The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 31, 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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Great Blue Heron (J. Morrison)

NOTICES

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

concerns.

Saturday October 31, 2020:

Dunlin were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

Friday October 29, 2020:

2 Turkey Vultures were seen soaring over Lantzville near the highway.

An unusual sighting of 2 Sanderlings were seen at Brookwood Marsh in Nanaimo

Tuesday October 27, 2020:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Weather was overcast with a light breeze. The first stop was at the Brant Viewing stand at the end of Qualicum Beach where Black and Surf Scoters were seen along with Bufflehead, Common Loon, Pacific Loon and Long-tailed Duck. Other highlights from the estuary were Common Goldeneye, Green-winged Teal, Red-tailed Hark and lots of Bald Eagles.

13 birders saw and heard the following  44 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Black Oystercatcher

Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin

European Starling

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Bufflehead (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 25, 2020:

Trumpeter Swans, Snow Geese and over 100 Bald Eagles were seen at the Little Qualicum River Estuary near the mouth of the river.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The weather was overcast with a steady cool breeze. Just before we started the walk a flock of 18 Trumpeter Swans flew over the parking lot heading south. Out on the water a few highlights were Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, White-winged Scoters and Harlequin Duck.

13 Birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Canada Goose

Trumpeter Swan

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Spotted Towhee                

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Thursday October 22, 2020:

A Parasitic Jaeger was seen off the beach at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

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

November 3

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 in Deep Bay at 9:20am.

The Sunday Bird Walk

November 1

Will be going to the Englishman River Estuary – Shelly Road, Parksville

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet us at the parking lot at the end of Shelly Road in Parksville at 9:15am. 

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

NEW WEBSITE: www.thebackyard.ca