Hi folks, I'm hoping to head out to Victoria for a couple of days in mid-to-late August. Obviously I know that this is a less active season for birds, so I was wondering whether anybody had any tips for places to go. I'd particularly love to see some seabirds/pelagics but info on any hotspots in the immediate Victoria area would be appreciated.

I have heard very positive things about the Tofino tours at Justbirding.com but as we haven't got a car, it's extremely unlikely that we'd be able to make it out there. Are there any other options for viewing pelagic birds?

Thanks in advance!

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"Japanese scientists from Keio University have found that pigeons have self-cognitive abilities higher than 3-year-old humans. " (link)

For seabirds/pelagics....

Rocky Point Bird Observatory is running a mini Pelagic trip on August 11 (3 hours) and a Pelagic on Aug 25 (8 hours). You can check out www.rpbo.org/trips.php for details. They are limited to 12 people each, on a first come basis. There are currently 4 spots left for Aug 11, and 6 for Aug 25.

Other options:

The Coho Ferry - Bring your passport and head down to Port Angeles for lunch. Shearwaters, phalaropes, storm-petrels, alcids, jaegers, etc can be seen from the ferry.

A whale-watching trip will get you out there, and they occassionally find seabirds.

You can scope from Beechey Head (East Sooke Park), Otter Point (west of Sooke), Sheringham Point (west of Sooke), Clover Point, Ogden Point, Jordan River, Port Renfrew, etc. These areas can turn up jaegers, shearwaters, phalaropes, and alcids.

Good luck!

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Jeremy Kimm
Victoria, BC

http://www.victoriabirder.blogspot.com

Thank you, Jeremy, what a wealth of information! This will be SUPER helpful; I really appreciate it.

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"Japanese scientists from Keio University have found that pigeons have self-cognitive abilities higher than 3-year-old humans. " (link)