The Backyard's Bird Report October 19, 2022

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 19, 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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Long-tailed Duck (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 18, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach in French Creek. The weather was sunny, winds calm, tide going out and 12 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a pair of Yellow-rumped Warblers in the bushes near French Creek, a Long-tailed Duck in with a flock of Surf Scoters and hearing the call of a Common Loon while standing on the shore looking for birds.

10 birders saw and heard the following 48 bird species:

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

California Quail

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Merlin

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Greater Yellowlegs

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Rock Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

House Sparrow

Long-billed Dowitcher (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 16, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The weather was sunny and 11 degrees. A Long-billed Dowitcher was seen foraging along the marsh edge along with a Common Snipe. 4 Snow Geese fly over heading south and a Northern Shoveler was seen in the marsh near the entrance at Buttertubs Drive. The birds were a little busier than the last walk here.

10 birders saw and heard the following 35 bird species:

Snow Goose

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard.

Green-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Ring-necked Duck

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Kill Deer

Long-billed Dowitcher

Common Snipe

American Coot

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Spotted Towhee (R. Hocken)

Backyard Bird Notes: 

Well, it seems our long summer is going to change quickly to fall. This week was the first time there was dew on the vehicles in the morning and the birds are noticing the difference in the weather as well. With how dry it has been the birds have been quiet at the backyard feeders but this week I have had what feels like an explosion of activity in the backyard. Juncos, towhees, chickadees, and Golden-crowned Sparrows are all back and it is great to see. I am waiting to see if the Steller’s Jays return this year or if there is enough natural seed that they stay up at the higher elevations.

With the weather changing and the rain coming make sure you bird feeders are kept dry. Using a cover will help but also only use enough seed for a day or two, so if your feeder does get soaking wet, it is easier to clean and less bird seed is wasted.

Have your bird feeders clean and ready as they will be busy with the change in the weather.

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 25, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to the Englishman River Estuary on Plummer Road.

Please meet directly at the entrance to the trail at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, October 23, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in South Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Raines Road 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