The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 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