The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 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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Wood Duck (R. Hocken)

Tuesday May 28, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk was planned to go to Springwood Park in Parksville this week but was canceled again due to wet weather we thought was going to happen.

A flock of 30 plus Black Swifts were seen high over Piper’s Lagoon.

Western Wood-Pewee was heard singing in the trees near MacGillivray Avenue and Harrison Way on Gabriola Island.

Monday May 27, 2024:

3 Evening Grosbeaks were seen in a backyard feeder at the Seabreeze modular home park on Maki Road, Nanaimo.

Sunday May 26, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Weather was overcast and threatening to rain but never did, 10C. A few highlights from the walk were a quick view of a MacGillivray’s Warbler, a good look at a couple of Cedar Waxwings, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

8 birders saw and heard the following 41 species:

Wood Duck

Mallard

Turkey Vulture

Pied-billed Grebe

Eurasian Collared Dove

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Warbling Vireo

Cassin’s Vireo

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Barn Swallow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Townsend’s Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Wilson’s Warber

Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Sunday May 19, 2024:

Cedar Waxwings were seen at Diver’s Lake, Nanaimo, at the east marsh area.

Cedar Waxwing (S. Petersen)

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, June 2, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the upper parking lot near the main entrance at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 4, 2024.

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 about 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

CANCELED Tuesday Bird Walk

  Today's bird walk, May 28th, is CANCELED due to weather.

Good birding

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 23, 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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Osprey (R. Hocken)

Tuesday May 21, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk was planned to go to Springwood Park in Parksville this week but due to the weather the walk was cancelled. We will try again next Tuesday May 28.

Monday May 20, 2024:

A pair of Ospreys were seen at Long Lake in Nanaimo.

Sunday May 19, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled this week for the Victoria Day long weekend.

Wednesday May 15, 2024:

Black-headed Grosbeak was visiting a backyard feeder in Errington.

Evening Grosbeak (M. Stockwell)

Be on the lookout for Evening Grosbeaks as I have heard of a few reports of them visiting backyards as they are migrating through.

Juvenile birds are out and about in the backyards these days, and some can look very different than the adults. Such as Dark-eyed Junco’s juveniles that are gray, brown in colour with light streaks but still have white outer tail feathers to help identify them. Juvenile House Finch look like the female House Finch but sometimes you will see one with new feathers coming in that stick up and look like ears on the bird. Unfortunately, not all field guides will show the plumage of a juvenile, but you will be able to figure out the species by watching the other birds with it.

Another bird to watch for are the Common Nighthawks. They won’t be at your bird feeders but look up in the evenings and watch for what looks like a large swallow. I usually hear their call before I see them. Their call as described by All About Birds is “  a nasal peent or beer call while flying”.

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, May 26, 2024.

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the corner of Normarel Drive and Sywash Ridge Road, parking at the corner under the power lines, at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, May 28, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Springwood Park 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 Despard Avenue and Chestnut Street about 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Tuesday Bird Walk CANCELLED

 Today's bird walk, May 21st, is CANCELED due to weather.

Good birding. 

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 15, 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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Western (Pacific-slope) Flycatcher (J. Morrison)

Tuesday May 14, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach. Weather was sunny and warm. With the trees now leafing out, more birds were heard than seen on the walk. A few highlights from the walk were Swainson’s Thrush, first for the year, along with Black Swift and House Wren.

13 birders saw and heard the following 43 species:

Common Merganser

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Band-tailed Pigeon

Black Swift

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Western Flycatcher

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

House Wren

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Marsh Wren (R. Hocken)

Sunday May 12, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo. Weather was sunny and warm, 16C, with a steady breeze along the river. A few highlights from the walk were a Black-headed Grosbeak pair, Western Tanager and a American Coot in the marsh.

15 birders heard and saw the following 40 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

American Coot

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Saturday May 11, 2024:

Whimbrel was seen at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo, near the path entrance.

Friday May 10, 2024:

Black-headed Grosbeaks were seen in a backyard at Willow Park Modular home community.

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, May 19, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELLED this week for the Victoria Day long weekend.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, May 21, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Springwood Park 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 Despard Avenue and Chestnut Street about 9:10am. Weather Cooperating. 

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 7, 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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Black-headed Grosbeak (J. Morrison)

Tuesday May 7, 2024:

Black-headed Grosbeak was visiting a backyard feeder on Drew Road in Qualicum Beach.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Lot 10 and the Brant viewing stand in Qualicum Beach. Weather was sunny with a cool breeze on the water, and 11C. A few highlights from the Brant viewing stand were Pacific Loons, Horned Grebes, and Western Sandpiper. At Lot 10 we saw Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Rough-winged Swallows that were using the cavities on the bank and heard and saw Warbling Vireos.

14 birders saw and heard the following 43 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Western Sandpiper

Short-billed Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Western Flycatcher

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Pine Siskin

Yellow Warbler (R. Hocken)

Sunday May 5, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was overcast and 19C. A few highlights from the walk were seeing the Virginia Rail and two chicks, a couple of Long-billed Dowitchers and 6 Western Sandpipers, and an Osprey flying through.

19 birders heard and saw the following 49 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Pied-billed Grebe

California Quail

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Red-tailed Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Western Sandpiper

Long-billed Dowitcher

Glaucous-winged Gull

Virginia Rail

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewers Blackbird

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Saturday May 4, 2024:

Black-headed Grosbeak was seen near the end of Doumont Road in Nanaimo.

Thursday May 2, 2024:

Four American White Pelicans were seen flying over the Cowichan River Estuary.

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, May 12, 2024.

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 am or at the parking lot located at the end of Maki Road (by Living Forest Campground) at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, May 14, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach.

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 Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery on Claymore Road, located off Laburnum Road, Qualicum Beach about 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett