The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

                         The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 5, 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-headed Grosbeak ( J. Morrison) 

Thursday MAY 4, 2023:

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen in Willow Park Estates near Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tuesday May 2 , 2023:

The Tuesday birding group went to Springwood Park in Parksville. Weather was sunny, 13C. Highlights, great views of a female Pileated Woodpecker feeding and a Red-breasted Sapsucker, down low and up close. Lots of warblers including Yellow and Wilson Warblers and hearing a Western Tanager.

Ten birders saw and/or heard the following 36 species:

California Quail

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Warbling Vireo

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

American Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch 

Western Tanager (J. Anderson)

Sunday April 30, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Weather was sunny and warm at 12C. Highlights were a Barred Owl at the start of the walk, watching a Hammond’s Flycatcher in a tree close by and seeing a hearing seven warbler species.

Sixteen birders saw and heard 51 species.

Wood Duck

Mallard

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Barred Owl

Eurasian Collared Dove

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

House Wren

Marsh Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Golden-crowned kinglet

American Robin

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Black-headed Grosbeak

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Orange-crowned Warbler (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, May 9, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going first to the Brant Viewing Stand at Qualicum Beach and then to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery.

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 9:15, then at the hatchery, parking lot on Claymore Road which is off Laburnum Road, at 9:50 am. Weather Cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, May 7, 2023

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at 9:10am. 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