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