The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 10, 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.
********************************************************* 

Warbling Vireo (J. Morrison) 

Tuesday September 10, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was sunny, 14C, tide was out. It was a great day for a bird walk and a few highlights from were Greater Yellowlegs, one seen on the river and two seen in the estuary. A lone Bonaparte's Gull was seen in with California Gulls on the gravel bar, and a Northern Harrier was seen landing out in the field near the community park. Highlight of the walk was the Warbling Vireo and for a few a Western Flycatcher, both seen by the Mills Street entrance to the estuary.

17 birders saw and heard the following 40 species:

Canada Goose

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Warbling Vireo

Western Flycatcher

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Monday September 9, 2024:

Barred Owl was heard calling in the hospital area near Thunderbird Drive and Eagle Crescent.

Red Crossbill (R. Hocken)

Sunday September 8, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park for the first outing this fall. Weather was sunny, 16C and the tide was high. A few highlights from the walk were California Quail behind the board walk, Rhinoceros Auklet and a Bald Eagle the flew over us with a fish in its talons.

15 birders saw and heard the following 24 species:

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

California Quail

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rhinoceros Auklet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

Their back, Pine Siskins. The siskins have already been visiting backyard feeders this summer, but we are now hearing more reports of them around. Typically, we see Pine Siskins on a two year high then two year low rotation and this is the start of the high years.

Dark-eyed Juncos will begin to return in numbers to the backyards soon. Other returning sparrows to watch for are the Spotted Towhees, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song and Fox Sparrows.

The backyard feeders are a little quieter right now, but the flocks of Bushtits have replaced that lost activity. These flocks are visiting the suet feeder and take over when they arrive but they are also checking out the medium sunflower chip feeder and annoying the hummingbird as they try to figure out what that feeder is.

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, September 15, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 am or at the Second Street entrance by the Miners Shack at 9:10 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, September 17, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Rathtrevor Provincial Park.

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 beach entrance of the main parking lot at 9:10 am.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 6, 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.
*********************************************************

Friday September 6, 2024:

Red Crossbills were heard calling in the trees on Elm Road in Lantzville.

Tuesday September 3, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was sunny, 17C, tide was out. The walk started out quiet and picked up as the walk went on. Along the river a Spotted Sandpiper was observed and, in the estuary, Western Sandpipers and two Semipalmated Plovers were seen. The parking lot bird at the end of the walk were Cedar Waxwings.

22 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:

Canada Goose

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Semipalmated Plover

Western Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted kingfisher

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Sunday September 1, 2024:

Approximately 20 Common Nighthawks were seen feeding over the Englishman River Estuary.

American Goldfinch – male, winter plumage (R. Hocken)

For the backyard feeders, there have been a few reports of Steller’s Jays returning and families of Northern Flickers. The American Goldfinch have moved on from some backyard bird feeders, as they prepare to move southward. Although, some American Goldfinch will stay for the winter. A few Rufous Hummingbirds have arrived for a short stay before continuing the migration south. I had a female Rufous Hummingbird for about a week visiting and spending lots of time feeding on the salvia hot lips and fuchsia plants on my patio.

Fall is a time that the suet is busy with all the woodpecker families visiting, along with the newly formed flock of Bushtits. Chickadees, nuthatch and jays will be busy caching seed for the winter and a favorite for them is the black oil sunflower seeds and peanuts. If you are not using these seeds, try adding a small amount to your feeding station.

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, September 8, 2024.

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 am or at Neck Point parking lot at 9:10 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, September 10, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary – Shelly 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 end of Shelly Road, off of Hwy 19A, at 9:10 am.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett