The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

                              The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 2, 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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Blue Jay (K. Fowler)

Thursday November 2, 2023:

A Blue Jay continues to be seen in the area of Bird Sanctuary Drive and Rockland Road, Buttertubs Marsh.

Wednesday November 1, 2023:

4 Trumpeter Swans were seen and heard as they flew over The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store on Metral Drive.

Tuesday October 31, 2023:

Yea, the Tuesday Bird Walk happened, we didn’t get rained out. The walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side. The weather, sun and clouds, cool at 1C and the tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were a flock of 10 Brant, a flock of Greater White-fronted geese that flew over, a Greater Yellowlegs that was heard and great view of a Downy Woodpecker.

9 birders saw and heard the following 47 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Sapsucker (J. Morrison)

Sunday October 29, 2023:

A report of Snow Geese seen in the fields in Whisk Creek and flying over Judges Row in Qualicum Beach.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 2C, and no wind. A few highlights from the walk were Blue Jay, Barred Owl, Virginia Rail and Varied Thrush.

13 birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Virginia Rail

American Coot

Barred Owl

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Blue Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

House 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 Sunday Bird Walk, November 5, 2023

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at the end of Raines Road off of Cedar Road at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 7, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer 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 Corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive, at 9:05am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett