The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted by 8am the day of the walk.

Saturday 24 October 2020

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 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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Whimbrel (J. Morrison)

NOTICES

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

Monday October 19, 2020:

Marbled Godwits and Whimbrel were still being seen at Deep Bay near the mail boxes.

Tuesday October 20, 2020:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road. The weather was sunny with no wind and seven degrees. Tide was high and on the way out. A few of the highlights were a pair of Northern Shovelers in the estuary along with Gadwall, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal. From the viewing mound in the field we saw a Eurasian Wigeon in one of the side channels and in the distance on one of the stumps was a Western Meadowlark. A few raptors were also seen, Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle.

14 birders saw and heard the following 60 species:

Canada Goose

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Doves

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern (American) Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Western Meadowlark

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow


Western Meadowlark (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 18, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road Trail. Weather was overcast with showers and rain. Tide was high and going out. Highlights from the walk were, Northern Harrier providing a great display over the marsh and watching a Cooper’s Hawk chasing a Sharp-shinned Hawk. At the parking area a Townsends Warbler was seen and along the trail a Varied Thrush.

11 Birders saw and heard the following 33 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Black Turnstone

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Mew Gull

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northwestern (American) Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Townsend’s Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee                

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin


Northern Harrier (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

October 27

Will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary 

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 Brant viewing stand on hwy 19A at the end of Qualicum Beach at 9:20. Then we will head to the estuary at the end of Surfside Drive off of Kinkade Road at 9:45 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk

October 25

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 Park at 9:10am 

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

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