The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 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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Merlin (R. Hocken)

Friday March 29, 2024:

A Merlin has returned to Forest Park neighbourhood in the hospital area.

A female Rufous Hummingbird was also reported in the hospital area.

Tuesday March 26, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Weather was cloudy with light showers to start but cleared up to a sunshine by the end of the walk. Temperature was 6C, winds were calm and the tide was going out but only to 3.7m. A few highlight from the water were Western Grebes in the middle of the strait, a male Rufous Hummingbird displaying, and a few Pigeon Guillemot on the water.

13 birders saw and heard the following 53 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-necked Merganser

California Quail

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

Bonaparte's Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Sapsucker (R. Hocken)

Sunday March 24, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Weather was sunny but also foggy to start. Temperature was 1C and no wind. A few highlights from the walk were great views of a few Red-breasted Sapsuckers during the walk, Hutton’s Vireo, and a visit by a Merlin and Turkey Vulture.

13 birders saw and heard the following 32 species:

Wood Duck

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Merlin

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Hutton’s Vireo

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

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 31, 2024.

There will be NO Sunday Bird Walk this Easter Sunday.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, April 2, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Springwood 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 end of Despard Avenue and Chestnut Street at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett