Project FeederWatch is starting up again on November first. Turn your love of birding into scientific discoveries!

Join Now

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

April 29, 2025
“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at birding@thebackyard.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.
*********************************************************


Bonaparte’s Gull (R. Hocken)

Tuesday April 29, 2025:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Shelly Road side. Weather was cloudy, 11 C, cool wind on the estuary, and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were a Cooper’s Hawk that was in pursuit of a Eurasian Collared Dove, while being chased an Anna’s Hummingbird. Red Crossbills were seen and heard by the estuary viewing area and Bonaparte’s Gulls were seen out on the spit.

18 birders saw and heard the following 47 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Surf Scoter

Double-crested Cormorant

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

California Quail

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Dunlin

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Violet-green Swallow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch


Wilson’s Warbler (J. Morrison)

Sunday April 27, 2025:

There Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in Lantzville. Weather was sunny, and 10C. A few highlights from the walk were a Hammond’s Flycatcher that was seen and we also heard a Western Flycatcher. A few birders saw and heard Hutton’s Vireo and a House Wren along the powerlines. We had a great View of a Wilson’s Warbler as well. 

18 birders saw and heard the following 49 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Hooded Merganser

Red-tailed Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Norther Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Western Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Cassin’s Vireo

Hutton’s Vireo

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

House Wren

Pacific Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Birding Notes:

A couple of bird days to celebrate in the month of May.

May 4th – Bird Day

It is a day to appreciate and enjoy what our feathered friends have to offer us.

The history of this day. It was started by Charles Almanzo Babcock, a Superintendent of Schools in Pennsylvania. The first Bird Day was established in 1894 and was also the first holiday in the United States dedicated to the celebration of birds. Bird Day was founded to advance bird conservation as a moral value and is observed annually on May 4th.

May 10th – World Migratory Bird Day

World Migratory Bird Day promotes the importance of a healthy coexistence between humans and birds by focusing on creating bird-friendly communities and cities. The campaign raises awareness about the challenges migratory birds face due to human activities and urban development, promoting conservation and the creation of bird-friendly environments within our made-made communities.

In 2006, the United Nations established World Migratory Bird Day to be held on the second weekend of May every year.

If you have any bird sightings to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.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.

Sunday Bird Walk, May 4, 2025.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 am or at the end of Maki Road, parking by Living Forest Campground (by Rona in south Nanaimo) at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, May 6, 2025.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Brant Viewing Platform and Lot 10 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 stand on HWY 19A (between Beach Terrace and Crescent Road West) at 9:15 am and then at the end of Kinkade Road, Lot 10, at 9:45 am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

No comments: