The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

                    The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 22, 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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Brant (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 20, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Weather was cloudy, 6C and tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were Black Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers up close to the beach for everyone to see. Two flocks of Brant flew past and Common Goldeneye were close to the beach for good viewing.

14 birders saw and heard the following 35 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

American Coot (R. Hocken)

Sunday February 18, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled for the Family Day long weekend.

One American Coot was seen at Divers Lake mixed in with all the Mallards at the parking lot. Common and Hooded Mergansers were seen on the lake along with a pair of Pied-billed Grebes and a lone Ring-neck Duck.

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, February 25, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary located at the end of Raines Road in Cedar.

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

The Tuesday Bird Walk, February 27, 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