Nanaimo Bird Report June 15, 2022

 

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