The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
June 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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Great Blue Heron (J. Morrison)
Tuesday June 23, 2026:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary. Weather was sunny and warm, 26C, and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were Pigeon Guillemots seen on the open water, Cedar Waxwing and a MacGillivray’s Warbler.
12 birders saw and heard the following 40 species:
Canada Goose
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Killdeer
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Eurasian Collared Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Western Flycatcher
Willow’s Flycatcher
Violet-green Swallow
Common Raven
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Bushtit
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Northern Yellow Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
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Red-winged Blackbird (J. Morrison)
Sunday June 21, 2026:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny and 16C. A few highlights from the walk were Great Horned Owl, being mobbed by American Robins, Wood Duck with chicks and a male in eclipse plumage, and Purple Martin.
15 birders saw and heard the following 33 species:
Wood Duck
Hooded Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Great Horned Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Purple Martin
Western Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
Backyard Happenings
Summer is official here and with it comes the heat. Water
is important for the birds year round but especially during the hotter days in
the summer. A water source can also attract other species of birds not usually
seen at your backyard feeders, such as Western Tanager, American Robins or
Northern Yellow Warbler. Birds also have great hearing and can be attracted to the
sound of moving water, which can be created with a fountain. Any source of a fresh
water supply will help the birds in your backyard. It can be as fancy as a nice
bird bath or as simple as a shallow saucer of water. Change and clean the water
daily due to evaporation and bird use or every couple of days with a bigger
bird bath. This will also help to keep the mosquitoes from breeding in the
water. A cleaning solution of 1 part bleach or industrial white vinegar to 9
parts water is used to disinfect the bird bath. If alge is a problem try using
a 99% pure copper disk to prevent the problem or copper pennies, but it does
take a few about twenty to twenty-five cents worth.
Don’t forget about the hummingbirds as the sugar
water will ferment quicker in the heat. Use less at a time and change every
other day and remember to give them a good cleaning each time with the same
cleaning solution as for the bird bath. Make a little extra solution and keep
it in the refrigerator for easy filling.
Bird seed in tube or silo style feeders can also be affected by the heat as it will create moisture causing mold or sprouting if in the feeder for a long time. I recommend using a little less at a time and filling it frequently which will keep the bird seed fresh and the ground a bit tidier.
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 Tuesday and Sunday bird walks will be taking a break for the summer and will be resuming in the fall.
Good birding! Colin Bartlett
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