The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 1, 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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Surf Scoter male (R. Hocken)

Tuesday September 29, 2026:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach in Parksville. Weather was overcast, 12C, wind was calm and the tide was high and going out. The walk started out on the beach front and then went along the river to the woods. A few highlights from the walk were 24 Black Oystercatchers waiting on a small spit for the tide to go out. 8 Greater Yellowlegs were seen beside the parking area on the river, a flock of Cedar Waxwings were feeding, and a lone Turkey Vulture was low over the shrubs vocalizing.

1 birder saw and heard the following 43 species:

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Black Oystercatcher

Greater Yellowlegs

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Cedar Waxwing (J. Morrison)

Sunday September 27, 2026:

There was no Sunday Bird Walk this week.

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, October 4, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh, in Nanaimo.

Meet directly at the south parking lot by 3^rd Street and Jingle Pot Road at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, October 6, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary, Shelly Road in Parksville.

Meet at the parking area located at the end of Shelly Road at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett