The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

April 25, 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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Bonapartes Gull (J. Morrison)

Tuesday April 23, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was sunny, 8C, wind was calm, and tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were four species of warblers that were busy in the maple trees, a few Chipping Sparrows that were up close for everyone to see and heard a couple of Cassin’s Vireos.

20 birders saw and heard the following 54 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

American Wigeon

Gadwall

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Double-crested Cormorant

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Greater Yellowlegs

Bonaparte’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Violet-green Swallow

Western Flycatcher

Cassin’s Vireo

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Hermit Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Black-throated Gray Warbler (J. Morrison)

Monday April 22, 2024:

Black-throated Gray Warblers were seen at Morrell Nature Sanctuary in Nanaimo.

A juvenile Dark-eyed Junco was seen at a backyard feeder in the hospital area.

Sunday April 21, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 9C, no wind and the tide was going out. A few highlights from the walk were a male Wood Duck in the marsh behind the parking lot, and four Townsend Solitaires were in the trees behind the boardwalk. Pigeon Guillemot, Harlequin Ducks were seen on the water and a female Pileated Woodpecker was feeding low on a tree.

15 birders heard and saw the following 42 species:

Canda Goose

Mallard

Wood Duck

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Violet-green Swallow

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Townsend’s Solitaire

American Robin

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Watch for American Goldfinch visiting backyard feeders, there have been many reports of them.

When out on a walk also watch for Western Tanagers, Willow and Western Flycatchers.

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, April 28, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville.

Drive and Sywash Ridge Road, parking at the corner under the power lines, at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, April 30, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Top Bridge Trail, 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 trail entrance on Industrial Way and Tuan Road about 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett