The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 29, 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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Black Turnstone (R. Hocken)

Tuesday March 28, 2023:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary and the Brant Viewing stand in Qualicum Beach. The weather was sunny with a cool breeze and +5. A few highlights from the walk were seeing a large raft of scoters that also included Long-tailed Ducks. Saw our first Bonaparte’s Gulls of the year and had great views of two Black Oystercatchers and Black Turnstones. Also was great to see lots of Brant flying by.

8 birders saw and heard the following 46 species.

Brant

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-wing Teal

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rhinoceros Auklet

Pigeon Guillemot

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

American Dipper (J. Morrison)

Monday March 27, 2023:

Two American Dippers were seen and heard singing on the Nanaimo River at the end of the Morden Collier Park trail.

Sunday March 26, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Weather was sunny but cool and only +1. A few highlights from the walk was hearing a Steller’s Jay for the first time in a while, and good views of a Red-breasted Sapsucker. Over the marsh the Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows were busy.

10 birders saw and heard the following 36 bird species:

Wood Duck

Mallard

Ring-neck Duck

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin 

Friday March 24, 2023:

Tree Swallows were seen at Buttertubs Marsh.

Tree Swallow (J. Morrison)

It is great to hear the White-crowned Sparrows singing in the mornings, a sure sign of spring. Not many reports of Rufous Hummingbirds but the red flowering currant is just starting to open. This is a natural source of nectar that the hummingbirds feed on during migration. In the backyards we are hearing of chickadees back along with the Red-breasted Nuthatch. They are about to nest so make sure your nest boxes are ready.

In the mornings listen to all the different songs being sung and to help you identify who is singing check out the free Merlin app that will identify who is singing.

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, April 4, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the 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 at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, April 2, 2023

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

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