Birdwatching North America with Birdingpaltours
If you are an independent bird watcher who does not care for large group tours then Birdingpaltours is for you.
Do you like to bird with a couple of friends or by yourself, then we have the perfect arrangement for you.
Our tours are flexible, safe and the use of a local guide lets you participate in the planning.
The local guide knows all the hotspots. No more driving around trying to find birds. They will be found for you.
Our tours invariably cost less than the larger organized tours and you get the most out of your trip because you are a member of a small group. Our experience has shown that in trying to organize your own tour you can end up with hidden and unexpected costs.
The Birdingpaltour Birdwatching Experience.
We are birders ourselves and we know what you want. We know that often your time is limited. So we’ll design a tour to fit your needs. We have done the research, we know the best places to go and the best time to go and best of all we’ll provide you with a local guide who knows where the best places are. We’ll also provide you with a self-drive rental car, accommodations and some meals. We’ll provide you with maps and entrance fees into parks. Our tours are flexible, they will fit in with your schedule, 3 or 4 or 6 days you decide. You will be safe as you will be accompanied by a local guide. Our group size limit is 4 people, so
you won’t miss a bird because you are at the end of a long line of birders on a single file trail.
Birdwatching in British Columbia
British Columbia has a great diversity of habitats and along with the habitats come a large number of species. You would be hard put to find anywhere else in the world with so diverse a range of birds. Of the coast you will find huge concentrations of murres, auklets, petrels, gulls (including Heerman’s and Western Gulls) and puffins. You can find large numbers of bald eagles and the largest concentration of Peregrine Falcons (Peale’s) in North America. As well as White-tailed Ptarmigan, White-throated Swift, 4 to 5 regular species of Hummingbird and Eurasian Skylark. Combine this with a mild climate and you have a birders paradise in Canada’s most western province.
Birdingpaltours offers two birding tours in British Columbia
3 day The Vancouver Experience
3 day The Victoria Experience
THE VANCOUVER EXPERIENCE
The Greater Vancouver Area has it all, parks, forests, beaches, lakes and mountains and is home to over a million people and
some 238 species of birds with about 140 breeding in the area.
Vancouver was founded in 1862 and was called, for a while, Gastown. It was incorporated in 1886. Its mild climate and maritime location almost guarantees the visiting birder over 50 species in a day. Our tour is designed as a three day visit to the
Greater Vancouver area, visiting as many habitats as possible in the three day period.
Our trip will provide you with a good sampling of birding around Vancouver. The lists of birds and information that we provide are examples only and generally reflect conditions that exist in the summer months, i.e. May to September, although Vancouver
can be really good in the winter months because of its mild climate. We also do not list birds that are common to each area visited as this would be repetitive.
Please note that as with all our trips we can extend the duration of your trip and visit other areas to meet your needs. Just
let us know what you would like.
Tour I
THE VANCOUVER EXPERIENCE
Day 1.
Stanley Park.
After meeting your local guide at a prearranged meeting place and picking up your rental car you will visit Vancouver’s famous Stanley Park. The park is located on a peninsula at the mouth of Burrard Inlet. The park was logged in the early 1900’s and the park is still managed so forest edge habitat has been created. You may wish to spend all day in the park. This will be up to you and your local guide. Because of the various habitats a morning’s walk will produce a good variety of birds. At its best in the winter months the park will still produce during the summer months. Some of the birds you can expect include Glaucous-winged Gull, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, North-western Crow, Surf Scoter, Lesser and Greater Scaup, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Western Grebe, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Common Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Orange –crowned Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Lincoln’s Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Lunch and overnight B&B in Vancouver area.
"Stanley Park"
Day 2.
Mount Seymour Provincial Park.
You will spend this day at Mount Seymour and surrounds. As with all mountain areas there are various habitats depending on how high you go. There are several good trials and stops at look outs. You should expect to see a Gray Jay, Stellar’s Jay, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Solitary Vireo, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s and Wilson’s Warblers, Black and Vaux’s Swifts and Red-breasted Sapsucker. The views from the mountain are incredible.
Breakfast, Lunch and overnight B&B in Vancouver area.
"The Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary" © Mark Habdas
Day 3.
Iona Sea Island and The Reifel Refuge.
Well known as among the best places to bird in British Columbia, the Iona Islands are joined by a causeway and are relatively accessible by car. Anything can show up here and often does. The flocks of gulls should be searched carefully for Mew Gulls and Franklin’s Gulls. Other birds that are possible are Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Western Grebe, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Long-tailed Duck, Ruddy Duck, Bald Eagle, American Coot, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Caspian Tern, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Rufous Hummingbird, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Marsh Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Brewer’s Blackbird and Brown-headed Cowbird.
If time permits you will visit the Reifel Wildfowl Refuge. Huge flocks of waterfowl over winter here every year. Birds that are possible at other times of the year are Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, American Widgeon, Northern Harrier, Ring-necked Pheasant, American Coot, Lesser Yellowlegs, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Downey Woodpecker, Western Wood Pewee, Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Swainson’s Thrush, Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch.
Your tour will end this afternoon back in Vancouver.
Breakfast and Lunch.
Please note:
The itinerary described in these notes is intended as an example only. In the event of weather changes, logistical arrangements, or other problems, Birdingpaltours may make changes to the published itinerary. Birdingpaltours reserves the right to make changes in guides, rental cars and accommodations.
3 Days tour price is: 2 People C$621 per person. 4 People C$480 per person.
Please ask for single supplement rates.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Included:
Rental Car For 3 days, 2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 nights accommodation, Local guides and Entrance Fees
Excluded:
Gasoline and insurance for the car, Dinners, Alcoholic drinks, Phone calls of a personal nature, Costs incurred due to mechanical failure of the rental vehicle or other emergencies and Fines or tolls.
THE VICTORIA EXPERIENCE
Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and is situated on the southerly end of Vancouver Island.
The area was first explored by Spanish sailors in 1774 and by James Cook in 1778. It was not until 1843 that a Hudson Bay post was established. It was called Fort Victoria in honour of the Queen. Victoria remained the capital when British Columbia entered confederation in 1871.
Victoria has one of the mildest climates in Canada and its mild winters and warm dry summers make it an ideal place for the visiting bird watcher. Victoria is situated on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This channel is an entrance to the inside passage and leads to the Pacific Ocean. This happy coincidence provides birders with many pelagic species some from the comfort of their
car. A trip to Victoria and the surrounding area will provide many hours of excellent birding. The area offers a great diversity of habitats from rocky and sandy shoreline and tidal mud flats to riparian and deciduous forests, to dense old growth cedar and Douglas fir stands. This diversity attracts an every changing mix of bird life. Over 300 species have been recorded here.
Our trip will provide you with a good sampling of birding on Vancouver Island. The lists of birds and information that we provide are examples only and generally reflect conditions that exist in the summer months, i.e. May to September, although Vancouver Island can be really good in the winter months because of its mild climate.
Please note that as with all our trips we can extend the duration of your trip and visit other areas to meet your needs. Just
let us know what you would like.
Tour II
The Victoria Experience
Day 1.
Victoria/Clover Point.
You will spend the day with your local guide exploring the Victoria shoreline. There are many places to stop and view the
Straits of Juan de Fuca and the many different habitats along the shore. You will be looking for, among others, Rhinoceros Auklet, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Black Turnstone, American Black Oystercatcher, Western Sandpiper, Sanderling, Black Oystercatcher, Heerman’s Gull, Harlequin Duck, White-winged Scoter, Least Sandpiper, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Wandering Tattler, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Mew Gull, White-crowned Sparrow, Anna’s Hummingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Orange-crowned Creeper, Bushtit, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Northern Flicker.
Lunch and overnight B&B in Victoria area.
Day 2.
Sooke.
Today you will head out west towards Sooke. There are many excellent and different habitats for you to explore. As well as some of the birds listed for day 1, you should look out for Bonaparte’s Gull, Short-billed Dowitcher, Steller’s Jay, American Robins, Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Northern Pintail, American Widgeon, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bald Eagle, Hermit Thrush, Mute Swan, Lesser Scaup, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Brewer’s Blackbird, Horned Grebe, Cassin’s Auklet, Bewick’s Wren, Surfbird.
Breakfast, Lunch and overnight B&B in Victoria area.
"Varied Thrush"
Day 3.
Saanich Peninsula.
Before heading out to look for Skylarks on the Saanich peninsula you may want to spend some time back at Clover Point again in case something special turns up. Almost every birder visits the Saanich Peninsula to look for Eurasian Skylarks. Although less common than before they occur in small numbers in and around the international airport. While looking for the Skylarks you can expect to see Killdeer, Savannah Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbirds.
Breakfast, Lunch.
Your trip will end today back in Victoria.
Please note:
The itinerary described in these notes is intended as an example only. In the event of weather changes, logistical arrangements, or other problems, Birdingpaltours may make changes to the published itinerary. Birdingpaltours reserves the right to make changes in guides, rental cars and accommodations.
3 Days tour price is: 2 People C$615 per person. 4 People C$425 per person.
Please ask for single supplement rates.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Included:
Rental Car For 3 days, 2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 nights accommodation, Local guides and Entrance Fees
Excluded:
Gasoline and insurance for the car, Dinners, Alcoholic drinks, Phone calls of a personal nature.
Notes:
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All the date of itineraries include arrival and departure dates.
All trips are available year round, but prices may be adjusted around special holidays.
Minimum lead time 4 weeks.
To check availability for tours on short notice, fill out “Request for Quote” form with desirable dates.
Fitness:
Moderate but quite a bit of walking involved on mostly flat terrain.
Note: The lists of birds and information that we provide are examples only and generally reflect conditions that exist in the summer months, i.e. May to September.
Electronic map of British Columbia
Guide books and CD’s recommended:
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, Knopf 2003
A Field Guide to Western Birds , Roger Tory Petersen, Houghton, Miflin, Harcourt 1998
The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Dunn Editor, National Geographic Press
Find lowest prices here
Bird Recordings from British Columbia
www.birdsounds.nl
Complete package tour including air and ground fares is available upon request:
Many of our destinations require multiple flight connections, and it is very important you are protected if complications arise. Our experienced travel consultants are well trained in booking complicated itineraries, not only to obtain the most economical pricing, but also to make sure you are protected, should delays or other complications occur.
For a quote please request it on the form below.
Note: To ascertain tour availability and best pricing, select a week for departure date. e.g. Sep 01 - 07
Need more information please email us.
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