The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 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