The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Sunday 30 April 2017

Nanaimo bird report, April 30, 2017




“Nanaimo bird report”
Explore Nature ---go Birding
To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail

Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings.

Sunday Bird Walk, April 30, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny with calm winds.
A pair of Canada Geese with three goslings was seen swimming near the shore. A Brandt’s Cormorant was roosting on the small offshore island. A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen just above the trail. A Hammond’s Flycatcher and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher were heard throughout the morning. A Cassin’s Vireo was singing near the trail. Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers and a Townsend’s Warbler were seen and heard on the walk,

Canada Geese Goslings: Ralph Hocken Photo:



Eighteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Canada Geese
Harlequin Duck
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Pigeon Guillemot
Glaucous-winged Gull
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Cassin’s Vireo
                                                  Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch .   

Saturday, April 29:
A Cackling Goose was seen at Pipers lagoon in Nanaimo.

A MacGillivray's Warbler and a American Goldfinch were seen at legacy marsh in upper Lantzville.

 Friday, April 28: 
An Orange-crowned Warbler was seen in a backyard along Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Monday, April 26: 
  A small flock of Greater White-fronted Geese were seen over Departure Bay in Nanaimo. 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, April 25:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The morning was cloudy but the winds were calm. A large flock of Western Grebes, Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Marbled Murrelets and Pigeon Guillemots were seen off shore from the Brant viewing platform before we left Qualicum Beach for the hatchery.  We saw an American Dipper next to the road at the Fish Hatchery feeding along the banks of the river. The Dipper flew under the road to it’s nest and then flew along the stream picking up little tiny fish and heading back to the nest several times.  The first of the season Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher and  Willow Flycatcher were heard and then seen just off the road.  

                                   Pacific-slope Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following sixty-species:
Brant
Canada Geese
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Marbled Murrelet
Pigeon Guillemot
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Black Oystercatcher
American Dipper
Bonaparte's Gull
California Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
                                                    American Robin
Rufous Hummingbird
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red Crossbill
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine-Siskin
American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

The Tuesday bird walk on May 01, 2017 will be going to Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids playground at 9:00 a.m. or on the forest side of Kinkade Road in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m. 

The Sunday bird walk on May 07, 2017 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 a.m. or under the hydro lines on Normarel Drive (off Superior Road) at about 9:20 A.M.

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
 Nanaimo B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633

Tuesday 25 April 2017

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, April 25, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The morning was cloudy but the winds were calm. A large flock of Western Grebes, Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Marbled Murrelets and Pigeon Guillemots were seen off shore from the Brant viewing platform before we left Qualicum Beach for the hatchery.  We saw an American Dipper next to the road at the Fish Hatchery feeding along the banks of the river. The Dipper flew under the road to it’s nest and then flew along the stream picking up little tiny fish and heading back to the nest several times.  The first of the season Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher and  Willow Flycatcher were heard and then seen just off the road. 


                                                  Pacific-slope Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following sixty-one species:
Brant
Canada Geese
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Marbled Murrelet
Pigeon Guillemot
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Black Oystercatcher
American Dipper
Bonaparte's Gull
Western Gull
California Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Rufous Hummingbird
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red Crossbill
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine-Siskin
American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

The Tuesday bird walk on May 01, 2017 will be going to Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach. meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids playground at 9:00 a.m. or on the forest side of Kinkade Road in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m. 

Good birding
Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
 Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Sunday 23 April 2017

Nanaimo bird report, April 23, 2017


“Nanaimo bird report”
Explore Nature ---go Birding

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail

Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings.

Sunday Bird Walk, April 23, 2017:  
The Sunday bird walk went to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. A singing Red-breasted Nuthatch welcomed us to the sanctuary. We heard Orange-crowned Warblers for most of the morning. We saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Townsend’s Warbler, not far from the trail. We had great views of a Black-throated Gray Warbler feeding just above the trail.  A Cassin’s Vireo was heard singing its unique song as we walked the trail. A Barred Owl was heard calling near the end of the walk. Several Turkey Vultures were seen high overhead.



Black-throated Gray Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species:
Mallard
Bufflehead
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
                                                     Barred Owl
Eurasian-collared Dove
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Bushtit
                                            Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Cassin’s Vireo
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin  

Saturday April 22:
A Short-billed Dowitcher, a Townsend’s Solitaire, Eight Western Sandpipers, American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwings and a Hermit Thrush were seen along the Englishman River Estuary on the Plummer Road side in Parksville. 


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 18:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning started out with heavy rains, but soon the sun was shining making for a pleasant morning. Four noisy Red-breasted Sapsuckers were seen moving throughout the tall trees at the start of the walk.  Pileated Woodpeckers, Anna's Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds were seen all morning.  A Black Swift, a Purple Martin and a Violet-green Swallow flew overhead. We saw six Townsend’s Warblers, one Black-throated Gray Warbler, numerous Orange-crowned Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding in the tall Big-Leaf Maple Trees along the trail. We heard two Barred Owls calling to each other and then one flew just over our heads and landed in a nearby tree, giving us great views. We watched as several Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches unsuccessfully mobbed the owl. A Hermit Thrush was spotted on big stump near the trail. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen hawking insects throughout the morning.  It was a very good Spring-time birding morning.



Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Ten birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Cooper’s Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
                                                         Black Swift
Purple Martin
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch's
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
European Starling
Townsend’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Hutton’s Vireo
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin  

A male Rufous Hummingbird, two Chipping Sparrows, two White-crowned Sparrows and a Golden-crowned Sparrow were seen in the 6600 block of Nethen Road in Nanaimo.

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo: 


The Tuesday bird walk on April 25, 2017 will be going to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in north Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.

The Sunday bird walk on April 30 will be going to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird & nature Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Moorecroft Regional Park, at about 9:20 a.m. Take Northwest Bay Road off Highway19 and exit on Stewart Road follow the signs to the Park.

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
 Nanaimo B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633








Tuesday 18 April 2017

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, April 18, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning started out with heavy rains, but soon the sun was shinning making for a pleasant morning. Four noisy Red-breasted Sapsuckers were seen moving throughout the tall trees at the start of the walk.  Pileated Woodpeckers, Anna's Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds were seen all morning.  A Black Swift, a Purple Martin and a Violet-green Swallow flew overhead. We saw six Townsend’s Warblers, one Black-throated Gray Warbler, numerous Orange-crowned Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding in the tall Big-Leaf Maple Trees along the trail. We heard two Barred Owls calling to each other and then one flew just over our heads and landed in a nearby tree, giving us great views. We watched as several Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches unsuccessfully mobbed the owl. A Hermit Thrush was spotted on big stump near the trail. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen hawking insects throughout the morning.  It was a very good spring-time birding morning.
 
 



Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Ten birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Cooper’s Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Black Swift
Purple Martin
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch's
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
European Starling
Townsend’s Warbler
 Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Hutton’s Vireo
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

The Tuesday bird walk on April 25, 2017 will be going to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in north Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.  

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
 Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Wednesday 12 April 2017

Easter Holiday Closure

We will be CLOSED this Good Friday April 14th and on Easter Sunday April 16.
Open as usual on Saturday and Monday.
There is NO Bird Walk this Sunday April 15.
Happy Easter!