The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 28, 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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Surf Scoter (R. Hocken)

Tuesday September 27, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went up to Deep Bay. The weather was sunny, winds calm, tide was going out and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a pair of Marbled Murrelets seen close to shore at the point, a Western Grebe just of the shore near the mailboxes, and lots of scoters and Bonaparte Gulls to see.

13 birders saw and heard the following 49 bird species:

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Pigeon Guillemot

Rock Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Pipit

American Robin

European Starling

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crown Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

 White-crowned Sparrow, juvenile, brown & tan instead of black and white markings

(R. Hocken)

Sunday September 25, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road Trail in South Nanaimo. The weather was sunny and 13 degrees. We saw a Northern Harrier flying around the estuary and then followed a thermal up providing great views of the bird. A few other raptors seen were, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Merlin, and a Kestrel. There were a few ducks on the marsh including an American Coot and a Greater Yellowlegs was seen on the riverbank for the trail.

18 birders saw and heard the following 37 bird species:

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

American Coot

Pied-billed Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Merlin

Kestrel

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbirds 

House Finch (R. Hocken)

Backyard Bird Notes:

It is interesting how the birds react to a slight change in the weather. Today with the cooler overcast day we are hearing more birds and seeing a little more activity at the bird feeders. The mornings have been very quiet but with today’s overcast weather it is great to hear all the chatter again. One species to watch for is the Dark-eyed Juncos who will start moving in for the winter. There’s always lots of activity going on when they are around. Also watch for the Spotted Towhees and Song Sparrows returning.

If you don’t have time to tend to the garden this fall, that is ok. The birds will enjoy the seeds produced from the flowers left over the winter.

Question, can I put my feeders out? Yes, you can feed the birds. According to the Canadian Food inspection Agency “The use of bird feeders is still safe but they should be removed from areas that are open to poultry and other domestic animals”, https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-game-bird-hunting/avian-influenza-wild-birds.html#toc3 . Clean your bird feeders regularly, at least once a month, with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Use this mixture to also clean your bird bath and hummingbird feeders. Also remove old bird seed from under your bird feeders.

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).

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.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 4, 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 end of Shelly Road in Parksville at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, CANCELLED

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be cancelled but will resume on October 16^th.

Check the blog for updates and location.

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