The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

April 16, 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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Common Merganser (R. Hocken)

Tuesday April 16, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. Weather was sunny but cool, 5C. A few highlights from the walk were American Dipper that was seen and heard, and a Hermit Thrush seen at the parking lot. A few Orange-crowned Warblers were singing, and we had a great view of one in the shrubs, as well as Yellow-rumped Warblers, both Audubon and Myrtle. There were a few Red-breasted Sapsuckers seen along the walk and we had a great view of a Brown-headed Cowbird atop a tree.  

13 birders saw and heard the following 30 species:

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Rufous Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Violet-green Swallow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Dipper

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

Orange-crowned Warbler (J. Morrison)

Sunday April 14, 2024

Townsend’s Solitaire was seen in a backyard on Hoylake Road in Qualicum Beach.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road trail in south Nanaimo. Weather was sunny with a bit of a cool breeze and 10C. A few highlights from the walk were a flock of 20 plus Greater White-fronted Geese flying overhead and Rufous Hummingbirds active all along the walk. Orange-crowned Warblers were very vocal all along the walk and we saw Audubon and Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers. We also saw our first Common Yellowthroat in the marsh.  

14 birders heard and saw the following 45 species:

Greater White-fronted Goose

Canada Goose

Mallard

Wood Duck

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Greater Yellowlegs

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Hermit Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Goldfinch

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, April 21, 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 meet at the parking lot at 9:10 am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, April 23, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary – Shelly road, 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 Shelly Road off of HWY 19A about 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett