Bird Report October 5, 2022

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 5, 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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Harlequin Duck (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 4, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went up to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road. The weather was sunny, winds calm, tide was out and on the way in and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding the shrubs along the trail, many flocks of Pacific Loons flying, past and 3 Common Murres was seen out in the strait, along with two Humpback Whales moving north.

15 birders saw and heard the following 47 bird species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Kestrel

Killdeer

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Yellow-rumped Warbler (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 2, 2022:

Unfortunately, the Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled this week and will also be cancelled for October 9, Thanksgiving Weekend.

A flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen on the Maki Road Trail, along the Nanaimo River.

Bushtits on a suet feeder

Backyard Bird Notes: 

With the continuing warm dry weather one thing the birds are looking for is water. There are no water puddles or small streams for the to drink from as they have all dried up. Providing a simple shallow water source to your backyard will attract a variety of birds. Songbirds prefer a shallow water source so they can easily wade into the water, like a saucer from a planter that is an inch or so deep. Place it in an open area where birds can see it but still a few feet away from a shrub or tree if they need shelter. Change the water regularly, and clean with the bleach solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. Birds have great hearing, and the sound of moving water helps to attract them. Birds can hear the simple dripping sound of water from a great distance and will be attract to the water. Adding a fountain or dripper to your water source will help the birds find your backyard. Make your own dripper with a pop bottle. Tie a string or wire around the neck of the bottle so it can be hung above your water source. Poke a small pin hole in the bottom, fill with water and replace the cap. Hang over your water source and slowly unscrew the cap to achieve a slow steady drip.

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 11, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Little Qualicum River Estuary (Marshall Stevenson Estuary), stopping first at the Brant Veiwing Stand 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 Brant Viewing Stand at the end of Qualicum Beach at 9:15am or at the end of Surfside Drive off of Kinkade Road at 9:45. 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