The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 24, 2023

“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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California Quail (R. Hocken)

Thursday March 23, 2023:

Rufous Hummingbird was seen at a backyard feeder in Ladysmith.

Tuesday March 21, 2023:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The weather was cloudy and cool, 6 degrees. A few highlights were seeing a couple of Red Crossbills in a tree next to the trail near the viewing stand. Watching a Northern Harrier out working over the estuary and hearing a Yellow-rumped Warbler as we ended the walk. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful at finding the Mountain Bluebird.

13 birders saw and heard the following 53 species.

Brant

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-wing Teal

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

California Quail

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Bald Eagle

killdeer

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick's Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Yellow-rumped Warbler (R. Hocken)

Monday March 20, 2023:

A Wilson’s Snipe was seen at the main parking lot of Buttertubs Marsh.

Violet-green Swallows and Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen and heard at the west end of Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville.

Sunday March 19, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh, Nanaimo. The weather was sunny and cloudy, 8 degrees. A few highlights were a White-throated Sparrow seen at the entrance to Buttertubs Marsh off of Bird Sanctuary Drive along with a few Golden-crowned Sparrows. A fly over by 14 Trumpeter Swans, Yellow-rumped warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler in the trees along the main dyke, and Violet-green Swallows feeding over the marsh. We were also serenaded by Virginia Rails during the morning walk.

13 birders saw and heard the following 43 bird species:

Trumpeter Swans

Canada Goose

Mallard

Wood Duck

Green-winged Teal

Ring-neck Duck

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Red-tailed Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Peregrine Falcon

Virginia Rail

American Coot

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna's Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Violet-green Swallow

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Hutton’ Vireo

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow 

White-throated Sparrow (R. Hocken)

Spring is here with many first sightings of the year being reported. Violet-green Swallows, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, White-crowned Sparrows, and Rufous Hummingbirds are back. There have also been reports of less juncos at the feeders as these birds are also on the move to their nesting territories.

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, March 28, 2023

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, March 26, 2023

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh, upper Lantzville.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the corner of Normarel Drive and Sywash Ridge Road at 9:10 am (by the power lines). 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