Nanaimo Weekly Bird Report October 18, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 18, 2019

“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.
*********************************************************

Thursday October 10, 2019:

Clarke’s Nutcracker was reported visiting a backyard on Long Lake road in Nanaimo.

Sunday October 13, 2019:

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Photo: Short-eared Owl (John Morrison)

  

Monday October 14, 2019:

Peregrine Falcon (2), Short-eared Owl (2) and a flock of American Pipits were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary.

Tuesday October 17, 2019:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. Weather started with light showers and change to rain, winds were light to moderate. Some of the highlights from the walk were, Peregrine Falcon that provided some good views, along with a Merlin that perched atop a small evergreen for everyone to see easily. Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were flying about and Long-tailed Ducks were seen across the channel near Denman Island.

11 birders who braved the weather heard and saw 51 species including the Trumpeter / Mute Swan hybrid and 3 domestic Greylags:

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Trumpeter Swan X Mute Swan Hybrid

Canada Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard

Bufflehead

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

Black Turnstones

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Graylag

Photo: Peregrine Falcon (R. Hocken)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

It seems as though the Steller’s Jay numbers just keep increasing, so hopefully this is not a sign of what winter is going to be. The jays are busy caching seed away for the winter and their preferred seeds are black oil sunflower seeds and peanuts. If the jays are taking over your feeders, try covering your feeder with a 2 inch poultry wire which allows the smaller birds and the odd persistent jay. Another option is to separate your seed using white millet in a hopper or tray style feeders for the juncos and other sparrows. Use a tube feeder filled with sunflower seed for the finches, chickadees and nuthatches. Then provide a separate feeder for the jays.

Watch for Varied Thrush as we have received a few reports of them visiting backyard feeders in last couple of weeks.  

Photo: Steller’s Jay (internet)

 

The Sunday Bird Walk October 20, 2019:

Will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo. Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at the end of Morningstar drive at 9:10 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk October 22, 2019:

Will be going to Englishman River Estuary, Plummer road in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am or at trail on Plummer road at 9:10am.

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

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett

  

The Backyard

Wildbird and Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

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