An interesting Common Raven with some extreme damage to its flight feathers. A severe infestation of parasites maybe?
Seen today at Little Mountain, west of Parksville, BC
There are two Taiga Bean Geese wintering in the Gordon River Estuary, near Port Renfrew. Although Bean Geese have been reported on Vancouver Island previously, these two are the first that have been confirmed to species. These birds would normally winter in China or Korea.
The takeaway message here is that bad people can make great art.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is a derogatory term invented by Trump's propogandists which allows the MAGA faithful to instantly dismiss the anti-fascist activities of those who support democracy and the rule of law, without considering facts, evidence, or even basic common sense.
After some truly bizarre experiences with homeowners in the past year, I am strongly encouraging people to abandon yard ticking and embrace neighborhood birding. It is rare that a bird in a residential setting ever requires entrance to a particular yard to view it.
Neighborhoods are public places!
Large number of Iceland Gulls roosting at the Nanaimo Yacht Club today. Until the herring spawn (if they spawn), this appears to be the largest regular day roost in the Nanaimo Regional District. When the herring spawn, areas further north will host higher numbers of gulls.
Taiga Flycatcher in Vancouver, BC
Pine Warbler in Victoria, BC
Spotted Redshank at Reifel Sanctuary, Vancouver, BC
Steller's Eider, in Port Hardy, BC
Best birds of 2025?
Every.
Single.
One.
These four were outstanding.
Oar Road in Lantzville is often good for gull watching. Today it was good for sky watching.
And given the state of things, I'll take a few more rainbows, please.
Howdy Mr. D,
Yes, you might want to avoid bungee jumping while reading the Bible.
Donna fell off her bike and broke her hand a few weeks ago. I am continuing to enter old bird records into eBird, and wonder how I am going to pay the bills when the savings run out.
Keep on keeping on Neil.
GLM
Buttertubs is always nice this time of year.
Evenings at the Nanaimo River Estuary. Perfect.
Hello? Hello?
Is this thing on?
Many thanks!
Many thanks! Hope you awe well.
The Snowbirds put on a great show over Nanaimo Harbour last night.
#Snowbirds
#Nanaimo
#CanadairCT-114Tutor
Snowbirds and Merlin
Cassidy Airport
August 15, 2025
It has been a great week for dragonfly study on Vancouver Island. The Ocellated Emerald I found in Strathcona Park is one of very few records from our region.
Yet another reason why Nanaimo can't have nice things........
The Regional District of Nananaimo's naming of this place as the "Stormwater Community Park", shows either a total lack of imagination, or a great sense of humor. :-)
Whatever it is called; For an abandoned gravel pit, it sure is a great place for observing birds and insects.
#dragonflies
#RDN
It is August, which means the Spotted Spreadwings are flying around Nanaimo. I saw these two out near Yellow Point yesterday.
#dragonfly
#damselfly
#odonata
#Zygoptera
#Lestidae
I enjoyed a rather warm walk around Cottle Lake today, in the Linley Valley Park.
I was searching for Pacific Spiketail dragonflies. I did see a few, but I was not able to obtain photos.
The Northern Spreadwings, Striped Meadowhawks, and Wood Ducks were far more cooperative.
This heat is really bringing out the dragons around Nanaimo!
The Sylvan Hairstreak is rarely reported anywhere on Vancouver Island. However, about 90% of all reports for the island, come from the Nanaimo Regional District.
I found this one in the hydro corridor north of Westwood Lake today. It was nectaring on Pearly Everlasting.
Have you ever seen a Mouse Bot Fly?
Do you want to? :-)
This time of year they are quite common along the Nanaimo River.
Back in town after two months in the bush, some random woman asks, "It must get lonely out there in those hills, all alone?".
I smile and nod, but the truth is, that it is far lonelier back here among all of these people.
"First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain....."
A Common Emerald found near the porch light around 2 AM in Sayward this morning.
The first juvenile Marbled Murrelet of 2025 that we observed was on the morning of July 3, near Oweekeno Village, in Rivers Inlet.
