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.

Wednesday 20 October 2021

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 20, 2021

“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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Wednesday October 20, 2021:

Redhead and a Canvasback were seen on Diver’s Lake in Nanaimo.


Canvasback (J. Morrison)

Tuesday October 19, 2021:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary with a stop at the Brant viewing hut first. The weather was good with light clouds, some sunny breaks and a light breeze. Some highlights from the walk were, Western Grebe, marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet and a Downy Woodpecker easily visible in a tree by the parking lot. Interest no Steller’s Jays were heard.

12 Birders saw and heard the following 52 species:

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Northern Shoveler

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Black Oystercatcher

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Herring Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Rhinoceros Auklet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Siskin

 Tuesday October 19, 2021:

A Redhead was seen at Diver’s Lake in Nanaimo, past the fishing dock in the southeast corner.


Redhead (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 17, 2021:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. The weather was good, cloudy with sunny breaks, a light breeze, and no rain. A few highlights from the walk were a flock of 40+ Snow Geese flying in formation overhead.  A Wilson’s Snipe made a fly past, and a juvenile Norther Shrike was harassing a flock of White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows. We did not see a Northern Harrier on the walk but one was seen later.

10 birders saw and heard the following 38 species:

Snow Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Common Merganser

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Wilson’s Snipe

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch 


Northern Shrike (J. Morrison) 

Sunday October 17, 2021:

A Northern Harrier was seen at the parking lot of the Nanaimo River Estuary being chased by a raven.

Friday October 15, 2021:

Hermit Thrush was seen at Diver’s Lake, Nanaimo.

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. The walks are weather pending.

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

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Do not attend if you feel ill.

·         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 26, 2021

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Englishman River Estuary, Shelley 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 meet at the end of the Shelley Road in Parksville at 9:10 am, weather cooperating.


The Sunday Bird Walk October 24, 2021

The Sunday Bird walk will be going to the Neck Point Park.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at Neck Point parking lot at 9:10 am. Weather pending. 

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

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