The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 14, 2025
“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at birding@thebackyard.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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Red Crossbill (R. Hocken)

TUESDAY February 11, 2025:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Weather was sunny, cool -4C, no wind and high tide going out. A few highlights from the walk were Red Crossbills, lots of Dunlin and 8 Brant.

3 birders saw and heard the following 30 species:

Brant

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

Redhead (J. Pugh)

Sunday February 9, 2025:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. Weather started out sunny then clouded over by the end and, -2C. A few highlights from the walk were a Redhead seen in the open water near the Osprey stand, along with a couple of Pied-billed Grebes and a Red-breasted Sapsucker near the parking lot on Jingle Pot Road.

7 birders saw and heard the following 27 species:

Wood Duck

Green-winged Teal

Redhead

Ring-neck Duck

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Cooper’s Hawk

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Two Yellow-shafted Flickers were seen at a feeder on Granite Park Road in Nanaimo.

There was also one reported Hammond Bay Road and Parkway Drive in Nanaimo.

Monday February 3, 2025: 

Four Evening Grosbeaks were seen along the Hoylake Road West path in Qualicum Beach.

Birding Notes:

The Great Backyard Bird Count starts today!

 

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, February 16, 2025.

The Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELED this week for the Family Day long weekend.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, February 18 , 2025.

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, at the trail entrance, at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett