The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 3, 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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Northern Harrier (J. Morrison)

Tuesday November 3, 2026:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was overcast, 8C, and tide was coming in. A few highlights from the walk were American Kestrel and Northern Harrier seen in the estuary, four Trumpeter Swans flew over and Northern Shrike was seen in the field towards the Community Park.

14 birders saw and heard the following 56 species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Black Turnstone

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker’

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Northern Shrike

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. Hocken)

Monday November 2, 2026:

A Merlin was hanging out in a backyard in lower Lantzville.

Sunday November 1, 2026:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 4C and the tide in. A few highlights from the walk were Pacific Loons still in breeding plumage, a Cooper’s Hawk perched in a tree for all to view and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that was flitting about in an Ocean Spray beside the trail.

11 birders saw and heard the following 38 species:

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

California Quail

Pacific Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

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, November 8, 2026:

Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo.

Meet directly at the parking lot, located at the end of Maki Road before Living Forest Campground at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, November 10, 2026:

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

Meet at the beach entrance. main parking lot, just before the campground, at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett