Nanaimo Weekly Bird Report June 17, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 17, 2019

“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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Sunday June 16:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny breaks and the winds were calm. Our first sighting was a Pied-billed Grebe sitting on a nest in the middle of the marsh, along with Wood Ducks, Mallards and a couple of Western Painted Turtles sunning on a log. A highlight on the seeing the Yellow-warbler nest and how hidden the adult was sitting on the nest.

Yellow Warbler, photo by John Morrison

Thirteen birders include a guest from Mexico saw and heard the following thirty seven Species:

Pied-billed Grebe

Mallard

Wood Duck

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Purple Martin

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Marsh Wren

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Tuesday June 11:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Plummer road side. The weather was sunny and winds were calm. The birds were cooperating with some good looks at American Goldfinch, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Cedar Waxwing. One exciting moment was watching a Bald Eagle attack a flock of Common Merganser ducklings and seeing the power as the eagle hovered above like a hummingbird.

Killdeer, photo by Ralph Hocken

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following forty one (41) species:

Canada Goose

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Spotted Sandpiper

Killdeer

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Brewer’s Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Friday June 14:

A pair of Evening Grosbeak’s was seen at a backyard feeder near Cathers Lake and Westwood road.



Saturday June 15:

Common Nighthawks were heard flying over Living Forest Campground.



Sunday June 16:

Olive sided Flycatcher was seen at Rathtrevor beach on a small snag to the left of the children's climbing/slide nearest the beach.





Backyard Feeder Notes:

The juvenile birds have been the entertainment lately. Young chickadees are about and along with all the Pine Siskins and goldfinch the feeders are busy. Mother Downy Woodpecker brought her young along and showed him the suet feeder which was interesting to watch how cautious he was learning this new thing. We are receiving reports of more hummingbirds visiting the feeders again which is a sign the young Rufous are fledging, but I have noticed when it is hot and dry once the hummingbirds have finished their nesting they head to the alpine areas quickly. We will watch and see if that happens this year.

Cedar Waxwings have returned as well as Common Nighthawks, which I heard my first ones this past Saturday evening over the Living Forest Campground.

With summer here remember to provide a water source and change your hummingbird feeders every two or three day and give the feeders a cleaning at the same time.

Downy Woodpecker – female, photo by Ralph Hocken

Please Note:
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!  





The Tuesday Bird Walk on June 18, 2019 will be going to the Springwood Park at the end of Despard avenue.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the dead end of Despard Avenue about 9:10 a.m. 





The Sunday Bird Walk on June 23, 2019 will be going to Hemer park in Cedar. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store (6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo) at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at the end of Hemer road about 9:20 am.





Good birding!

Colin Bartlett