Weekly Nanaimo Bird Report September 11, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 11, 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 September 8:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer road in Parksville. The morning was overcast, winds were light and the tide was at a low and starting to come in. A few highlights of the walk were Cedar Waxwings, Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Harlequin Ducks.

Harlequin Duck, male & female, photo by Ralph Hocken

Seven birders saw and heard the following thirty eight (38) species:

Common Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Canada Goose

Great Blue Heron

Mallard

Common Merganser

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Greater Yellowlegs

Western Sandpiper

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Cassin’s Vireo

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Tuesday September 10:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelley road side of the Englishman River Estuary. The weather was sunny and winds were calm. The walk started of quiet with Chestnut-backed Chickadees following us through the woods. Looking out on the estuary a Northern Harrier fly past a couple of times giving us great views. At the mouth of the estuary a Heerman’s Gull was seen on a gravel bar with the other gulls and a Long-tailed Jaegar was seen flying past. A couple other highlights were Virginia Rail and Yellow Warbler.

Nine (9) birders saw and heard the following thirty nine (39) species:

Red-necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Mallard

American Widgeon

Common Merganser

Gadwall

Northern Shoveler

Northern Harrier

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Virginia Rail

Black Oystercatcher

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Heermann’s Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Brewers Blackbird

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Northern Harrier, photo by Ralph Hocken.

Backyard Feeder Notes:

The backyard feeders are still busy with the chickadees and nuthatches visiting. There are more reports of Steller’s Jays visiting feeders and more Dark-eyed Juncos showing up. there are also more House Finches visiting the feeders and in some areas the Pine Siskin’s have returned.

I have had a Song Sparrow regularly visiting my bird feeders which is early for m yard, usually it is not until October or November that they arrive.

Anna’s Hummingbirds are still busy visiting the feeders but with some of the activity that has been going on don’t be surprised if some juvenile birds start appearing. Last year I had young Anna’s Hummingbirds suddenly start visiting the hummingbird feeder in early November.

Song Sparrow, 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 Sunday Bird Walk September 15, 2019:

Will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at Neck Point Park at 9:10 am.



The Tuesday Bird Walk September 17, 2019:

Will be going to Nanoose Bay estuary. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am or at the end of Nanoose Beach road, which is off Arlington road off of Hwy 19, in Nanoose at 9:15 a.m. 







Good birding!

Colin Bartlett










The Backyard

Wildbird and Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com