The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 13, 2026
“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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Horned Grebe (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 13, 2026:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Weather was overcast, 13C, and the tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were Western Grebe, 8 Ring-billed Gulls seen right in front of the beach viewing area, and Varied Thrush.

11 birders saw and heard the following 47 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Eared Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Pipit

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

American Pipit (J. Morrison)

Sunday October 11, 2026:

There was no bird walk on Thanksgiving weekend.

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, October 18, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Cedar. Meet at the gravel parking lot located at the end of Raines Road, follow Cedar Road to the Nanaimo River and turn left onto Raines Road once you cross the bridge, at 9:00am.

Weather Cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, October 20, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Columbia Beach in French Creek.

Meet at the beach access parking lot located on Admiral Tyron BLVD, off of Columbia Drive, at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett