The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 24, 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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Common Tern (R. Hocken)

NOTICES

Access to the Nanaimo River Estuary by Raines Road is closed due to Covid concerns.

Thursday September 24, 2020:

A large flock of Sandhill Cranes were seen flying south over the area of Aulds Road and the Parkway.

Tuesday September 22, 2020:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. The walk started with sunny skies, calm breeze and cam waters by near the end of the walk the winds had picked up and the water was choppy. At the parking lot there were Vaux Swifts overhead, Orange-crowned Warbler, Parasitic Jaeger fly over and a Merlin. On the strait we saw 2 Parasitic Jaegers harassing the gulls, Common Tern, lots of Bonaparte’s Gulls, Pacific Loons and 3 species of Scoters, Surf, Black and White-winged.

16 birders saw and heard the following 55 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Western Sandpiper

Parasitic Jaeger

Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Tern

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Vaux Swifts

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Graylag - domestic

Tuesday September 22, 2020:

A Northern Pygmy Owl was seen at Little Mountain Park in Parksville.

Sunday September 20, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, calm breeze and the tide was high. Highlights from the walk were seeing a small flock of American Pipits land in front of us while on the board walk looking out at the strait. Also saw a Common Tern on the water and heard a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. One observation was we saw and heard no finches during this walk, which was the same for the bird walk this time last year.

10 Birders saw and heard the following 38 species:

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Merlin

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Spotted Sandpiper

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Tern

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-Breasted Sapsucker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

American Pipit

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Pygmy Owl (J. Morrison)

Backyard Feeder Notes: 

The sparrows are beginning to return to my backyard with a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows invading. It is a mixture of adults and juveniles working their way through the lawn and garden. Dark-eyed Juncos will be arriving soon as well, although there are some juncos that stay here year round. Other sparrows to watch for are Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Fox Sparrow. Bushtits are busy at the suet feeder with about a flock of 20 visiting a few times a day. We also have a regular flock of Bushtits visiting the store as well. House Finches are steady visitors to the sunflower seed feeder and we are hearing about Pine Siskin’s starting to arrive as well.

Where are the chickadees? Last year I was loaded with them at this time but this year none or very few, which lets us know that there is a good crop of natural seed this year for the birds to feed on. Birds feed on natural seed first and only use the bird feeders for supplementary feeding.

Golden-crowned Sparrow (R. Hocken) 

The Backyard Bird Walks 

Our bird walks go out Sunday mornings in Nanaimo and Tuesday mornings in Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, are easy walks that go for two to three hours (back for lunch is the plan). Bring binoculars and a field guide.

Please check our blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any cancelations.

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Please do not attend if you have traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days.

·         Do not attend if you have been sick or in contact with someone possibly sick in the last 14 days.

·         Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·         Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

The Tuesday Bird Walk

September 29

Will be going to the 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 at the parking area on Admiral Tryon Blvd at 9:15 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk

September 27

Will be going to the Englishman River Estuary – Shelly Road 

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet us at the parking lot, end of Shelly Road in Parksville at 9:20 am.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store 

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 17, 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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Common Merganser (R. Hocken)

NOTICE

Access to the Nanaimo River Estuary by Raines Road is closed due to Covid concerns.

Tuesday September 15, 2020:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Plummer Road side. Weather was overcast with smoke, 15 degrees with no wind and the tide was just on the way in. Some highlights from the walk were Pectoral Sandpiper, Northern Harrier, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Lincoln Sparrow.

10 birders saw and heard the following 44 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

California Quail

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Cooper’s Hawk

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Western Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Warbling Vireo

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Lincoln Sparrow

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Monday September 14, 2020:

A Wilson Snipe was observed in a backyard along Drew Road in Qualicum Beach.

Sunday September 13, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanoose Bay Estuary. Weather was overcast with smoke, 14 degrees with a light breeze and the tide was out and on the way in. Highlights were Marbled Murrelet, Red-neck Grebe, a covey of quail along the side of the railway tracks and a Wilson’s Snipe that flew by.

12 Birders saw and heard the following 28 species:

Canada Goose

Green-winged Teal

California Quail

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Wilson’s Snipe

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

American Goldfinch

Wilson’s Snipe (R. Hocken)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

As the season changes so do the birds in the backyard. Watch for the Dark-eyed Juncos to return from nesting along with the Spotted Towhees and Song Sparrows. I have heard Golden-crowned Sparrows learning to sing in my neighbourhood and hear to occasional Steller’s Jay but only saw it the one day. We have been hearing about flocks of Pine Siskin’s visiting backyard feeders so it may be a busy winter with them.

If you are out for a drive through the country side watch the fields for Sandhill Cranes, and Greater White-fronted Geese that will stop to feed on their migration south.

Interested in seeing Turkey Vultures kettling along with other species of raptors as they begin their migration south crossing the Juan de Fuca Strait to the Olympic National Park in Washing ton State? Head to East Sooke Regional Park in Metchosin over the next couple of weeks to see this annual migration spectacle. Parking for East Sooke Regional Park is located at the end of Becher Bay Road. For more information check out the Victoria Natural History Society website https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca or https://birding.bc.ca/regions/victoria/hotspots/siteguide-hawkwatch.php

Pine Siskin (J. Morrison)

The Backyard Bird Walks

Our bird walks go out Sunday mornings in Nanaimo and Tuesday mornings in Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, are easy walks that go for two to three hours (back for lunch is the plan). Bring binoculars and a field guide.

Please check our blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any cancelations.

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Please do not attend if you have traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days.

·         Do not attend if you have been sick or in contact with someone possibly sick in the last 14 days.

·         Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·         Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

The Tuesday Bird Walk

September 22

Will be going to the Deep Bay

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 at the Marina Parking lot at 9:25.

The Sunday Bird Walk

September 20

Will be going to the Neck Point Park

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet us at the parking lot at Neck Point 9:15.

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett

NEW WEBSITE: www.thebackyard.ca

Nanaimo Bird Report, September 9, 2020

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo Bird Report, September 9, 2020 BIRD REPORT“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING: To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo Bird Report, September 9, 2020 BIRD REPORT“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. *********************************************************** White-winged Scoter (R. Hocken) September 8, 2020: The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park. The weather was sunny, 18 degrees, winds were calm and the tide was on its way in. We reversed our route as the tide was still out a ways. Near the marsh behind the nature house we saw Yellow Warbler, Cassin’s Vireo, American Goldfinch and many of finch and sparrow species. We wandered through the campground to the water and saw White-winged Scoters, Marbled Murrelet, Pacific Loons and a few others species on the water. It was a very active day compared to a bird walk here last year. 8 birders saw and heard the following 41 species: Canada Goose Mallard Green-winged Teal Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Pacific Loon Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Turkey Vulture Black Turnstone Dunlin Bonaparte’s Gull California Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Marbled Murrelet Anna’s Hummingbird Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Cassin’s Vireo Common Raven Barn Swallow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Bushtit Bewick’s Wren American Robin Yellow Warbler Spotted Towhee Golden-crowned Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Song Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Lincoln Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red Crossbill House Finch Purple Finch American Goldfinch September 7, 2020: A Steller’s Jay and Golden-crowned Sparrow were visiting a backyard in the hospital area on Forest Drive. Savannah Sparrow (J. Morrison) Backyard Feeder Notes: Where are the birds, is the common question we are hearing this week. Last year I remember the feeders being busier but last year the natural seed was not as plentiful as it is this year. This is a cycle that happens when one year there is an abundance of natural seed and not many birds at the feeders, including Steller’s Jays, to a few years later when natural seed is limited and the backyard feeders are busy including plenty of Steller’s Jays. We see this on the bird walks as well, where last year at Rathtrevor we saw 20 species with no chickadees or finches seen. This year we saw 41 species including most of the finches along with the chickadees, nuthatches and others. Birds feed on natural seeds first with feeders being a supplementary food source for the birds. Soon the Dark-eyed Juncos will begin to return then shortly after Song Sparrows and then rest of the regular visitors for the winter. WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A BIRD By David Allen Sibley "Sibley answers all kinds of questions people have about birds . . . [His] exacting artwork and wide-ranging expertise bring observed behaviors vividly to life." —Birdwatching.    Dark-eyed Junco (R. Hocken) The Backyard Bird Walks Our bird walks go out Sunday mornings in Nanaimo and Tuesday mornings in Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, are easy walks that go for two to three hours (back for lunch is the plan). Bring binoculars and a field guide. Please check our blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any cancelations. Covid-19 Precautions Please do not attend if you have traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days. Do not attend if you have been sick or in contact with someone possibly sick in the last 14 days. Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet. Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing. Thank you. The Tuesday Bird Walk September 15 Will be going to the Englishman River Estuary – Plummer 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 at the corner by the trail head just before the subdivision on Plummer Road Parksville at 9:10.   The Sunday Bird Walk September 13 Will be going to the Nanoose Bay Estuary Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet us at the end of Nanoose Beach Road at 9:15. Good birding! Colin Bartlett   *********************************************************** Please Note Please check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! *********************************************************** THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE 6314 Metral Drive Nanaimo B.C.V9T-2L8 Phone: 250-390-3669 Fax: 250-390-1633 Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com WEBSITE: www.thebackyard.ca

 

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report  September 2, 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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Northern Harrier (J. Morrison)

September 1, 2020:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary - Shelly Road. The weather was 20 degrees, sunny, no wind and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk was, 4 Black Swifts seen flying above the parking lot to start the walk. A Warbling Vireo along with a Northern Harrier near the viewing mound and 3 Willow Flycatchers were seen by the Mills Street entrance to the estuary.

14 birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Mallard

Common Merganser

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Black Oystercatcher

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black Swift

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Willow Flycatcher

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Warbling Vireo

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

August 29, 2020:

Steller’s Jays are being reported this week in many areas in Nanaimo, Parksville and Ladysmith.

August 17, 2020:

A late report of a Ring-Necked Pheasant visiting a backyard multiple time in a week near Blood Creek and Dickenson Road in Lantzville.

Warbling Vireo (J. Morrison) 

Sunday August 23, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road Trail. It was a beautiful sunny morning, tide was out and the winds were calm. Some highlights from the walk were 2 Greater Yellowlegs seen along the river’s edge, Barn Swallows seen feeding over the estuary and a Warbling Vireo along with 3 species of warblers.

12 birders saw and heard the following 39 species:

Mallard

American Wigeon

Canada Goose

Great Blue Heron

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Willow Flycatcher

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Warbling Vireo

Barn Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Backyard Feeder Notes: 

Visits to my backyard feeder have slowed a little but that is common for this time of year. Suet is still popular with the flickers, chickadees, nuthatches and Bushtits. What is new for me this time of year are the few starlings that are also visiting. Usually by mid August the starlings are gone and I don’t see them until the first heavy frost or snow. I have been watching the suet to see if any different visitors arrive such as Western Tanager or any of the warblers. It’s interesting to see something different once and a while.

You may notice an increase in raptors visiting your backyard over the next month as some begin to move south. We usually see an increase in calls now about Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks visiting backyards looking for food. If suddenly there are no birds at your feeders one day it’s a good chance that there is a predator in the area. Once the birds move away for safety so will the predator.

Water is still a big attraction for the birds especially since it looks like it is going to be dry for the next couple of weeks. Keep that water supply clean and fresh.

European Starling – molting into winter plumage (R. Hocken)

The Backyard Bird Walks 

Our bird walks go out Sunday mornings in Nanaimo and Tuesday mornings in Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, are easy walks that go for two to three hours (back for lunch is the plan). Bring binoculars and a field guide.

Please check our blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any cancelations.

Covid-19 Precautions

·        Please do not attend if you have traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days.

·        Do not attend if you have been sick or in contact with someone possibly sick in the last 14 days.

·        Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·        Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

The Tuesday Bird Walk

September 8

Will be going to the 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 at the #1 parking lot by the beach entrance at 9:10.

The Sunday Bird Walk

September 6

NO BIRD WALK THIS LONG WEEKEND

 

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett

NEW WEBSITE: www.thebackyard.ca