The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 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 (J. Morrison) 

Tuesday October 29, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. Weather was perfect, sunny with a few clouds, no wind and calm waters, 3C. A few highlights from the walk were Hutton’s Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warblers and others in the trees and blackberries in a vacant lot. On the water there was a large raft of Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters with a few Long-tailed Ducks mixed in. At the end of the walk a lone Steller’s Jay was seen and heard.

9 birders saw and heard the following 58 species:

Trumpeter-Mute hybrid Swan

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red- necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-bill Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Hutton’s Vireo

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

House Sparrow

Fox Sparrow (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 27, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanoose Bay Estuary, starting at the end of Nanoose Beach Road. Weather was wet with showers on and off, turning to a steady rain and 9C. A few highlights from the walk were American Pipits flying over, a Great Blue Heron and Common Raven sharing a roost in the estuary and a few Bald Eagles.

9 brave birders saw and heard the following 28 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Common Raven

American Pipit

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Birding Notes:

The backyard feeders have been a little busier the last couple of weeks with more Dark-eyed Juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows visiting. The House Finches are still busy with a few American Goldfinch mixed in with them. The suet feeder is always busy with the Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Bushtits and Pileated Woodpecker but just this last week the Chestnut-backed Chickadees returned. Nice to see them back.

Anna’s Hummingbirds are busy and with the cooler nights I will put the hummingbird feeder heater on to give them a bit of a warmer solution in the morning. With the heater on the hummingbird feeder, I recommend changing the solution frequently, every three days instead of once a week, to keep it fresh and the feeder clean.

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, November 3, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 am or at the end of Raines Road, located off Cedar Road just over the Nanaimo River Bridge, at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 5, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Rathtrevor Provincial 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 beach entrance of the main parking lot at 9:10 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 24, 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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Harlequin Duck (R. Hocken) 

Tuesday October 22, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Weather was sunny, 10C. A few highlights from the walk were Greater White-fronted Geese, Black-bellied Plovers and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

14 birders saw and heard the following 54 species:

Greater White-fronted Goose

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

California Quail

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red- necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-bill Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rhinoceros Auklet

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet (J. Morrison)

Monday October 21, 2024:

A flock of Cedar Waxwings were observed feeding on the hillside at the end of Buttertubs Drive behind the apartment complex.

Sunday October 20, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk was canceled due to the weather.

Birding Notes:

On a couple of clear nights, I have been outside just to listen to what is going on. In the dark when your eyesight is limited your hearing is heightened, and it is interesting to listen to all the different sounds. In my backyard the raccoons can be heard moving through the hedge and in between the sirens and vehicle noise I have heard a few bird species as well. As one would expect there is the Barred Owl, a regular in my backyard, and a Great Horned Owl, a rare call that I hear in my neighborhood. I have also heard a flocks of Canada Geese flying over and Greater White-fronted Geese. The latest were Killdeer flying over in the dark and calling.

Although a full moon has passed a few days ago, it can be fun to set up a scope or watch the moon with your binoculars to possibly see flocks of birds passing by in front of the moon.

October 24th is day one of International Bat Week, making it the perfect time to get involved with bats.

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, October 27, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Nanoose Estuary in Nanoose Bay.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Nanoose Beach Road, which is off Arlington Road and HWY 19, at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 29, 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 8:45 am or meet at the marina parking lot in Deep Bay at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Sunday Bird Walk CANELED

 

The October 20th Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELED due to weather, heavy rain forecasted  

See you next Sunday, Colin. 

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 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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Surf Scoter (R. Hocken) 

Tuesday October 15, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary but started at the Brant Viewing Stand on HWY19A. Weather was a mixture of sun and cloud, 11C with no wind and the tide out. A few highlights from the walk were a Merlin that made several passes over the estuary, Savannah Sparrows along the beach and Yellow-rumped Warblers in the estuary towards the mouth of the river.

11 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red- necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-bill Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Yellow-rumped Warbler

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Savannah Sparrow (J. Morrison)

Sunday October 13, 2024:

There was no Sunday Bird Walk this week, for the Thanksgiving weekend

Friday October 11, 2024:

A large flock of 60 Greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying over Grovehill Road area in Qualicum Beach.

Birding Notes:

Project Feeder Watch.

Are you feeding or watching birds this winter? Turn your love of birding

into part of a scientific discovery by joining Project FeederWatch!

Project FeederWatch is a survey of birds visiting backyards, nature

centers, and community areas, among other places in North America.

This citizen science program helps research and conservation

organizations monitor long term trends and changes for local bird

populations.

Starting in November until April, participants can watch and log the

type and number of birds they are seeing into FeederWatch’s online

database. These logs help scientists at Bird Studies Canada and the

Cornell Lab of Ornithology track changes in bird movements or numbers

across North America.

Participating is completely voluntary and there is no minimum or

maximum time required to join in. Bird feeders are not a requirement to

be involved as birds can be counted wherever they naturally

congregate.

Using the accumulated data can help show scientists which bird species

are in decline and allow them to make recommendations to help stop the

decline before it becomes unrecoverable.

Though previously Project FeederWatch has focused solely on bird

populations, in 2023 they have added the ability to record mammals as

well. This November 10th, take a few minutes and watch some birds.

https://feederwatch.org

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, October 20, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Nanoose Estuary in Nanoose Bay.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Nanoose Beach Road, which is off Arlington Road and HWY 19, at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 22, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek.

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 sandy beach parking lot located on Admiral Tyron Blvd, located off Columbia Drive and HWY 19A, at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.

 Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 8, 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.
********************************************************* 

Peregrine Falcon (R. Hocken) 

Tuesday October 8, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The weather was overcast with a light shower and ended in the sun at 14C. A few highlights from the walk were a Peregrine Falcon perch atop a tree, two Greater Yellowlegs flew in close on the shore and a flock of Cedar Waxwings were hanging out at the Mill Street entrance.

11 birders saw and heard the following 47 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red- necked Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Short-bill Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Monday October 6, 2024:

Great Horned Owl was heard calling in the hospital area on Cresent View Drive and Forest Drive.

American Kestrel (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 6, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was overcast with sun and 15C. Highlights from the walk was an American kestrel that was perched atop the dead snags along the dyke, great views of a Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and a Red-breasted Sapsucker that were working the trees right beside the group during the walk.

13 birders saw and heard the following 45 species:

Canada Goose

Wood duck

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Hooded Merganser

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

American Kestrel

Killdeer

American Coot

Virginia Rail

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Pipit

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Steller’s Jay was seen in a backyard on Honeysuckle Terrace in Nanaimo.

Saturday October 5, 2024:

Great Horned Owl was heard calling in the area of Forest Drive and Crescent View Drive Nanaimo.

 Wednesday October 2, 2024:

Western Meadowlark was seen at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo.

Birding Notes:

Who’s new in the backyard this week. At my house a Steller’s Jay arrived and has been seen for a few days now. Hopefully it will stay a while for the peanuts, although it better be quick before the squirrels find the peanuts. There has been a Barred Owl regularly hanging out in my backyard the past month but this week I have been hearing a Great Horned Owl now calling and the Barred Owl has either left or is very quiet.

The bird feeders are a little busier with more sparrows arriving and the House Finch and a few American Goldfinch are steady visitors at the bird feeders with the sunflower chip.

The chickadees have been quiet at the feeders lately, must be a good crop of natural seed, but the Bushtits have been busy visiting the suet feeder, along with the Northern Flickers and Downy Woodpeckers.

Birds to watch for in the backyard, Fox, Song and Golden-crowned  Sparrows.

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, October 13, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELLED this Thanksgiving long weekend.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 15, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary 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 Brant viewing stand on HWY19A, between Crescent Road W and Beach Terrace, at 9:15am. We will then go to the estuary meeting at the end of Surfside Drive about 9:45am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett