The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

December 12, 2025
“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at birding@thebackyard.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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Pelagic Cormorant (R. Hocken)

Tuesday December 9, 2025:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Weather was cloudy with sunny breaks, 6C, and tide was high. The tide was very high and choppy but there was a lot to see out on the water compared to the campground area that was quiet for the birds. A few highlights from the walk were a pair of Merlins that flew over, Marbled Murrelet and Common Murre a little farther out, and a White-throated Sparrow.

11 birders saw and heard the following 47 species

Brant

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

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

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Pileated Woodpecker - male (J. Morrison)

Sunday Decemeber 7, 2025:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was overcast and misty, 10C, and the tide was high. The birds were a little quiet around the park, and the afternoon may have been better with the nice weather. A few highlights from the walk were Black Turnstones hanging out with a group of Black Oystercatchers on a rock, and Trumpeter Swans flew over at the beginning of the walk.

9 birders saw and heard the following 21 species:

Trumpeter Swan

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Glaucous-winged Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Common Murre

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

If you have any bird sightings to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.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 Tuesday and Sunday Bird Walks will be taking a break over the Holidays and will resume in the New Year.

Happy Holidays and good birding! Colin Bartlett

Clear Skies with David Prud'homme - December 9th

 

Geminid Meteor Shower, Dec. 13

The Geminid meteor shower peaks on Saturday evening (Dec 13), when we might be treated to a moderately active meteor shower, weather permitting.  

The Moon is favourable this year.  It won’t be rising until almost 3 a.m., and it will be in a  crescent phase, meaning it won’t be reflecting much sunlight.  As a result, our skies will be darker, allowing us to see more of the faint meteors.  

The Geminid meteors will appear to originate in the constellation Gemini – hence their name.  It will be easy to locate Gemini.  It is high in the southwest, with Jupiter shining very brightly to its left.  The two bright stars to Jupiter’s upper right are Pollux and Castor, and they represent the heads of the Gemini twins.  

Castor is almost exactly at the so-called radiant, from where the meteors seem to originate, and from there they can appear to go up, down, left, right...  You won’t see them actually start there, but if you were to track back the various meteors you see, their tracks would converge on Castor. 

To view a meteor shower best, find a location where you don’t have direct house or streetlights in your eyes, and then position yourself facing the largest part of the sky you can.  You don’t have to face Gemini, and looking somewhat away from Gemini, you may see longer streaks.

If we happen to have clear skies, first of all, dress warmly – an astronomer’s rule of thumb is to dress for 10 degrees colder than the actual temperature, as you won’t be moving and generating heat so will get cold faster.  Then, settle yourself comfortably, in a lounge chair or on a blanket; give your eyes several minutes to adjust to the darkness; and just watch the sky with your naked eye.  You may see several over the course of an hour or so.

Ursid meteor shower, Dec 21

There will also be a minor meteor shower overnight on Sunday, Dec 21.  The number of meteors will be smaller, but you may still see a few.

The Moon

The Moon rises late in the evening, and later every night.  We don’t often think to look for the Moon in the daytime, but you will be able to see it low in the west in the mornings, becoming a narrower and narrower crescent.  It sets in the west around noon on Dec 10, and later every day, however, do not look for it close to the Sun to protect your eyes – say, after about Dec 15… however you can also look for it in the morning before sunrise.

Then you might get the treat of so-called moonshine when the light reflected off Earth illuminates the dark part of the Moon even though there is a bright crescent.  This is a lovely view.

The Planets (in the morning)

If you happen to be up early, and have a low horizon to the southeast, you may see Mercury before the sun rises. It rises around 6:15, and a couple minutes later every day.  It is bright enough that you will recognize it as the brightest object in that part of the sky. 

Venus is no longer easily visible, as it rises just ahead of the Sun and is overwhelmed by the sunlight.

You can also catch Jupiter in the morning.  It sets in the west well after sunrise, so before that, you should be able to see it.

The Planets (in the evening)

We can still see Jupiter in the morning, as it doesn’t rise in the northeast until after 6:30 p.m.  It then climbs to its highest in the south about 2:30 a.m.

Saturn is no longer very bright; it can still be seen in the evening sky.  Early in the evening, it can be found low in the south – but it will still be the brightest object in that part of the sky.  It will continue to head west, setting in the southwest just after midnight.

Clear skies, happy holidays, and stay safe and well.

David

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

December 4, 2025
“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at birding@thebackyard.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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Great Horned Owl (H. Laue)

Wednesday December 3, 2025:

Two Great Horned Owls were heard in the area of Departure Bay Road and Neyland Road in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 2, 2025:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Weather was overcast, low cloud with drizzle, 6C, and the tide was out and coming in. A few highlights from the walk were Brant, Short-eared Owl that a few were able to see before it disappeared and good views of a Hairy Woodpecker.

13 birders saw and heard the following 44 species

Brant

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Pacific Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Short-billed Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Short-eared Owl

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Hairy Woodpecker - female (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 30, 2025:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary along the Nanaimo River. Weather was sunny, 3C and the tide was coming in. A few highlights from the walk were Trumpeter Swans on the river and flying over. Short-eared Owl, again a few were able to see it before it disappeared in the grass, and a Downy Woodpecker that was six feet away from us foraging in a small tree.

17 birders saw and heard the following 32 species:

Trumpeter Swan

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Northern Shrike

American Robin

European Starling

Western Meadowlark

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

A couple of online sightings, a Snowy Owl and a Blue Jay seen on Gabriola Island.

If you have any bird sightings to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.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.

Sunday Bird Walk, December 7, 2025:

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

Meet directly at the parking lot, located at the end of Morningside Drive at 9:00am. Weather cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, December 9, 2025:

Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Meet at the beach entrance. main parking lot, just before the campground, at 9:00 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 27, 2025
“EXPLORE NATURE” --- GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at birding@thebackyard.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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Trumpeter Swan (J. Morrison)

Tuesday November 25, 2025:  

The Tuesday Bird Walk was canceled due to the weather.

Pacific Wren (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 23, 2025:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road Trail located at the end of Maki Road in south Nanaimo. Weather was sunny and cool at 4C. A few highlights from the walk were a pair of Trumpeter Swans flying over and landing in the river. Northern Harrier was just across the river in the estuary hunting, and a Virgina Rail was calling in the marsh.

14 birders saw and heard the following 40 species:

Trumpeter Swam

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Virgina Rail

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

If you have any bird sightings to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

The Backyard Bird Walks

Our bird walks are open for everyone to come out and learn and enjoy the birds. We 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.

Sunday Bird Walk, November 30, 2025:

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

Meet directly at the end of Raines Road, off Cedar Road, in the gravel parking lot at 9:00am. Weather Cooperating.

Tuesday Bird Walk, December 2, 2025:

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary.

Meet directly at the parking lot, located at the bottom of Shelly Road at 9:00 am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Tuesday Bird Walk CANCELED

 Good morning. The Tuesday Bird Walk for November 25,2025 is CANCELED due to weather. 

Good birding.