Sunday Bird Walk CANCELED

 Sorry but today’s Sunday Bird Walk, November 8, is CANCELED. 

Good birding, Colin. 

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 3, 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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Northern Harrier (J. Morrison)

Tuesday November 3, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was overcast, 8C, and tide was coming in. A few highlights from the walk were American Kestrel and Northern Harrier seen in the estuary, four Trumpeter Swans flew over and Northern Shrike was seen in the field towards the Community Park.

14 birders saw and heard the following 56 species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Black Turnstone

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker’

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Northern Shrike

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. Hocken)

Monday November 2, 2026:

A Merlin was hanging out in a backyard in lower Lantzville.

Sunday November 1, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 4C and the tide in. A few highlights from the walk were Pacific Loons still in breeding plumage, a Cooper’s Hawk perched in a tree for all to view and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that was flitting about in an Ocean Spray beside the trail.

11 birders saw and heard the following 38 species:

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

California Quail

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

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 8, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo.

Meet directly at the parking lot, located at the end of Maki Road before Living Forest Campground at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, November 10, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Meet at the beach entrance. main parking lot, just before the campground, at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Nanaimo Bird Report: October 30, 2026

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 30, 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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Hudsonian Whimbrel (J. Morrison)

Tuesday October 27, 2026:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. Weather started off with showers which stopped and was just cloudy and cool at 7C. Tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were Hudsonian Whimbrel seen on the shore by the mailboxes, a flock of Dunlin flew by, Long-tailed Ducks and all 3 species of scoters were seen.

9 birders saw and heard the following 54 species:

Hybrid x Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstones

Dunlin

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Rock Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Belted Kingfisher (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 25, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk was going to go to Maki Road Trail, but the walk was canceled for weather

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 1, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the parking lot near the picnic tables at 9:00am.

Weather Cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, November 3, 2026:

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

Meet at the parking area at the bottom of Shelly Road at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

SUNDAY BIRD WALK CANCEL

 Sunday October 25, 2026 bird walk is canceled.

Good birding, Colin.

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 20, 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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Bufflehead (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 20, 2026:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach / French Creek Park. Weather was sunny, 9C with light breeze on the water, and tide was out and coming in. A few highlights from the walk were Long-tailed Duck, Hooded Merganser, and Greater Yellowlegs.

10 birders saw and heard the following 59 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Long-tailed Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Western Meadowlark (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 18, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Cedar. Weather was sunny with a few clouds, 5 C, and tide was coming in. a few highlights from the walk were seeing the Western Meadowlarks and hearing them sing, American Kestrel, and Northern Shrike.

13 birders saw and heard the following 28 species:

Mallard

California Quail

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Bewick’s Wren

American Pipit

American Robin

Northern Shrike

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

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 25, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo. Meet at the gravel parking lot located at the end of Maki Road, next to Living Forest Campground, at 9:00am.

Weather Cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, October 27, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Deep Bay.

Meet at the Deep Bay marina parking lot at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett