The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
October 28, 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.
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Harlequin Duck (R. Hocken)
Tuesday October 28, 2025:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather, 8C, tide was coming in and the rain started just as we started up the trail. A few highlights were Northern Pintails, a Belted Kingfisher that was fishing and put on a show hovering for long durations and a American Kestrel that made a quick stop for some of us to see.
8 hardy birders saw and heard the following 35 species:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-necked Grebe
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
American Kestrel
Black-bellied Plover
Short-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Ruddy Duck - hen(J. Morrison)
Sunday October 26, 2025:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was cloudy, 5C, and calm. A few highlights from the walk were Ruddy Duck, female, seen near the Osprey tower, a Barred Owl that was near the trail entrance by the miner’s shack, Greater White-fronted Geese flying overhead and a Northern Harrier.
12 birders saw and heard the following 47 species:
Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
American Coot
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Barred Owl
Anna’s Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
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, November 2, 2025:
Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Meet directly at Neck Point parking lot located at the end of Morningside Drive, off of Hammond Bay Road, at 9:00am. Weather Cooperating.
Tuesday Bird Walk, November 4, 2025:
Tuesday
Bird Walk will be going the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum
Beach.
Meet directly at the viewing stand located on Island HWY 19A between Crescent Road W and Garret Road at 9:00am. We will then head to the estuary located at the end of Surfside Road off Kinkade Road about 9:30. Weather cooperating.
Good birding! Colin Bartlett
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