The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
November 12, 2024
“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 Shrike (J. Morrison)
Tuesday November 12, 2024:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary. Weather was cloudy with sunny breaks, tide was going out, no wind, and 6C. The birds were a little quiet to start the walk and not to much on the river, which was high, except for a few Common Mergansers. A few high lights from the walk were Northern Shrike that perched nicely for everyone to get a good look. Hutton’s Vireo gave everyone a show near the viewing area on the field and two Bald Eagles were busy working on the nest along the river. Also, four orcas put on a nice show out front at the mouth of the river.
13 birders saw and heard the following 44 species:
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American
Wigeon
Eurasian
Wigeon
Mallard
Northern
Pintail
Harlequin
Duck
White-winged
Scoter
Bufflehead
Common
Goldeneye
Common
Merganser
Red-breasted
Merganser
Hooded
Merganser
Great Blue
Heron
Bald Eagle
killdeer
Short-bill
Gull
California
Gull
Glaucous-winged
Gull
Anna’s
Hummingbird
Belted
Kingfisher
Northern
Flicker
Pileated
Woodpecker
Northern
Shrike
Hutton’s Vireo
Common Raven
American Crow
Chestnut-backed
Chickadee
Red-breasted
Nuthatch
Brown
Creeper
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned
Kinglet
Golden-crowned
Kinglet
Bewick’s
Wren
Pacific Wren
American
Robin
Varied
Thrush
Spotted
Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned
Sparrow
Dark-eyed
Junco
Red
Crossbill
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Steller’s Jay, Varied Thrush and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet were seen in a backyard on Aulds Road and Arbutus Crescent area.
Sunday November 10, 2024:
There was no Sunday Bird Walk this weekend.
Friday November 7, 2024:
Approximately 20 Evening Grosbeaks were seen along the Maki Trail (Fielding marsh) in south Nanaimo. They were also seen on November 5th and 6th.
Birding Notes:
Fall has arrived and so has the wet weather. Cleaning
bird feeders is as much a part of bird feeding as filling them with seed.
Keeping feeders clean will make bird watching more enjoyable for both you and
your
feathered friends.
We recommend using 1 part bleach to 9 parts water or
a 1 to one ratio of cleaning vinegar and water to clean your feeders. Make sure
to use industrial cleaning vinegar not cooking vinegar as it lacks the
disinfectant properties.
Either solution can be kept in a spray bottle to
simplify the
process even further.
First, remove any old bird seed from your feeders
and throw it into the trash.
Use a small brush or whiskbroom to clean out any
stubborn seed remains and then give it a good spray
with your cleaning solution.
Scrub the feeder down with the cleaning solution and
rinse with fresh water then let it dry.
Wooden feeders can be scrubbed to knock off any seed
remains and then sprayed liberally with the cleaning
solution. If using bleach water, give it a good spray and let it air dry overnight. The bleach will sanitize your feeder and evaporate off, leaving it safe for use.
If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.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 17, 2024.
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 meet at the end of Maki Road, by Living Forest Campground, at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.
The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 19, 2024.
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.
Good birding! Colin Bartlett