The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

June 26, 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.
*********************************************************

Great Blue Heron (J. Morrison)

Tuesday June 23, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary. Weather was sunny and warm, 26C, and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were Pigeon Guillemots seen on the open water, Cedar Waxwing and a MacGillivray’s Warbler.

12 birders saw and heard the following 40 species:

Canada Goose

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Western Flycatcher

Willow’s Flycatcher

Violet-green Swallow

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Northern Yellow Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Red-winged Blackbird (J. Morrison)

Sunday June 21, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny and 16C. A few highlights from the walk were Great Horned Owl, being mobbed by American Robins, Wood Duck with chicks and a male in eclipse plumage, and Purple Martin.

15 birders saw and heard the following 33 species:

Wood Duck

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Great Horned Owl

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Western Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Purple Martin

Western Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

Backyard Happenings

Summer is official here and with it comes the heat. Water is important for the birds year round but especially during the hotter days in the summer. A water source can also attract other species of birds not usually seen at your backyard feeders, such as Western Tanager, American Robins or Northern Yellow Warbler. Birds also have great hearing and can be attracted to the sound of moving water, which can be created with a fountain. Any source of a fresh water supply will help the birds in your backyard. It can be as fancy as a nice bird bath or as simple as a shallow saucer of water. Change and clean the water daily due to evaporation and bird use or every couple of days with a bigger bird bath. This will also help to keep the mosquitoes from breeding in the water. A cleaning solution of 1 part bleach or industrial white vinegar to 9 parts water is used to disinfect the bird bath. If alge is a problem try using a 99% pure copper disk to prevent the problem or copper pennies, but it does take a few about twenty to twenty-five cents worth.

Don’t forget about the hummingbirds as the sugar water will ferment quicker in the heat. Use less at a time and change every other day and remember to give them a good cleaning each time with the same cleaning solution as for the bird bath. Make a little extra solution and keep it in the refrigerator for easy filling.

Bird seed in tube or silo style feeders can also be affected by the heat as it will create moisture causing mold or sprouting if in the feeder for a long time. I recommend using a little less at a time and filling it frequently which will keep the bird seed fresh and the ground a bit tidier.

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.

The Tuesday and Sunday bird walks will be taking a break for the summer and will be resuming in the fall.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett