Dear Victoria BC area birders

I am a birder from Ontario and I am visiting BC in December this year. I am wondering if any experienced local birders wouldn't mind taking me around to local birding spots to look for local BC birds and rarities in the area. I have many species I am targetting on my trip and I would like some help getting them.

If you think you would be able to help me, and are whiling to take me birding can you please email me at fried_632@hotmail.com.

Thanks,

Brett Fried

Hi There,

The Victoria Natural History Society has some field trips going in December that non-members are welcome to go on. Check out their website at http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/ . There have been some previous posts on good places to bird in the Victoria area on the forum. What birds specifically are you hoping to see?

Unfortunetly I will not be around in December during any field trips. I will only be in Victoria for the 9th and 10th and I will have no transportation so if any local birders would like to help me that would be great. I was hoping to see some loons, sea birds, gulls, shorebirds, American Dipper, Harliquin Duck, Sky Lark and Barn Owl. I would like to get the majority or the BC area birds but I would need help getting a few of these.

I know Clover Point can be a good place to see Harlequin ducks in Victoria, and I've ALWAYS found seagulls there! (Oystercatchers, black turnstone and sandpiper-types can sometimes be found, depends on the tides.) I mention Clover Point since it's easily accessible by transit (it's an easy walk from Beacon Hill Park). I've also walked from this location to Ogden Point (a bit of a distance, but enjoyable to be by the seashore if the weather holds up), where we saw sanderlings on the breakwater (and of course cormorants too -- may have seen a loon, can't clearly remember).

Hi There,

There are several good spots to bird that are either within easy walking distance of downtown or you can take a bus to. (google Victoria transit for bus maps and schedules).

The shoreline (along Dallas Road) between Clover Point and Ogden Point is a reliable place to see Harlequin Ducks, Cormorants, various gulls, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone. Loons and Western Grebes are also possible. In the bush along the shore there are Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhee, Anna's Hummingbird, American Robin, NW Crow. If you are staying in the downtown area of Victoria is it an easy walk to the Dallas Road. It takes me about 15 minutes to walk from Dallas Road to the Legislative Building. From downtown just walk straight down Government Street (go south) until you hit the water. There are paved paths along the upper cliff or you can walk along the beach itself. Buses (#30 and #3) also go into James Bay from downtown and it would be a 5 min walk from most of the bus stops.

If you get down to Dallas Road I highly recommend walking out to the end of Ogden Point (west end of Dallas Road). Because it juts out you can get better looks at some gulls (saw Bonaparts a week ago). Walking along Dallas Road from Government Street it takes me about 20 minutes to get to the end of Ogden Point. Clover Point (east end of Dallas Rd) is also good. About a 25 minute walk from Government and Dallas.

I have never actually seen an American Dipper in the Victoria area, though I have seen them farther north on the island (Koksilah River Provincial Park) and in the Rockies. They are listed as uncommon in the Victoria area bird checklist. Maybe someone else has better information on these.

Witty's Lagoon is a good place to go birding and there is a bus that goes by (although I don't know about frequency). You start in the forest, so you will get birds like Varied Thrush, Chestnut Backed Chickadee, Golden Crowned Kinglet, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Dark Eyed Junco, American Robin, Bushtits. The trail follows a stream down to the lagoon (I have heard that American Dipper are possible hear, but I have never seen one here). The lagoon can be a good place to see a variety of ducks and possibly shorebirds. The trail continues to a sandy beach where there are usually lots of gulls, and other ocean habitat birds. Give yourself about 60 minutes to bird the trail in one direction. It can be a bit muddy in the winter on trail. Other possibilities are Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron.

Swan Lake and Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary (they have a website) are also easy to get to by bus from downtown. The lake will have a good variety of ducks and gulls are also usually there. The forest around the lake is good for various passerines that overwinter (junco, kinglet, chickadee, bushtit etc) as well as Flickers, owls and raptors.

Happy Birding

Alright thanks for the tips they are very helpful. If anyone would like to come birding with me that would be great. I will be in Victoria for the 9th and 10th only!!