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.
*********************************************************
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
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