The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 24, 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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American Wigeon (R. Hocken)

Tuesday November 22, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk was going to go to Columbia Beach but with the weather the walk was canceled. Four birders did show up and braved the weather of strong winds, rain, but the temperatures were mild at 7C.

4 birders saw and heard the following 30 bird species between Columbia Beach, French Creek Estuary and Morningstar Ponds:

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

American Coot

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

California Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

American Crow

Common Raven

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. Hocken)

Sunday November 20, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park. The weather was cloudy and cool at 5C, with a light cool breeze. A few highlights from our walk were, Trumpeter Swans, a Sharp-shinned Hawk that we were alerted to by group of Red-breasted Nuthatches and a few Varied Thrush.

14 birders saw and heard the following 34 bird species:

Trumpeter Swan

Mallard

American Wigeon

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Iceland Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Saturday November 19, 2022:

A Barred Owl was seen at the Buttertubs Marsh along with 3 Northern Shovelers. 

Barred Owl (J. Morrison)

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.

Winter Break

With the winter weather arriving and being that busy time of year, we are going to take a winter break from the Sunday and Tuesday Bird Walks until late January 2023.

I would like to thank everyone for coming out on the bird walks and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year! See you all in 2023.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 November 22, 2022

 Today’s bird walk is canceled due to weather. 

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 16, 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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American Dipper (J. Morrison)

Tuesday November 15, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road. The weather was foggy and cool at 3 C. The fog was thick on the water, and we could not see past the mouth of the river. A few highlights from the walk were, 2 White-throated Sparrows that were seen at the Mill Street entrance to the estuary, an American Dipper up close along the new river trail from the parking lot and a Kestrel perched on a stump in the open field.

11 birders saw and heard the following 44 bird species:

Canada Goose

Gadwall

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Iceland Gull

California Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

American Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Dipper

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

White-throated Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Red-breasted Sapsucker (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 13, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. The weather was cool at 2C and cloudy. A few highlights from our walk around Buttertubs were, 2 Red-breasted Sapsuckers we watched along with a 3-point buck, a Northern Shoveler and Cedar Waxwings.

10 birders saw and heard the following 31 bird species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Hooded Merganser

Ring-necked Duck

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

American Coot

Killdeer

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow 

Saturday November 12, 2022:

A Short-eared Owl was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary along with 2 Northern Harriers. 

Short-eared Owl (J. Morrison)

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, November 22, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Columbia 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 parking area on Admiral Tryon Blvd, off Columbia Drive and Hwy 19A, at 9:15. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 20, 2022

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at Neck Point 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

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 10, 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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Varied Thrush (J. Morrison)

Thursday November 10, 2022:

A Varied Thrush was visiting a backyard in the area of Rutherford Road and Uplands Drive, Nanaimo.

A report of a Long-billed Curlew flying low over a backyard in the Timberlands area in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday November 8, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary with a stop at the Brant viewing stand. The weather was sunny 1C with a light breeze. A few highlights from the walk were, Trumpeter Swans flying over and at the mouth of the river, a Yellow-billed Loon in breeding plumage at the south end of Surfside Drive and a Western Meadowlark in the estuary.

11 birders saw and heard the following 42 bird species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Yellow-billed Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Herring Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Western Meadowlark

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Trumpeter Swan (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 6, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk was supposed to go to the Nanoose Bay Estuary, but it was cancelled due to the weather.

I went to check the estuary anyway and the weather was windy, but not raining, and the tide was still out so the bird activity was quiet with a total of 14 species seen.

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

American Crow

Common Raven

Dark-eyed Junco (R. Hocken)

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, November 15, 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 off of HWY 19a at 9:10. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 13, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Buttertubs Drive off Bowen 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

 

Canceled

 Today’s Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELED due to the weather and windy conditions. 

                             The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 3, 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 November 1, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The weather was sunny 2C to start and 8C at finish. Light cloud allowed decent viewing of Craig Bay and rain showers stayed out in the middle of the strait. A few highlights from the walk were, a very cooperative Barred Owl, a Eurasian Wigeon, and 6 gulls species.

11 birders saw and heard the following 50 bird species:

Brant

Canada Goose

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Barred Owl

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Pacific Wren (J. Morrison)

Monday October 31, 2022:

Two Snow Geese were seen on Icarus Drive in Nanaimo.

Sunday October 30, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The weather was not great but warm at 9C and started off with wind and rain, but the rain stopped shortly after we started. A few highlights were seeing a pair of California Quail run across the path near the board walk, 3 Pacific Loons close to point for easy viewing and a Pacific Wren along the edge of the trail providing a great view.

3 birders saw and heard the following 16 bird species:

White-winged Scoter

California Quail

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

American Dipper (R. Hocken) 

Friday October 28, 2022:

American Dipper was seen at the Little Qualicum River Hatchery.

Wednesday October 26, 2022:

Sora and Virginia Rail were heard near the Buttertubs Drive entrance to Buttertubs Marsh.

Backyard Bird Notes:

Well so much for fall, it feels like we went from summer straight to winter next week. With the quick change in the weather and cooler temperatures, the birds are quickly arriving back at the feeders.

Suet is a great source of energy for the birds to help them through the colder nights. Peanut or peanut butter suet has always been a favorite of the birds and usually has the highest crude protein percentage. If problems with the squirrels taking all the suet try the hot pepper suet and for starlings try hanging your suet feeder upside down which is harder for the starlings to access.

Keep your birdseed dry to prevent molding. Use a dome or cover for your feeders or use less seed, just enough for the day. Refilling the seed frequently will help keep the feeders cleaning and waste less seed.

Keeping your hummingbird feeders warm will prevent freezing. Use a hummingbird feeder heater, outdoor incandescent Christmas lights or heat lamps or other devices to prevent the freezing. Also change the sugar water nectar every couple of days when using a heater as the nectar will spoil faster just like in the summer.

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, November 8, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Little Qualicum River Estuary (Marshall Stevenson Estuary), stopping first at the Brant Viewing 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 Kinkade Road at 9:45. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 6, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Nanoose Bay Estuary.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Nanoose Beach Road (off Arlington Road and HWY 19) at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating, the forecast is wet, so if raining the walk will be cancelled.

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