The forum is for information, questions and discussions about locations to go birding within British Columbia.
By andrewh
#75241
Hi everybody,

I'm a British birder living on the edge of Paris in France. We're coming to Vancouver on April 8th for 2 weeks. We'll be staying with family in Port Moody. This will be our first trip to North America.

Could you suggest a few places to visit to get a good idea of birdlife in Vancouver at this time of the year ?

I've read about the Reifel Sanctuary and Boundary Bay. We are no doubt going to Whistler too.

Thanks for your help,

Andrew
#75258
Hi everyone,

Thanks for your message, Mel. I have already seen the link you sent, there certainly are lots of places in Vancouver, the difficulty is which to visit !
Does Whistler have birds I won't see in Vancouver ?

As for my target birds :
- Common Loon,
- Western Grebe (any chance of seeing their courtship danse ?),
- Sandhill Crane (at Riefel ?),
- Snow Goose (Riefel? Will they be passing through on migration ?),
- Bufflehead, Killdeer,
- Puffins and Common Murree (or will they be out at sea?),
- Bald Eagle (perched so I can get a photo),
- Sharp Shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel,
- any owl I can see in daytime,
- Hummingbirds,
- Belted Kingfisher,
- Northern Flicker,Pileated Woodpecker,
- Stellar's Jay, Gray Jay,
- Waxwings,
- Red-winged Blackbird, Pine Grosbeak, Black-headed Grosbeak,Yellow Warbler, Yellow Rumped Warbler, House Finch, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee... (Is stanley Park a good place for small birds ?)

I'm not sure which of these I have a chance of seeing in April.

Is there a good place to see migrating shorebirds without them being too far away for photos ?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Andrew
#75264
Hi Andrew,

Sounds great you got some good targets I'll help you out with some suggestions:

Common Loon - Blackie Spit Park in Surrey, White Rock Pier - White Rock

Western Grebe - White Rock Pier - White Rock
To see their courtship dance the best place for this is Shuwsap Lake in Salmon Arm about 5 hours drive from Vancouver.

Sandhill Crane - yes correct Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Ladner and also Burnaby Lake (Piper Spit) in Burnaby

Snow Goose - There are hundreds now at Terra Nova Regional Park and Iona Regional Park in Richmond

Killdeer - Iona Regional Park (North Jetty)

Bufflehead - Ambleside Park in West Vancouver and Burnaby Lake Piper Spit

Puffins- Tufted Puffins are seen off Tofino but not at this time of year they are seen in July and usually from a whale watching boat.

Common Murres - Point Roberts Lighthouse Park in WA (30-40 mins from Vancouver) only place locally to see them close into shore.

Bald Eagles - Many are perched all over 72nd St in Delta near the turf farm and North 40 Dog Park on 72nd St in Delta

Sharp Shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, - These can be found in several locations but none are specific although boundary bay area is good for them in delta.
There is a daily visiting Cooper's Hawk at Richmond Nature Park in Richmond at the feeders.

Short-eared Owls may be still around at 72nd St at Boundary Bay in Delta when you are here if it is early April. Barred Owls are around several locations in the city as well.

Hummingbirds - Richmond Nature Park and Vandusen Gardens (paid admission) in Vancouver are littered with them!

Belted Kingfisher - A resident bird at Ambleside Park pond in West Vancouver is very accommodating.

Northern Flicker and Pileated Woodpeckers in several locations but- Shoreline Park has many of these birds

Stellar's Jay - Beaver Lake Park in Stanley Park - Vancouver

Gray Jay - You need to go up to higher elevations for this bird so try Cypress Bowl Mountain (West Vancouver), Seymour Mountain or Grouse Mountain both in North Vancouver. You can also see them at Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park in Chilliwack

Waxwings - Cedar Waxwings are seen in several locations but Reifel is a good place to see them)

Red-winged Blackbird - Iona Regional Park - Richmond, Burnaby Lake (Piper Spit) - Burnaby

Pine Grosbeak - You need to go up to higher elevations for this bird so try Cypress Bowl Mountain (West Vancouver), Seymour Mountain or Grouse Mountain both in North Vancouver

Yellow Rumped Warbler (several spots around the lower mainland but easily seen at Iona Regional Park around the outer ponds -Richmond)

House Finch and Spotted Towhee - Several locations but Richmond Nature Park they are constantly at the feeders in Richmond

Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, Western Tanager, - These may not be back yet but you can try at the end of April at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver and many Black-headed Grosbeaks in Burnaby Lake (Piper Spit in May)

Lazuli Buntings will be back at Colony Farm at the end of April early May in Coquitlam.

Hope that helps

Here are the addresses for all locations I listed:

Burnaby Lake - Piper Spit
4519 Piper Ave, Burnaby, BC,
https://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&t=p ... 22.9354453

Iona Regional Park
20 Ferguson Road - Richmond, BC
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Iona+ ... 8620c1caba

Beaver Lake in Stanley Park - Vancouver
Pipeline drive - Vancouver
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Tisdal ... dbf84b69f2

72nd St Delta Turf Farm
https://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&t=p ... 123.024044

North 40 Dog Park - 72nd St - Delta
https://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&t=p ... 23.0180359

White Rock Pier - White Rock
Marine Drive - White Rock
https://www.google.com/maps/place/White ... d2c3c98ee9

Shoreline Park - Port Moody
https://www.google.com/maps/place/49%C2 ... !1s0x0:0x0

Reifel Bird Sanctuary
5191 Robertson Rd, Delta, BC
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Georg ... 64a56686bd

Cypress Bowl - Yew Lake Trail and
6000 Cypress Bowl Rd, West Vancouver, BC
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Cypres ... 37172a8758

Grouse Mountain requires Paid Gondola -
6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, BC
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Grouse ... 8ce84b46f6

Seymour Mountain -
Mt Seymour Resort, 1700 Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Mount+ ... 76c3b35753

Colony Farm - Coquitlam (birds will be in end of april/ early may near copper gate near the forensic hospital across from community gardens)
70 Colony Farm Rd - Coquitlam
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Colony ... 6d0f5b5ff8

Shushwap Lake - Salmon Arm, BC (5.5 hours from Vancouver)
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Shuswa ... 21b5bb407f

Blackie Spit
3136 McBride Ave, Surrey, BC
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Blacki ... 3fbebda671

Lighthouse Park - WA
811 Marine Dr, Point Roberts, WA 98281, United States
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Lighth ... 31863e9f93

Richmond Nature Park
Westminster Hwy and Number 5 Road - Richmond
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Richmo ... bde82c1b36

Queen Elizabeth Park
4600 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Queen+ ... 4d0fe7a488

Ambleside Park
1150 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Ambles ... 1f9f046b50

Boundary Bay Dyke 72nd St access
3388 72nd St - Delta
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Kings+ ... 3de216085b

Regarding Whistler you could see birds like Sooty Grouse, Gray Jays, White Winged Crossbills, Steller's Jays, Pine Grosbeaks, Townsend's Solitaires, Clark's Nutcrackers, Pygmy Owls, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches, Ravens and you could get lucky and see a White-tailed Ptarmigan.


Your best bet to see local high alpine birds are on the ski hills especially Blackcomb Mtn at the Rendezvous restaurant and the Horstman Hut. Crystal Hut on Blackcomb has the same birds as well bring some peanuts to feed them. The Gray Jays and Nutcrackers will land on your hand.

The Rendezvous regularly has Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay, and Common Raven .The Horstman Hut regularly gets Rosy Finches as well.

White-tailed ptarmigan can show up anywhere above treeline but are rare.

Sooty Grouse are best found on Whistler Mtn. below the Roundhouse restaurant.You should hear them hooting by this time depending what time you visit in April.

Flocks of Red and White-winged Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, Mountain Chickadee are found all over the mountains.

In the valley bottom, try the Valley Trail from Lorimer Road. This road runs straight out of Village North, across Hwy. 99 and then down the hill, dead-ending beside a small church.
Go on the Valley Trail here but do not cross the small foot bridge, instead turn immediately left (south) and it is a short walk to the north end of Alta Lake.

There is a wildlife viewing platform at the north end of Alta Lake and you should see some waterbirds. The walk between Lorimer Road and Alta Lake could also turn up various crossbills, shrike, and many other passerines. Keep your eyes open for American Dipper along the open stretches of the creek.

Also look for Pileated Woodpecker along here, they are breeding in the area here and you may find a Red-breasted Sapsucker too.

Cheers,
Mel
#75271
Wow Mel you are amazing!
I live on Vancouver island, I don't get over to Vancouver very often but the next
time I travel over I am bringing your amazing where to bird list with me.
thanks for all your great work on the web site.
Every time before driving to Victoria I check the web site,sighting reports, just in case there is any interesting bird sightings I can check out when I am down in Victoria.
kp
#75294
Thanks so much, Mel, for your help.

I'll be spending the weekend working out visits, then next week Vancouver!

I'll let you know how things go.

Cheers

Andrew
#75311
Wow, what an amazing list and one that I will keep handy. Thank you for all of your postings, i.d.'s and the helpful tips you offer and especially for always replying to members posts in such a gracious and positive manner :)
#75318
A very helpful book to have when birding in BC is "Birdfinding in British Columbia" (Richard Cannings and Russell Cannings). A great book with lots of information on birding locations all over BC and directions to each of them.

Of course, Mel's reply has so much useful information that it's as good as any book. :)
#75353
Thank's for the book title, Isaac, the guide I found here in Paris is for the whole of North America.

I'll look out for it when we get into Vancouver next week.
And I quite agree with you about Mel's amazing reply !

Cheers

Andrew
#75386
Thanks Isaac,

The book I found is the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America.
I think it will be OK for identification purposes.

Have you any ideas for places to see Harbour Seals ?

Andrew

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