Nanaimo Weekly Bird Report November 1, 2019

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 1, 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 27, 2019:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. Weather was sunny and the winds were calm. Brewer’s, Red-winged Blackbirds and starlings were seen up in the Garry Oak tree along with the Spotted Towhees, White, Golden-crowned and Song Sparrows. Western Meadowlarks were seen from the viewing mound with a large flock of American Pipits flying about. A Northern Shrike provided us with some great views as it perched in a tree beside and also watched as it brought its prey back to the tree.

16 birders observed and heard the following 35 species:

Pied-billed Grebe

Trumpeter Swan

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Common Merganser

Northern Harrier

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

American Pipit

Western Meadowlark

European Starling

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Photo: Western Meadowlark (Ralph Hocken)

Tuesday October 22, 2019:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park. Weather was sunny and the winds were calm but the temperature was on the cool. The group started out at the beach seeing Common Loon, Green-winged Teal, Red-breasted Mergansers, American Widgeon and a hybrid American Widgeon / Eurasian Widgeon. A flock of Black Turnstones landed and a Surfbird was spotted amongst them. Also seen out on the water were Ring-billed Gull, Bufflehead and Brant.

20 birders observed and heard the following 49 species:

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Canada Geese

Brant

Mallard

Bufflehead

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

American Widgeon

Hybrid American/Eurasian Widgeon

Common Goldeneye

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Red-breasted Merganser

Bald Eagle

Dunlin

Black Turnstones

Surfbird

killdeer

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

American Pipit

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Photo: Brant (R. Hocken)

Thursday October 31, 2019:

A Ruddy Duck was seen at Buttertubs Marsh near the Buttertubs drive entrance.

Backyard Feeder Notes:

Birds at my backyard feeder have been a little up and down lately with a couple of new visitors, cats. So to deter the cats I am placing rolled up chicken wire under the shrubs near my feeders so the cats cannot hide. Also moving the feeders back from the shrubs a little will open the area which up gives the birds more opportunities to see the predators, cats and hawks.

Bewick’s Wren has been a frequent visitor to the suet feeder in the last week, but doesn’t like it much when the nuthatch tries to share the feeder.

The number of Dark-eyed Juncos keeps increasing along with a few more Song Sparrows at the feeders. Now I am just waiting to see a Varied Thrush visit my feeders.

Photo: Varied Thrush (R Hocken)

The Sunday Bird Walk November 3, 2019:

Will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet at the end of Burma Road at 9:20 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk November 5, 2019:

Will be going to Columbia Beach at French Creek.

NEW MEETING LOCATION – 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 parking area on Admiral Tryon Blvd (off of Columbia Drive) in French Creek at 9:15 am.

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