The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 29, 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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Bufflehead (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 27, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Weather was cloudy, 0C, a cool breeze and tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were 6 Greater Yellowlegs working the shoreline, a raft of Surf Scoters further out from the beach, many Bald Eagles about, a few Snow Geese fly over and a flyby of 6 Brant.

8 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:

Brant

Snow Goose

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Greater Yellowlegs

Black Turnstone

Black-bellied Plover

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Northern Shrike (J. Morrison)

Monday February 26, 2024:

Cedar Waxwings were observed feeding at the end of Buttertubs Drive behind the new apartment complex.

Sunday February 25, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Cedar. Weather was sunny with some clouds, 7C with a light breeze and tide was going out. A few highlights from the walk were Northern Harrier flying about the estuary, a few were lucky to see Western Meadowlarks flying away and we had a few good views of Northern Shrikes.

12 birders saw and heard the following 35 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Merlin

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Friday February 23, 2024:

A Townsend’s Solitaire was observed in a backyard on Pipers Crescent in Nanaimo.

A few Turkey Vultures were seen soaring over the area of Uplands Drive and Turner Road in Nanaimo.

There were also other sighting on Friday of Turkey Vultures from Ladysmith to Qualicum Beach.

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, March 3, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail located at the end of Maki Road in south Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking area at the end of Maki Road at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, March 5, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Deep Bay.

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 government wharf parking lot in Deep Bay at 9:20am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett