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

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 1, 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.
********************************************************* 

Northern Shoveler - female (R. Hocken) 

Tuesday October 1, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach in Parksville this week. Weather was rain, 11C, and the tide was going out. Five hardy birders braved the rain and an few highlights from the walk was three Northern Shovelers, Pacific Loons, and heard a Yellow Warbler.

5 birders saw and heard the following 42 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Green-winged Teal

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

California Quail

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red- necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Bonaparte’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rhinoceros Auklet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Monday September 30, 2024:

Barred Owl was seen in the tot lot near Eagle Crescent and Thunderbird Drive in the hospital area.

Greater White-fronted Geese (peter-ertl.com)

Sunday September 29, 2024:

There was no bird walk this long weekend.

Tuesday September 24, 2024:

A large flock of Greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying over Grovehill Road near Horne Lake.

Monday September 23, 2024:

Two Mountain Bluebirds were seen at Wicks Road and Lakes Road in Duncan.

Birding Notes:

This past week the Bewick’s Wren has been busy calling around my house and it starts at 6:45 am. The Bewick’s Wren is a common backyard bird but is not always noticed as they do not visit your bird feeders full of seed, but they do like the suet. These little insect eating birds’ nest in backyards and will use a nest box or whatever opportunities there are. They have been seen nesting in rubber boots that were left out, sleeves and pockets in coats, and many other sheltered nooks and crannies. During the winter the Bewick’s Wren and other insect eating birds, like Townsend’s Warbler, will supplement their diet with suet when needed during the colder weather. Sometimes they will also visit the hummingbird feeder for that little bit of extra energy.

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 6, 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. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 8, 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. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett