The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 20, 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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Greater Yellowlegs (R. Hocken)

Tuesday September 19, 2023:

The Tuesday birding group went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The weather was cloudy, showers, 13C and high tide. A few highlights from the walk were, Greater Yellowlegs in the estuary that was nice and close to view along with a few Killdeer, a Savanah Sparrow that perch on a long in the estuary for great viewing and Cedar Waxwings that landed in the trees neat the viewing mound.

10 birders saw and/or heard the following 42 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Merlin

Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Greater Yellowlegs

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Vaux Swift

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Monday September 18, 2023:

Approximately 50 Band-tailed Pigeons were seen around Nottingham Drive and Crossbow Drive, near the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo.

Sunday September 17, 2023:

The Sunday Bird group went to Maki Road trail in south Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 15C, steady breeze and the tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were, an Osprey soaring high over the harbour, a Great Yellowlegs in the marsh providing a great view for everyone and a Common Yellowthroat was heard in the marsh.

22 birders saw and heard the following 31 species:

Mallard

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Turkey Vulture

Greater Yellowlegs

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowed Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow (R. Hocken)

Backyard News:

Activity at the backyard feeders is steadily getting busier. At my feeders I am seeing lots of chickadees, nuthatch, Bushtits, House Finch, flickers and now starting to see more sparrows about. Dark-eyed Juncos have been in the yard all summer but lately the Spotted Towhees arrived and just yesterday Song Sparrows arrived.

With the weather changing next week and rain finally happening we need to switch our bird feeding routine to fall and winter. Keeping the bird seed dry can be a challenge sometimes but using domes or placing your feeder in an area that is sheltered will help. For some bird feeders, like squirrel proof ones, domes don’t always work, so for my feeders I use only enough bird seed that the birds finish in a day. This way there is less of a problem with wet and moldy bird seeds. It also makes cleaning a lot easier.

There have been a few reports of Pine Siskins about, but more reports of American Goldfinch. It has been a great summer for the goldfinch. Watch for Cedar Waxwings feeding on any berries as they migrate south. Steller’s Jays are busy, and I have gone from one to three of them battling for the peanuts in the shell I put out. I only put out a dozen or so peanuts in the shell on the deck railing so the need to be quick before the squirrel finds them.

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 Sunday Bird Walk, September 24, 2023

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot on Jingle Pot Road and the corner of 3^rd street, across from the ballpark, at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, September 26, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek.

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 sandy beach parking lot located on Admiral Tyron Blvd, located off Columbia Drive and HWY 19A, at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating. (if raining steadily the walk will be cancelled)

Good birding! Colin Bartlett