BIRD WALK CANCELED

 The Sunday Bird Walk on October 24 is canceled due to weather. We will retry next Sunday at Neck Point Park October 31. 

Colin. 

Sighting October 20, 2021

 2 Redhead and a Canvasback were seen in Diver's Lake today.

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 20, 2021

“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.
*********************************************************

Wednesday October 20, 2021:

2 Redhead and a Canvasback were seen on Diver’s Lake in Nanaimo.

Canvasback (J. Morrison)

Tuesday October 19, 2021:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary with a stop at the Brant viewing hut first. The weather was good with light clouds, some sunny breaks and a light breeze. Some highlights from the walk were, Western Grebe, marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet and a Downy Woodpecker easily visible in a tree by the parking lot. Interest no Steller’s Jays were heard.

12 Birders saw and heard the following 52 species:

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Northern Shoveler

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Black Oystercatcher

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Herring Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Rhinoceros Auklet

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Siskin

 Tuesday October 19, 2021:

A Redhead was seen at Diver’s Lake in Nanaimo, past the fishing dock in the southeast corner.

Redhead (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 17, 2021:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. The weather was good, cloudy with sunny breaks, a light breeze, and no rain. A few highlights from the walk were a flock of 40+ Snow Geese flying in formation overhead.  A Wilson’s Snipe made a fly past, and a juvenile Norther Shrike was harassing a flock of White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows. We did not see a Northern Harrier on the walk but one was seen later.

10 birders saw and heard the following 38 species:

Snow Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Common Merganser

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Wilson’s Snipe

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northern Shrike

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch 

Northern Shrike (J. Morrison) 

Sunday October 17, 2021:

A Northern Harrier was seen at the parking lot of the Nanaimo River Estuary being chased by a raven.

Friday October 15, 2021:

Hermit Thrush was seen at Diver’s Lake, Nanaimo.

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.

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Do not attend if you feel ill.

·         Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·         Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 26, 2021

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Englishman River Estuary, Shelley Road.

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 end of the Shelley Road in Parksville at 9:10 am, weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk October 24, 2021

The Sunday Bird walk will be going to the Neck Point Park.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at Neck Point parking lot at 9:10 am. Weather pending. 

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

The Nanaimo Bird Report October 15 2021

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 15, 2021

“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.
*********************************************************

I would like to apologize for the confusion with the bird walk dates and locations between the last bird report and recent postings. Sorry to those who may have missed the bird walk. Colin.

Varied Thrush (J. Morrison)

Friday October 15, 2021:

 

7 Varied Thrush along with 2 Northern Flickers were seen in feeding in the backyard on Taylor Walk in Little Qualicum River Village.

 

Tuesday October 12, 2021:

 

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park. The weather was stormy with strong winds and a cool temperature. Tide was on the way in but not much was seen on the water. A few highlights were, Eurasian Wigeon, Cackling Goose and Bald Eagle that flew low overhead.

 

5 Birders saw and heard the following 26 species:

Canada Goose

Cackling Goose

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

 Tuesday October 12, 2021:

 

2 juvenile Snow Geese were seen at the group campsites in Rathtrevor Provincial Park.

  

 Eurasian Wigeon (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 10, 2021:

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled for the Thanksgiving weekend.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee (J. Morrison)

 

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.

 

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Do not attend if you feel ill.

·         Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·         Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

 

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 19, 2021

This Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to 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 on Hwy 19A at the north end of the Qualicum Beach at 9:15, weather pending.

 

The Sunday Bird Walk October 17, 2021

The Sunday Bird walk will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Raines Road in Cedar at 9:15 am. Weather pending.

 

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

Website: www.thebackyard.ca

October 12 2021 Bird Walk Cancelled

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

This week's Sunday bird walk is cancelled. Our Sunday bird walk will resume on October 19 2021 and we will be visiting the Nanaimo River Estuary.