Clear Skies - September 18th, 2026

 The Planets

Venus can be seen just after sunset, very low in the southwest sky.  The Sun sets around 7:30, leaving Venus shining very brightly, but only about 4 degrees above the horizon.

The Moon, which we’ll talk about in the third class, will be at first quarter (half illuminated) on Friday.  It rises in the east late in the afternoon, and a bit later each day.   Look for it during the early evening even before the Sun has set.  It will be fairly far to the left of the Sun.

You can find Saturn in the evening.  Look in the southeast for a square of four stars, tipped with one corner at the bottom – the stars are about 10 degrees apart (the distance from your index finger to your little finger at arm’s length).  About the same distance below the bottom star, you see a brighter “star” – that’s Saturn.  It will travel across the sky to the west over the course of the night.

Jupiter is now visible low in the east before sunrise.  It is the brightest object in that part of the sky.

The Moon - Ceelard's Photo Blog

International Space Station (ISS)

The ISS is currently visible in the evenings.  It moves steadily across the sky, roughly west to east, and it is orbiting 400 km above Earth’s surface.

The ISS travels very quickly – about 28,000 km per hour – so when you first see it each evening, it is over 2,000 km away.  It is easily visible because of sunlight reflecting off it, and it is as large as a football field.

You’ll be able to see two passes on Friday.  The first rises in the west at 7:56 p.m., climbs about two thirds of the way up the sky in the north, and then drops to the ENE horizon at 8:05.

The second rises in the WNW at 9:33 and climbs two thirds of the way up the sky where is fades from sight in the Earth’s shadow at 9:38.

ISS - Wikimedia Commons

On Saturday, September 19, the ISS rises in the WNW at 8:45.  It reaches its maximum visual height in the northern sky at 8:50.

Sunday will see one complete pass and another partial.  The first pass rises in the west just before 8 p.m. and climbs two thirds of the way up the sky in North by 8:03.  It then descends to the eastern horizon at 8:06.

The second pass is very short.  ISS rises in the WNW at 9:35, passes very close to a bright star (Arcturus) and then fades from sight at 9:39.

On Monday, Sept. 21, ISS starts a pass almost directly overhead at 8:48 in WNW.  It passes high overhead by a bright star (Vega) at 8:52 and then another moments later (Deneb) before fading from sight at 8:53 close to the Great Square of Pegasus.  Vega and Deneb are the top two stars of the so-called Summer Triangle.  The third star is Altair, well below those two.

Tuesday sees the ISS rise in the WNW at 7:59.  It climbs quite high in the NNE by 8:04, then drops to the eastern horizon at 8:07.

Wednesday, Sept. 23 sees ISS rise in the WNW at 8:49, skirt very close to the bright star Arcturus, and then pass below Altair (the bottom star of the Summer Triangle) at 8:54 when it will fade from sight in Earth’s shadow.

Finally, ISS rises on Thursday, Sept. 24, in the WNW, climbing two thirds of the way up the sky in the SSW before dropping towards the ESE horizon where it will fade from sight very close to the Moon.

Clear skies.

David

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 16, 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.
*********************************************************

American Kestrel (R. Hocken)

Wednesday September 16, 2026:

37 Black Oystercatchers were seen huddling together at Columbia Beach, Parksville.

Tuesday September 15, 2026:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Parksville Wetlands / Springwood Park in Parksville. Weather was sunny and 9C. A few highlights from the walk were a pair of Kestrels by Church Road and Coldwater Road, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and to end the walk a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets with two of them on the same branch flashing their orange crowns.

5 birders saw and heard the following 29 species:

Red-tailed Hawk

Turkey Vulture

American Kestrel

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Savanah Sparrow (J. Morrison)

Sunday September 13, 2026:

A Clark’s Nutcracker was seen and photographed up at the Lantzville Foothills lookout.

The Sunday bird walk went to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 9C to start and tide was in. A few highlights from the walk were a female Western Tanager seen briefly by a few birders, Spotted Sandpiper seen working along the riverbank before disappearing at the mouth of the river, a Virginia Rail was heard and a large flock of Savanah Sparrows in the shrubs near the river.

10 birders saw and heard the following 36 species:

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green -winged Teal

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Virginia Rail

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Thursday September 10, 2026:

Northern Pygmy Owl was seen on Notch Hill in Nanoose.

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)

Backyard Happenings

 Red Crossbills are being seen and heard frequently all around the island. These birds, like other finches, arrive in good numbers when the natural seed crop is plentiful. They are unique to see as they get their name from their bill. The upper and lower mandibles of these birds cross over at the tip of the bill, giving the birds their name “crossbill”. When identifying the Red Crossbill, they are slightly bigger than a House Finch with a parrot like bill crossed at the tip. The male is red in colour, and the wings may look darker. The female is yellowish or olive colour with some grey. Their call sounds like chip chip chip chip-----chip chip chip chip.

Back in history it was thought that Mother Nature had gone horribly wrong with the crossbills, but Mother Nature designed the bill for a purpose. When the crossbill’s feed on the conifer cones, they push their bill into the cone, in the closed position. Then they will open their bill spreading or removing the scales of the cone to access the seeds. They then use their spoon shaped tongue to retrieve the seed. Depending on the habitat and area some crossbill’s upper bill cross to the left and some crossbills will cross to the right. These bills are adaptable to the different regions. Look closely at the juvenile birds, as they do not have a crossed bill for at least a week or so after fledging from the nest.

Crossbill’s like to visit backyard bird feeding stations for a drink of water, a bath and to visit the bird feeders. A preferred seed is the black oil sunflower seed provided in an open or tray style bird feeder.

Red Crossbill (R. Hocken)

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 September 20, 2026, will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Meet by the water’s edge by the parking lot at 9:00am.

Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk September 22, 2026, will be going to the Plummer Road in Parksville.

Meet directly at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 10, 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.
*********************************************************

Wilson’s Snipe (J. Morrison)

Thursday September 10, 2026:

Wilson’s Snipe was seen feeding in a backyard along Lakeside Drive in Cinnabar Valley, Nanaimo.

Tuesday September 8, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was overcast to sunny, 16C, and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers, a few Savanah Sparrows were seen in the estuary, Cooper’s Hawk and lots of Red Crossbills heard and a few seen.

7 birders saw and heard the following 33 species:

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Cooper’s Hawk (J. Morrison)

Backyard Happenings

It feels like fall is already here and the birds in the backyard are changing with the season. We have had reports of Steller’s Jays returning to backyards in recent weeks along with Red Crossbills. In my backyard I have been hearing the Red Crossbills in the fir trees but not at the feeders and I have also been hearing a Golden-crowned Sparrow but have not seen it visiting the bird feeder yet. A steller’s Jay has also just found the feeder with peanuts in the shell so the battle for the peanuts with the squirrel will begin soon.

The bird feeders are busy with House Finch and American Goldfinch that just arrived, chickadees, nuthatch and Bushtits, although since the Cooper’s Hawk was perched atop the shepherd with the feeders, the birds have not been visiting the feeders as much.

Make sure your feeders are full and ready to go for those birds migrating and for the fall and winter season.

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.

The Sunday bird walk, September 13, will be going to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo.

Meet at the parking lot at the end of Maki Road, turn off HWY 19A at Rona, at 9:00am.

Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, September 15, will be going to the Parksville Wetlands / Springwood Park in Parksville.

Meet directly at the end Despard Ave W and Chestnut Street at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Fall Bird Walks

 It feels like fall is here and the birds are busy preparing and moving south. It is time for our weekly bird walks to resume.

Tuesday Bird Walks start on September 8th at the Shelley Road entrance to the Englishman River Estuary. Meet at the end of Shelley Road, off of HWY 19A, at the park entrance at 9:00am, weather cooperating.

Sunday Bird Walks will begin on September 13 going to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo. Meet at the end of Maki Road, by Living Forest Campground, at 9:00am, weather cooperating.

Good birding, Colin.

Red-crossbill by R. Hocken

Clear Skies - Perseid Meteor Shower on Wednesday and the Planets

The astronomy news this week is the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks Wednesday evening, Aug 12.  The Moon won’t be a factor, as it is almost exactly a New Moon, meaning it is close to the Sun from our vantage point.  Therefore, we will have a dark background sky against which to see the meteors.  

You will hopefully see a few more meteors than normal, and possibly even a spectacular fireball.  You can start looking for meteors even tonight and for a few nights afterwards.  Over the past couple nights, I caught two each night in about a half hour.

With the darker skies, you will also probably be able to see a few satellites crossing the sky – moving steadily and looking just like stars.  

Remember to dress warmly as you won’t be active and will get colder more quickly.  Set up a lounge chair or a blanket and face the widest stretch of sky you can see.  Avoid any lights around you and give yourself at least 10 to 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt.  Don’t use your phone unless it is for astronomy where you can set it to night mode – which is red – a colour that doesn’t affect you night vision.

This shower is called the Perseids, as it appears to originate in the constellation Perseus, which is in the northwest in the evening.   We don’t see them start there, but only find them as they hit the atmosphere, which could be anywhere in the sky, but if you follow their track back, it will point back to Perseus. 
 
You may see some other meteors in different directions.  These are referred to as “sporadics” and aren’t part of the old comet.  Dust and meteors are very common up there.  As Earth orbits the Sun, its gravity continues to sweep up dust that is still floating in space from the original creation of our solar system and other events over the past few billion years.  

As a reminder, what we’re seeing are bits of dust that have been left behind in the tail of comet Swift-Tuttle when it passed across Earth’s orbital path in the 1990’s.  As we pass through these particles, mostly smaller than a grain of sand, they burn up with great intensity due to their speed through our atmosphere, giving us some quite impressive meteors, and occasionally even a very bright fire ball, which is a spectacularly intense meteor, sometimes bright enough to cast shadows.  They are rare, so don’t expect to see one, but if do, don’t be surprised either.

The Planets in the evening

Venus is shining very brightly low in the southwest just after sunset.  It sets around 10 p.m.  On Sunday evening, Aug. 16, look for a crescent Moon just below Venus, and note that you can see the full disk of the Moon due to earthshine, which is sunlight reflected off Earth.

Saturn is visible later in the evening in the southeast.  It is not very bright, but brighter than anything around it, so easy to identify.  Above Saturn, you should be able to see the large square of the constellation Pegasus.  On August 31 the Moon will be just above Saturn.  

Jupiter and Mercury are barely visible in the very early morning, just before sunrise,  A bit earlier than that you may see reddish Mars a bit above the eastern horizon.

Partial solar eclipse in eastern Canada

There will be a partial solar eclipse visible in eastern Canada around midday, however the Sun will only be 15% covered in Ontario and over 40% in the Maritimes.  Please use eclipse glasses if you are planning to look at.  Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye and never look with binoculars.

Clear skies.
David