront at Mill Bay i saw two >Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a adult Mew Gull, two new birds in ten minutes. >There were several other large gulls that appeared to be hybrid types with >only one good looking Glaucous-winged Gull. >Today Saturday we went on a shopping trip to Victoria and just below the >summit of the Malahat hill there were two Steller's Jays,my third life bird. >I never thought they would be so dark. >Three new species in two days, made for one happy birder. > >I have a question, i was under the impression that Bald Eagles were abundant >on the west coast, well i have been here nearly three weeks and i have yet to >see one, can anyone explain? > >Alan Smith > > Subject: Re: This site is about birds From: Alan Smith <larusboy1 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:02:39 -0700 (PDT) Not sure what all this fuss is about, I'm not accustomed to this much attention, thanks Neil for stepping in. I did try and join the other group but they would'nt let me and would not give any reason? Alan Smith ________________________________ From: Neil Robins To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 9:28:50 AM Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] This site is about birds Hi birders, Alan you welcome to this group, I think we can treat newcomers a lot better. I will delate your messages Gord. Lets stay with birds!!! Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Visiting Quadra Island in Sept From: Kathy Hedegard <hedegardk AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:08:48 -0700 (PDT) Hello, I'm a Saskbirder and going to be visiting the Quadra Island and Campbell River area the last couple of weeks in September.  Can anyone help me about re best birding locations and/or put me in touch with birders in the area. Thanks Kathy Hedegard, Estevan Subject: This site is about birds From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:28:50 -0000 Hi birders, Alan you welcome to this group, I think we can treat newcomers a lot better. I will delate your messages Gord. Lets stay with birds!!! Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Re: Three new life birds From: "Arnold Skei (DCCNET)" <arnoldskei AT dccnet.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:30:49 -0700 Hey Alan I live across the straight on the sunshine coast. Eagles are common here all year round except for the month of September. This morning 7 salmons got caught in a pool of water as the tide receded and no Eagles came by for the free for all. The gulls got them instead. The pool dried up and they were easy pickings. Our eagles seem to go off to some salmon run somewhere and we do not see them in the month of September, I know its still August but only a few days away. So maybe the same applies in your area, so you might have to wait until October when they become common again. Our peak time with eagles are the winter months of Jan. and Feb, when I think we have a lot of wintering eagles from up north. Just a little something from here, maybe it applies over there as well. Arnold ----- Original Message ----- From: larusboy1 To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 8:00 PM Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Three new life birds Yesterday on a walk along the waterfront at Mill Bay i saw two Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a adult Mew Gull, two new birds in ten minutes. There were several other large gulls that appeared to be hybrid types with only one good looking Glaucous-winged Gull. Today Saturday we went on a shopping trip to Victoria and just below the summit of the Malahat hill there were two Steller's Jays,my third life bird. I never thought they would be so dark. Three new species in two days, made for one happy birder. I have a question, i was under the impression that Bald Eagles were abundant on the west coast, well i have been here nearly three weeks and i have yet to see one, can anyone explain? Alan Smith Subject: RE: RE: larusboy? From: "Gord Johnson" <gw-johnson AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:12:12 -0700 Hello all, I just realized I broadcast ("copied") on this last e-mail. After saying a quiet "whoops" to myself, I realized . . that's OK, I meant what I said. As at least one other user of these two VI birding sites have said recently . . . let's get back to enjoying birds. It seems that -- via this digital medium -- speaking our minds, playing games, or posturing based on our beliefs, can get blood moving in a not so polite or positive way. I won't be apologizing for content, just sorry for the inconvenience. I'll stand behind the words. cheers, Gord Johnson Ladysmith -----Original Message----- From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Gord Johnson Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 7:42 PM To: Sandy McRuer Cc: Bcbirdingvanisland AT Yahoogroups.Com Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] RE: larusboy? Yeh, maybe I'm getting paranoid. I'm bummed out when Guy gets like that, I know he used to go off about that dude. Maybe I'm off-base, it just seemed like the same "speak" that we heard from him on Colin's site a few years back. Just take my comments with a grain of salt, I've been putting up with similar crap on the Alpine Club of Canada" Yahoo site as well lately, it tires a guy out. I'll check out your flickr site, thanks for sharing. So much on this Island! cheers, Gord -----Original Message----- From: Sandy McRuer [mailto:smcruer AT shaw.ca] Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 9:51 AM To: 'Gord Johnson' Subject: RE: larusboy? Hi Gord, Good to hear from you. This post seemed pretty innocuous. What could happen? BTW I went up to a place called Grizzly Meadows with the Port Alberni Outdoors Club yesterday. What a fantastic place! It's off the Marion Creek tributary of Kennedy River, where that new small-scale hydro project is. I'll be posting photos of it on my flickr site today. Also found a Screech owl and a Lincoln's Sparrow on the way up. Sandy McRuer -----Original Message----- From: Gord Johnson [mailto:gw-johnson AT shaw.ca] Sent: August 28, 2010 11:41 PM To: Sandy McRuer Cc: Backyard Nature & Wildbird Store Subject: larusboy? Hi Sandy. lots of crap on this site lately. too bad. this Alan Smith aka larusboy that has just started posting may not be what he seems. His posts reek of Guy's old nemesis, the crazy dude that caused Guy to form BCVIBIRDS and split off from Colin's site to avoid him. Just a thought. I'm copying Colin/Neil on this just for the sake. I hate this shit by the way. As I'm sure the three of you do, but I needed to comment to people I trust, in case it might help. cheers, Gord No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3085 - Release Date: 08/28/10 23:34:00 Subject: Re: RE: larusboy? From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:06:23 +0000 Is there a reason why this crap has been posted to this group? Ryan Cathers Nanaimo, BC Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: "Gord Johnson" Sender: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:42:04 To: Sandy McRuer Reply-To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Cc: Bcbirdingvanisland AT Yahoogroups.Com Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] RE: larusboy? Yeh, maybe I'm getting paranoid. I'm bummed out when Guy gets like that, I know he used to go off about that dude. Maybe I'm off-base, it just seemed like the same "speak" that we heard from him on Colin's site a few years back. Just take my comments with a grain of salt, I've been putting up with similar crap on the Alpine Club of Canada" Yahoo site as well lately, it tires a guy out. I'll check out your flickr site, thanks for sharing. So much on this Island! cheers, Gord -----Original Message----- From: Sandy McRuer [mailto:smcruer AT shaw.ca] Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 9:51 AM To: 'Gord Johnson' Subject: RE: larusboy? Hi Gord, Good to hear from you. This post seemed pretty innocuous. What could happen? BTW I went up to a place called Grizzly Meadows with the Port Alberni Outdoors Club yesterday. What a fantastic place! It's off the Marion Creek tributary of Kennedy River, where that new small-scale hydro project is. I'll be posting photos of it on my flickr site today. Also found a Screech owl and a Lincoln's Sparrow on the way up. Sandy McRuer -----Original Message----- From: Gord Johnson [mailto:gw-johnson AT shaw.ca] Sent: August 28, 2010 11:41 PM To: Sandy McRuer Cc: Backyard Nature & Wildbird Store Subject: larusboy? Hi Sandy. lots of crap on this site lately. too bad. this Alan Smith aka larusboy that has just started posting may not be what he seems. His posts reek of Guy's old nemesis, the crazy dude that caused Guy to form BCVIBIRDS and split off from Colin's site to avoid him. Just a thought. I'm copying Colin/Neil on this just for the sake. I hate this shit by the way. As I'm sure the three of you do, but I needed to comment to people I trust, in case it might help. cheers, Gord No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3085 - Release Date: 08/28/10 23:34:00 Subject: RE: larusboy? From: "Gord Johnson" <gw-johnson AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:42:04 -0700 Yeh, maybe I'm getting paranoid. I'm bummed out when Guy gets like that, I know he used to go off about that dude. Maybe I'm off-base, it just seemed like the same "speak" that we heard from him on Colin's site a few years back. Just take my comments with a grain of salt, I've been putting up with similar crap on the Alpine Club of Canada" Yahoo site as well lately, it tires a guy out. I'll check out your flickr site, thanks for sharing. So much on this Island! cheers, Gord -----Original Message----- From: Sandy McRuer [mailto:smcruer AT shaw.ca] Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 9:51 AM To: 'Gord Johnson' Subject: RE: larusboy? Hi Gord, Good to hear from you. This post seemed pretty innocuous. What could happen? BTW I went up to a place called Grizzly Meadows with the Port Alberni Outdoors Club yesterday. What a fantastic place! It's off the Marion Creek tributary of Kennedy River, where that new small-scale hydro project is. I'll be posting photos of it on my flickr site today. Also found a Screech owl and a Lincoln's Sparrow on the way up. Sandy McRuer -----Original Message----- From: Gord Johnson [mailto:gw-johnson AT shaw.ca] Sent: August 28, 2010 11:41 PM To: Sandy McRuer Cc: Backyard Nature & Wildbird Store Subject: larusboy? Hi Sandy. lots of crap on this site lately. too bad. this Alan Smith aka larusboy that has just started posting may not be what he seems. His posts reek of Guy's old nemesis, the crazy dude that caused Guy to form BCVIBIRDS and split off from Colin's site to avoid him. Just a thought. I'm copying Colin/Neil on this just for the sake. I hate this shit by the way. As I'm sure the three of you do, but I needed to comment to people I trust, in case it might help. cheers, Gord No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3085 - Release Date: 08/28/10 23:34:00 Subject: Re: Three new life birds From: Nora Walker <norawalker AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:01:35 -0700 Hi Alan, For a guaranteed bald eagle sighting head over to Saxe Point in Esquimalt(in Victoria). There is a nest there with very active young ones. You can take a trail and walk right under their nest. Three Saturdays ago the babies were having fun jumping around the branches and take short flights. In order to get a sense of where the nest is you can first drive down to the foot of Constance St(just to the west) and look across to Saxe Point and you can't miss the huge nest in the tree. Enjoy! Nora On 2010-08-28, at 8:00 PM, larusboy1 wrote: > Yesterday on a walk along the waterfront at Mill Bay i saw two Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a adult Mew Gull, two new birds in ten minutes. There were several other large gulls that appeared to be hybrid types with only one good looking Glaucous-winged Gull. > Today Saturday we went on a shopping trip to Victoria and just below the summit of the Malahat hill there were two Steller's Jays,my third life bird. I never thought they would be so dark. > Three new species in two days, made for one happy birder. > > I have a question, i was under the impression that Bald Eagles were abundant on the west coast, well i have been here nearly three weeks and i have yet to see one, can anyone explain? > > Alan Smith > > Subject: Parasitic Jaeger From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:22:03 -0000 Hi birders, A birder just called the Bird Store, he saw a Parasitic Jaeger offshore, from Fillinger Crescent in Nanaimo. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 29, 2010, From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:07:49 -0000 NANAIMO BIRD REPORT ******************************************** To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birding in Central and South America: www.wildbirdtours.ca Identify backyard birds: National Geographic Bird Identifier Site http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/ Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. Sunday August 29, 2010: The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy but pleasant. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of two Wandering Tattler's and a Spotted Sandpiper along the shore at Sunset Beach. The mobbing call of the Northwestern Crows led us to a Great Horned Owl near the new walkway. We saw several flocks of Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants and Brandt's Cormorants moving up and down the Strait Of Georgia throughout the morning. Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds: Canada Goose, Harlequin Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Bald Eagle,Turkey Vulture, Great Horned Owl, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Wandering Tattler, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black Oystercatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Tanager, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Saturday August 28: An albino House Finch has been observed at feeders in the 3200 block of Admirals Road, off Burnside Road and East of the Island Highway in Victoria. Friday August 27: Two Black-throated Grey Warblers were seen making their way west, from tree to tree, along Despard Avenue, near Meridian Way in Parksville. Seven Greater White-fronted Geese were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Wednesday August 25: A Steller's Jay was seen at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store on Metral Drive in Nanaimo. Monday August 23: A Parasitic Jaeger was spotted chasing Bonaparte's Gulls off Piper's Lagoon in Nanaimo. Sunday August 22: Two Common Nighthawks were seen feeding over the viewing platform on the waterfront at Neck Point in Nanaimo. Wednesday August 18: A Great Horned Owl was heard and then spotted in the 800 block of Flamingo Drive in Qualicum Beach. Monday August 16: Common Nighthawks were seen over Hamilton Avenue in Nanaimo. Saturday August 14: A pair of Bullock's Oriole's were seen in a birdbath in a backyard in the 5200 block of Tom's Turnabout off Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT 250-390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists meeting is on September 9th at 7 pm in the Library on Northwest Bay Road. Guest speaker--- Dr. Bill Weller's talk and slide presentation on Astronomy. Visitors and new members most welcome. ********************************** The Arrowsmith Naturalist meetings will resume in September, 2010 ******************************** Everyone is welcome 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 Walks will resume on September 07, 2010. ************************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on September 05, 2010 will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Boulevard 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 250.390.1633 fax thebackyard AT shaw.ca CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Subject: Sunday bird walk, August 29, 2010 From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:32:25 -0000 Hi birders, The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy but pleasant. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of two Wandering Tattler's and a Spotted Sandpiper along the shore at Sunset Beach. The mobbing call of the Northwestern Crows led us to a Great Horned Owl near the new walkway. We saw several flocks of Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants and Brandt's Cormorants moving up and down the Strait Of Georgia throughout the morning. Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds: Canada Goose, Harlequin Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Bald Eagle,Turkey Vulture, Great Horned Owl, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Wandering Tattler, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black Oystercatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Tanager, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Song Sparrow, House Finch and Purple Finch. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Sunday bird walk, August 29, 2010 From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:19:59 -0000 Hi birders, The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy and pleasant. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of two Wandering Tattler's and a Spotted Sandpiper along the shore at Sunset Beach. The calling of the Northwest Crows led us to a Great Horned Owl near the new walkway. We saw several flocks of Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants and Brandt's Cormorants moving up and down the Strait Of Georgia. Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds: Canada Goose, Harlequin Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Bald Eagle,Turkey Vulture, Great Horned Owl, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Wandering Tattler, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black Oystercatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Tanager, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Wandering Tattler From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:12:08 -0000 Hi birders, On the Sunday bird walk at Neck Point today we saw two Wandering Tattlers along the shore at Sunset Beach. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: RE: Three new life birds From: "Sandy McRuer" <smcruer AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:20:26 -0700 Hello Alan, Be patient. They are common. You may not be looking in the right places. Stay close to the ocean. Drive up island stop along the shoreline. And be patient. Sandy McRuer Rainbird Excursions _____ From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of larusboy1 Sent: August 28, 2010 8:01 PM To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Three new life birds Yesterday on a walk along the waterfront at Mill Bay i saw two Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a adult Mew Gull, two new birds in ten minutes. There were several other large gulls that appeared to be hybrid types with only one good looking Glaucous-winged Gull. Today Saturday we went on a shopping trip to Victoria and just below the summit of the Malahat hill there were two Steller's Jays,my third life bird. I never thought they would be so dark. Three new species in two days, made for one happy birder. I have a question, i was under the impression that Bald Eagles were abundant on the west coast, well i have been here nearly three weeks and i have yet to see one, can anyone explain? Alan Smith Subject: Three new life birds From: "larusboy1" <larusboy1 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:00:57 -0000 Yesterday on a walk along the waterfront at Mill Bay i saw two Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a adult Mew Gull, two new birds in ten minutes. There were several other large gulls that appeared to be hybrid types with only one good looking Glaucous-winged Gull. Today Saturday we went on a shopping trip to Victoria and just below the summit of the Malahat hill there were two Steller's Jays,my third life bird. I never thought they would be so dark. Three new species in two days, made for one happy birder. I have a question, i was under the impression that Bald Eagles were abundant on the west coast, well i have been here nearly three weeks and i have yet to see one, can anyone explain? Alan Smith Subject: Re: New Bird on site From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:40:39 -0000 Hi Alan, You are welcome to join the Sunday bird walks in Nanaimo, check the Nanaimo bird reports for location and times. Your could check the following site for activities in the Victoria area---- http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/ Welome to the Island and good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia --- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, "larusboy1" wrote: > > Hello > I am a new birder to this group,i have just moved here from Manitoba. > Yesterday i took a walk in a small park near Arbutus Ridge,Cobble Hill and i was lucky too get two new species that i had never seen before, a Bewick's Wren and a stunning group of Bushtits. > Are there any groups that go birding in the Mill Bay, Cobble Hill area as I would like to join some other birders to learn more about the area. > Alan Smith > Subject: Greater White-fronted Geese From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:55:18 -0000 Hi birders, A visiting birder was just in the Backyard Store and reported that he saw seven Greater White-fronted Geese at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: BLACK-THROATED GREY WARBLER From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:50:13 -0000 Hi birders, On our walk this evening, Marilynne and I spotted two Black-throated Grey Warblers making their way west along Despard Avenue, near Meridian Way in Parksville. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Birding in Peru From: "Neil Robins" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:39:19 -0000 Hi birders, Interesting piece on Peru birding. NYTimes.com: Birding Along the Cloud Forests Check it out. Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, August 27 From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:38:02 -0700 (PDT) RBA - 250-704-2555 * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * August 27, 2010 * BCVI100827 - Transcript This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, August 27, 7:30 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. ANNOUNCE MENT: The VNHS Saturday birding trip will go to Langford and Florence Lakes. Meet at 7am at the west end of Goldstream Avenue, just before it joins the Island Highway. RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH continues at or near the south end of the floating bridge at Swan Lake. The bird was last reported on Thursday. An AMERICAN BITTERN has been seen nearby by several birders. FEATURE BIRDS: WHIMBREL, FOX SPARROW, WESTERN MEADOWLARK Thursday, August 26: A WHIMBREL, six SURFBIRDS, and both species of DOWICHERS were at Whiffen Spit, along with other shorebirds. The WHIMBREL has been present since at least Thursday the 19th. Four NORTHERN PINTAILS and shorebirds were at Albert Head Lagoon. Wednesday, August 25: The first FOX SPARROW of the season was at Blenkinsop Lake. Tuesday, August 24: Two female SOOTY GROUSE and two MOURNING DOVES were in the Jocelyn Hill area. Monday, August 23: A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was at Saanichton Spit. An AMERICAN BITTERN and a STELLAR'S JAY were at Swan Lake. Sunday, August 22: A WHIMBREL and two probable juvenile RUDDY TURNSTONES were at Whiffen Spit. Two CASPIAN TERNS were at Esquimalt Lagoon, near the bridge. Saturday, August 21: A SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was at Albert Head Lagoon. A GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was at Cattle Point. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was at Queen's Park in Oak Bay. Friday, August 20: A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were with other shorebirds at Saanichton Spit. Two MOURNING DOVES were on Welch Road in Central Saanich. Subject: New Bird on site From: "larusboy1" <larusboy1 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:23:26 -0000 Hello I am a new birder to this group,i have just moved here from Manitoba. Yesterday i took a walk in a small park near Arbutus Ridge,Cobble Hill and i was lucky too get two new species that i had never seen before, a Bewick's Wren and a stunning group of Bushtits. Are there any groups that go birding in the Mill Bay, Cobble Hill area as I would like to join some other birders to learn more about the area. Alan Smith Subject: Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop From: "derekjmatthews" <Derek AT birdvancouver.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:16:34 -0000 Hi Birders and Banders, There are two places available for our last Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop of the year to be held on September 10 – 12. The 2010 Workshops have been a great success - Everyone has had a great time and agreed they have taken their bird knowledge, ageing/sexing and handling skills to a whole new level. 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. Workshop participant testimonials can be seen by clicking here: http://www.birdvancouver.com/testimonials.html Thank you for your interest and if you would like to attend please click on the workshop link below and complete the registration form at the bottom of the page. http://www.birdvancouver.com/workshops.html Thanks again. Derek Derek Matthews Master Bander / Bander-in-Charge Vancouver Avian Research Centre www.birdvancouver.com Subject: Parasitic Jaeger From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:04:25 -0000 Hi birders, I just talked to a birder, who was at Pipers Lagoon, this afternoon in Nanaimo and he saw a Parasitic Jaeger chasing a Bonaparte's Gull not far from shore. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, August 23 From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:50:10 -0700 (PDT) RBA - 250-704-2555 * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * August 23, 2010 * BCVI100823 - Transcript This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, August 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. RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH has been heard or seen by several observers during the past week or so at or near the south end of the floating bridge at Swan Lake or near the doglegs made by the walkway between the bridge and the Nature House. A GOLDEN PLOVER of undetermined species flew over McIntyre Reservoir on Wednesday, the 18th. FEATURE BIRDS: Late August is bringing early returns of some winter water birds, with AMERICAN COOTS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, and GREEN-WINGED TEAL appearing in small numbers in suitable habitat, including Swan Lake, Blenkinsop Lake, Albert Head Lagoon, and the Oak Bay shoreline. Songbirds are also gathering in advance of migration, with increased reports of warblers, flycatchers, etc. from a variety of locations from Swan Lake to East Sooke Park. Sunday, August 22: A WHIMBREL and two probable juvenile RUDDY TURNSTONES were at Whiffen Spit. The WHIMBREL has been present since at least Thursday the 19th. Two CASPIAN TERNS were at Esquimalt Lagoon, near the bridge. Saturday, August 21: A SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was at Albert Head Lagoon. Friday, August 20: A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were with other shorebirds at Saanichton Spit. Two MOURNING DOVES were on Welch Road in Central Saanich. Thursday, August 19: A possible BARN OWL was heard in the evening near Lohbrunner and Lochside Roads in Saanich. A WANDERING TATTLER was at Ogden Point, along with at least one SURFBIRD and dozens of BLACK TURNSTONES. Two RED-NECKED GREBES were off Albert Head Lagoon, a WHIMBREL was being chased by dogs at Whiffen Spit, and a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE was on Whiffen Spit Road. Tuesday, August 17: A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was on Bowker Avenue near the beach. Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 22, 2010, From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:16:53 -0000 NANAIMO BIRD REPORT ******************************************** To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birding in Central and South America: www.wildbirdtours.ca Identify backyard birds: National Geographic Bird Identifier Site http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/ Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. Sunday August 22, 2010: The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. We spotted a nest on the marsh with a Pied-billed Grebe and four colorfully marked nestlings cuddling under the adult's wings near the start of the walk. A Merlin perched high up on a snag giving us great looks. A Lesser Scaup, a large number of Wood Ducks, a Hooded Merganser and a female Pintail were on the water. We heard a Greater Yellowlegs calling. We saw a Warbling Vireo and a Orange-crowned Warbler moving in the bushes. Thirteen birders, including two visiting birders from California, saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds: Mallard, Wood Duck, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Greater Yellowlegs, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Merlin, Coopers Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Barn Swallow, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow. A Black-footed Albatross; Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters; Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel; Common Murre; Glaucous-winged, California, Herring and Sabine's Gulls; Pelagic and Brandt's Cormorants; Pomarine Jaeger and Red-necked Phalarope were seen along Finger Bank off Ucluelet on the west side of Vancouver Island. Friday August 20: A Black-headed Grosbeak is visiting feeders in the 1200 block of Roseanne Drive in Nanaimo. A Eurasian Collared Dove with two Band-tailed Pigeons, over forty American Goldfinch, a Downy Woodpecker, two Hairy Woodpeckers, three Pileated Woodpeckers, Pine Siskins, Spotted Towhees and House Finch are visiting feeders in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville. Tuesday August 17: Twelve Black-headed Grosbeaks, American Goldfinch, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, eight Band-tailed Pigeons, Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, five Northern Flickers, Northwestern Crows, American Robins, House and Purple Finch, a Great Blue Heron and Rufous Hummingbird have been visiting a backyard in the 6900 block of Lancewood Avenue in upper Lantzville. Monday August 16: A Pigeon Guillemot within twenty feet of shore, a Common Loon further offshore and two Western Sandpipers was seen at Port Renfrew on the west side of Vancouver Island. Sunday August 15: Two male Pine Grosbeaks, a female Blockheaded Grosbeak, eight American Goldfinch, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red breasted Nuthatch, Rufous-sided Towhees and a Song Sparrow are visiting feeders in a yard on Thetis Island. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT 250-390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** The Arrowsmith Naturalist meetings will resume in September, 2010 ********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists meetings will resume in September, 2010 ******************************** Everyone is welcome 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 Walks will resume on September 07, 2010. ************************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on August 29, 2010 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo. We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking 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 250.390.1633 fax thebackyard AT shaw.ca CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Subject: Re: Finger Bank From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:01:38 +0000 Hi Neil Would you mind if I forwarded this message on to BCVIBIRDS? If yes or no please let me know. Thanks, Ryan Cathers Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: "Colin" Sender: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:51:22 To: Reply-To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Finger Bank Hi birders, We received this report at the Bird Store fron a birder aboard a research vessel on the west coast of Vancouver Island. A Black-footed Albatross; Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters; Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel; Common Murre; Glaucous-winged, California, Herring and Sabine's Gulls; Pelagic and Brandt's Cormorants; Pomarine Jaeger and Red-necked Phalarope were seen along Finger Bank off Ucluelet on the west side of Vancouver Island. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Sunday bird walk, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, August 22, 2010 From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:48:31 -0000 Hi birders The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy, with calm winds. We saw a nest with a Pied-billed Grebe with four nestlings with colorful markings as they cuddled under the adults wings near the start of the walk. A Merlin perched high up on a snag giving us great looks. A Lesser Scaup, lots of Wood Ducks, a Hooded Merganser and a female Pintail were on the water. We heard a Greater Yellowlegs calling. We saw a Warbling Vireo and a Orange-crowned Warbler moving in the bushes. Thirteen birders, including two visiting birders from California saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds: Mallard, Wood Duck, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Greater Yellowlegs, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Merlin, Coopers Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Barn Swallow, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Finger Bank From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:51:22 -0000 Hi birders, We received this report at the Bird Store fron a birder aboard a research vessel on the west coast of Vancouver Island. A Black-footed Albatross; Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters; Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel; Common Murre; Glaucous-winged, California, Herring and Sabine's Gulls; Pelagic and Brandt's Cormorants; Pomarine Jaeger and Red-necked Phalarope were seen along Finger Bank off Ucluelet on the west side of Vancouver Island. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: shorebird sites From: Gyorgy Szimuly/WorldWaders <gyorgy.szimuly AT worldwaders.org> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:09:20 +0200 Hi Birders, I have two questions: Do you have any website where locally important shorebird sites are listed or could be found on Google Map? Are those sites regularly covered by birders (shorebird counts have been carried out by members)? Thanks for your time to reply. Kind regards, Gyorgy Szimuly (Szimi)/WorldWaders __________ Tata, Hungary Website: http://www.worldwaders.org Project enquiry: projects AT worldwaders.org Skype: worldwaders.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118733871495865 Subject: Re: Re: more Info on this site From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:23:00 +0000 Hi Joe, Derrick, Gord and all First off I'd like to thank Neil and Collin for having this site. I watch this all the time but I rarely post here, I'm trying to remember to post here as well as the other site. Joe, I do not have a problem with you advertising the occasional trip here. Derrick, I agree that people should not slide there stuff into another persons post. You said this in an extremely rude way. I do not appreciate reading about peoples insulting attacks to other members of any site. That is personel and I feel should not EVER be accepted on any site like this. I think Gord has made some valuable points. Good for you for doing so in a calm, non-aggresive way. I appreciate that. I am totally fed up with this fight. If it continues to go on much longer I will stop watching this site. I am fed up. This is tiresome. I am going to enjoy the VIEX today with friends and family. I also plan on joining Neil and Collin with the bird walk tomorrow. Assuming there is one. Let's be done with all this crap. Grow up. Ryan Cathers Nanaimo, BC Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: "Joe Crichton" Sender: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:40:30 To: Reply-To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [bcbirdingvanisland] Re: more Info on this site Hello All : I have raised the question a few times about widening the scope of this chat and received little response. Thank you to Gord for such a considered response. First of all my apologies to Jeremy for not changing the subject line. I answer so many e-mails and 99 times out of 100 the response is to the same subject so I rarely even look at the heading. If I decide to continue subscribing to this chat I will endeavour to be more careful. However, Jeremy this back and forth hopefully has raised more awareness of your pelagic trip and that it helps to fill it up. However, I put this one question out there - If you read a copy of Birder's World Magazine do you read only the articles or do you look at the ads as well? Of course you read the ads and I would go so far as to say that is one of the reasons you buy the magazine in the first place. But my question really is this - Is this chat site the proper vehicle for anything other than people talking about their birding. If not I could set up a section on my website for local information and buy and sell. At present I think this chat sight is getting stale. If this is the right place (and I am not convinced it is) then we should encourage the following (for example) Notices of Birding trips. Local or International, commercial or clubs. Maybe on a set day every month. We each have good naturalist clubs in our regions. We should encourage them to post their upcoming events on this sight. I know most of these clubs are always looking for new members and this would be one way for them to get more publicity. Publicity is expensive. Buying and selling of used equipment. Old bird book. Reviews of new products or just peoples opinions of how good or bad a product is that someone had recently purchased. I think people's opinions, say of a scope they might have purchased, would help me a great deal when I am looking for a new scope. Cameras, binoculars, field guides etc. Reviews of Birding trips people have done and how good or bad the organizer, guides etc were. This would be invaluable for big trips like mine or even the local trips. Was the leader, location etc. any good? We allow the notices of the walks from the Bird Store in Nanaimo which certainly is a commercial operation. I think these are great and we should allow Colin more leeway in what he puts on our chat. They are a great resource in the Nanaimo area. Anyone who has been on the walks knows what a great job Neil does but what about all those other walks and talks people go on? I could go on but am I just whistling in the wind here? Does anyone care? Regards Joe Crichton Wildbird Tours - Canada www.wildbirdtours.ca joecrichton AT shaw.ca 250-468-1728 1388 Marina Way Nanoose Bay, BC Canada, V9P 9B8 Subject: Re: Re: more Info on this site From: "Joe Crichton" <joecrichton AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:40:30 -0700 Hello All : I have raised the question a few times about widening the scope of this chat and received little response. Thank you to Gord for such a considered response. First of all my apologies to Jeremy for not changing the subject line. I answer so many e-mails and 99 times out of 100 the response is to the same subject so I rarely even look at the heading. If I decide to continue subscribing to this chat I will endeavour to be more careful. However, Jeremy this back and forth hopefully has raised more awareness of your pelagic trip and that it helps to fill it up. However, I put this one question out there - If you read a copy of Birder's World Magazine do you read only the articles or do you look at the ads as well? Of course you read the ads and I would go so far as to say that is one of the reasons you buy the magazine in the first place. But my question really is this - Is this chat site the proper vehicle for anything other than people talking about their birding. If not I could set up a section on my website for local information and buy and sell. At present I think this chat sight is getting stale. If this is the right place (and I am not convinced it is) then we should encourage the following (for example) Notices of Birding trips. Local or International, commercial or clubs. Maybe on a set day every month. We each have good naturalist clubs in our regions. We should encourage them to post their upcoming events on this sight. I know most of these clubs are always looking for new members and this would be one way for them to get more publicity. Publicity is expensive. Buying and selling of used equipment. Old bird book. Reviews of new products or just peoples opinions of how good or bad a product is that someone had recently purchased. I think people's opinions, say of a scope they might have purchased, would help me a great deal when I am looking for a new scope. Cameras, binoculars, field guides etc. Reviews of Birding trips people have done and how good or bad the organizer, guides etc were. This would be invaluable for big trips like mine or even the local trips. Was the leader, location etc. any good? We allow the notices of the walks from the Bird Store in Nanaimo which certainly is a commercial operation. I think these are great and we should allow Colin more leeway in what he puts on our chat. They are a great resource in the Nanaimo area. Anyone who has been on the walks knows what a great job Neil does but what about all those other walks and talks people go on? I could go on but am I just whistling in the wind here? Does anyone care? Regards Joe Crichton Wildbird Tours - Canada www.wildbirdtours.ca joecrichton AT shaw.ca 250-468-1728 1388 Marina Way Nanoose Bay, BC Canada, V9P 9B8 Subject: RE: Re: bickering and namecalling From: "Gord Johnson" <gw-johnson AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:06:42 -0700 Hello all. In addition to bcbirdingvanisland on Yahoo, I also belong to one other Yahoo usergroup . . . "acc_vi", the Vancouver Island chapter of the Alpine Club of Canada. Several months ago a similar sequence of positional postings occured on that mountaineering-themed website. The end result was two-fold: the so-called "non-commercial" requirement from Yahoo was revealed to not be policed by them, and should/could be policed by the moderator and the site's own members. Secondly and perhaps most importantly, let's ask the criteria question on these so-called "commercial" posts: does it benefit the majority of group users towards the enjoyment and appreciation of the . . . ? Even if it may (secondarily) contain a commercial component , who gives a rat's ass? Two votes on this: 1. I DO want to hear about birding tours, or any other "commercial" venture that is of interest to the majority of birders. (maybe I DO need new binoculars, I don't mind seeing new product information.) 2. If No. 1 is not for you, then set up an associated site that can readily be accessed by those who choose to hear about Joe's Tours etc. I'm tired of this silly nonsense. respectfully, Gord Johnson Ladysmith -----Original Message----- From: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of marven007ca Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 6:30 PM To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke Hi Jeremy This parasite continues to use other peoples headings to advertise his trips, it appears that he is incapable of creating his own headings to sell himself. He just can't help himself. Derrick Marven North Cowichan, BC --- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, Jeremy Kimm wrote: > > Joe, > > Thanks for hijacking my message. > > Is there not some restriction in this group on commercial posts? > > Jeremy Kimm > > --- On Fri, 8/20/10, Joe Crichton wrote: > > From: Joe Crichton > Subject: Re: [bcbirdingvanisland] One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke > To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com > Received: Friday, August 20, 2010, 9:35 PM > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi All : > There is one last spot available for the Birding Trip to > Peru in November. > Please e-mail or call me directly. > Joe Crichton > Wildbird Tours - Canada > www.wildbirdtours.ca > joecrichton AT ... > 250-468-1728 > 1388 > Marina Way > Nanoose Bay, BC > Canada, V9P 9B8 > Subject: Russell's report from waters off Triangle Island From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:32:23 -0700 Hi: I'm forwarding a message from my son Russell, who is on a research vessel north of Vancouver Island... ............................................. No Manx yet but I'm trying. Here are some highlights from the last 2 days (in and around Triangle Island--- max distance maybe 20km west of the island to the shelf edge.... HORNED PUFFIN!!! First morning, one bird sitting on the water beside the boat amongst 1000's of Tufteds.... what a place! Of course thousands of murres, and hundreds of both rhinos and cassin's ... no thick-bills but apparently they haven't been seen here for 2 years. Thousands of both storm-petrels! Some places we've been have been stormies only... kinda weird to see that. No other birds but hundreds of these little swallow-type guys. 1 MURPHY'S PETREL seen today near the shelf, also 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA and 2 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. A few groups of red phalaropes, and a bunch of other shore birds.... we've had both BLTU and SEPL land on the boat. A PEFA joined us briefly, obviously from the island. Many humpbacks and orcas including a pod of orcas with two bulls possessing what the captain dubbed "by far the biggest dorsal fins I have EVER seen." I agreed.... they must have been 2 m tall or more and we saw them close. Also Blue Shark and Ocean Sunfish today. Goin great, some very boring stretches of course, but the highlights make it fun... oh also SHORT-TAILED and FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS (1 of each) amongst the regs. Russ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Russell's report from waters off Triangle Island From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:32:23 -0700 Hi: I'm forwarding a message from my son Russell, who is on a research vessel north of Vancouver Island... ............................................. No Manx yet but I'm trying. Here are some highlights from the last 2 days (in and around Triangle Island--- max distance maybe 20km west of the island to the shelf edge.... HORNED PUFFIN!!! First morning, one bird sitting on the water beside the boat amongst 1000's of Tufteds.... what a place! Of course thousands of murres, and hundreds of both rhinos and cassin's ... no thick-bills but apparently they haven't been seen here for 2 years. Thousands of both storm-petrels! Some places we've been have been stormies only... kinda weird to see that. No other birds but hundreds of these little swallow-type guys. 1 MURPHY'S PETREL seen today near the shelf, also 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA and 2 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. A few groups of red phalaropes, and a bunch of other shore birds.... we've had both BLTU and SEPL land on the boat. A PEFA joined us briefly, obviously from the island. Many humpbacks and orcas including a pod of orcas with two bulls possessing what the captain dubbed "by far the biggest dorsal fins I have EVER seen." I agreed.... they must have been 2 m tall or more and we saw them close. Also Blue Shark and Ocean Sunfish today. Goin great, some very boring stretches of course, but the highlights make it fun... oh also SHORT-TAILED and FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS (1 of each) amongst the regs. Russ Subject: Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke From: "marven007ca" <marven007ca AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:29:34 -0000 Hi Jeremy This parasite continues to use other peoples headings to advertise his trips, it appears that he is incapable of creating his own headings to sell himself. He just can't help himself. Derrick Marven North Cowichan, BC --- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, Jeremy Kimm wrote: > > Joe, > > Thanks for hijacking my message. > > Is there not some restriction in this group on commercial posts? > > Jeremy Kimm > > --- On Fri, 8/20/10, Joe Crichton wrote: > > From: Joe Crichton > Subject: Re: [bcbirdingvanisland] One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke > To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com > Received: Friday, August 20, 2010, 9:35 PM > > > > > > > >   > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi All : > There is one last spot available for the Birding Trip to > Peru in November. > Please e-mail or call me directly. > Joe Crichton > Wildbird Tours - Canada > www.wildbirdtours.ca > joecrichton AT ... > 250-468-1728 > 1388 > Marina Way > Nanoose Bay, BC > Canada, V9P 9B8 > Subject: Re: One More Spot Available for Peru From: "Joe Crichton" <joecrichton AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:43:43 -0700 Hi All : There is one last spot available for the Birding Trip to Peru in November. Please e-mail or call me directly. Joe Crichton Wildbird Tours - Canada www.wildbirdtours.ca joecrichton AT shaw.ca 250-468-1728 1388 Marina Way Nanoose Bay, BC Canada, V9P 9B8 Subject: Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke From: "Joe Crichton" <joecrichton AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:42:46 -0700 Hi Jeremy : I think we need a site or category where anybody can post things other than their sightings. Birding trips, Binoculars for sale, Old books etc etc. What do you think? We need new people and new ideas to keep this chat from going very stale. Joe Crichton Nanoose Bay Subject: Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:09:28 -0000 Hi Jeremy, In a word NO!! Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia > > Joe, > > Thanks for hijacking my message. > > Is there not some restriction in this group on commercial posts? > > Jeremy Kimm > > --- On Fri, 8/20/10, Joe Crichton wrote: > > From: Joe Crichton > Subject: Re: [bcbirdingvanisland] One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke > To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com > Received: Friday, August 20, 2010, 9:35 PM > > > > > > > >   > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi All : > There is one last spot available for the Birding Trip to > Peru in November. > Please e-mail or call me directly. > Joe Crichton > Wildbird Tours - Canada > www.wildbirdtours.ca > joecrichton AT ... > 250-468-1728 > 1388 > Marina Way > Nanoose Bay, BC > Canada, V9P 9B8 > Subject: Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke From: Jeremy Kimm <vanislebirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:48:52 -0700 (PDT) Joe, Thanks for hijacking my message. Is there not some restriction in this group on commercial posts? Jeremy Kimm --- On Fri, 8/20/10, Joe Crichton wrote: From: Joe Crichton Subject: Re: [bcbirdingvanisland] One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Received: Friday, August 20, 2010, 9:35 PM   Hi All : There is one last spot available for the Birding Trip to Peru in November. Please e-mail or call me directly. Joe Crichton Wildbird Tours - Canada www.wildbirdtours.ca joecrichton AT shaw.ca 250-468-1728 1388 Marina Way Nanoose Bay, BC Canada, V9P 9B8 Subject: Re: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke From: "Joe Crichton" <joecrichton AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:35:25 -0700 Hi All : There is one last spot available for the Birding Trip to Peru in November. Please e-mail or call me directly. Joe Crichton Wildbird Tours - Canada www.wildbirdtours.ca joecrichton AT shaw.ca 250-468-1728 1388 Marina Way Nanoose Bay, BC Canada, V9P 9B8 Subject: One More Spot Available for Thursday, August 26 Pelagic from Sooke From: "Jeremy" <vanislebirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:45:22 -0000 Hi All, There is one last spot available for the August 26 Pelagic out of Sooke, headed for Swiftsure Bank and points west. Please email me directly if interested, vanislebirder at yahoo dot com. Thanks, Jeremy Kimm Victoria Subject: Mistake in Saturday announcement From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:00:43 -0700 (PDT) Whoops! I made a mistake in the RBA announcement. The VNHS Saturday birding trip will meet at Cattle Point at 7am, NOT Clover Point. Thanks to Tom Gillespie for catching this right away. Sorry! Daniel Bryant Victoria Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, August 20, 2010 From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:51:16 -0700 (PDT) RBA - 250-704-2555 * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * August 20, 2010 * BCVI100820 - Transcript This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, August 20, 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. ANNOUNCEMENT: The VNHS Saturday birding trip will be to various spots around the Victoria shoreline. Meet at the parking lot at Clover Point at 7 am. RARE BIRD ALERT: A GOLDEN PLOVER of undetermined species flew over McIntyre Reservoir on Wednesday, the 18th. NORTHERN PINTAILS have been seen at Art Mann Park in Duncan, Swan Lake, and off of Rocky Point. Also at Rocky Point, DND land not open to the public, were a SOOTY SHEARWATER, fourteen SURF SCOTERS, and a RED-THROATED LOON. An early AMERICAN COOT continues at Swan Lake. An EASTERN KINGBIRD was seen by more than one observer at Swan Lake on Sunday, the 15th. OTHER FEATURE BIRDS: WANDERING TATTLER, RED-NECKED GREBE, WHIMBREL, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, BANK SWALLOW Thursday, August 19: A WANDERING TATTLER was at Ogden Point, along with at least one SURFBIRD and dozens of BLACK TURNSTONES. Two RED-NECKED GREBES were off Albert Head Lagoon, a WHIMBREL was being chased by dogs at Whiffen Spit, and a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE was on Whiffen Spit Road. Tuesday, August 17: A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was on Bowker Avenue near the beach. Monday, August 16: An EVENING GROSBEAK was in a yard on Old West Saanich Road. Sunday, August 15: A VNHS group on its way to see TUFTED PUFFINS and BROWN PELICANS around the Olympic Peninsula saw a group of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES from the Coho ferry while still in Canadian waters off Victoria. At the corner of Lancaster and Haynes, near the west end of Swan Lake was a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE. Saturday, August 14: Two BANK SWALLOWS and a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER were seen at Swan Lake by multiple observers. Late in the day, more than 600 BARN SWALLOWS also gathered over the lake. Subject: Botanical Beach Question From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:52:41 +0000 Hi all I spent two hours photographing Botanical Beach this afternoon. I located 7 Harlequin Ducks. And a few crows. Now here's the question. While looking up some cliffs I saw about 5 holes in the sand/dirt wall. Below it was what looked like the coughed up bones of someones dinner. I'm assuming they were from some small fish. I took pics of the bones, and the holes. But I was hoping that maybe someone knew who owned those holes. I'm assuming they held young at some point. Cheers, Ryan Cathers Port Renfrew, BC PS as I type this I watched and listened to a Winter Wren hoping along the beached logs at camp Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry Subject: Fw: PIGU From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:36:57 +0000 Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:36:11 To: BCVIBIRDS Reply-To: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Subject: PIGU Hi all As the fog rolled in, so did a very nice Pigeon Guillemot. Really nice to see this bird within 20 feet of the shore, despite the fog. Also a Common Loon, in non-breeding plumage, was bobbing around. I got very close views and pictures of 2 Western Sandpipers. Cheers, Ryan Cathers Port Renfrew, BC Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry Subject: Victoria RBA, Monday, August 16, 2010 From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:21:37 -0700 (PDT) RBA - 250-704-2555 * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * August 16, 2010 * BCVI100816 - Transcript This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, August 16, 9 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 ALERT: A report of two PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS only 100 meters off of Clover Point on Sunday, August 15, has proven controversial. While the original report included detailed field notes, it has been argued that these are not inconsistent with the birds having been HEERMAN’S GULLS, common at the location at this time of year. It has further been argued that the species is extremely rare in our area, especially so close to shore, and that water conditions this year are very different from those last year, when shearwater sightings were unusually common. The birds have not been relocated, in spite of several searches by experienced birders, but the possibility remains that the original identification was correct, so birders are encouraged to watch for these birds on the waters around our area. Also on Sunday, an EASTERN KINGBIRD was seen by more than one observer at Swan Lake. A CASSIN'S AUKLET reported on Thursday afternoon off of Clover Point has not been relocated. OTHER FEATURE BIRDS: RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, BANK SWALLOW Monday, August 16: An EVENING GROSBEAK was in a yard on Old West Saanich Road. Sunday, August 15: A VNHS group on its way to see TUFTED PUFFINS and BROWN PELICANS around the Olympic Peninsula saw a group of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES from the Coho ferry while still in Canadian waters off Victoria. At the corner of Lancaster and Haynes, near the west end of Swan Lake, was a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE. Saturday, August 14: Two BANK SWALLOWS and a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER were seen at Swan Lake by multiple observers. Late in the day, more than 600 BARN SWALLOWS also gathered over the lake. Friday, August 13: Six Phalaropes were at Clover Point. Another large flock of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS was seen in the area, this one of about seventy birds over the Oak Bay High School track. Thursday, August 12: Three SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were among the shorebirds at Witty's Lagoon. No details about the location were given, but since SOLITARY SANDPIPERS prefer fresh water, the birds were presumably within the lagoon itself. A single DUNLIN was at Clover Point. Wednesday, August 11: A PEREGRINE FALCON, a female NORTHERN HARRIER, and a TRUMPETER SWAN were seen from the Cowichan Bay Dock Road. An adult HERRING GULL and three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were at Saanichton Spit, along with other birds. Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 15, 2010, From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 21:14:30 -0000 NANAIMO BIRD REPORT ******************************************** To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birding in Central and South America: www.wildbirdtours.ca Identify backyard birds: National Geographic Bird Identifier Site http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/ Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. Sunday August 15, 2010: The Sunday Bird Walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. There was a Smoky haze in the air and the winds were calm. We had some quick glances of singing Purple Martins at the start of the walk. There were Bushtits gleaning insects from a Cedar tree and a Hairy Woodpecker preening itself at the top a tall snag. Eight birders saw and heard the following twenty-two species of birds: Mallard, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow and Pine Siskin. There was a large flock of mixed Western and Least Sandpipers, three Semipalmated Plovers and several Killdeer on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman Estuary in Parksville. A Heermann's Gull was spotted at French Creek. A pair of Purple Martins were seen flying back and forth from MacGregor Marsh to Brookwood Marsh over Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo. Wednesday August 11: A Northern Harrier, a Merlin, four Lesser Yellowlegs, a Greater Yellowlegs, forty Western and a Least Sandpiper were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Forty Common Nighthawks were seen feeding high over Cedar. Monday August 09: Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk and a Merlin, Barn Swallows, Violet-green Swallows and a Cliff Swallow were seen along the Holden Creek side of the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Over one hundred Killdeer, Western Sandpipers, and Least Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Plover were seen along the mudflats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Bonaparte's Gulls, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Pigeon Guillemot and a Marbled Murrelet were seen on the Strait of Georgia from the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Saturday August 07: Twelve Common Nighthawks were seen hawking insects over Despared Avenue and Corfield Road in Parksville. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT 250-390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** The Arrowsmith Naturalist meetings will resume in September, 2010 ********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists meetings will resume in September, 2010 ******************************** Everyone is welcome 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 Walks will resume on September 07, 2010. ************************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on August 22, 2010 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store 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 250.390.1633 fax thebackyard AT shaw.ca CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Subject: Re: New photo album and a Pacific Blue Grouse story From: "shelleyannepenner" <shelleypenner AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 05:20:00 -0000 How strange. Perhaps her activity did draw the male out onto the road, and perhaps he was displaying for her rather than trying to distract us. However, when she led us straight up to him and then flew away, he did not follow her. He turned and continued to lead us away along the road, rather than going off into the safety of the bush immediately. It seemed quite obvious that he was acting as a decoy, and at the risk of anthropomorphizing, I would say it seemed quite obvious to me that she expected him to -- they acted like a relay team. Subject: Victoria RBA, Friday, August 13 From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:48:28 -0700 (PDT) RBA - 250-704-2555 * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * August 13, 2010 * BCVI100813 - Transcript This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Friday, August 13, 12:30pm 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 birding walk on Saturday will be at Swan Lake. Meet at the parking lot at Ralph and Swan Lake at 7 am. All welcome. RARE BIRD ALERT: A CASSIN'S AUKLET was seen on Thursday afternoon off of Clover Point. The bird was with a group of feeding gulls and Rhinos within scope range. Two WANDERING TATTLERS were at Ogden Point late Sunday morning. They have not been reported since. OTHER FEATURE BIRDS: DUNLIN, NORTHERN HARRIER, HERRING GULL, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE Thursday, August 12: Three SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were among the shorebirds at Witty's Lagoon. A single DUNLIN was at Clover Point. Wednesday, August 11: A PEREGRINE FALCON, a female NORTHERN HARRIER, and a TRUMPETER SWAN were seen from the Cowichan Bay Dock Road. An adult HERRING GULL and three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were at Saanichton Spit, along with other birds. Among ten species of shorebirds reported from Witty's Lagoon were a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, three BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, and nine LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Tuesday, August 10: Among birds seen by the Tuesday Birding Group were six LONG-BILLED DOWICHERS at McIntyre reservoir and more than thirty KILLDEER on recently plowed fields in the Martindale area. Monday, August 9: Three SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, four CASPIAN TERNS and over fifty HEERMAN'S GULLS were among birds seen on Saanichton Spit in the morning. A RUDDY TURNSTONE was at Rocky Point, DND land not open to the general public. Sunday, August 8: A PEREGRINE FALCON was hunting along Martindale Road. Four SURFBIRDS and a BALD EAGLE feeding on a seal pup were on Haystack Rocks, off of Tower Point in Metchosin. Saturday, August 7: A wet and chilly group of VNHS birders saw BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, PURPLE MARTINS, and a CASPIAN TERN, along with other birds, on a trip to Sidney Spit. Also present were numerous BARN SWALLOWS, some feeding young and others resting on the spit. One SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and four LESSER YELLOWLEGS were among birds seen at Albert Head Lagoon. Three CASPIAN TERNS were at Esquimalt Lagoon. Subject: Birding in South America From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:18:48 -0000 Hi birders, Marilynne and I are going on a birding trip to Peru in November, this fall. We are going with Wildbirdtours a local company from Nanoose Bay. We went with this tour company in February 2006, and it was a fantastic fifteen days of birding. Check out this site www.wildbirdtours.ca Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: New photo album and a Pacific Blue Grouse story From: Robert McFetridge <mcfetridge AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:29:51 -0700 This is an interesting observation. Blue grouse hens are very defensive of their young. The response can be induced by mimicking the chick whistle. Males are polygamous, mating with any female attracted to their territory. Males do not participate in care of young. A male grouse might be stimulated by female activity causing him to display. Subject: Odd Duck in Kitsuksis Creek From: "shelleyannepenner" <shelleypenner AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:50:43 -0000 The last two images in my photo album show an odd duck that has been hanging around in Kitsuksis Creek for the past few weeks. Her ducklings look like normal Mallard ducklings, but the mother is dark brown with a white 'apron' and a few other small white bits. I talked to Sandy McRuer about it and he figures she's a domestic/Mallard hybrid. However, when I look at the blown up images on my computer, except for the white patches, her markings look normal for a Mallard, just very dark. I have studied other images of melanistic (extra melanin in the feathers makes them unusually dark) and leucistic (white, lacking melanin, but not albino) birds, and I suspect she is a melanistic Mallard with leucistic patches. Sandy suggested that I post the photos and see what the folks on this site think. Shelley Penner Port Alberni Subject: New photo album and a Pacific Blue Grouse story From: "shelleyannepenner" <shelleypenner AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:40:52 -0000 Hi, folks! I am an past member who lost touch with this site for a while, but I am back now. I have posted a photo album with a few of the birds I have encountered over the past few months, including a family of Pacific Blue Grouse Pair. That was a delightful encounter! In the middle of June, we were climbing the ridge above the log train trail in Port Alberni, when I almost stepped on a chick that went peeping off into brush. Then a female came thundering straight at us! I thought she was going to attack our legs and peck us to death! We just stood still, taking pictures, and she settled down a bit. She circled us, clucking away. Then the male came out onto the trail above us and started displaying and thrumming to distract us. The female started moving up the trail towards him, glancing back over her shoulder to make sure we were following. When she reached the male, she turned, still clucking, and flew up over our heads and back down the trail to her chicks. Then the male turned and started leading us away! When he thought we were far enough away from his family, he just disappeared into the brush. What wonderfully courageous parents! Shelley Penner Port Alberni Subject: Nanaimo River & Cedar From: "Jon" <jon.carter AT fsmail.net> Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:58:49 -0000 Hi Highlights from the estuary yesterday evening included a juv northern harrier, merlin, peregrine, both yellowlegs species, plus western and least sandpipers. c40 common nighthawk were feeding over Cedar at 7.20pm. Further info etc at: http://britbirderinbc.blogspot.com Cheers Jon Carter Cedar Subject: Common Nighthawks From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:32:02 -0000 Hi birders, Last night we had about twelve Common Nighthawks putting on a display over the field at the end of Despared Avenue and Corfield Road. They were hawking insects in a spectular fashion for about five minutes. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Oyster Bay Shoreline Protection Park From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:11:04 +0000 Hi all A quick walk in the muck and trails at Oyster Bay produced some great photography. As my tripod and I were being consumed by the muck, both Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers came waltzing over my feet. I also watched the resident Purple Martins as they hawked over the Bay and trails. Several large flocks of 150 ish Gulls flew past. Most were Bonnie's in different stages of molt. I will head over to the Bay again tomorrow, as well as wander through the local trails. Cheers, Ryan Cathers Miracle Beach Provincial Park, Black Creek, BC Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry Subject: RE: Vesper Sparrows, September 21, 2008 From: jon carter <jon.carter AT fsmail.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:35:10 +0200 (CEST) Thanks Neil I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for passing migrants down at the estuary in the coming weeks - it'd be nice to add Vesper sparrow to my 'patch list'! Regards Jon Carter Cedar ======================================== Message Received: Aug 11 2010, 07:22 PM From: "canadianrobin2003" To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Cc: Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Vesper Sparrows, September 21, 2008 Hi Ryan and Jon, I found the Vesper Sparrow sightings from my birding diary as follows. Sunday, September 21, 2008: The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. Among the highlights were the sightings of a female Northern Harrier flying low over the ground near us, several times. An American Kestrel stopped and perched in a low shrub giving us great looks. We studied a Vesper Sparrow for about ten minutes until the Sparrow turned and gave us a look at his white outer tail feathers. We came upon two Least Sandpipers resting in the mud not far from us. The big Oak tree was teeming with at least sixty Cedar Waxwings and a great variety of Sparrow species. Fourteen birders found the following thirty-one species of birds: Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, American Wigeon, Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Turkey Vulture, Least Sandpiper, California Quail, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Rock Pigeon, Cedar Waxwings, European Starlings, Belted Kingfisher, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and House Finch. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Vesper Sparrows, September 21, 2008 From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:18:12 -0000 Hi Ryan and Jon, I found the Vesper Sparrow sightings from my birding diary as follows. Sunday, September 21, 2008: The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. Among the highlights were the sightings of a female Northern Harrier flying low over the ground near us, several times. An American Kestrel stopped and perched in a low shrub giving us great looks. We studied a Vesper Sparrow for about ten minutes until the Sparrow turned and gave us a look at his white outer tail feathers. We came upon two Least Sandpipers resting in the mud not far from us. The big Oak tree was teeming with at least sixty Cedar Waxwings and a great variety of Sparrow species. Fourteen birders found the following thirty-one species of birds: Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, American Wigeon, Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Turkey Vulture, Least Sandpiper, California Quail, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Rock Pigeon, Cedar Waxwings, European Starlings, Belted Kingfisher, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and House Finch. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Sea Birds From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:39:08 +0000 Hi all I spent from 0830-1030 this morning with my girlfriend and camera wandering the beach. Highlights are... California Gulls Mew Gulls Red-necked Grebe Common Murre Common Loon Scoter sp. (Will examine my photos) Harlequin Ducks (all females and/or young) Barn Swallow Belted Kingfisher Yesterday at Telegraph Cove we watched an adult Barn Swallow feeding three recently fledged young on a branch. Cheers, Ryan Cathers Cluxewe River Estuary, Port Renfrew, BC Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry Subject: Re: Re: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River From: ryancathers AT yahoo.com Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:30:58 +0000 Hi Neil and Jon One year ago we saw that Vesper on a small twig of a tree in the open grassy area. We stared at that bird for quite some time until we saw the flash of white on the tail. A wonderful sight. Ryan Cathers Cluxewe River Estuary Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: "canadianrobin2003" Sender: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:20:22 To: Reply-To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Re: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River Hi Jon, Yes--you got it!! they were Savannah Sparrows, Although about one year ago we did see a Vesper Sparrow in the middle of the estuary. So we have seen them there, but not this time. Thanks for the heads up Jon Cheers Nei;l --- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, jon carter wrote: > > Hi Neil > > Can I just check with you that you meant to post Vesper sparrows, and not Savannah sparrows? I would be thrilled to find Vespers down there! Also, you don't mention Savannahs, of which there are plenty. > > Thanks, in advance. > > ps - your deet must certainly have worked, as I got bitten quit a bit yesterday, having forgotten to take repellent with me! > > Jon Carter > Cedar > > > ======================================== > Message Received: Aug 10 2010, 11:17 PM > From: "canadianrobin2003" > To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com > Cc: > Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River > > Hi birders, > > I went birding to Holden Creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and to the mud flats at the Plummer Road, at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville with John Purves, yesterday, August 09, 2010. The tide was a long way out at Holden Creek, we had rubber boots on and deet for the mosquitoes, but there not a lot of mosquitoes. A few Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers along the creek, we also saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk and a Merlin perched in a snag being mobbed by Barn Swallows, there were also Violet-green Swallows and a few Cliff Swallows there. At the nanaimo River Estuary we saw a lot of Common Raven and a few Vesper Sparrows and a few Least Sandpipers roosting in the tall estuary grass. > At the mud flats at the Plummer Road, Englishman River Estuary in Parksville, we saw over 100 Semipalmated Plovers Killdeer, Western Sandpipers, and Least Sandpiper. On the Strait of Georgia we saw > Bonaparte's Gulls, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Pigeon Guillemot and a Marbled Murrelet. > > Heres our list for the day-- > Canada Goose > Mallard > Surf Scoter > California Quail > Common Loon > Double-crested Cormorant > Great Blue Heron > Turkey Vulture > Bald Eagle > Sharp-shinned Hawk > Cooper's Hawk > Merlin > Semipalmated Plover > Killdeer > Western Sandpiper > Least Sandpiper > Bonaparte's Gull > Mew Gull > Californian Gull > Glaucous-winged Gull > Pigeon Guillemot > Marbled Murrelet > Belted Kingfisher > Northern Flicker > Northwestern Crow > Common Raven > Violet-green Swallow > Cliff Swallow > Barn Swallow > Chestnut-backed Chickadee > Red-breasted Nuthatch > American Robin > European Starling > Song Sparrow > Vesper Sparrows > White-crowned Sparrow > House Finch > American Goldfinch > > Good birding > Neil Robins > Parksville > British Columbia > Subject: Re: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:20:22 -0000 Hi Jon, Yes--you got it!! they were Savannah Sparrows, Although about one year ago we did see a Vesper Sparrow in the middle of the estuary. So we have seen them there, but not this time. Thanks for the heads up Jon Cheers Nei;l --- In bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com, jon carter wrote: > > Hi Neil > > Can I just check with you that you meant to post Vesper sparrows, and not Savannah sparrows? I would be thrilled to find Vespers down there! Also, you don't mention Savannahs, of which there are plenty. > > Thanks, in advance. > > ps - your deet must certainly have worked, as I got bitten quit a bit yesterday, having forgotten to take repellent with me! > > Jon Carter > Cedar > > > ======================================== > Message Received: Aug 10 2010, 11:17 PM > From: "canadianrobin2003" > To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com > Cc: > Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River > > Hi birders, > > I went birding to Holden Creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and to the mud flats at the Plummer Road, at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville with John Purves, yesterday, August 09, 2010. The tide was a long way out at Holden Creek, we had rubber boots on and deet for the mosquitoes, but there not a lot of mosquitoes. A few Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers along the creek, we also saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk and a Merlin perched in a snag being mobbed by Barn Swallows, there were also Violet-green Swallows and a few Cliff Swallows there. At the nanaimo River Estuary we saw a lot of Common Raven and a few Vesper Sparrows and a few Least Sandpipers roosting in the tall estuary grass. > At the mud flats at the Plummer Road, Englishman River Estuary in Parksville, we saw over 100 Semipalmated Plovers Killdeer, Western Sandpipers, and Least Sandpiper. On the Strait of Georgia we saw > Bonaparte's Gulls, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Pigeon Guillemot and a Marbled Murrelet. > > Heres our list for the day-- > Canada Goose > Mallard > Surf Scoter > California Quail > Common Loon > Double-crested Cormorant > Great Blue Heron > Turkey Vulture > Bald Eagle > Sharp-shinned Hawk > Cooper's Hawk > Merlin > Semipalmated Plover > Killdeer > Western Sandpiper > Least Sandpiper > Bonaparte's Gull > Mew Gull > Californian Gull > Glaucous-winged Gull > Pigeon Guillemot > Marbled Murrelet > Belted Kingfisher > Northern Flicker > Northwestern Crow > Common Raven > Violet-green Swallow > Cliff Swallow > Barn Swallow > Chestnut-backed Chickadee > Red-breasted Nuthatch > American Robin > European Starling > Song Sparrow > Vesper Sparrows > White-crowned Sparrow > House Finch > American Goldfinch > > Good birding > Neil Robins > Parksville > British Columbia > Subject: RE: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River From: jon carter <jon.carter AT fsmail.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:10:19 +0200 (CEST) Hi Neil Can I just check with you that you meant to post Vesper sparrows, and not Savannah sparrows? I would be thrilled to find Vespers down there! Also, you don't mention Savannahs, of which there are plenty. Thanks, in advance. ps - your deet must certainly have worked, as I got bitten quit a bit yesterday, having forgotten to take repellent with me! Jon Carter Cedar ======================================== Message Received: Aug 10 2010, 11:17 PM From: "canadianrobin2003" To: bcbirdingvanisland AT yahoogroups.com Cc: Subject: [bcbirdingvanisland] Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River Hi birders, I went birding to Holden Creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and to the mud flats at the Plummer Road, at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville with John Purves, yesterday, August 09, 2010. The tide was a long way out at Holden Creek, we had rubber boots on and deet for the mosquitoes, but there not a lot of mosquitoes. A few Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers along the creek, we also saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk and a Merlin perched in a snag being mobbed by Barn Swallows, there were also Violet-green Swallows and a few Cliff Swallows there. At the nanaimo River Estuary we saw a lot of Common Raven and a few Vesper Sparrows and a few Least Sandpipers roosting in the tall estuary grass. At the mud flats at the Plummer Road, Englishman River Estuary in Parksville, we saw over 100 Semipalmated Plovers Killdeer, Western Sandpipers, and Least Sandpiper. On the Strait of Georgia we saw Bonaparte's Gulls, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Pigeon Guillemot and a Marbled Murrelet. Heres our list for the day-- Canada Goose Mallard Surf Scoter California Quail Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Merlin Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gull Mew Gull Californian Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Pigeon Guillemot Marbled Murrelet Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Northwestern Crow Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch American Robin European Starling Song Sparrow Vesper Sparrows White-crowned Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: Birding at Holde creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and Englishman River From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:15:47 -0000 Hi birders, I went birding to Holden Creek, Nanaimo River Estuary and to the mud flats at the Plummer Road, at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville with John Purves, yesterday, August 09, 2010. The tide was a long way out at Holden Creek, we had rubber boots on and deet for the mosquitoes, but there not a lot of mosquitoes. A few Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers along the creek, we also saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk and a Merlin perched in a snag being mobbed by Barn Swallows, there were also Violet-green Swallows and a few Cliff Swallows there. At the nanaimo River Estuary we saw a lot of Common Raven and a few Vesper Sparrows and a few Least Sandpipers roosting in the tall estuary grass. At the mud flats at the Plummer Road, Englishman River Estuary in Parksville, we saw over 100 Semipalmated Plovers Killdeer, Western Sandpipers, and Least Sandpiper. On the Strait of Georgia we saw Bonaparte's Gulls, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Pigeon Guillemot and a Marbled Murrelet. Heres our list for the day-- Canada Goose Mallard Surf Scoter California Quail Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Merlin Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Bonaparte's Gull Mew Gull Californian Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Pigeon Guillemot Marbled Murrelet Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Northwestern Crow Common Raven Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch American Robin European Starling Song Sparrow Vesper Sparrows White-crowned Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia Subject: August 26th Pelagic Trip from Sooke - 2 Spots Left From: "Jeremy" <vanislebirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:21:13 -0000 Hi All, I have organized an operator to run a pelagic out of Sooke to Swiftsure Bank and beyond on August 26, and there are two spots left available on this trip. Details are as follows: $186.50 (includes tax) 8 hours on the water Leaving Sooke Harbour Resort Marina at 6am, be there at 5:45 If you are interested, please send me an email at your earliest convenience, vanislebirder at yahoo dot com. Jeremy Kimm Victoria Subject: Victoria RBA, August 9 From: Daniel Bryant <jonqmoh AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 14:50:55 -0700 (PDT) RBA - 250-704-2555 * British Columbia * Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is. * August 9, 2010 * BCVI100809 - Transcript This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday, August 9, 2:30pm 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 ALERT: Two WANDERING TATTLERS were at Ogden Point late Sunday morning. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was clearly seen and heard on Wednesday, July 4 near the corner of Blenkinsop Road and Mt. Douglas Cross Road in Saanich. The bird flew off in the direction of the Martindale area. There was a possible subsequent sighting at McIntyre Reservoir on Friday. A TUFTED PUFFIN was seen off Rocky Point. Birders are reminded that Rocky Point is DND land not open to the general public. Nonetheless, this bird may turn up offshore elsewhere in the Victoria area. FEATURE BIRDS: SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER Monday, August 9: Three SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, four CASPIAN TERNS and over fifty HEERMAN'S GULLS were among birds seen on Saanichton Spit in the morning. Sunday, August 8: A PEREGRINE FALCON was hunting along Martindale Road. Four SURFBIRDS and a BALD EAGLE feeding on a seal pup were on Haystack Rocks, off of Tower Point in Metchosin. Saturday, August 7: A wet and chilly group of VNHS birders saw BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, PURPLE MARTINS, and a CASPIAN TERN, along with other birds, on a trip to Sidney Spit. Also present were numerous BARN SWALLOWS, some feeding young and others resting on the spit. One SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and four LESSER YELLOWLEGS were among birds seen at Albert Head Lagoon. Three CASPIAN TERNS were at Esquimalt Lagoon. Friday, August 6: Two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and three CASPIAN TERNS were at Saanichton Spit. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and a GREATER SCAUP were among birds seen at Swan Lake. The Scaup has been present for some time. A VIRGINIA RAIL and a GREEN HERON were heard. Fifteen RING-BILLED GULLS were among birds seen on the Cowichan Bay Dock Road in Duncan. Access to the wood yard at the end of the road is currently restricted. Thursday, August 5: A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, and five LESSER YELLOWLEGS were among birds at Witty's Lagoon. Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird report--August 08, 2010, From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:17:29 -0000 NANAIMO BIRD REPORT ******************************************** To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Identify backyard birds: National Geographic Bird Identifier Site http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/ Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, the species and location of your sighting. Sunday August 08, 2010: The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in Upper Lantzville. The morning was cloudy with very light rain, but calm. The highlights included seeing four Pileated Woodpeckers, eight Northern Flickers, a Willow Flycatcher, two Common Yellowthroats and over ten Cedar Waxwings throughout the morning Six birders saw and heard the following twenty-eight species of birds: Cooper's Hawk, California Quail, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Black Swift, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch. Friday August 06: A Hairy Woodpecker was visiting a suet feeder along Meridian Way in Parksville. Wednesday August 04: Turkey Vulture, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch were seen at Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Eight Western Sandpipers, one Killdeer, a Common Loon, and two Pigeon Guillemots were seen along the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Eight American Goldfinch, four Pine Siskins, White-crowned Sparrows and three House Finch were seen visiting feeders in the 100 block of Meridian Way. Tuesday August 03: Twenty Common Nighthawks were seen over Overlook Drive in Nanaimo. Sunday August 01: One Greater Yellowlegs, one Semipalmated Plover, Heermann's Gull and two Wilson's Phalarope were seen at French Creek. The Wilson's Phalaropes were swimming near the shore of the creek, came ashore to preen, then returned to the water to feed and shortly after flew out over the ocean. Over eighty Common Nighthawks were seen hawking insects over the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT 250-390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** The Arrowsmith Naturalist meetings will resume in September, 2010 ********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists meetings will resume in September, 2010 ******************************** Everyone is welcome 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 Walks will resume on September 07, 2010. ************************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on August 15, 2010 will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Burma Road off Lost Lake 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 250.390.1633 fax thebackyard AT shaw.ca CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Subject: Sunday bird walk, August 08, 2010 From: "Colin" <backyard_store AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:17:20 -0000 Hi birders, The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was cloudy with very light rain, but calm. The highlights included seeing four Pileated Woodpeckers, eight Northern Flickers, a Willow Flycatcher, two Common Yellowthroats and over ten Cedar Waxwings throughout the morning Six birders saw and heard the following twenty-eight species of birds: Cooper's Hawk, California Quail, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Black Swift, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch. Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Male Western Tanager in Errington From: "dizz_belief" <bluemoonink AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:22:17 -0000 This morning I awoke to hear pleasant birdsong unfamiliar to my ears, and when I peeked out my window, there was a beautiful male Western Tanager, enjoying an enthusiastic bath amidst a crowd of finches and pine siskins in our two tiered fountain. Despite the beautiful bird returning for a second dip, I was unable to get a photo or video taken of it, thanks to my indoor cats blowing my covert attempts to snap pics from the window with their own not-so-covert attempts to observe the action from the windowsill. I have never seen a Western Tanager in my life, so needless to say, I am VERY stoked to have one serenade me out of slumber. [:D] Subject: Common Nighthawks From: "canadianrobin2003" <nmrobins AT telus.net> Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:32:01 -0000 Hi birders, We had a flock of at least twelve Common Highthawks flying over our house on Tuesday evening. We are in the 100 block of meridian Way in Parksville. Good birding Neil Robins Parksville British Columbia