The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 23, 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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Brant (R. Hocken)

Tuesday November 21, 2023:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park. Weather was sunny, windy, 8C felt like 2C and tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were 100 plus Brant, Common and Pacific Loons and a few Marbled Murrelets.

11 birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Brant

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black-bellied Plover

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Virginia Rail (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 19, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh, Nanaimo. The weather was sunny, 6C. A few highlights from the walk were Barred Owl by the river, heard two Virginia Rails were calling, and unfortunately, we did not see or hear the Blue Jay.

13 birders saw and heard the following 41 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Wood Duck

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Ring-neck Duck

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

American Coot

Virginia Rail

Glaucous-winged Gull

Barred Owl

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Gloden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

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 26, 2023

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail in South Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot by Living Forest Campground at the end of Maki Road, at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 28, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary 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, at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett