The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 7, 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 November 3, 2019:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Linley Valley. The weather was foggy with light a wind. It was a very quiet start to the bird walk, with no birds calling and little movement. As the morning warmed up so did the birding activity especially around Cottle Lake where we saw Hooded Merganser, a Eurasian Widgeon and heard a Virginia Rail. At the end of the walk a Belted Kingfisher flew over the parking lot.

8 birders observed and heard the following 23 species:

Mallard
Ring-necked Duck

American Widgeon

Eurasian Widgeon

Hooded Merganser

Pileated Woodpecker

Virginia Rail

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Photo: Pacific Wren (John Morrison)

Tuesday November 5, 2019:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach/ French Creek. The weather was sunny and the wind calm. The water was like glass making it easy to see Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, along with all 3 species of scoters. A Merlin posed for us atop a tree and we also had some great views of the Anna’s Hummingbird.

13 birders observed and heard the following 58 species:

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

American Widgeon

Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead

Harlequin

Long-tail Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bald Eagle

Merlin

California Quail

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Rhinoceros Auklet

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Pacific Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Photo: Bufflehead - male (Ralph Hocken)

Tuesday November 5, 2019:

Snow Bunting is being seen on the break water at the French Creek Marina. It has been seen on the break water beside the French creek near the washrooms. The birds (3) were was first seen and reported on Saturday November 2, 2019.

Snow Bunting (John Morrison)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

Chestnut-backed Chickadees are a favorite of many and this winter there are plenty about and going through the peanuts and black oil sunflower seed quickly. Not only are these little feathered friends eating the seeds but they are also caching the seed away in case things get tough. I have seen them cache the seed away in places such as around the widow trim, planters and the between the siding on my shed. Commonly they store seeds in bark, knot holes and other parts of the tree. Chickadees also have the ability to know the quantity of seeds cached and will replace seeds that have been used.

Red-breasted Nuthatch and the Steller’s Jay also cached seed for the winter.

 

Photo: Chestnut-backed Chickadee (John Morrison)

The Sunday Bird Walk November 10, 2019:

There will be NO Sunday bird walk this week. The next Sunday bird walk will be Sunday November 17, 2019 and will be going to the Plummer road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

  

The Tuesday Bird Walk November 12, 2019:

Will be going to Little Qualicum Beach Estuary.

We will first meet at the viewing stand at the end of Qualicum Beach.

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 the viewing stand at Qualicum Beach at 9:15 am or at the Little Qualicum River Estuary at the end of Surfside Drive off of Kinkade road at 9:35

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