First time Birder to BC

MikeIrwin · **Posted:** Apr 20 6:46 pm

Hello,

I am going to be out in the Vancouver area for June 12-14th; for what will be my first birding experience West of the Rockies. With the limited time, and that time of year, does anyone have any recommendations on the best place(s) to spend my time. I will have access to a car, and don't need to stay in Vancouver proper if it makes sense to spend the whole time somewhere further out of the city.

Any insight would be greatly appreicated.
Mike Irwin

VentureVancouver · **Posted:** Apr 20 7:06 pm

Here are three places to check out:
1. George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta (located on Westham Island)
2. Maplewood Flats (located on 2645 Dollarton Highway)
3. Lost Lagoon Stanley Park (and the nearby Heronry to see the nesting Great Blue Herons)

Have a great trip!
Kristine

Guy L. Monty · **Joined:** Dec 08 7:11 am **Posts:** 1156

Colony Farm
Grant Narrows
Campbell Valley Park

Jeremy Gatten · **Joined:** Oct 27 11:29 am **Posts:** 322

Hi Mike,

If you have time, it might be worth the two hour or so drive up to Manning Park. The subalpine areas may still be closed, but you should be able to find Clark's Nutcracker, Grey Jay, Mountain Chickadee, and perhaps some woodpeckers (ie. Red-breasted and Red-naped Sapsuckers and American Three-toed), grouse (Ruffed and Sooty), Pine Grosbeaks, and Townsend's Solitaire which are all much harder to get in the Vancouver area. If you have time to make a day trip out of it, you could even venture the extra distance (maybe an hour) to Princeton where you can pick up some interior species like Vesper Sparrow, Calliope Hummingbird, Pygmy Nuthatch, and Mountain Bluebirds. This is just an idea... but there is plenty to keep you busy in the Vancouver area.

Cheers,
Jeremy Gatten
Saanichton, B.C.

Firecrest · **Joined:** Jan 14 8:04 am **Posts:** 4 **Location:** UK

We are also visiting BC from the UK for the first time in June (though we have been to west coast and Rockies before), so very interested in this thread. Luckly, we have a full two weeks

.

Jeremy - is it easy to get information on where to go in Manning Park for things like American Three-Toed Woodpecker?

We are also looking for good places for Varied Thrush if anyone has any recommendations around Vancouver/Vancouver Island/Okanagan.

And we also want to see Tufted Puffin, but assume we will need to go over to Washington State (Neah Bay or Cape Flattery maybe?) to stand any chance.

Any comments gratefully received!

Can't believe we fly to Vancouver 5 weeks today (ash cloud permitting :lol:

)

PlecoNation · **Posted:** Apr 24 4:30 pm

Hi as for Varied thrush I have seen 30 - 40 up Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island but very shy!

MikeIrwin · **Posted:** Apr 27 4:03 pm

Thanks everyone for your replies. I would like to try and spend one day on Vancouver Island. Is the Pacific Rim National Park a reasonbly good place to be going?

Too optimistic whirlwind?

VentureVancouver · **Posted:** Apr 27 10:21 pm

If you can make it out there, its absolutely gorgeous - from Vancouver its a two hour ferry ride and approximately a three hour drive - keep that in mind!
They have many shorebirds - if you can, check out the Hot Springs, the Meares Island Big Tree Trail and Cathedral Grove (which is on the way up)

paddlerpete · **Joined:** Mar 11 10:17 pm **Posts:** 3

Varied thrush are much harder to find in summer than winter, I've had 5+ around my yard all winter and they have started singing in the last week or so, soon they will all head off up into the higher forest to breed, you can hear them call but getting to see them can be hard but when you do see them what a fabulous bird, I'll never forget finding my first somewhere on the slopes of Mt seymour after 30mins of tracking it down and then to see it perch out on a moss covered log in all its glory, magical.

Pete Boon
Nanaimo

paddlerpete · **Joined:** Mar 11 10:17 pm **Posts:** 3

If you cant make it out to Pacific rim and you are at the Victoria end you could drive out towards Port Renfrew and explore the Juan de Fuca/Sooke area, you may be lucky enough to see Gray Whales or Orca from the beaches plus seabirds as well as common forest birds, belted kingfishers, hummingbirds.

Pete Boon
Nanaimo

katherine · **Joined:** Jan 18 6:32 pm **Posts:** 267

I would recommend taking a Pelagic Birding tour from Tofino or Uculet, especially if you want to see Puffins.
Check out justbirding.com or tofinowhalecentre.com they both offer Pelagic bird tours from around $99 for 3-4 hrs.

katherine · **Joined:** Jan 18 6:32 pm **Posts:** 267

In tofino they run pelagic birding tours from Tofino Whale Centre.. tofinowhalecentre.com or justbirding.com
From Westport, Washington they have a birding tour at westportseabirds.com
I vote for Deboville Slough in Port Coquitlam as a really good place for birding.

Larry Cowan · **Posted:** Apr 27 11:16 am

The majority of Varied Thrush have moved up the local mountains at this time of year. A trip to Cypress PP or up Mt. Seymour should get you a VATH.

Colony Farm should provide a Lazuli Bunting or two amongst other goodies.

rog45 · **Joined:** Mar 11 3:59 pm **Posts:** 43

This year the snow may not be gone by June but a trip up the road to the alpine area of Manning could put you into the territory of Three-Toed Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, Mountain Bluebird and others.

Canaduck · **Posted:** Apr 28 9:22 am

katherine wrote:

I would recommend taking a Pelagic Birding tour from Tofino or Uculet, especially if you want to see Puffins.
Check out justbirding.com or tofinowhalecentre.com they both offer Pelagic bird tours from around $99 for 3-4 hrs.

Hey Katherine, thanks tons for these links. I've been looking for a way to take a good pelagic tour.

First time Birder to BC

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