The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 10, 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 October 6, 2019:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny and winds were lights. Five Virginia Rails were heard around the marsh, a flock of 7 Northern Shovelers were on the marsh and a Barred owl quietly rested on a branch not far off the trail.

Photo: Virginia Rail (J. Morrison)

 

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

Pied-biled Grebe

Canada Goose

Great Blue Heron

Mallard

Wood Duck

American Wigeon

Ring-necked Duck

Northern Shoveler

American Coot

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

California Quail

Virginia Rail

Glaucous-winged Gull

Barred Owl

Band-tailed Pigeon

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Steller ’s jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Photo: Northern Shoveler (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 8, 2019:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was cool, cloudy with the odd sunny break and the wind was steady out of the north. A few highlights of the walk were the 2 Wilson’s Snipe heard and then seen flying, American Kestrel perched on a stump out in the field and a Cooper’s Hawk that flew above our heads.

Thirteen (13) birders saw and heard the following fifty two (52) species:

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

American Widgeon

Harlequin Duck

Mallard

Common Merganser

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Merlin

American Kestrel

Black Oystercatcher

Wilson’s Snipe

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

California Quail

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

European Starling

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

October 9, 2019:

White-throated Sparrow was seen at a backyard feeder on South Oyster School road in Chemainus, along with White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows.

Photo: Wilson’s Snipe (R. Hocken)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

The feeders are steady with all the usual characters and a few more Dark-eyed Juncos. Suet is busy with even the juncos muscling their way on to the feeder. Black oil sunflower seed is busy with the chickadees, nuthatches and jays taking the seed and caching it away for that winter emergency. It was reported to us by a customer that a Steller’s Jay had collided with the glass railing on their deck and coughed up a load of seeds that it had stored in its crop. They counted 33 black oil sunflower seeds it had, so if you are wondering where all your bird seed is going this might be part of the answer. Chickadees and nuthatches only take one at a time.

My hanging birdbath has been just about as busy as the feeders some days. Provide that water source and remember to keep it fresh and clean.

Photo: Steller’s Jay in peanut ring

The Sunday Bird Walk October 13, 2019:

There will be NO bird walk this Thanksgiving long weekend.

The Tuesday Bird Walk October 15, 2019:

Will be going to Deep Bay.

Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking area) in Parksville at 9:00 am or at Deep Bay about 9:25.

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

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