The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 29, 2024
“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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Bufflehead (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 27, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Weather was cloudy, 0C, a cool breeze and tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were 6 Greater Yellowlegs working the shoreline, a raft of Surf Scoters further out from the beach, many Bald Eagles about, a few Snow Geese fly over and a flyby of 6 Brant.

8 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:

Brant

Snow Goose

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Greater Yellowlegs

Black Turnstone

Black-bellied Plover

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Northern Shrike (J. Morrison)

Monday February 26, 2024:

Cedar Waxwings were observed feeding at the end of Buttertubs Drive behind the new apartment complex.

Sunday February 25, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Cedar. Weather was sunny with some clouds, 7C with a light breeze and tide was going out. A few highlights from the walk were Northern Harrier flying about the estuary, a few were lucky to see Western Meadowlarks flying away and we had a few good views of Northern Shrikes.

12 birders saw and heard the following 35 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Merlin

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Friday February 23, 2024:

A Townsend’s Solitaire was observed in a backyard on Pipers Crescent in Nanaimo.

A few Turkey Vultures were seen soaring over the area of Uplands Drive and Turner Road in Nanaimo.

There were also other sighting on Friday of Turkey Vultures from Ladysmith to Qualicum Beach.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, March 3, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail located at the end of Maki Road in south Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking area at the end of Maki Road at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, March 5, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Deep Bay.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the government wharf parking lot in Deep Bay at 9:20am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett

                    The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 22, 2024
“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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Brant (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 20, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Weather was cloudy, 6C and tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were Black Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers up close to the beach for everyone to see. Two flocks of Brant flew past and Common Goldeneye were close to the beach for good viewing.

14 birders saw and heard the following 35 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

American Coot (R. Hocken)

Sunday February 18, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled for the Family Day long weekend.

One American Coot was seen at Divers Lake mixed in with all the Mallards at the parking lot. Common and Hooded Mergansers were seen on the lake along with a pair of Pied-billed Grebes and a lone Ring-neck Duck.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, February 25, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary located at the end of Raines Road in Cedar.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at the end of Raines Road off Cedar Road at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, February 27, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the sandy beach parking lot located on Admiral Tyron Blvd, located off Columbia Drive and HWY 19A, at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

                             The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 13, 2024
“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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Snow Geese (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 13, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary, starting at the Brant viewing platform on highway 19a. Weather was cloudy with a cool breeze, 4c to start and the tide was high. Some highlights from the walk were Harlequin Ducks close to shore and easy to admire, Western Grebe, 7 Snow Geese in the estuary and 6 Barn Swallows feeding close to us.

7 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:

Snow Goose

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Barn Swallow

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

House Sparrow

Harlequin Duck - male (R. Hocken)

Sunday February 11, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled due to the weather, but three birders did show up and brave the rain and wind. Weather was cool 4c with the strong wind out of the southeast and rain varying in strength but did stop halfway through the walk. A few highlights were 22 Oystercatchers hunkered down on the rocks just off the beach, Pacific Loons and a Pacific Wren.

3 birders saw and heard the following 29 species:

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoters

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, February 18, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will not be going out for the Family Day Holiday.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, February 20, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the Main Parking lot by the beach entrance at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Sunday Bird Walk CANCELLED FEB 11, 2024

 Todays, Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELLED due to weather..

                    The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 7, 2024
“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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American Dipper (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 6, 2024:

Townsend’s Warbler was seen at Buttertubs Marsh.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was sunny, no wind, 1C and tide was in. A few highlights from the walk were two American Dippers seen and heard singing, a great view of a Northern Harrier perched on a log and many Anna’s Hummingbirds seen and heard displaying.

13 birders saw and heard the following 50 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Killdeer

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

American Dipper

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Northern Pygmy Owl (J. Morrison)

Sunday February 4, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. The weather was sunny and a cool 3C. A few highlights from the walk were an adult and a juvenile Bald Eagle, a Merlin being pursued by a Common Raven and Wood Ducks.

23 birders saw and heard the following 28 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Ring-neck Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

House Sparrow

Saturday February 3, 2024:

Northern Pygmy Owl was seen in Linley Valley on the trail to the left from the Rock City Road entrance.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, February 11, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, February 13, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the Brant Viewing platform on HWY 19A, between Crescent Road W and Beach Terrace, at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett