The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 27, 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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Saturday  February 22, 2020:



Another report of a Turkey Vulture was seen flying near the Woodgrove Centre Mall in North Nanaimo.

Photo: Turkey Vulture (S. Petersen)

Saturday February 22, 2020:

A Cackling Goose was seen at the Brookwood pond accessible off Brookwood Drive.

We have had reports of swallows being seen at Brannon Lake and at Divers Lake in Nanaimo.

Sunday February 23, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. Weather was not the best, low cloud and rain which was heavy at times and +2. The beginning of the walk we Steller’s Jay, California Quail, Red-winged Blackbirds and the usual sparrows but the marsh was quiet at that end. Near the miner’s shack we hear a Virginia Rail and saw a Anna’s Hummingbird sitting on a nest. The ducks were all hanging out at the south west corner of the marsh where we saw Hooded and Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Pied-billed Grebe and Wood Ducks. We also had a great view of the difference between a Cackling Goose and a Canada Goose as they were side by side. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was seen and then was checked out by a Sharp-shinned Hawk.



15 birders heard and saw the following 44 species:



Canada Goose

Cackling Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

California Quail

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Virginia Rail

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow



Monday February 24, 2020:



19 Snow Geese were seen at the Little Qualicum River Estuary.

Photo: Snow Goose (R. Hocken)

  

Tuesday February 25, 2020:



The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The weather was +4 and cloudy with a few little showers.  We started at the Brant viewing stand at Qualicum Beach where we saw Scoters, American Wigeon, and Black Oystercatchers but no Brant. We then moved over to the end of Surfside drive off of Kinkade Road where we saw 21 Snow Geese in the estuary along with Northern Pintail, White and Golden-crowned Sparrows. On the beach we saw Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, and Pacific loon. At the mouth of the river there were plenty of Mew Gulls, a couple of Bald  Eagles, and a Belted Kingfisher.

10 birders saw and heard the following 44 species:

Snow Goose

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch



Tuesday February 25, 2020:



A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen in a backyard on Trevors Road in the Cinnabar area.

Black-Headed Grosbeak (photo by L. Thomas)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

Spring must be near with the sightings of Turkey Vultures, Black-headed Grosbeak and swallows in the past week. Buttertubs Marsh is very active including a few unusual sightings like White-throated Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow and I heard that a Say’s Phoebe was also seen. Next is to watch for the warblers to begin arriving which usually starts with the Yellow-rump Warbler, and Orange-crowned Warblers. They can be seen in backyards as well as Buttertubs Marsh, Neck Point Park and Linley Valley to name just a few locations. As for backyard sighting we have received a few more reports of Evening Grosbeaks visiting backyard feeders and more reports of hawks, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawk,  also visiting backyard feeders.

The Sunday Bird Walk March 1, 2020:

This Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Englishman River Estuary – Shelly Road in Parksville.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Shelly Road in Parksville at 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk March 3, 2020:

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Columbia Beach.

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 parking area on Admiral Tryon Blvd 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