The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 10, 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.
*********************************************************

Wilson’s Snipe (J. Morrison)

Thursday September 10, 2026:

Wilson’s Snipe was seen feeding in a backyard along Lakeside Drive in Cinnabar Valley, Nanaimo.

Tuesday September 8, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was overcast to sunny, 16C, and the tide was out. A few highlights from the walk were a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers, a few Savanah Sparrows were seen in the estuary, Cooper’s Hawk and lots of Red Crossbills heard and a few seen.

7 birders saw and heard the following 33 species:

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Cooper’s Hawk (J. Morrison)

Backyard Happenings

It feels like fall is already here and the birds in the backyard are changing with the season. We have had reports of Steller’s Jays returning to backyards in recent weeks along with Red Crossbills. In my backyard I have been hearing the Red Crossbills in the fir trees but not at the feeders and I have also been hearing a Golden-crowned Sparrow but have not seen it visiting the bird feeder yet. A steller’s Jay has also just found the feeder with peanuts in the shell so the battle for the peanuts with the squirrel will begin soon.

The bird feeders are busy with House Finch and American Goldfinch that just arrived, chickadees, nuthatch and Bushtits, although since the Cooper’s Hawk was perched atop the shepherd with the feeders, the birds have not been visiting the feeders as much.

Make sure your feeders are full and ready to go for those birds migrating and for the fall and winter season.

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 Sunday bird walk, September 13, will be going to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo.

Meet at the parking lot at the end of Maki Road, turn off HWY 19A at Rona, at 9:00am.

Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, September 15, will be going to the Parksville Wetlands / Springwood Park in Parksville.

Meet directly at the end Despard Ave W and Chestnut Street at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett