The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 26, 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 October 17, 2023:

Unfortunately, the Tuesday Bird Walk was cancelled again due to the wet weather and winds forecast.

Golden-crowned Kinglet (J. Morrison)

Sunday October 8, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 8C, with a cool steady wind out of the north, northwest. A few highlights from the walk were Harlequin Ducks and Black Turnstones to start the walk and seeing the California Quail at the top of the hill.

11 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

California Quail

Great Blue Heron

Black Turnstone

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Friday October 21, 2023:

Blue Jay (not a Steller’s Jay) was reported in the Linley valley area of Linley Road and Wiltshire Drive. A photo was taken and confirmed. It was last seen feeding with the Steller’s Jays in a backyard.

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, October 29, 2023

The 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 by Jingle Pot and third street entrance at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 31, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, in Parksville (3^rd try a charm).

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, off HWY 19A, at 9:05am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

CANCELED - Tuesday Bird Walk

 October 24, 2023 Tuesday Bird Walk is CANCELED again due to an incoming weather system. 

The Sunday Bird Walk, October 29, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh. Meet at the entrance by Jingle Pot Road and 3rd street at 9:10. 

Good birding, Colin. 

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 19, 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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Northern Pintail (J. Morrison)

Tuesday October 17, 2023:

Unfortunately, the Tuesday Bird Walk was cancelled again due to the wet weather and winds forecast.

Here is a list of birds seen on a previous bird walk at the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, on October 20, 2020. 60 species were seen and heard on that walk.

Canada Goose

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Doves

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Western Meadowlark

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Brewer’s Blackbird (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 8, 2023:

Short-eared Owl was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary, along the far end of the hedgerow/dyke.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. The weather was nice, sunny with some clouds, 15C, no wind and the tide was high and going out. Some highlights were and Northern Harrier providing good looks as it was hunting, and a flock of twenty plus American Pipits that were moving about on the estuary. Unfortunately, we did not see the Short-eared Owl.

15 birders saw and heard the following 35 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

American Wigeon

Northern Pintail

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Bald Eagle

Greater Yellowlegs

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Short-billed Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Pipit

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-wing Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Friday October 13, 2023:

A Barred Owl was seen along the dyke near the Valley Oak modular home park.

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, October 22, 2023

The 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 beach by the parking lot at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 24, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, in Parksville.

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, off HWY 19A, at 9:05am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Tuesday Bird Walk CANCELED

 The Tuesday Bird Walk for October 17 is canceled due to the rainfall warning. 

Next Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo. 

Good birding, Colin

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 13, 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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American Coot (R. Hocken)

Wednesday October 11, 2023:

A white Common Raven was seen in the 400 block of Grovehill Road in Qualicum Bay.

32 California Quail are visiting a backyard on Parks Place in Ladysmith.

Tuesday October 10, 2023:

Unfortunately, the Tuesday Bird Walk was cancelled due to the wet weather and winds.

Here is a list of birds seen on a previous bird walk at the Little Qualicum River Estuary on October 17, 2017. 46 species were seen and heard.

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-wing Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Merlin

Black Oystercatcher

Bonaparte's Gull

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Eurasian-collared Dove

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 10, 2023:

Three American Coots were seen on Brookwood Marsh, off Brookwood Drive, in Nanaimo.

Sunday October 8, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled for the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Thursday October 5, 2023:

180 – 200 Greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying over the four hundred block of Grovehill Road in Qualicum Bay.

A White-throated Sparrow was seen in a backyard near Bayshore Drive and Catalina Drive in Nanaimo.

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, October 15, 2023

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Raines Road in Cedar, turn left off Cedar Road after crossing the bridge, at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 17, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, in Parksville.

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, off HWY 19A, at 9:05am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Bird Walk October 8th Cancellation

 This Sunday October 8th the bird walk is cancelled for Thanksgiving. Have a great weekend!

                      The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 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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Surf Scoter (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 3, 2023:

The Tuesday birding group went to Rathtrevor Provicial Park, in Parksville. The weather was perfect, 13C, sunny, no wind and the tide was high and going out. What an enjoyable day for birding with the weather and bird activity. No rare sightings but a few highlights, Ring-billed Gull, American Pipits flew overhead, Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and Savanah Sparrows.

10 birders saw and heard the following 43 species:

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Short-billed Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Pipit

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Varied Thrush (J. Morrison)

Sunday October 1, 2023:

The Sunday Bird group went to Nanoose Bay Estuary in Nanoose Bay. It was another perfect day of weather for birding, 13C, sunny with no wind, and the tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were, Greater White-fronted Goose was close by feeding, we close view of a Greater Yellowlegs as it walked past us about 12 feet away, Osprey was overhead, and a Merlin put on a show as it was busy chasing the crows about.

13 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:

Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Merlin

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Pipit

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Golden-crowed Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Friday September 29, 2020:

A Townsend’s Solitaire was seen along Stephenson Point Road, Nanaimo.

Thursday September 28, 2023:

A Rusty Blackbird and a Tennessee Warbler were seen in the west marsh at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

A few reports of Pine Siskins have been reported around Nanaimo.

Wednesday September 27, 2023:

A white Common Raven was seen in the 400 block of Grovehill Road in Qualicum Bay.

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, October 8, 2023

There will be no bird walk this Sunday, Thanksgiving weekend.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 10, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Little Qualicum River Estuary 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 Platform, located on HWY 19A between Crescent Road west and Beach Terrace, at 9:10am or at the end of Surfside Drive at 9:45. Weather Cooperating.

As seen on Budget Glass of Nanaimo street sign; If a turkey runs away, is it a chicken?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett