The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 14, 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.
*********************************************************

Photo: American Kestrel (R. Hocken)

Saturday March 7, 2020:

American Kestrel was seen on the power lines between Wembley Mall and Stanhope Road

Sunday March 8, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. Weather was sunny and a cool light breeze with a temperature of 1 degree. Western Meadowlarks were singing near the parking lot and a Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen in the big Garry Oak tree. Along the river Tree Swallows were seen feeding and great views of them sitting on the fence posts. Across the river from the viewing stand a Peregrine Falcon quietly perch in a tree.

8 birders heard and saw the following 30 species:

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Widgeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Bald Eagle

Red-tail Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Tree Swallow

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Steller’s Jay

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Western Meadowlark

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

Photo: Yellow-rumped Warbler (R. Hocken)

Tuesday March 3, 2020:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay Estuary. Weather was overcast with a stiff cool wind. The bay was choppy but there were plenty of Bufflehead out on the water. A Killdeer fly past and provided some great observations and photos. A male Anna’s Hummingbird was perched in a shrub with a White-crown Sparrow perched just below it and lots of Green-wing Teal and Northern Pintail were seen in the estuary.

8 birders saw and heard the following 32 species:

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Green-wing Teal

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-Necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Photo: White-crowned Sparrow (R. Hocken)

Sunday  March 8, 2020:

A Townsend’s Warbler continues to be seen feeding at a backyard suet feeder on Honeysuckle Terrace in Nanaimo.

Backyard Feeder Notes:

You know it is spring and nesting season when you hear the Northern Flickers drumming on the metal exhaust vents on the roof. Chickadees have been checking out the nest box and Anna’s Hummingbirds are busy nesting as well. Now it is time to make sure the nest boxes along with some nesting material. Also the Rufous Hummingbirds are back with reports from around Nanaimo to Qualicum Beach. Activity at hummingbird feeders should start to get very busy soon. White-crowned Sparrows are returning visiting backyard feeders and singing their beautiful song.

BIRD WALKS

The Sunday Bird Walk March 15, 2020:

This Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Neck Point Park.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park at 9:10 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk March 17, 2020:

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road.

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 end of Shelly Road in Parksville, 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