The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 13, 2020

“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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Photo: Rufous Hummingbird (R. Hocken)

Saturday February 8, 2020:

We received our first report of a male Rufous Hummingbird visiting a backyard feeder in the Country Club area by the golf course.

Sunday February 9, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. Weather was overcast with sunny breaks and the wind was calm. Bald Eagles were plentiful and lots of gulls although only saw Glaucous-winged Gulls. We had a great view of Western Meadowlarks perched in a tree showing all their colour and singing for us. A single Red-tailed Hawk was seen perched atop a power pole in the distance.

12 birders saw and heard the following 30 species:

Canada Goose

Trumpeter Swan

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

House Finch

Photo: Western Meadowlark (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 11, 2020:



The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side. The weather was sunny to start with no wind but clouded over at the end with a light breeze. The birding activity was busy starting at the parking area with a Hutton’s Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, pacific Wren, and House Finch, all singing. Tide was just going out and we had lots of ducks in the estuary, Gadwall, Common Merganser, Green-winged Teal, Common (Eurasian) Teal and Eurasian Wigeon.

14 birders saw and heard the following 57 species:



Canada Goose

Brant

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Common Teal

Gadwall

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Ancient Murrelets

Rhinoceros Auklet

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

Hutton’s Vireo

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Pine Siskin

 

Photo: Hutton’s Vireo (R. Hocken)

Don’t forget to count your birds this weekend!

      Counting is Caring: Join the Great Backyard Bird Count

This year’s count begins on Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14, and continues through Monday, February 17. Volunteers from around the world count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, and then enter their checklists at birdcount.org.



 

Backyard Feeder Notes:

Valentine’s Day and love is in the air, nesting season must be close. I have heard Golden-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finch and a few other species starting to sing their beautiful songs. We have also had reports of chickadees starting to check out nest boxes, so better get the boxes ready. Although for the Anna’s Hummingbirds nesting has begun as they start their nesting in February and earlier if the weather cooperates. So now is a good time to clean out your nest boxes, removing any material and webbing. If the box is wet or damp remove it to dry it out or replace it especially if moldy. Also place out in a suet container or onion sack filled with dry moss and grasses, pet hair, short wool pieces for the birds to use for nest building. We don’t recommend you use the lint from your drier as this has fine particles in it that can be harmful to the young birds. Nesting season, more time to spend watching the birds.

No Sunday Bird Walk, February 16 for the Family Day Holiday

The Sunday Bird Walk February 23, 2020:

This Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Buttertubs Drive at 9:10 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk February 18, 2020:

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park.

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 Rathtrevor Provincial Park main parking lot near the beach entrance at 9:10 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