The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 9, 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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Bufflehead (R. Hocken)

Tuesday March 7, 2023:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Weather was overcast with sunny breaks, 6 degrees with a cool breeze. A few highlights from the beach were, eight Brant up on the beach providing a great view, a couple of Long-tailed Ducks out on the water, and Black Turnstones. In the woods by French Creek, American Goldfinch were seen, and California Quail were heard.

8 birders saw and heard the following 46 species.

Brant

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Long-tailed Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

California Quail

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Black-bellied Plover

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Bewick's Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee,

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

American Goldfinch  

House Sparrow

Pigeon Guillemot (R. Hocken)

Sunday March 5, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather, sunny, 6 degrees and calm winds. A few highlights were, Hermit Thrush, Trumpeter Swans flying over and a Pigeon Guillemot in the bay by the parking lot.

12 birders saw and heard the following 37 bird species:

Trumpeter Swans

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Anna's Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco 

Golden-crowned Sparrow

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 14, 2023

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 parking area at the end of Shelly Road off HWY19a, at 9:10. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, March 12, 2023

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail, in south Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Maki Road by Living Forest Campground 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