Sunday Bird Walks Are Taking a Summer Break

 The Sunday Bird Walks will be taking a break for the summer and will resume at a later date.

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 23, 2022

“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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Common Loon (R. Hocken)

Tuesday June 21, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road entrance of the Englishman River Estuary. Weather was cloudy, light winds and a few showers, 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, seeing four Caspian Terns out on the gravel bar with the gulls. Hearing a flock of Red Crossbills fly over and a small flock of Cedar Waxwings perched in bare tree in the estuary.

17 birders saw and heard the following 55 species:

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

Pelagic Cormorant

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Spotted Sandpiper

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Caspian Tern

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Black Swift

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crown Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red Crossbills

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Eastern Kingbird (R. Hocken)

Monday June 20, 2022:

An Eastern Kingbird was seen perched at the top of a snag in Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. It was seen just up the hill from the parking lot.

Sunday June 19, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was cloudy with sunny breaks, winds were calm and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, seeing a female Anna’s Hummingbird sitting on the nest. Good views of a Pigeon Guillemot right in Hammond Bay and a Great Blue Heron that look to be hunting in the grass beside the trail.

15 birders saw and heard the following 29 species:

Canada Goose

Surf Scoter

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

Friday June 17, 2022:

At least 28 Caspian Terns were seen on the shore off Mariner Way in Parksville.

Thursday June 16, 2022:

An Eastern Kingbird was seen at the Englishman River Estuary. The bird was observed from the Plummer Road trail, just across the river as near the beginning of the trail.

Caspian Terns (F. Holtslander)

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.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 29, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road, in Parksville.

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 corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk

The Sunday Bird Walks will be taking a break for the summer and will resume at a later date.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Sightings from Parksville

Eastern Kingbird was seen at the Englishman River Estuary June 17, 2022 from the Plummer Road side of the estuary, near the beginning of the trail . It was seen just on the other side of the river.

28 plus Caspian Terns were seen on June 17, 2022 on the shore near the beach entrance at the end of Mariner Way in Parksville.

photo by F. Holtslander

Bird Walk Update

Today's Sunday June 19th bird walk was the last Sunday walk until mid-August. Our last Tuesday bird walk for the season will be June 28th, after which they will also pause until mid-August. 

For any updates on walk cancellations or information on the exact date the walks will resume, check back here or subscribe to our mailing list.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 22, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary, Shelly 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 parking area at the end of Shelly Road at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding!

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 15, 2022

“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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Violet-green Swallow (R. Hocken)

Tuesday June 14, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. We started from the entrance on Industrial Way. The weather was sunny with a light breeze and 15 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a Cedar Waxwing at the start of the walk, a couple of good views of Willow Flycatchers, one at the end of the walk feeding on a large fly and a male Anna’s Hummingbird perched in a tree being confronted by a female Rufous Hummingbird along with a juvenile Rufous Hummingbird for the territory. Also had good views of the American Goldfinch.

15 birders saw and heard the following 31 species:

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Black Swift

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crown Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Red-breasted Sapsucker (J. Morrison)

Monday June 13, 2022:

Two Virginia Rail juveniles and an adult were seen and heard at Fielding Marsh by the Maki Road trail.

Twelve California Quail chicks were reported from a hanging out in a backyard in the hospital area for Nanaimo.

Sunday June 12, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in Lantzville. Weather was good with a mixture of sun and cloud, and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a Red-breasted Sapsucker that was drumming on the transmission tower at the end of the walk for all to see, a Cooper’s Hawk that perched perfectly for us to view and a Bald Eagle that flew low over the trees and us but bothering the Great Blue Herons in the area.

15 birders saw and heard the following 49 species:

Wood Duck

Mallard

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Turkey Vulture

Black Swift

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Hairy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Orange-crowned Warbler

Wilson Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Brown-headed Cowbird

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Backyard Bird Notes:

Birds are busy at the backyard feeders, with first broods emerging. At the store we have been enjoying the juvenile Spotted Towhees, White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos at the feeders and foraging through the flower bed, as well as their daily baths in our bird bath. The Chestnut-backed Chickadee family is busy at the suet and with the peanut halves. We also received a report of 12 California chicks running around with mom and dad in a backyard by the hospital. Other reports have seen Pileated Woodpeckers feeding young and a juvenile Virginia Rail was seen at Fielding Marsh from the Maki Road Trail.

Identifying young can be educational as not all juveniles have the same plumage as the adults. Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos are the same size but a sooty brown plumage, with a streaky chest. You can identify them by their habits and certain markings such as the red eye of the towhee, and the white outer tail feathers of the junco.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473).

Spotted Towhee juvenile (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. 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.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 22, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary, Shelly 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 parking area at the end of Shelly Road at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, June 19, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the picnic tables by the parking lot at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Summer Home Delivery Update

Our home delivery from Duncan to Comox will be taking a short summer break from June 23 - July 20 and there will be no deliveries during this time. Please plan for no deliveries for the beginning of July.

Our next deliveries are scheduled for:

-South Nanaimo to Duncan: June 15

-North Nanaimo to Courtenay/Comox: June 22

Please contact the store if you have any questions or would like to place an order 250-390-3669 or email thebackyard@shaw.ca

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 7, 2022

“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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Spotted Sandpiper (R. Hocken)

Tuesday June 7, 2022:

Two Cinnamon Teal were seen in Fielding Marsh on the Maki Road Trail.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The weather was sunny and 15 degrees. It was a great walk to work on identifying bird songs and we did see some of them. A few highlights from the walk were, a Spotted Sandpiper that landed across the river from the parking lot and provided great views. The American Dipper was also seen in the river feeding. A Willow Flycatcher and Cedar Waxwing perched perfectly for us to see, and a Red-breasted Sapsucker was busy working its sap wells.

13 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Spotted Sandpiper

Black Swift

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Violet-green Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

American Dipper

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Black-throated Grey Warbler (R. Hocken)

Sunday June 5, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk was canceled due to the weather in the morning.

Backyard Bird Notes:

In the past week and a bit, we have received reports of Evening Grosbeaks visiting backyard feeders. Although these birds are common here it is not that common to have them visit your backyard feeders. A couple of sightings were in the Cinnabar Valley area and up by Malibu Terrace area of north Nanaimo.

The backyard suet feeders are busy these days with chickadees, and woodpeckers but also Bewick’s Wrens and even a Yellow-rumped Warbler that has been making regular visit to my suet feeder. Part of this extra activity may be that the insect’s birds would feed on are late due to the cool wet weather and are using the suet as a supplementary food source. Yes, I do have starlings constantly at the suet feeder and could deter them by placing the suet upside down or in a cage, but I enjoy the wren and warbler visiting that I do not want to deter them.

Seed feeders are steady with House Finch, juncos, chickadee, Pine Siskin and the odd American Goldfinch. Just remember to keep the feeders clean along with removing old seed off the ground.

If you have any exciting birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473).

Bewick’s Wren feeding upside down on suet feeder (source unknown)

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.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 15, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.

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 parking area on Industrial Way and Tuan Road at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, June 12, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the corner of Normarel Drive and Sywash Ridge Road at 9:10 am (by the power lines). Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

BIRD WALK CANCELED

 Today’s Sunday  bird walk, June 5, is canceled due to weather.

Next Sunday’s Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh in Lantzville. 

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 2, 2022

“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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Brown Creeper (J. Morrison)

Tuesday May 31, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The weather was overcast with a short rain shower and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, three species of flycatchers Olive-sided, Willow’s, and Pacific Slope. Lots of Yellow Warblers were singing by the marsh and Black Swifts were overhead feeding. We also were entertained by the juvenile Pacific Wrens being fed by the parents.

18 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:

Canada Goose

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Black Swift

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

MacGillivray’s Warbler (J. Morrison)

Sunday May 29, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The weather was cloudy and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, Blue-wing Teal seen by the Osprey stand, along with Purple Martins checking out the nest boxes. Female Wood Duck and ducklings were seen near the stand as well. A Virginia Rail was heard, and a Pied-billed Grebe was seen in the marsh near the parking lot.

18 birders saw and heard the following 41 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Blue-winged Teal

Mallard

Pied-billed Grebe

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Virginia Rail

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Purple Martin

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

House Sparrow

Orange-crowned Warbler (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. 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.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 7, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach.

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 hatchery parking lot on Claymore Road which is off Laburnum Road at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, June 5, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Burma Road, which is off of Lost Lake Road at 9:10 am. Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett