The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

April 2, 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.
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California Quail (R. Hocken)

Tuesday April 2, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. Weather was cloudy, 11C and no wind. A few highlights from the walk were a male Rufous Hummingbird, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers seen in the wetland area of the park along with an Orange-crowned Warbler and a Brown Creeper that was busy hauling nesting material.

13 birders saw and heard the following 37 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

California Quail

Bald Eagle

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Northern Mockingbird (R. Hocken)

Saturday March 30, 2024:

A Northern Mockingbird was seen at Butterball Beach, Butterball Drive near Pintail Drive in Qualicum Beach.

Sunday March 31, 202

The Sunday Bird Walk was cancelled for the Easter long weekend.

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, April 7, 2024.

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 Second Street entrance to the marsh at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, April 9, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek.

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 sandy beach parking lot located on Admiral Tyron Blvd, located off Columbia Drive and HWY 19A, at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Clear Skies – Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, as you know!

 The media has made sure that we are all aware of the total solar eclipse that will take place on Monday, April 8 – visible only in southern Ontario and further east.

Is this just media hype?    No!  Not at all. 

A total solar eclipse  is a truly awesome experience.  There are eclipse chasers who travel the world to catch totality.  Linda and I don’t quite qualify, however we travelled to Aruba in 1998 for our first total eclipse, which lasted 3 minutes and 30 seconds.  It was incredible, and unless you’ve actually experienced one, it can’t be described.

Solar Eclipse - October 2005 (Wikipedia)

As an example of its emotional power, back in 585 BC the Medes and Lydians were at war when a total solar eclipse occurred.  They laid down their weapons and made peace!

In 2006, we travelled two days into the Sahara Desert in Libya for our second eclipse, which lasted a wonderful 4 minutes of totality.

Southern Ontario, southern Quebec, New Brunswick, and the north of Prince Edward Island will all see totality on April 8.  Just north of Lake Erie and then further east, from around Prince Edward County will get up to 2 minutes of totality.  The further south in those areas, the longer you will have.  For example, Brantford will only get a minute and a half; Toronto won’t see totality at all.  If you can be in a place to see it, it is well worth it.  Linda and I travelled to Queensland Australia in 2012 for our third total eclipse of just under 2 minutes!

The longest time in Canada will be in southern Quebec and across central New Brunswick, where totality will last for over 3 minutes.

WARNING:  Never look directly at the Sun without proper protection – either solar eclipse glasses or #14 welder’s glass.  This applies to the partial phase before totality.  Once the Moon is totally covering the Sun, you can look with your naked eye or binoculars.  AS SOON AS THE SUN STARTS EMERGING, PUT YOUR SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES BACK ON.  Damage to the eye can happen very quickly; you won’t feel it immediately, but it will be too late.

An alternative to solar glasses is a pin-hole box.  Make a small hole in a piece of cardboard – barely a pinprick. In the shadow from the cardboard you will see the progress of the partial eclipse.  Anything will small holes will work, even a colander – which will give multiple images!

Anywhere west of Ontario will get a little bit of partial eclipse – eye protection always required.  The west coast will barely notice the bite out of the Sun.

Clear skies.

David

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 29, 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.
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Merlin (R. Hocken)

Friday March 29, 2024:

A Merlin has returned to Forest Park neighbourhood in the hospital area.

A female Rufous Hummingbird was also reported in the hospital area.

Tuesday March 26, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Weather was cloudy with light showers to start but cleared up to a sunshine by the end of the walk. Temperature was 6C, winds were calm and the tide was going out but only to 3.7m. A few highlight from the water were Western Grebes in the middle of the strait, a male Rufous Hummingbird displaying, and a few Pigeon Guillemot on the water.

13 birders saw and heard the following 53 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-necked Merganser

California Quail

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

Bonaparte's Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Sapsucker (R. Hocken)

Sunday March 24, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Weather was sunny but also foggy to start. Temperature was 1C and no wind. A few highlights from the walk were great views of a few Red-breasted Sapsuckers during the walk, Hutton’s Vireo, and a visit by a Merlin and Turkey Vulture.

13 birders saw and heard the following 32 species:

Wood Duck

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Merlin

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Hutton’s Vireo

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Tree Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

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, March 31, 2024.

There will be NO Sunday Bird Walk this Easter Sunday.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, April 2, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Springwood 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 end of Despard Avenue and Chestnut Street at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 21, 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.
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Turkey Vulture (S. Petersen)

Tuesday March 19, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was sunny, 6C and tide was high. A few highlights from the walk were a Hutton’s Vireo calling at the parking lot and one seen along the river trail. Six Trumpeter Swans were seen flying over. A Turkey Vulture was seen, and a Great Horned Owl was heard.

30 birders saw and heard the following 57 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

Trumpeter Swan

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Surf Scoter

Greater Scaup

Common Merganser

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Northern Harrier

Turkey Vulture

Killdeer

Bonaparte's Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Great Horned Owl

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Violet-green Swallow

Hutton’s Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Bewick’s Wren (J. Morrison)

Sunday March 17, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in north Nanaimo. It was a nice sunny day, and the park was busy. It was 9C, with a light breeze and the tide was high. A few highlights were a Wood Duck seen in a tree near the parking lot, juvenile Bald Eagle posed nicely on a near branch and good views of a Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker.

18 birders saw and heard the following 39 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

Mallard

Wood Duck

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Brant’s Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Rufous Hummingbird (R. Hocken)

Reports of the first Rufous Hummingbirds sightings started coming this week with sightings in south Nanaimo near Morell Wildlife Sanctuary, upper Lantzville, Parksville and, Qualicum Beach.

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, March 24, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the corner of Normarel Drive and Sywash Ridge Road, parking at the corner under the power lines, at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, March 26, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park.

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 beach entrance in the main parking lot at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

March 14, 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.
*********************************************************

Green-winged Teal (J. Morrison)

Tuesday March 12, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was sunny with a few clouds, 5C and no wind. Tide was high and going out. A few highlights from the walk were Trumpeter Swans flying by, great view of a Cooper’s Hawk was perched on the fence near the viewing stand, a Barred Owl was heard and around 140 Brant flew by.

9 birders saw and heard the following 57 species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

Cackling Goose

Brant

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Common Goldeneye

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Barred Owl

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Brown Creeper (J. Morrison)

Sunday March 10, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Weather was sunny with clouds, 5C. A few highlights from the walk were hearing a few Virginia Rails around the marsh calling, seeing Tree and Violet-green Swallows, and six or more Varied Thrush in the parking lot when we arrived. Unfortunately, we did not see or hear the American Bittern.

16 birders saw and heard the following 39 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Wood Duck

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Virginia Rail

American Coot

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

American Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Sparrow

Male and female American Goldfinch (R. Hocken)

Last year it seemed as though the America Goldfinch arrived early and in good numbers, and it happened about three weeks after a big storm in California. Since there was another storm through California a couple of weeks ago, we are watching to see if this happens again. We have heard of a few American Goldfinch starting to visit backyard feeders along with more Pine Siskin sightings.

Also make sure your nest boxes are cleaned and ready as the chickadee’s, nuthatch’s and Bewick’s Wrens are looking for cavities and establishing territories.

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, March 17, 2024.

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or on the beach by the parking lot at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, March 19, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Shelly Road side of the Englishman 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 end of Shelly Road at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett