The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

                             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