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 here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Sunday 30 July 2017

Nanaimo bird report, July 30, 2017


Nanaimo bird report”
Explore Nature ---Go Birding

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

thebirdstore@shaw.ca
Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

Sunday Bird Walk, July 30, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River estuary in south Nanaimo.  The morning was sunny and warm with a slight breeze off the Strait of Georgia. A MacGillivray’s Warbler was seen at the start of the walk. We spotted a Common Raven chasing a Northern Harrier over the tall Oak Trees across the river. There was a Greater Yellowlegs and a Lesser Yellowlegs feeding along the shoreline. Eight Great Blue Herons and a Bald Eagle were perched along the ocean shore. Several Barn Swallows, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Violet-green Swallows were seen over head. A singing Savannah Sparrow was seen near the trail at the end of the walk.

Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-one species:
Canada Geese
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Turkey Vulture
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
European Starling
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bewick’s Wren
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Friday, July 28, 2017
Seven Spotted Sandpipers were seen at, Sunset Beach at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

The Tuesday Birdwalks will resume on September 5, 2017
The Sunday Birdwalk on August 06, 2017 will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at main parking lot near the Lawn Bowling Green at Bowen Park, off Bowen Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 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

Sunday 23 July 2017

Nanaimo bird report, July 20, 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 sighting.

Sunday Bird Walk, July 23, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny but there was a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. A Cedar Waxwing was spotted at the top of a tall Fir tree at the beginning of the walk.  A Black Oystercatcher, fifteen Long-billed Dowitchers, a large number of Least Sandpipers and Western Sandpipers, two Semi-palmated Plovers and several Killdeer were seen on the mud flats. Four Black-bellied Plovers were feeding along the tide line. Mew Gulls, Bonaparte Gulls
and California Gulls were seen on the Strait.



Semi-palmated Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fourteen birders including visiting birders from Alberta and California saw and heard the following thirty-four species:
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Black Oystercatcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Semi-palmated Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
Mew Gull
Bonaparte Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove
Bushtit
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Purple Finch  




Cedar Waxwing: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Tuesday July 18.
Sixteen Common Nighthawks were seen over McLeary Street and Kennedy Street in Nanaimo.
Six Common Nighthawks were seen over Meridian Way in Parksville.
The Tuesday Birdwalks will resume on September 5/17
The Sunday Birdwalk on July 30, 2017 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 a.m. 

Good birding
Neil Robins

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

Tuesday 18 July 2017

Common Nighthawks

Six Common Nighthawks were seen above Meridian Way in Parksville this evening...Neil Robins.

Sunday 16 July 2017

Nanaimo bird report, July 16, 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, July 16, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm. Two Marsh Wrens were seen perched just off the trail. Purple Martins were singing and flying overhead. A flock of Bushtits landed in a tree next to the trail. A Northern Harrier flew overhead. We saw many Turkey Vultures flying overhead during the morning. We heard and then saw a Yellow Warbler just off the trail.

                                                            

Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Wood Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Great blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Turkey Vulture
Belted Kingfisher
European Starling
Eurasian-collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Marsh Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Bushtit
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Red-wing Blackbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak: Linda Stevens

The Tuesday Birdwalks will resume on September 5/17
The Sunday Birdwalk on July 23, 2017 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00a.m. Or at the corner of  Plummer road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville at about 9:25 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

Sunday 9 July 2017

Nanaimo bird report, July 09, 2017


Sunday Bird Walk, July 09, 2017:

The Sunday bird walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. We were entertained by a Swainson's Thrush singing all morning and we spotted one calling from a branch near the trail. An Osprey flew over head just above us.  We heard a Cassin’s Vireo singing it’s unique tune just off the trail.  We saw a family of three Western Tanagers in a tall tree.  Common Yellow-throats were singing and we had great views of one near the lake.

Osprey: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eighteen birders including a visiting birder from California saw and heard the following twenty-five species:
Osprey
Anna’s Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Bewick’s Wren
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Common Yellow-throat
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Purple Finch  
Pileated Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Birdwalks will resume on September 5/17

The Sunday Birdwalk on July 16/17 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at Bowen Road side of Buttertubs Marsh entrance at about 9:15 A.M.

Neil Robins
Good birding

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

Sunday 2 July 2017



Please note

The Sunday Birdwalk on July 09/17 will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Burma Road  off Lost Lake Road (At the entrance to Linley Valley) at about 9:20 A.M.


Sunday Bird Walk, June 25, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny but  there was a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.

A Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorants, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen on the Strait. Two Black Oystercatchers and a Harlequin Duck were along the shoreline. A Swainson’s Thrush was spotted high up in a conifer tree singing continually. We spotted a Warbling Vireo singing from a nest high in a Big Leaf Maple Tree.  We watched as he flew out and another Vireo immediately flew into the nest. We assumed that they were sitting on eggs.

Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty species:
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Harlequin Duck
Belted Kingfisher
Black Oystercatcher
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
  Pacific-sloped Flycatcher
 Orange-crowned Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
  Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
 Anna’s Hummingbird
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
   Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
                                                American Goldfinch
House Finch 

Swanson's Thrush: Ralph Hocken photo: 

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, June 27:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and very warm, but cooler in the forest.  A Barred Owl was spotted deep in the forest after we heard many loud noisy birds likely mobbing him at the start of the walk. Several Warbling Vireos, a Common Yellowthroat, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, a MacGillivray’s Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler  and Swainson's Thrush’s made appearances during the morning.  A Spotted Sandpiper was spotted feeding along the edge of the river. We watched as two Northern Rough-winged Swallows flew into their nest hole in the bank of the river.  A  Black-headed Grosbeak was singing continually from the top of a very tall conifer tree.

Nine birders including a visiting birder from California saw and heard the following thirty-three Species:
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Turkey Vulture
Spotted Sandpiper
Belted Kingfisher
Common Raven
Northwester Crow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
 Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
 Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
 Warbling Vireo
 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Pacific Wren
  Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Black-throated Gray Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
  Common Yellowthroat
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
                                          Black-headed Grosbeak
European Starling 

Spotted Sandpiper: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Birdwalks will resume on September 5/17

The Sunday Birdwalk on July 09/17 will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Burma Road  off Lost Lake Road (At the entrance to Linley Valley) at about 9:20 A.M.

Neil Robins
Good birding

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