The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 18, 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.
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Red-breasted Sapsucker (J. Morrison)

Tuesday June 16, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Lighthouse Country Regional Trail in Qualicum Bay. Weather was sunny and 20C. This was our first bird walk to this area and was rewarded with a few good sightings. A few highlights from the walk were 3 Black swifts, heard Red Crossbills fly over and saw a Barred Owl being mobbed by a few American Robins.

12 birders saw and heard the following 44 species:

Turkey Vulture

Barred Owl

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Western Warbling Vireo

Hutton’s Vireo

Black Swift

Western Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Willow’s Flycatcher

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

House Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Townsend’s Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Northern 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

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Common Yellowthroat (R. Hocken)

Sunday June 14, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh / Copley Trail in Lantzville. Weather was sunny and 20C. A few highlights from the walk were seeing the MacGillivray’s Warbler, Cedar Waxwing and Brown Creeper.

13 birders saw and heard the following 40 species:

Wood Duck

Mallard

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Anna’s hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Warbling Vireo

Western Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Orange-crowned Warbler

Northern Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Warbler

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

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 21, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Linley Valley, in Nanaimo.

Meet at the end of Burma Road which is located off of Lost Lake Road at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, June 23, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Meet at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett