LOST SENEGAL PARROT

Attention Birders. A Senegal Parrot is missing in upper Lantzville near the golf course, if seen please contact the store 250-390-3669. Thank you.

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 31, 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: Western Wood-Pewee (internet photo)

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Western Wood-Pewee was seen near Aulds Road and the Railway tracks.

Wednesday May 27, 2020

A Western Wood-Pewee was also seen on Beach Drive in the Departure Bay area.

Saturday May 30, 2020:

Our first report of California Quail chicks was reported and seen by Nanaimo Lakes Road and Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sunday May 31, 2020:

A Barred Owl was seen being mobbed by a group of American Robins by the fish channels at Bowen Park.

Also heard near the fish channels was a Swainson’s Thrush.

Photo: California Quail (R Hocken)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

The House Finches are providing all the activity at my backyard feeders these days with two families of House Finches that just fledged. Both finch families nested in the hedge at the back of our yard with one family at one end and the other family of finches at the other end of the hedge. At the feeders it has been interesting to see the males show little aggression and I have seen them take turn and share while visiting the feeder. I know House Finches are a social bunch but usually they are protective of their territory when nesting. This year was also the first time I have seen House Finches feeding on suet and not just the sunflower seeds.

There are also other birds that are visiting the feeders but not as often, like Spotted Towhee and Black-headed Grosbeak. The Northern Flickers are busy all day on the suet feeder along with the Downy Woodpecker that visits occasionally.

Water is one of the big attractions now so make sure you have some shallow source of water for the birds to drink and bathe. Watching a family of birds in the birdbath is entertaining.

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The Sunday and Tuesday Bird Walks

temporarily postponed

Please watch for further updates when the walks will resume.

Here is a list of birds seen in Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay on one of the Tuesday Bird Walks from May 2017. Forty four species were seen and heard:

Mallard

Surf Scoter

Pelagic Cormorant

Pacific Loon

Black Oystercatcher

Mew Gull

Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Great Horned Owl

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Brown Creeper

Red-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler                                                

Wilson’s Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Photo: Rufous Hummingbird female (R. Hocken)

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

NEW WEBSITE: www.thebackyard.ca

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

May 23, 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: Rose-breasted Grosbeak (internet)

Sunday May 17, 2020



Rose-breasted Grosbeak was seen at the end of Lockinvar Lane on Gabriola Island.



Western Tanager and 2 Evening Grosbeaks were seen in a backyard on Plummer Road  in San Pareil Parksville



Monday May 18, 2020:



House Wren was heard singing in the area of Eagle Crescent and Thunderbird Drive Nanaimo.



Tuesday  May 19, 2020:



Mandarin Duck continues to be seen at the Morning Star Pond, and has been seen with ducklings and a female Wood Duck.


Thursday May 21, 2020:



Cinnamon Teal was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary from the Maki Road side.


Friday May 22, 2020:



Barred Owl was heard calling in the early hours in the hospital area of Forest Drive and Honeysuckle Terrace.

Photo: Evening Grosbeak (Malcolm)

Backyard Feeder Notes:

With juvenile birds now beginning to leave the nest we begin to receive more inquiries about what bird is this. For some bird species the juvenile birds will look completely different than the adults such as the Spotted Towhee and Dark-eyed Junco. These juveniles along with some others look like an LBB (little brown bird) with no unique markings. Many identification guides only show the adult birds in breeding plumage when they look their best so it can be hard to identify the juveniles. One way is to observe the bird and watch whom it is associating but look at the shape, size and habits to help with the identification. There is one exception to using association to identify and that is the Brown-headed Cowbird. This species will lay their eggs in another birds nest and the host birds will do all the work. Juvenile Cowbird can be twice the size as their host parents.

If you are looking for a good online app to use try Merlin by The Cornell Lab.

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The Sunday and Tuesday Bird Walks

temporarily postponed

Please watch for further updates when the walks will resume.

Here is a list of birds seen in Springwood Park in Parksville on one of the Tuesday Bird Walks last May. Forty species were seen and heard:



Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Coopers Hawk
Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Northwestern Crow
Bewick’s Wren

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

European Starling

Tree Swallow

Brown Creeper

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson's Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-headed Grosbeak

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Photo: Spotted Towhee juvenile (R. Hocken)

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

NEW WEBSITE: www.thebackyard.ca

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

We received a report and photos of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen on  Gabriola Island May 17th at 7 pm near the end of Lockinvar Lane.

Englishman River Estuary May 18/20

2 Whimbrel were seen feeding at the Englishman River Estuary near the end of Mariner Way in Parksville. Also seen there were a Cinnamon Teal and a Blue-winged Teal.