Birding Trip Report: Vancouver & Whistler July 2016

Trip Review: Vancouver & Whistler July 2016

Overview: This report summarises the birds seen on a family holiday when I was younger to western British Columbia. We visited Whistler for 3 full days and then moved down to the suburbs of Vancouver for 7 days, and we did many day trips from here. Birds were not the focus, but we managed to do a bit of birding on a couple of days. 

The sites are listed below. The main content of this report is an annotated species list to give an idea of when and where each species was seen. This report does not intend to give a comprehensive overview of a birding trip to the region – birds were almost certainly missed, and sites could have been visited at more bird-friendly times – but rather a guide for a casual birder on the birds you could expect to see on a family holiday to the region.  We only birded with binoculars, though our scope would have probably helped at the wetland sites, particularly Iona.

We purchased a hummingbird feeder from Reifel and had daily sightings of Anna’s Hummingbirds visiting it in our Vancouver garden for the remainder of the trip!

Sites:

Whistler: Due to the location of the hotel, the most time was spent along the Lost Lake and Fittzimman River Trails – birding in Whistler can be frustrating with birds often staying in the canopy but is usually very rewarding, with some very interesting birds possible. Other sites visited included the Golf Course, which yielded a fantastic bear sighting (but relatively few birds) and Green Lake. Birding highlights from Whistler included Warbling Vireo, MacGillivray’s, Yellow and Townsend’s Warblers, American Dipper, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Clark’s Nutcracker. We took a guided bear tour up Blackcomb Mountain on one evening and took the cable car up Whistler Mountain.

Iona: We visited this site twice and it showed great potential. On the first visit, we initially walked through the scrub east of the main car park. This looked promising but unfortunately the thick cover provided frustratingly brief views of birds as they flew from bush to bush. Our attention turned to the beach west of the car park, but with the majority of birds too far out on the flats to view through binoculars, we tracked north up the beach and happened across a small pond a few hundred metres NW of the car park. This shallow pond proved very productive with waders, including a resident pair of Killdeer, but with the light fading rapidly, it soon became too dark to identify the many peeps that were using the pond. We decided to go back two days later, an hour before high tide, and headed straight for the lagoon. This time, with better light, we could distinguish between all three species of peep, along with two breeding adult Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs and a Dowitcher sp. 

Reifel: This site was highly recommended on-line and provided some great views of hummingbirds, which were using the feeders, and many marsh species not seen elsewhere (such as Marsh Wren). Overall, there was a disappointing lack of waders with just Dowitchers and Yellowlegs seen, however, it is entirely possible we missed several birds or were just unlucky on the day.

Cypress Provincial Park: A fantastic site simply for the hiking opportunities, with lots of hummingbirds too. Birds were relatively few on our visit, but this was likely due to the time of day (we visited at midday) and the site showed great potential for an early morning visit.

Whale Watching Tour & Vancouver Island:fantastic experience whale watching from Vancouver to Victoria with Prince of Whales (highly recommended) – we then had time to enjoy Victoria and then a guided bus transfer across Vancouver Island to Butchart Gardens. From there we took the boat back to Vancouver.

Vancouver and Whistler 2016

Canada Goose: Common on most bodies of water and seen in a number of locations, including Iona, Reifel and QEP.

Wood Duck: Several seen at Reifel.

Mallard: Common on most bodies of water like Canada Goose.

Green-winged Teal: One female was seen at the sewage works at Iona on the second visit.

Hooded Merganser: A female or eclipse drake was seen distantly on Green Lake in Whistler.

Pied-billed Grebe: Several (including one juvenile) were seen at Iona on the first visit.

Double-crested Cormorant: Many seen in and around Vancouver, especially Stanley Park

Pelagic Cormorant: First seen at Porteau Cove, then seen regularly around Vancouver, especially Stanley Park. They were arguably more common than the above species.

Great Blue Heron: Widespread in small numbers, apart from the impressive sight of at least 20 in the air together at Iona on the second trip.

Turkey Vulture: Not common, but several were seen at scattered sites throughout the holiday.

Osprey: Only one seen- perched on a lamppost along Highway 91 on the way to Cultus Lake Water Park.

Bald Eagle: Seen most days in Vancouver, including a close fly-by on our first day in Vancouver. However, the best sighting was of two adults and two large chicks at a nest, just before the bridge onto Ladner Island.

Northern Harrier: 3 ringtails were seen circling together on Westham Island on the way to Reifel.

Cooper’s Hawk: This became the 80^thspecies when three flew over the house on the final morning.

Red-tailed Hawk: Like Bald Eagle, this species was seen most days in Vancouver. They were particularly plentiful on Sea Island.

American Coot: One young bird seen at Reifel, where they are apparently uncommon in the summer.

Sandhill Crane: Several seen at Reifel.

Killdeer: A pair with small chicks was seen at close quarters on the small pond at Iona.

Spotted Sandpiper: A particularly spotty individual was first seen at Green Lake, with several more being seen on both visits to Iona later on.

Greater Yellowlegs: Several were seen close-by at Reifel.

Lesser Yellowlegs: Three were seen on the sewage ponds at Iona on the second visit.

Semipalmated Sandpiper: The large flock of peeps on the small pond at Iona contained several that, after studying photos, I am confident are Semipalmated.

Western Sandpiper: Several birds in the peep flock at Iona were seen well enough to be identified as Western Sandpipers, including one particularly colourful individual in breeding plumage.

Least Sandpiper: Several birds were part of the peep flock on the small pond at Iona.

Long-billed Dowitcher: A large group were seen at close range on West Field at Reifel.

Bonaparte’s Gull: Only one was seen – a juvenile on Green Lake in Whistler.

Heermann’s Gull: A large group was seen distantly from the whale watching boat just outside Victoria.

Ring-billed Gull: Seen at both Second Beach, Stanley Park and at Iona.

California Gull: Large numbers were seen distantly at Iona on the second trip when a crow gave a good suggestion of size at long range. However, many were also probably seen at the same location on the first trip but they were too distant to identify definitely.

Glaucous-winged Gull: Many were seen in the Vancouver area, though it is likely many were hybrids.

Caspian Tern: One flew low overhead calling at Iona on the first visit.

Common Murre: Large numbers from the whale watching boat trip

Pigeon Guillemot: First seen at Porteau Cove, then many were seen at close range from the whale watching boat.

Rhinoceros Auklet: A major target. Several were seen, including a couple very close-by, from the whale watching boat trip.

Rock Pigeon/Feral Pigeon: Many seen throughout the trip.

Collared Dove: Two seen at Reifel and a couple seen from Highway 1 east of Vancouver.

Black Swift: Seen regularly from the house on the first day, then not again. Two more birds, likely this species, were also seen in Butchart Gardens.

Vaux’s Swift: Seen well in Cypress Provincial Park.

Anna’s Hummingbird: Hummingbirds were the birding highlight of the trip, and after first being seen in QEP on the first day in Vancouver, Anna’s Hummingbirds visited the garden feeder every single day, giving wonderful views. They were also seen in Cypress Provincial Park where they are very uncommon.

Rufous Hummingbird: Seen in the garden on the very first morning in Vancouver (before the feeder was placed there) but then not since. Then, several subsequently seen well at Reifel and in Cypress Provincial Park.

Belted Kingfisher: Seen from the boat while in the quay in Butchart Gardens

Northern Flicker: Seen once in Whistler (on the bear watching tour) then seen regularly in Vancouver, including several times from the house.

Merlin: Three were seen on the first day in Vancouver when leaving QEP, where there is a well-documented nest.

Warbling Vireo: Seen twice in Whistler, once along the Valley Trail and once along the Lost Lake Trail by the bridge.

Grey Jay: 5+ were seen from the bear watching tour up Blackcomb Mountain.

Steller’s Jay: Plentiful around Whistler along the Valley Trail and also seen in Cypress Provincial Park.

Clark’s Nutcracker: A major target. One was seen extremely well from the Roundhouse Lodge at the top of Whistler Mountain.

Northwestern Crow: Extremely common, but apparently only ‘tickable’ in Vancouver.

Common Raven: Widespread, and seen regularly throughout the holiday in both Whistler and Vancouver.

Purple Martin: Seen at both Reifel and Iona.

Tree Swallow: First seen at Reifel then regularly from then on.

Violet-green Swallow: Common in Whistler but then only seen very occasionally later on in the trip.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow: First seen at Butchart Gardens, then subsequently seen at both Reifel and Iona where it was relatively common and seen well.

Barn Swallow: Common and regularly seen once out of Whistler, where it was not present.

Black-capped Chickadee: The only chickadee seen in the lower altitudes around Vancouver.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: The only chickadee seen in Whistler where it was common in large flocks. It was also seen in Cypress Provincial Park.

Bushtit: Seen on the first morning in Vancouver, when a large flock moved through the garden. Then also seen on the last morning when a flock of around 50 birds (!) was seen from the house.

Red-Breasted Nuthatch: Seen in Butchart Gardens and Queen Elizabeth Park. The distinctive call was also heard on Marguerite Street and along the pitch and putt course at QEP.

Marsh Wren: Relatively common at Reifel but not seen elsewhere.

American Dipper: A big surprise! One was seen flying upstream on the river adjacent to the Lost Lake PassivHaus in Whistler on the other side of the road bridge.

Golden-Crowned Kinglet: Seen twice in Whistler. Seen once next to the Lost Lake PassivHaus and then again on Lorimer Road.

Swainson’s Thrush: Seen only once along the Fitzimman River Trail. However, a thrush was seen by the side of the river by the Lost Lake PassivHaus and was probably this species.

Hermit Thrush: Seen at close quarters halfway up Whistler Mountain on the bear tour, where its rufous tail was very obvious. Its call was also heard all over Whistler Mountain, both from the cable car and on the bear tour.

American Robin: Widespread and seen every day.

Varied Thrush: This was a major target but unfortunately was heard only. However, listening to its eerie call halfway up Blackcomb Mountain was definitely a highlight in itself.

European Starling: Very common, like in the UK, and was the first bird seen of the holiday.

Cedar Waxwing: Surprisingly this was one of the commonest birds in Whistler, where it was seen in both the main town and the forest trails. It was also seen in and around Vancouver, but not quite as common.

MacGillivray’s Warbler: A showy female was seen along the Fittzimman River Trail in Whistler.

Yellow Warbler: A male showed extremely well on a number of occasions in the North West corner of Parking Lot 5 in Whistler.

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Quite common in Whistler, especially around the river next to the Lost Lake PassivHaus.

Townsend’s Warbler: A family group numbering at least 5 birds was seen very well along the Lost Lake Trail.

Spotted Towhee: First seen on a horse ride in Pemberton, then seen well at both Reifel and Iona where it was numerous.

Chipping Sparrow: Only seen on Vancouver Island, at Butchart Gardens.

Song Sparrow: Frequently seen, but seemingly not as common as White-crowned.

White-crowned Sparrow: Common and widespread, but particularly common in Whistler, where it was very tame.

Dark-eyed Junco: Common and widespread, especially around the river in Whistler.

Western Tanager: One of the birds of the holiday! This bird was a major target, but I thought it had evaded me when I hadn’t seen it by the last day. Fittingly, it ended up being one of the last birds of the holiday, when two males were seen flycatching during a short fifteen minute walk around Queen Elizabeth Park on the final afternoon, where I least expected it!

Red-winged Blackbird: Many seen at both Reifel and Iona.

Brown-headed Cowbird: Observed at both Reifel and Iona, but by no means common.

House Finch: Seen at Reifel, Iona Sewage Works and on the final day along Marguerite Street.

Pine Siskin: Regularly observed in Whistler, where it was quite common, and also seen in Cypress Provincial and Stanley Parks.

American Goldfinch: Not common, but seen at several locations including Reifel and Iona Sewage Works.

House Sparrow: Common and widespread.

Empidonax Sp: One of about 5 differents flycatcher species was seen from the first viewpoint in Cypress Provincial Park, however, the brief views (and lack of experience!) meant it went unidentified.

(Birds seen: 82)

Douglas Squirrel: Several seen in Whistler only, including a pair chasing one another around a tree.

Black Squirrel: Relatively common in Vancouver.

Humpback Whale: One seen close to the whale watching boat South of Vancouver Island was a major highlight.

Humpback Whale - photo by Rebecca Coward

Harbour Seal: Many seen loafing on rocks from the whale watching boat. 

Black Bear: A most memorable (and terrifying) first sighting occurred whilst walking along the golf course trail in Whistler, when one sprung onto the path behind me – while it definitely didn’t feel like it at the time, we were probably extremely lucky to get such a close sighting. 5 further individuals were also seen on the Bear Viewing Tour up Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, including several very close to the vehicle.

Chipmunk: A surprise encounter with one along the Lost Lake Trail in Whistler was a highlight!