The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 11, 2026
“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.
*********************************************************

Common Merganser - male (R. Hocken)

Tuesday June 9, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went o the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was cloudy, 15C and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were 3 Spotted Sandpipers calling and fying along the river. A female Purple Martin was seen perch on a branch beside the river, and a Western Tanager was seen along the main trail near the parking lot.

14 birders saw and heard the following 58 species:

Canada Goose

Common Merganser

Surf Scoter

Double Crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Great Blue Heron

California Quail

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Spotted Sandpiper

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Black Swift

Western Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Willow’s Flycatcher

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Wilsons’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pied-billed Grebe - juvenile (R. Hocken)

Sunday June 7, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was cloudy and 14C. A few highlights from the walk were seeing the Wood Duck and Pied-billed Grebe, both with young. A lone Black Swift was seen, Purple Martins were checking out the nest boxes, and a Red-tailed Hawk was seen overhead.

13 birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Black Swift

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Purple Martin

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Marsh Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

European Starling

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

House Sparrow

Backyard Happenings

My backyard feeders are busy with House Finches and all the juveniles that are out. A splash of bright yellow, American Goldfinch, shows up occasionally and is nice to see. The suet feeder is still busy with nuthatches, flickers and families of starlings, which unfortunately are learning to hang upside down. Chickadees were busy at the suet but have disappeared. This is normal and will be back in a couple of weeks to start their second nest. Anna’s Hummingbirds have been busy at the feeders and flowers, as well as taking nesting material although I have not been able to locate their nest this year. Last year I watched Anna’s Hummingbird build the nest and fledge two young in our apple tree. This year a pair of American Robins have nested in the apple tree, and one has just left the nest.

With warm weather coming this week, remember water will be important for the birds so keep a fresh supply available. Bird species other than the feeder birds will also be attracted to the water.

If you have any bird sightings 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.

Sunday Bird Walk, June 14, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh, in Lantzville.

Meet at the Copley Ridge Trail parking lot located on Normarel Drive, off of Superior Road, at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, June 16, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to a new location, Lighthouse Country Regional Trail in Qualicum Bay. Meet at the parking lot located at the end of Lioness Blvd. at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Take HWY 19A to Qualicum Bay and turn on Lions Way, then right onto Lioness Blvd, follow a short distance to the parking lot.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett