The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted by 8am the day of the walk.

Sunday 14 May 2017

Nanaimo bird report, May 14, 2017


“Nanaimo bird report”
Explore Nature ---go Birding

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail


Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings.

Sunday Bird Walk, May 14, 2017, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers and a few periods of sunshine. We heard a Western Tanager at the start of the walk. Two Marbled Murrelets were seen just off shore.   A  Common Murre was seen resting on the rocks at the point. We had great views of four Killer Whales offshore heading up the Strait of Georgia. We watched a Pacific Wren gathering nesting materials and then heading into the nesting hole just off the trail.  An Orange-crowned Warbler was spotted feeding on a tree near the trail

Eighteen birders including a visiting birder from the United Kingdom saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Canada Geese
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Pacific loon
Common Loon
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Marbled Murrelet
Common Murre
Glaucous-wing Gull
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Belted Kingfisher
Black Oystercatcher
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Pacific Wren
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Bushtit
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
Western Tanager
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Orange-crowned Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

There have been many reports of Black-headed Grosbeaks visiting backyard feeders on central Vancouver Island.

Friday, May 12:
Two Western Kingbirds were seen and photographed at Neck Point Park.

Thursday, May 11:

. A Western Tanager visited a Backyard along Louise Road in Ladysmith. 

Wednesday, May 10:

A Virgina Rail was seen in the Brookwood Marsh in Nanaimo

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, May 09:  

The Tuesday bird walk on May 09, 2017 went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. A singing Warbling Vireo greeted us at the start of the walk. We heard Pacific-slope Flycatchers singing in the forest for most of the morning. A Pacific Loon was heading up the Strait of Georgia.  An adult Killdeer with a fledgling was spotted along the shore at low tide. We spotted a Wilson's Warbler feeding just off the trail.  A Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Turkey Vulture were circling high overhead.  We saw a pair of Yellow Warblers feeding in a short tree near the trail.  Barred Owls were seen perched in a tree at the end of the walk.

Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fifteen birders including a visiting birder from Australia saw and heard the following fifty-nine species:
Canada Geese
 Mallard
 Surf Scoter
Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Pelagic Cormorant
Pacific Loon
 Great Blue Heron
 Turkey Vulture
 Bald Eagle
 Sharp-shinned Hawk
Barred Owl
Killdeer
 Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
 Belted Kingfisher
 Eurasian-collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
California Quail
Rufous Hummingbird
 Anna’s Hummingbird
 Hairy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
 Pileated Woodpecker
 Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
 Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
                                                     Brown Creeper
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
 Pacific Wren
                                                    American Robin,
Swainson’s Thrush
European Starling
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-rumped Warbler
 Black-throated Grey Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
 Orange-crowned Warbler
 Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
 Song Sparrow
 White-crowned Sparrow
 Brown-headed Cowbird  
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
         Purple Finch              
                                                American Goldfinch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin


Killdeer: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Twenty Whimbrels were seen in Victoria over Hillside and Shelburne.

Two Whimbrels were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo. 


The Tuesday bird walk on May 16, 2017 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Top Bridge Trail parking area along Industrial Way near Tuan Road in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m. 

The Sunday bird walk on May 21, 2017 will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 a.m. or the end of Burma Road off Lost Lake Road at about 9:15 A.M.

Good birding
Neil Robins  

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633


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