The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 20, 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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This Sunday’s (June 23) Bird Walk will unfortunately be CANCELED. 

Belted Kingfisher - female (J. Morrison)

Tuesday June 18, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum hatchery in Qualicum Beach. Weather was cool at the start with some light showers but reached a pleasant 17C by the end of the walk. We enjoyed good views of American Dipper, Swainson’s Thrush, Western (Pacific Slope) Flycatcher and many warblers. Chipping Sparrows were everywhere.

11 birders saw and heard the following 38 species:

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pileated Woodpecker

Willow Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Western (Pacific-slope) Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

House Wren

Pacific Wren

American Dipper

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Sunday June 16, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park in south Nanaimo. Weather started as overcast but turned to showers during the walk and was 11C. A few highlights on the walk was seeing the Cedar Waxwings and a  committee of Turkey Vultures were seen in the trees next to the farm property. Red-eyed Vireos and Warbling Vireos were heard along the walk.

10 birders saw and heard the following 28 species:

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Copper’s Hawk

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-eyed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Black Swift

Western Flycatcher

Violet-green Swallow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Yellow Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

Brewer’s Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Brewer’s Blackbird (R. Hocken)

The backyard feeders at my house are busy with House Finches and finally a few American Goldfinch, along with all the Dark-eyed Juncos. Suet is very busy, earlier it was all the chickadees, Nuthatch, and Bewick’s Wren along with the young and now it is all the woodpeckers. Regular visitors on the suet now are Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers with the juveniles and the Northern Flickers. I changed to an upside-down suet feeder as the starlings were starting to take over the feeder. This has slowed the starling, and the woodpeckers didn’t miss a beat at feeding on the suet.

A couple of hummingbirds are busy in the backyard, but I have not seen many males lately. I seem to have one female Rufous and one female Anna’s Hummingbird, that don’t like to share, so one at a time at the flowers and feeders.

At the store the feeders are busy with Dark-eyed Juncos, Spotted Towhees, White-crown Sparrows and House Finches. The fun is watching the towhees and juncos in the birdbath, work comes to a stop.

We are always interested to hear and see (photos) of what is happening in your backyard.

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, June 23, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk is unfortunately going to be CANCELED.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 25, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary - Plummer Road.

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 at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett