The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 2, 2023
“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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Blue Jay (K. Fowler)

Thursday November 2, 2023:

A Blue Jay continues to be seen in the area of Bird Sanctuary Drive and Rockland Road, Buttertubs Marsh.

Wednesday November 1, 2023:

4 Trumpeter Swans were seen and heard as they flew over The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store on Metral Drive.

Tuesday October 31, 2023:

Yea, the Tuesday Bird Walk happened, we didn’t get rained out. The walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side. The weather, sun and clouds, cool at 1C and the tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were a flock of 10 Brant, a flock of Greater White-fronted geese that flew over, a Greater Yellowlegs that was heard and great view of a Downy Woodpecker.

9 birders saw and heard the following 47 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Sapsucker (J. Morrison)

Sunday October 29, 2023:

A report of Snow Geese seen in the fields in Whisk Creek and flying over Judges Row in Qualicum Beach.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 2C, and no wind. A few highlights from the walk were Blue Jay, Barred Owl, Virginia Rail and Varied Thrush.

13 birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Virginia Rail

American Coot

Barred Owl

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Blue Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

House 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, November 5, 2023

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at the end of Raines Road off of Cedar Road at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 7, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road, 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 Corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive, at 9:05am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

                    The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 26, 2023
“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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Black Turnstone (R. Hocken)

Tuesday October 17, 2023:

Unfortunately, the Tuesday Bird Walk was cancelled again due to the wet weather and winds forecast.

Golden-crowned Kinglet (J. Morrison)

Sunday October 8, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny, 8C, with a cool steady wind out of the north, northwest. A few highlights from the walk were Harlequin Ducks and Black Turnstones to start the walk and seeing the California Quail at the top of the hill.

11 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

California Quail

Great Blue Heron

Black Turnstone

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Friday October 21, 2023:

Blue Jay (not a Steller’s Jay) was reported in the Linley valley area of Linley Road and Wiltshire Drive. A photo was taken and confirmed. It was last seen feeding with the Steller’s Jays in a backyard.

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, October 29, 2023

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot by Jingle Pot and third street entrance at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 31, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, in Parksville (3^rd try a charm).

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 Shelly Road, off HWY 19A, at 9:05am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

CANCELED - Tuesday Bird Walk

 October 24, 2023 Tuesday Bird Walk is CANCELED again due to an incoming weather system. 

The Sunday Bird Walk, October 29, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh. Meet at the entrance by Jingle Pot Road and 3rd street at 9:10. 

Good birding, Colin. 

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

October 19, 2023
“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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Northern Pintail (J. Morrison)

Tuesday October 17, 2023:

Unfortunately, the Tuesday Bird Walk was cancelled again due to the wet weather and winds forecast.

Here is a list of birds seen on a previous bird walk at the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, on October 20, 2020. 60 species were seen and heard on that walk.

Canada Goose

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Doves

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Western Meadowlark

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Brewer’s Blackbird (R. Hocken)

Sunday October 8, 2023:

Short-eared Owl was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary, along the far end of the hedgerow/dyke.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. The weather was nice, sunny with some clouds, 15C, no wind and the tide was high and going out. Some highlights were and Northern Harrier providing good looks as it was hunting, and a flock of twenty plus American Pipits that were moving about on the estuary. Unfortunately, we did not see the Short-eared Owl.

15 birders saw and heard the following 35 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

American Wigeon

Northern Pintail

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Bald Eagle

Greater Yellowlegs

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Short-billed Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Pipit

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-wing Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Friday October 13, 2023:

A Barred Owl was seen along the dyke near the Valley Oak modular home park.

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, October 22, 2023

The 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 beach by the parking lot at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, October 24, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road, 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 end of Shelly Road, off HWY 19A, at 9:05am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Tuesday Bird Walk CANCELED

 The Tuesday Bird Walk for October 17 is canceled due to the rainfall warning. 

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

Good birding, Colin