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.

Saturday 30 June 2018

Canada Day

We will be closed for Sunday July 1 for Canada day. The store will re-open at 9:30am on July 2 for all your bird feeding needs.

The Sunday bird walk will be cancelled for July 1, but will resume July 8 and will be held at Hemer Park.

Wednesday 27 June 2018

ALBINO RAVEN, Coombs BC

ALBINO COMMON RAVEN seen in a field at 1513 Winchester road in Coombs. The bird was seen up in a tree beside the field and creek. Please contact the land owner before entering or here at the store for more information.


Tuesday 26 June 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, June 26, 2018:


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk,

June 26, 2018:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with calm winds. A Swainson's Thrush, a Warbling Vireo and an Anna’s Hummingbird greeted us at the start of the walk while they were feeding low in a bush close to the trail. We heard a Red-eyed Vireo singing from high up in the very tall trees in the forest.  There were two Red-breasted Sapsuckers high up in the tall trees.  Purple Martins, Northern Rough-wing Swallows and Violet-green Swallows were seen hawking insects above the river.  A Cooper’s Hawk, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Bald Eagle and three Turkey Vultures were seen flying high overhead.  A Western Tanager was spotted flying between the tall trees along the river. Several American Robins were mobbing a Barred Owl at the end of the walk.

Sixteen birders, saw and heard the following thirty-six species:
Canada Goose
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Common Raven
Mourning Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
 Red-breasted Sapsucker
Red-eyed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Willow Flycatcher
 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 
Purple Martin
 Northern Rough-wing Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Brown Creeper
 Bewick's Wren
 Pacific Wren
 Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Western Tanager
Orange-crowned Warbler
 Black-throated Gray Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
 Black-headed Grosbeak
 American Goldfinch
House Finch
House Sparrow

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

This was the last Tuesday Bird Walk of the season. The walks will resume in the fall!

The Sunday Bird Walk on July 01, 2018 is cancelled due to the Canada Day Holiday!

Have a Happy Canada Day”

The Sunday Bird Walk on July 08, 2018 will be going to Hemer Provincial Park in Cedar.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Hemer Park parking lot at the end of Hemer Road (Take highway 19 south and exit left at Cedar Road.  Follow Cedar Road to the bridge and turn right onto Cedar Road. Follow Cedar Road to Hemer Road and turn left.) Follow the road to the end where there is a parking lot.  We will meet there 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




Sunday 24 June 2018

Sunday bird walk, June 24, 2018




BIRD REPORT
“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca 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 Bird Walk, June 24 2018
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.. The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.  We spotted several Double-crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorants flying over the Strait. Three female Surf Scoters were seen heading down the strait. A Harlequin Duck was seen resting near Shack Island.  We had great views of a Pigeon Guillemot just off shore.

   

                                              Pigeon Guillemot: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eighteen birders including a visiting birder from St. Albert, Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-one species:
Canada Geese
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Pigeon Guillemot
Black Oystercatcher
Bald Eagle
 Turkey Vulture 
Great Blue Heron
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
California Quail
Anna’s Hummingbird
 Rufous Hummingbird
 Northern Flicker
 Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Pacific-sloped Flycatcher
  Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
 Bewick's Wren
 American Robin
European Starling
Warbling Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
 House Finch 
American Goldfinch


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, June 19, 2018:
The Tuesday bird walk went the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny with calm winds.   We heard and then saw a Willow Flycatcher perched at the top a tall bush.   Bright yellow American Goldfinch dotted the bushes beside the river.  Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles were seen high over head during the walk.  We spotted a Spotted Sandpiper perched on a rock near the river.  A very large flock of Canada Geese were resting along the shore of the river.  A Common Loon, a Marbled Murrelet and two Pigeon Guillemots were seen heading up the Strait of Georgia.  Swainson's Thrush, a Hammond’s Flycatcher and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher were heard singing on the walk.  A flock of Band-tailed Pigeons, several Eurasian-collared Doves and a flock of Rock Pigeons flew over. A Mink entertained us as it ran along the shore line and swam just off shore, giving us great views! 

                       Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo:  

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Marbled Murrelet
Pigeon Guillemot
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rock Pigeon
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
                                                              White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch

                   Common Loon: Ralph Hocken Photo:



Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on June  26 , 2018 will be going to the Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am., or on the forest side of Highway 19a on Kinkade Road at about 9:20 a.m.

This will be the last Tuesday Bird Walk until the fall.

The Sunday Bird Walk on July 01, 2018 is cancelled due to the Canada Day Holiday!

 Have a Happy Canada Day”


The Sunday Bird Walk on July 08, 2018 will be going to Hemer Provincial Park in Cedar.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Hemer Park parking lot at the end of Hemer Road (Take highway 19, south and exit left at Cedar Road follow Cedar Road to the bridge and turn right on Cedar Road  and go to Hemer Road and turn left and go to the Park) meet  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 19 June 2018

Parksville/Quualicum Beach tuesday bird walk, June 17, 2018


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk,
June 19, 2018:
The Tuesday bird walk went the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny with calm winds.   We heard and then saw a Willow Flycatcher perched at the top a tall bush.   Bright yellow American Goldfinch dotted the bushes beside the river.  Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles were seen high over head during the walk.  We spotted a Spotted Sandpiper perched on a rock near the river.  A very large flock of Canada Geese were resting along the shore of the river.  A Common Loon, a Marbled Murrelet and two Pigeon Guillemots were seen heading up the Strait of Georgia.  Swainson's Thrush, a Hammond’s Flycatcher and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher were heard singing on the walk.  A flock of Band-tailed Pigeons, several Eurasian-collared Doves and a flock of Rock Pigeons  flew over. A Mink entertained us as it ran along the shore line and swam just off shore, giving us great views! 

Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Thirteen birders, saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Canada Goose
Mallard
                                                                  Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Marbled Murrelet
Pigeon Guillemot
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rock Pigeon
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Common Loon: Ralph Hocken Photo:
Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Sunday Bird Walk on June 24, 2018 will be going Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Neck Point Parking lot off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on June 26 , 2018 will be going to the Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am., or on the forest side of Highway 19a on Kinkade Road 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 17 June 2018

Nanaimo bird report, June 17, 2018


Nanaimo bird Report,June 17, 2018.
BIRD REPORT
“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at
thebackyard@shaw.ca
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 Bird Walk, June 17 2018
The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was sunny and hot.  We heard and saw many Willow Flycatchers during the morning walk.  We spotted a Barred Owl being mobbed by American Robins deep in the forest.   Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, Purple Martins, Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows were seen high overhead. We had great views of a singing Warbling Vireo at the top of a tall tree near the trail.  A MacGillivray’s Warbler was heard singing along the trail.  We had great views of a family of Yellow Warblers just above the trail.
Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Nine birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron
Band-tailed Pigeon
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Purple Martin
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Pacific Wren
European Starling
Swanson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, June 12, 2018:

The Tuesday bird walk went the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. The walk was 3.1 kilometers long and took two hour and twenty-three minutes.  A juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak flew just above us followed by a male Black-headed Grosbeak.  We discovered a family of Chestnut-backed Chickadees on the ground under some bushes in the first little meadow.  A Barred Owl was spotted perched on a snag.   A Mallard Duck with two chicks and a Wood Duck with three chicks greeted us on the Beaver Ponds.   A Willow Flycatcher was seen a the top of a snag next to the trail.  A Purple Finch was spotted at the very top of a very tall tree.                                                                                  


                                  Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Peter Coxon Photo:

Thirteen birders, including two visiting birders from Vancouver saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Mallard
Wood Duck
Turkey Vulture
Barred Owl
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-sloped Flycatcher
Western Tanager
Red-winged Blackbird
Bewick’s Wren
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
                                              American Goldfinch 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Wood Duck: Peter Coxon  Photo:


A Pacific-slope Flycatcher was seen resting on a light fixture along Departure Bay Road in the Rock City Road area of Nanaimo.

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!
.
The Tuesday Bird Walk on June19, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am. or at the Corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive, along the Englishman River at about 9:10 a.m.

The Sunday Bird Walk on June 24, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at Neck Point parking lot off Hammond Bay 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

Tuesday 12 June 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 12, 2018

                       Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk,
June 12, 2018:
The Tuesday bird walk went the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. The walk was 3.1 kilometers long and took two hour and twenty-three minutes.  A juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak flew just above us followed by a male Black-headed Grosbeak.  We discovered a family of Chestnut-backed Chickadees on the ground under some bushes in the first little meadow.  A Barred Owl was spotted perched on a snag.   A Mallard Duck with two chicks and a Wood Duck with three chicks greeted us on the Beaver Ponds.   A Willow Flycatcher was seen a the top of a snag next to the trail.  A Purple Finch was spotted at the very top of a very tall tree.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Peter Coxon Photo:

Thirteen birders, including two visiting birders from Vancouver saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Mallard
Wood Duck
 Turkey Vulture
Barred Owl
Rufous Hummingbird
  Northern Flicker
  Common Raven
 Northwestern Crow
 Tree Swallow
 Violet-green Swallow
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
  Red-breasted Nuthatch
  American Robin
 Swainson’s Thrush
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cassin’s Vireo
 Warbling Vireo
 Orange-crowned Warbler
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
 Townsend’s Warbler
 Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-sloped Flycatcher
 Western Tanager
 Red-winged Blackbird
Bewick’s Wren
Black-headed Grosbeak
 Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
 Dark-eyed Junco 
Wood Duck: Peter Coxon  Photo:

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Sunday Bird Walk on June 17, 2018 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or under the hydro lines on Normarel Drive at about 9:15 a.m.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on June19, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am.  Or at the Corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive, along the Englishman River at about 9:10 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