The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 24, 2023

“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.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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Spotted Sandpiper (R. Hocken)

Tuesday May 23 , 2023:

A few sightings from Buttertubs Marsh, Pied-billed Grebe sitting on a nest, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Black-headed Grosbeak, and a Barred Owl.

The Tuesday birding group went to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer road side. The weather was overcast, a cool breeze, and 12C. A few highlights from the walk were a pair of Spotted Sandpipers, Barred Owl for our parking lot bird, Pacific Loons in beautiful breeding plumage and a House Wren singing.

Fourteen birders saw and/or heard the following 43 species:

  Goose

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Glaucous-winged Gull

Barred Owl

Eurasian Collared Dove

Band-tailed Pigeon

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Warbling Vireo

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

American Crow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-cross Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin 

Tree Swallow (R. Hocken)

Sunday May 21, 2023:

There was no Sunday bird walk this week.

American Goldfinch (J. Morrison)

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.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 Bird Walk, May 30, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Brant Viewing Platform and the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the Brant Viewing platform, at the end of Qualicum Beach, at 9:15, then at the end of Surfside Drive, off Kinkade Road, at 9:45 am. Weather Cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, May 28, 2023

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the corner of Normarel Drive and Sywash Ridge Road at 9:10am. Normarel Drive is located near the top of Superior Road, Lantzville. Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 18, 2023

“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.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 (R. Hocken)

Tuesday May 16 , 2023:

A report of two Common Nighthawks were heard on Kilpatrick Road in Nanaimo.

The Tuesday birding group went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Shelly Road side. The weather was sunny, warm, and 20C. A few highlights from the walk were a pair of Spotted Sandpipers calling on the gravel bar in the Englishman River. Three Black-headed Grosbeaks were seen and heard singing near the viewing mound and Western Tanagers and a Swainson’s Thrush were heard.

Thirteen birders saw and/or heard the following 49 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Spotted Sandpiper

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Band-tailed Pigeon

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Warbling Vireo

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

American Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch 

Warbling Vireo (J. Morrison)

Sunday May 14, 2023:

A juvenile Bullock’s Oriole was reported at the Englishman River Estuary.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Linley Valley, starting at the Burma Road entrance. Weather was sunny, warm and 20C. A few highlights from the walk were a Cassin’s Vireo and Hutton’s Vireo calling, great views of a singing Black-headed Grosbeak and a pair of Wood Ducks on the lake.

Six birders saw and heard 33 species.

Wood duck

Mallard

Red-tail Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Hutton’s Vireo

Cassin’s Vireo

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Orange-crowned Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

White-crowned Sparrow (J. Morrison)

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.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 Bird Walk, May 23, 2023

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

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:10 am. Weather Cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, May 21, 2023

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELLED for the Victoria long week.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

                     The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 12, 2023

“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.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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Whimbrel ( J. Morrison) 

Wednesday MAY 10, 2023:

A Yellow-headed Blackbird was seen in a backyard bird feeder at Grovehill Road in Qualicum Beach.

Tuesday May 9 , 2023:

The Tuesday birding group first went to the Brant Viewing Stand and then to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. It was a beautiful sunny day, calm waters and 11C. A few highlights were a Whimbrel seen near the viewing stand, good views of a Wilson’s Warbler and Chipping Sparrow at the hatchery.

Nine birders saw and/or heard the following 47 species:

Common Merganser

Double-Crested Cormorant

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

California Quail

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Whimbrel

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Caspian Tern

Rufous Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Warbling Vireo

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

American Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

American Dipper

American Robin

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch 

Brown-headed Cowbird (R. Hocken)

Sunday May 7, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The weather was sunny and warm at 12C. Highlights were a Barred Owl being bothered by a few American Robins, a pair of Harlequin Ducks and watching the activity at a Bushtit Nest.

Thirteen birders saw and heard 45 species.

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

White-winged Scoter

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Barred Owl

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

American Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Ruby-crowned kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Chipping Sparrow (J. Anderson)

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.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 Bird Walk, May 16, 2023

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

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the end of Shelly Road at 9:10 am. Weather Cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, May 14, 2023

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Burma Road, located off Lost Lake Road, at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

                         The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 5, 2023

“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.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.
*********************************************************

Black-headed Grosbeak ( J. Morrison) 

Thursday MAY 4, 2023:

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen in Willow Park Estates near Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tuesday May 2 , 2023:

The Tuesday birding group went to Springwood Park in Parksville. Weather was sunny, 13C. Highlights, great views of a female Pileated Woodpecker feeding and a Red-breasted Sapsucker, down low and up close. Lots of warblers including Yellow and Wilson Warblers and hearing a Western Tanager.

Ten birders saw and/or heard the following 36 species:

California Quail

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Warbling Vireo

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

American Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch 

Western Tanager (J. Anderson)

Sunday April 30, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Weather was sunny and warm at 12C. Highlights were a Barred Owl at the start of the walk, watching a Hammond’s Flycatcher in a tree close by and seeing a hearing seven warbler species.

Sixteen birders saw and heard 51 species.

Wood Duck

Mallard

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Barred Owl

Eurasian Collared Dove

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

House Wren

Marsh Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Golden-crowned kinglet

American Robin

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Black-headed Grosbeak

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Orange-crowned Warbler (R. Hocken)

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.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 Bird Walk, May 9, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going first to the Brant Viewing Stand at Qualicum Beach and then to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay Road and Franklin’s Gull Road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the Brant Viewing stand, at the end of Qualicum Beach, at 9:15, then at the hatchery, parking lot on Claymore Road which is off Laburnum Road, at 9:50 am. Weather Cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, May 7, 2023

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett