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.

Tuesday 14 December 2021

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 

Nanaimo Bird Report

December 14, 2021


“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.
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Varied Thrush (R. Hocken)

Sunday December 5, 2021:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Maki Road Trail. The weather was cool, overcast, light snow shower and icy to start but the sun did break through near the end of the walk. The tide was high and cut off part of the trail which shortened our walk. A few highlights from the walk were Trumpeter Swans in the marsh, Red-tailed Hawk, and we heard twice a Virginia Rail call.

7 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Northern Pintail

Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

California Quail

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Red-tail Hawk

Bald Eagle

American Coot

Virginia Rail

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Bushtits

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird


Virginia Rail (J. Morrison)

Sunday December 12, 2021:

The Redhead is still being seen at Divers Lake in Nanaimo.

Monday December 13, 2021:

American Bittern was seen again at Buttertubs Marsh, along the main dyke near the turtle nesting area.

Three birds were walking down the street. Two walked into a bar, the other one ducked!

 

How do you know if you are a birder? You might be a birder if you have ever faked your own death to attract vultures.

 

American Bittern (J. Morrison)

The Backyard Bird Walks 

Our bird walks go out Sunday mornings in Nanaimo and Tuesday mornings in Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, are easy walks that go for two to three hours (back for lunch is the plan). Bring binoculars and a field guide. The walks are weather pending.

Please check our blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any cancelations.

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Do not attend if you feel ill.

·         Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·         Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

The Tuesday and Sunday Bird Walks

The Bird Walks will be taking a break over the holidays and will re-start again in the new year. We will post on our blog and email with the starting dates.

 

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Thursday 9 December 2021

                    The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

December 9, 2021

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


Eurasian Wigeon (R. Hocken)

Tuesday December 7, 2021:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. Weather was overcast with a cool breeze and the tides were high. A few highlights of the walk were Trumpeter Swans that were seen behind the houses in the bay, along with a Eurasian Wigeon. By the marina was a Pied-billed Grebe and a merlin.

6 birders saw and heard the following 49 species:

Trumpeter Swan

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Pied-billed Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Brandt’s Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Black Turnstone

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow


Varied Thrush (J. Morrison)

Sunday December 5, 2021:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanoose Bay Estuary. The weather cooperated this time and we were finally able to get the walk in. Weather was sunny, cool and a little frosty. Tide was high and just starting to go out. A few highlights from the walk were 6 Trumpeter Swans flying over, a couple of busy Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 3 Great Blue Herons perched atop a tree and a Eurasian Wigeon.

10 birders saw and heard the following 46:

Trumpeter Swan

Mallard

Gadwall

Bufflehead

Greater Scaup

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Surf Scoter

Horned Grebe

Red-neck Grebe

Pacific Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Red-tail Hawk

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Downy Woodpecker

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin


Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. Hocken)

The Backyard Bird Walks 

Our bird walks go out Sunday mornings in Nanaimo and Tuesday mornings in Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, are easy walks that go for two to three hours (back for lunch is the plan). Bring binoculars and a field guide. The walks are weather pending.

Please check our blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any cancelations.

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Do not attend if you feel ill.

·         Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·         Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

The Tuesday Bird Walk

The Tuesday Bird Walks will be taking a break over the holidays and will re-start again in the new year.

The Sunday Bird Walk, December 12, 2021

The Sunday Bird walk will be going to the Maki Road Trail.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Maki Road by the Living Forest Campground at 9:15 am. Weather Cooperating

Good birding! Colin Bartlett