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Description
Buttertubs Marsh Park is great place for birding year-round! The 2 km loop trail is flat and makes for an easy stroll with great views of the marsh and surrounding shrubs and trees. There is a viewing tower and a few observation decks to further enhance the birding experience.
Many resident species are readily spotted throughout the year including Canada goose, wood duck, mallard, gadwall, mallard, hooded merganser, California quail, rock pigeon, Eurasian collard-dove, Anna's hummingbird, Virginia rail, killdeer, glaucous-winged gull, pied-billed grebe, great blue heron, Cooper's hawk, bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, barred owl, belted kingfisher, red-breasted sapsucker, downy and hairy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, northern flicker, merlin, peregrine falcon, American crow, common raven, chestnut-backed chickadee, bushtit, red-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper; Pacific, marsh, and Bewick's wren; European starling, American robin, cedar waxwing, house sparrow, house finch, purple finch, pine siskin, American goldfinch, dark-eyed junco, white-crowned sparrow, spotted towhee, song sparrow, and, red-winged and Brewer's blackbird.
The spring migration brings blue-winged and cinnamon teal, band-tailed pigeon, common nighthawk, black and Vaux's swift, rufous hummingbird, killdeer, American bittern, turkey vulture, osprey, western wood-pewee; willow and western flycatcher; western warbling vireo; tree, violet-green, northern rough-winged, and barn swallow; purple martin, Swainson's thrush; chipping and savannah sparrow; brown-headed cowbird; orange-crowned, northern yellow, yellow-rumped, and Wilson's warbler; common yellowthroat, western tanager, and black-headed grosbeak.
During summer, several species of shorebirds and waders visit the marsh. Those regularly spotted include long-billed dowitcher, great and lesser yellowlegs; and least, pectoral, western, and semipalmated sandpiper.
Autumn-winter sees the return of many waterfowl and other species including snow, greater white-fronted, and cackling goose, trumpeter swan, American wigeon, green-winged teal, northern shoveler, northern pintail, ring-necked duck, lesser scaup, bufflehead, common merganser, American coot, double-crested cormorant, sharp-shinned hawk, northern harrier, northern shrike, Steller's jay, ruby and golden-crowned kinglet, varied and hermit thrush; and fox, golden-crowned sparrow, and Lincoln's sparrow.
No matter when you visit, you are bound to have an enjoyable birding outing!
Details
Access
Buttertubs Marsh Park is located in Nanaimo, BC. You can get to Buttertubs Marsh Park by car, bus, bike, or on foot (if you live nearby). Press P on the map for directions.
As an official sanctuary it is only possible to walk the park. Note the park is wheelchair accessible. Dogs are not permitted at Buttertubs Marsh. Allow for an hour+ to have a good exploration of the park.