Beautiful British Columbia is world renowned for all the outdoor activities available for people to explore. Metro Vancouver is no doubt one of the best places in BC with Mountains on one side, nice beach and various lakes nearby. Here is a short guide for birdwatchers on various places to explore and maximise your sightings. This list will include the cities of Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, UBC, Burnaby, Richmond, Delta,Surrey and New Westminster.
1) Boundary Bay, Delta
This area is near the US Border in Delta. The name sake Boundary Bay Regional Park is located near Point Roberts however this is just a small portion of the entire area. The Boundary Bay Dyke Trial is a major area for sightings and stretches from Beach Grove Park all the way till Mud Bay. This stretch is known for it's good Owl and raptors sightings in the winter and shore bird sightings in the summer. Most notably, Snowy Owls, Long Eared Owls, Short Eared Owls, Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls are known to frequent the Park.
2) George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta.
3) Burnaby Lake, Burnaby
Burnaby lake is a massive lake located in the center of Burnaby. The trail around the lake is around 10 km long and the best place to reach the park is entering via Piper Spit. Piper Spit has a carpark and is 20min walk from Lake City Way. Piper Spit usually have very good sightings especially during the winter migration. A significant number of waterfowl can be found here as well as waders. Some of the birds found here include Wood Duck, Gadwall,Mallard, Canada geese, Lesser Scaup and Red winged black bird. Sandhill crane, Rusty Blackbird (Rare), Yellow Headed Blackbird, various sparrows and Cormorants can be found at Piper Spit. Various other bird species can be found in the rest of the park as well in addition to Beavers, Bears and Bobcats.
1) Boundary Bay, Delta
This area is near the US Border in Delta. The name sake Boundary Bay Regional Park is located near Point Roberts however this is just a small portion of the entire area. The Boundary Bay Dyke Trial is a major area for sightings and stretches from Beach Grove Park all the way till Mud Bay. This stretch is known for it's good Owl and raptors sightings in the winter and shore bird sightings in the summer. Most notably, Snowy Owls, Long Eared Owls, Short Eared Owls, Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls are known to frequent the Park.
2) George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta.
This is another very good park in Delta. There is an entry fee of $5, but it is totally worth it! This park is made up of Marshlands with a mixture of ponds, creeks and marshes. In the winter it is frequented by many birds especially waterfowl and waders. Two fo the highlight species of the park are the Sandhill Cranes, which are known to breed there, and the Saw-Whet Owl which is known to winter in the Park. The Cranes are usually docile but during nesting season they can get aggressive, but usually are seen minding their own business around the park. There are a resident pari of Cranes and often a few migratory Cranes come join them.
Other then them, one can see Marsh Wren's very frequently as well as tree swallows, barn swallows and violet green swallows in the summer, Waterfowl such Mallards, American Coot, American Wigeon, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Greater White Fronted Goose, Mergansers, Great Blue herons, Black crowned Night Herons and many other bird Species. Frequently rare birds do pop up in this park. Just recently there was a Great Egret and Stilt Sandpiper in this park. One should note, there is no public transport to this park and a car or taxi is needed to reach here.
3) Burnaby Lake, Burnaby
Burnaby lake is a massive lake located in the center of Burnaby. The trail around the lake is around 10 km long and the best place to reach the park is entering via Piper Spit. Piper Spit has a carpark and is 20min walk from Lake City Way. Piper Spit usually have very good sightings especially during the winter migration. A significant number of waterfowl can be found here as well as waders. Some of the birds found here include Wood Duck, Gadwall,Mallard, Canada geese, Lesser Scaup and Red winged black bird. Sandhill crane, Rusty Blackbird (Rare), Yellow Headed Blackbird, various sparrows and Cormorants can be found at Piper Spit. Various other bird species can be found in the rest of the park as well in addition to Beavers, Bears and Bobcats.
4) Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver
Jericho Beach Park is one of the most beautiful and picturesque parks in the entire city. It can be easily reached by various bus services. This park does not seam like much but it is a very good place to photograph various species of birds. Various sparrows, gulls, sea ducks and Geese can be found here. Oh and also, there are wild bunnies here as well!
6) Stanley Park, Vancouver
This is the most famous park in Vancouver and is definitely one of the best places in Vancouver to Photograph birds. Stanley Park has a variety of habitats and one has the opportunity to see many sea Ducks, Goose, Owls, Thrushes and Flycatchers.Oystercatchers can also be seen here near the seawall!
6) Pacific Spirit Park & Musqueam Park
These parks are near UBC and are very good parks for Owls. The park is a good place for a hike and needs some luck for sightings.
7) Terra Nova, Richmond
Terra Nova is one of the best parks in Richmond. Between November and March, Hundreds of Snow Goose are known to congregate in Richmond. It is an amazing sighted to behold! Some of the other sightings include Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Virginia Rails, Sora, Common Redpoll, Northern Goshawk and American Bitterns.This park is also known for Coyotes!
8) Queen Elizabeth Park and Vandusen Botanical Gardens
These parks are very close together and Vandusen does have a entrance fee. These parks may be small, but have some really good sightings! Vandusen is known for it's resident Barred Owls and is also very good for warblers especially in the Summer. In the summer, there are a lot of breeding birds and so there are some great opportunities to see baby birds during the months of March, April, May and June. Both parks also have a good amount of waterfowl sightings as well as woodpeckers.
9)Maplewood Flats, North Vancouver
This park in the edge of North Vancouver is a good park fr sightings. The most prominent species here would be the northern Pygmy Owl. Every year their are regular sightings of these owls in the park.
10)Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver
Lighthouse Park is a very picturesque park located on the edge of West Vancouver. If one does not see any birds, the parks landscape would distract you. A lot of PNW birds can be seen here and there is a good chance of seeing Murrelets here! Murrelets are classified as endangered.
11) Ambleside, North Vancouver
Ambleside just a stone throws away from Stanley Park but is one of the best places to photograph waterfowl. It was a wide range of waterfowl including grebes, teals, mallards, mergansers, wood ducks, scooters and scaups.
Jericho Beach Park is one of the most beautiful and picturesque parks in the entire city. It can be easily reached by various bus services. This park does not seam like much but it is a very good place to photograph various species of birds. Various sparrows, gulls, sea ducks and Geese can be found here. Oh and also, there are wild bunnies here as well!
6) Stanley Park, Vancouver
This is the most famous park in Vancouver and is definitely one of the best places in Vancouver to Photograph birds. Stanley Park has a variety of habitats and one has the opportunity to see many sea Ducks, Goose, Owls, Thrushes and Flycatchers.Oystercatchers can also be seen here near the seawall!
6) Pacific Spirit Park & Musqueam Park
These parks are near UBC and are very good parks for Owls. The park is a good place for a hike and needs some luck for sightings.
7) Terra Nova, Richmond
Terra Nova is one of the best parks in Richmond. Between November and March, Hundreds of Snow Goose are known to congregate in Richmond. It is an amazing sighted to behold! Some of the other sightings include Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Virginia Rails, Sora, Common Redpoll, Northern Goshawk and American Bitterns.This park is also known for Coyotes!
8) Queen Elizabeth Park and Vandusen Botanical Gardens
These parks are very close together and Vandusen does have a entrance fee. These parks may be small, but have some really good sightings! Vandusen is known for it's resident Barred Owls and is also very good for warblers especially in the Summer. In the summer, there are a lot of breeding birds and so there are some great opportunities to see baby birds during the months of March, April, May and June. Both parks also have a good amount of waterfowl sightings as well as woodpeckers.
9)Maplewood Flats, North Vancouver
This park in the edge of North Vancouver is a good park fr sightings. The most prominent species here would be the northern Pygmy Owl. Every year their are regular sightings of these owls in the park.
10)Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver
Lighthouse Park is a very picturesque park located on the edge of West Vancouver. If one does not see any birds, the parks landscape would distract you. A lot of PNW birds can be seen here and there is a good chance of seeing Murrelets here! Murrelets are classified as endangered.
11) Ambleside, North Vancouver
Ambleside just a stone throws away from Stanley Park but is one of the best places to photograph waterfowl. It was a wide range of waterfowl including grebes, teals, mallards, mergansers, wood ducks, scooters and scaups.
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