The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
February 13, 2024
“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.
*********************************************************
Snow Geese (R. Hocken)
Tuesday February 13, 2024:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary, starting at the Brant viewing platform on highway 19a. Weather was cloudy with a cool breeze, 4c to start and the tide was high. Some highlights from the walk were Harlequin Ducks close to shore and easy to admire, Western Grebe, 7 Snow Geese in the estuary and 6 Barn Swallows feeding close to us.
7 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Short-billed Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian Collared Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Barn Swallow
Common Raven
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
House Finch
House Sparrow
Harlequin Duck - male (R. Hocken)
Sunday February 11, 2024:
The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled due to the weather, but three birders did show up and brave the rain and wind. Weather was cool 4c with the strong wind out of the southeast and rain varying in strength but did stop halfway through the walk. A few highlights were 22 Oystercatchers hunkered down on the rocks just off the beach, Pacific Loons and a Pacific Wren.
3 birders saw and heard the following 29 species:
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoters
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Oystercatcher
Short-billed Gull
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
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)
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.
The Sunday Bird Walk, February 18, 2024.
The Sunday Bird Walk will not be going out for the Family Day Holiday.
The Tuesday Bird Walk, February 20, 2024.
The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
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 Main Parking lot by the beach entrance at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.
Good birding! Colin Bartlett
.jpg)
