The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
June 15, 2022
“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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Violet-green Swallow (R. Hocken)
Tuesday June 14, 2022:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. We started from the entrance on Industrial Way. The weather was sunny with a light breeze and 15 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a Cedar Waxwing at the start of the walk, a couple of good views of Willow Flycatchers, one at the end of the walk feeding on a large fly and a male Anna’s Hummingbird perched in a tree being confronted by a female Rufous Hummingbird along with a juvenile Rufous Hummingbird for the territory. Also had good views of the American Goldfinch.
15 birders saw and heard the following 31 species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black Swift
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crown Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Red-breasted Sapsucker (J. Morrison)
Monday June 13, 2022:
Two Virginia Rail juveniles and an adult were seen and heard at Fielding Marsh by the Maki Road trail.
Twelve California Quail chicks were reported from a hanging out in a backyard in the hospital area for Nanaimo.
Sunday June 12, 2022:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in Lantzville. Weather was good with a mixture of sun and cloud, and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a Red-breasted Sapsucker that was drumming on the transmission tower at the end of the walk for all to see, a Cooper’s Hawk that perched perfectly for us to view and a Bald Eagle that flew low over the trees and us but bothering the Great Blue Herons in the area.
15 birders saw and heard the following 49 species:
Wood Duck
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Turkey Vulture
Black Swift
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Backyard Bird Notes:
Birds are busy at the backyard feeders, with first
broods emerging. At the store we have been enjoying the juvenile Spotted
Towhees, White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos at the feeders and
foraging through the flower bed, as well as their daily baths in our bird bath.
The Chestnut-backed Chickadee family is busy at the suet and with the peanut
halves. We also received a report of 12 California chicks running around with
mom and dad in a backyard by the hospital. Other reports have seen Pileated Woodpeckers
feeding young and a juvenile Virginia Rail was seen at Fielding Marsh from the
Maki Road Trail.
Identifying young can be educational as not all
juveniles have the same plumage as the adults. Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos
are the same size but a sooty brown plumage, with a streaky chest. You can
identify them by their habits and certain markings such as the red eye of the towhee,
and the white outer tail feathers of the junco.
If you have any birds to report or need help
identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.ca or 250-390-3669,
toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473).
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Spotted Towhee juvenile (R. Hocken)
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.
The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 22, 2022
The
Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary, Shelly
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 parking area at the end of Shelly Road at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.
The Sunday Bird Walk, June 19, 2022
This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck
Point Park in
Nanaimo.
Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the picnic tables by the parking lot at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.
For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.
Good birding! Colin Bartlett
