The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 11, 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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Common Merganser - male (R. Hocken)

Tuesday June 9, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went o the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was cloudy, 15C and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were 3 Spotted Sandpipers calling and fying along the river. A female Purple Martin was seen perch on a branch beside the river, and a Western Tanager was seen along the main trail near the parking lot.

14 birders saw and heard the following 58 species:

Canada Goose

Common Merganser

Surf Scoter

Double Crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Great Blue Heron

California Quail

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Spotted Sandpiper

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Black Swift

Western Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Willow’s Flycatcher

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Wilsons’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pied-billed Grebe - juvenile (R. Hocken)

Sunday June 7, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was cloudy and 14C. A few highlights from the walk were seeing the Wood Duck and Pied-billed Grebe, both with young. A lone Black Swift was seen, Purple Martins were checking out the nest boxes, and a Red-tailed Hawk was seen overhead.

13 birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Black Swift

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Purple Martin

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

European Starling

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

House Sparrow

Backyard Happenings

My backyard feeders are busy with House Finches and all the juveniles that are out. A splash of bright yellow, American Goldfinch, shows up occasionally and is nice to see. The suet feeder is still busy with nuthatches, flickers and families of starlings, which unfortunately are learning to hang upside down. Chickadees were busy at the suet but have disappeared. This is normal and will be back in a couple of weeks to start their second nest. Anna’s Hummingbirds have been busy at the feeders and flowers, as well as taking nesting material although I have not been able to locate their nest this year. Last year I watched Anna’s Hummingbird build the nest and fledge two young in our apple tree. This year a pair of American Robins have nested in the apple tree, and one has just left the nest.

With warm weather coming this week, remember water will be important for the birds so keep a fresh supply available. Bird species other than the feeder birds will also be attracted to the water.

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, June 14, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh, in Lantzville.

Meet at the Copley Ridge Trail parking lot located on Normarel Drive, off of Superior Road, at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, June 16, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to a new location, Lighthouse Country Regional Trail in Qualicum Bay. Meet at the parking lot located at the end of Lioness Blvd. at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Take HWY 19A to Qualicum Bay and turn on Lions Way, then right onto Lioness Blvd, follow a short distance to the parking lot.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Clear Skies - Venus and Jupiter

 Clear Skies - Venus and Jupiter

You have undoubtedly seen in the news that Venus and Jupiter are approaching each other in the evening sky.  They will be closest on Monday/Tuesday, and they are both a delight to see now and in the next few days.

Venus, Earth, and Jupiter – and all of the planets – orbit the Sun.  Venus is closest to the Sun so orbits faster than Earth and Jupiter, and Earth is closer than Jupiter, so Earth orbits faster than Jupiter.

What we are seeing is that Venus is “catching up” to Jupiter from our vantage point on Earth.  Because Earth is orbiting faster than Jupiter, we are leaving Jupiter behind, meaning it appears lower to the horizon each day.

It is best to see this pairing 45 to 90 minutes after sunset, where you will find them low in the west.  Venus is much brighter than Jupiter, but both are unmistakable. 

If you have binoculars, try to see the moons of Jupiter, which will appear like a little string of up to four “stars” in a line on either side of Jupiter.  They change position fairly rapidly from night to night, so it can be a pleasure to note their dance over the course of a few days.  There are four of these bright moons – the so-called Galilean moons in honour of Galileo who first saw them in a telescope, but sometimes one or more may be in front or behind Jupiter and so not seen.

At their closest, Venus and Jupiter will be one and half degrees apart – about one and half widths of your little finger held at arm’s length.  You can follow them for a few more nights as the distance between them increases.

Clear skies.

David

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 5, 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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American Dipper (John Morrison)

Tuesday June 2, 2026: 

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach. Weather was sunny and 19C. A few highlights from the walk were American Dipper, Common Merganser, and Spotted Sandpiper seen in the river and a few Red-breasted Sapsuckers along the walk, or one that followed us around.

14 birders saw and heard the following 42 species:

Common Merganser

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Spotted Sandpiper

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Western Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Willow’s Flycatcher

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Warbling Vireo

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

House Wren

American Dipper

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Wilsons’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

Pelagic Cormorant (Ralph Hocken)

Sunday May 31, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny and very windy on the water side, 12C, and tide was going out. A few highlights from the walk were Wood Duck in the ponds by the parking lot, Violet-green Swallow feeding low over the beach and a Yellow-rumped Warbler was heard at the parking lot.

13 birders, including a birder from the United Kingdom, saw and heard the following 28 species.

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Brant’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Anna’s hummingbird

Western Flycatcher

Violet-green Swallow

Warbling Vireo

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

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, June 7, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh, in Nanaimo.

Meet directly at the parking lot on Jingle Pot Road at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, June 9, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Meet at the parking lot located at the end of Shelly Road at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 26, 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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MacGillivray’s Warbler (J. Morrison)

Tuesday May 26, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park / Parksville Wetlands in Parksville. Weather was cloudy with sunny breaks, light breeze, and 12C. A few highlights from the walk were Pileated Woodpecker, and Cedar Waxwing. A pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks were seen, and Western Tanagers were heard singing. Our parking lot bird for the walk, last bird we see at the end of the walk, was California Quail running along the barrier at the end of Despard Avenue.

10 birders saw and heard the following 42 species:

California Quail

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Western Flycatcher

Willow’s Flycatcher

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Yellow Warbler (J. Morrison)

Sunday May 24, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny and 13C. A few highlights from the walk were Red-tailed Hawk perched in a snag and could be seen from the parking lot. A Hutton’s Vireo was heard along the pathway not far from the parking lot and a Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen by the river.

13 birders, including a birder from the United Kingdom, saw and heard the following 26 species.

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Band-tailed Pigeon

Anna’s hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Western Flycatcher

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Hutton’s Vireo

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Backyard Happenings

Anna’s Hummingbird fun facts.

-Anna’s Hummingbird was named after 19th century duchess Anna De Belle Massena. She probably never saw a hummingbird, she was a relative to one of the explorers.

-Anna’s are west coast birds, ranging from Baja California to southern BC

-Hummingbird weighs between .1 to .2 of an ounce (3 to 5 grams)

-Male courtship dive travels at a velocity of 27 m/s or 385 body lengths per second.

-Anna’s arrived on Vancouver Island in the late 60’s and first Christmas Bird Count report for Nanaimo was 1971.

-Anna’s Hummingbird wings beat around 40-50 beats a second in flight

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 31, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park, in Nanaimo.

Meet directly at the parking lot at the end of Morningside Drive at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, June 2, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in Qualicum.

Meet at the hatchery parking lot, located on Claymore Road off of Laburnum Road Qualicum, at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett