SUNDAY BIRD WALK CANCELLED

This Sunday Bird Walk, January 19, to Bowen Park has been cancelled due to the weather and conditions.
Sorry for any inconvenience, Colin.

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

January 15, 2020

“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.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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Photo: Bufflehead (R. Hocken)

Sunday January 12, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park. Temperatures were low, wind and waves were high, but the rain and snow held off until we finished. Most birds were hunkered out of the weather, but we managed a decent list of the usual suspects.

Fifteen determined birders saw or heard the following 33 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Brandt's Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

Iceland (Thayer's) Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Ancient Murrelet

Rhinoceros Auklet

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick's Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

Photo: Downy Woodpecker (R. Hocken)

Tuesday January 14, 2020:



The Tuesday Bird Walk was cancelled this week due to weather.

Backyard Feeder Notes:

Winter is for the birds or all about the birds. With the latest weather the birds have been busy about the backyards and at the feeders since natural foods sources are covered by the snow. There are a few things you can do to help the birds during this snowy weather. Of course you can provide seed for the birds but not all birds feed on seeds so start by opening up your compost or shovel the snow off the garden and turn the soil to dig up insects for the robins and thrushes. Grate some suet and place in an area away from other feeder activity but near the robins. Add quarters of apple or blueberries for them as well. If the hummingbird feeder is freezing bundle up an old string of incandescent Christmas lights or trouble light and hang under the feeder to provide some heat. Place a wool sock over the bottle of the hummingbird feeder to help insulate the solution and even place a hand warmer under the sock to add some warmth. These are just a few ideas to help out our feathered friends during the winter.

Photo: Varied Thrush (J. Morrison)

The Sunday Bird Walk January 19, 2020:

This Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet at the upper parking lot by the outdoor pool at 9:15am.

 

The Tuesday Bird Walk January 21, 2020:

This Tuesday Bird Walk will try again to go to the

 Little Qualicum River Estuary.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay road and Franklin’s Gull road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the Brant Viewing Stand at the end of Qualicum Beach at 9:15 or at the end of Surfside Drive off of Kinkade Road at 9:40.

Please Note:
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett

CANCELED Tuesday Bird Walk

Tuesday Bird Walk for January 14th has been canceled due to weather. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Colin.

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Weekly Bird Report January 9, 2020

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

January 9, 2020

“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.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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Photo: Wood Duck (R. Hocken)

Sunday January 5, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. The weather was rain with light winds to start but when we finished the weather had changed to blue skies and sunshine. We started off with a Bald Eagle perched atop a tree watching over the marsh, and only a few ducks were on the water.

Five dedicated birders saw the following 36 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Rind-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Tuesday January 7, 2020:

Eight (8) Snow Geese and a Great White-front Goose continue to be seen at the Parksville Community Park.

Thirteen (13) Brant were huddled on the gravel bar off the old hovercraft base at the Parksville Community Park as well.

Photo: Snow Geese (R. Hocken)

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman Estuary – Shelly Road side. The skies were overcast with rain showers, occasionally heavy. A Fox Sparrow displayed for a couple of minutes at close range, and a large flock of Pine Siskins patrolled the catkins. Despite seeing few songbirds early on the walk, we filled out our list on the pathway between Mills Road and the Community Park.

Five intrepid souls braved an extended rinse cycle and saw or heard thirty-four species:

Gadwall

American Widgeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Bald Eagle

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

Iceland (Thayer’s) Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden- crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Photo: Fox Sparrow (J. Morrison)

The Sunday Bird Walk January 12, 2020:

This Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet at the parking lot at Neck Point Park at 9:10am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk January 14, 2020:

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Little Qualicum River Estaury.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay road and Franklin’s Gull road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the Brant Viewing Stand at the end of Qualicum Beach at 9:15 or at the end of Surfside Drive off of Kinkade Road at 9:40.

Please Note:
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett

The Backyard

Wildbird and Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday Bird Walk Canceled

The Tuesday Bird Walk has been cancelled due to weather.
Sorry for any inconvenience, Colin.