The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 9, 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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Great Blue Heron (J. Morrison)

Tuesday October 6, 2026:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was overcast, 9C, tide was out and coming in. A few highlights from the walk, an American Kestrel was spotted a few times around the estuary, Great Yellowlegs and a good view of a Hairy Woodpecker

8 birders saw and heard the following 40 species:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Bonaparte’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

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

Varied Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

Long-billed Dowitcher (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 4, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, and 8C. A few highlights from the walk, Merlin and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen, Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at both ends of the marsh, and American Coot.

20 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

American Wigeon

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Merlin

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

American Coot

Long-billed Dowitcher

Rock Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine siskin

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Friday October 2, 2026:

Osprey was seen at Colliery Dam, Nanaimo.

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 11, 2026:

There is NO Sunday Bird Walk this week. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Tuesday Bird Walk, October 13, 2026:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Meet at the beach entrance of the main parking lot at 9:00 am.

Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett