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 31 March 2019


The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report
Nanaimo Bird Report, March 31, 2019
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 was seen and location of your sighting.
***********************************************************
Sunday Bird Walk, March 24, 2019 :

This week’s Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay.  The weather was sunny with calm winds. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a American Pipit along the estuary, close to the Canada Geese. A Red-tailed Hawk, a

Coopers Hawk and a Turkey Vulture were seen over head.

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species:
Canada Geese
American Widgeon
Green-wing Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Common Goldeneye
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
American Pipit
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Killdeer
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Coopers Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Northwestern Crow
Collard Dove
California Quail
European Startling
American Robin
Ruby crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-wing Blackbird
Brewers Blackbird
Purple Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow  
Pine Siskin


American Pipit: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 26, 2019:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds off the Strait of Georgia. We were entertained by very large flocks of  Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers along the shoreline at the start of the walk. Hundreds of Common and Pacific Loons were on the Strait all morning. Many flocks of Brant Geese were seen on the Strait. Several Surf Scoters were seen flying low over the water heading up the Strait. A Pigeon Guillemot was spotted not far from shore.  Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen just off the trail.  A Hutton’s Vireo was heard singing high up in the tall trees along the trail.
Sixteen birders including two visiting birders from Smithers saw and heard the following fifty-three species:
Canada Goose
Brant, 
Mallard, 
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye 
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser
 Pacific Loon
 Common Loon 
Horned Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe 
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Brandt’s Cormorant
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
Mew Gull
California Gull 
Iceland(Thayer's) Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle 
Coopers Hawk
Virginia Rail
Dunlin 
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer 
Northern Flicker 
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
Anna’s Hummingbird
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren 
Bewick’s Wren 
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hutton’s Vireo
American Robin 
European Starling
Spotted Towhee 
Song Sparrow 
Fox Sparrow 
White-crowned Sparrow 
Purple Finch 
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco 
Hutton’s Vireo: Ralph Hocken, Photo:

Monday, March 25:
A Virginia Rail, A Yellow-rumped Warbler. Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wood Duck and Wood Ducks were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in 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 April 02, 2019 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant Viewing area in north Qualicum Beach at about  9:15 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 07, 2019 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Park Road at about 9:15am.
Good birding
Neil Robins 



THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com





Tuesday 26 March 2019

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday birdwalk,


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 26, 2019:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds off the Strait of Georgia. We were entertained by very large flocks of  Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers along the shoreline at the start of the walk. Hundreds of Common and Pacific Loons were on the Strait all morning. Many flocks of Brant Geese were seen on the Strait. Several Surf Scoters were seen flying low over the water heading up the Strait. A Pigeon Guillemot was spotted not far from shore.  Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen just off the trail.  A Hutton’s Vireo was heard singing high up in the tall trees along the trail.



Sixteen birders including two visiting birders from Smithers saw and head the following fifty-three species:
Canada Goose
Brant, 
Mallard, 
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck 
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye 
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser 
Red-breasted Merganser
 Pacific Loon
 Common Loon 
Horned Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe 
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Brandt’s Cormorant
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
Mew Gull
California Gull 
Iceland(Thayer's) Gull 
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle 
Coopers Hawk
Virginia Rail
Dunlin 
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer 
Northern Flicker 
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
Anna’s Hummingbird
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren 
Bewick’s Wren 
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hutton’s Vireo
American Robin 
European Starling
Spotted Towhee 
Song Sparrow 
Fox Sparrow 
White-crowned Sparrow 
Purple Finch 
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco 

Hutton’s Vireo: 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 March 31, 2019 will be going to the Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or at the beach in front of the Church camp off highway 19 and Arlington Road at about 9:15am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on April 02, 2019 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant Viewing area in north Qualicum Beach at about  9:15 am.

Good birding
Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Sunday 24 March 2019


The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report.

Nanaimo Bird Report, March 24, 2019

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 was seen and location of your sighting.
***********************************************************
Sunday Bird Walk, March 24, 2019 :

This week’s Sunday bird walk went Bowen Park in Nanaimo.  The weather was sunny with calm winds. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen at the start of the walk. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of several Red-breasted Sapsuckers seen just off the trail giving us great views.

We saw and heard both the Bewick's Wren and Pacific Wren on the walk. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was spotted going down a tree trunk and a little further on a Brown Creeper, was seen going up the trunk of a tree.

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Mallard, 
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Anna's Hummingbird,
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker,
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow,
Common Raven,
Bewick's Wren, 
Pacific Wren, 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 
Brown Creeper, 
American Robin, 
Varied Thrush, 
Spotted Towhee, 
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow, 
Pine Siskin 
House Finch
Purple Finch
House Sparrow


Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo:


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 19, 2019:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with calm winds off the Strait of Georgia.  Large flocks of Gulls including Bonaparte Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gull were seen all morning offshore.  Bald Eagles flew over the flocks several times and there was a cloud of gulls lifting off the strait. A large number of Western Grebes were seen further off shore giving us great views. Killdeer, Black Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones were seen along the shoreline.  Several flocks of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Long-tail Ducks were heading up the strait.

Twenty birders including a visiting birder from Calgary saw and heard the following fifty-four species:
Brant
Canada Geese
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Eurasian Wigeon
American Widgeon
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tail Duck 
Bufflehead
Northern Pintail
Common Goldeneye
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Rhinoceros Auklet
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland Gull(Thayer’s) Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Eurasian-collared Dove
California Quail
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewers Blackbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

Black-bellied Plover:  Ralph Hocken, Photo:

Monday, March 18:
A Flock of Band-tailed Pigeons were seen in south 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 March 26, 2019 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on March 31, 2019 will be going to the Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or at the beach in front of the Church camp off highway 19 and Arlington Road at about 9:15am.
Good birding
Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669










Friday 22 March 2019

First of the Season

Rufous Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo:
Our first of the season Rufous Hummingbird along Meridian Way in Parksville.

Cheers
Neil Robins

Tuesday 19 March 2019

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 19, 2019:


 Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 19, 2019:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with calm winds off the Strait of Georgia.  Large flocks of Gulls including Bonaparte Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gull were seen all morning offshore.  Bald Eagles flew over the flocks several times and there was a cloud of gulls lifting off the strait. A large number of Western Grebes were seen further off shore giving us great views. Killdeer, Black Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones were seen along the shoreline.  Several flocks of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Long-tail Ducks were heading up the strait.
Twenty birders including a visiting birder from Calgary saw and head the following fifty-four species:
Brant
Canada Geese
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Eurasian Wigeon
American Widgeon
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tail Duck
Bufflehead
Northern Pintail
Common Goldeneye
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Rhinoceros Auklet
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland Gull(Thayer’s) Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Eurasian-collared Dove
California Quail
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewers Blackbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

Black-bellied Plover:  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 March 24, 2019 will be going to the Bowen Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00am or at the main Parking lot by the Bowing Green at Bowen Park at about 9:15am.


The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 26, 2019 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10am.

Good birding
Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669