Flora & Fauna Field Tour Itinerary
British Columbia
September 1 - 8, 2010
See the best of West coast migration as we
search the huge flocks of shorebirds and ducks for Asian vagrants along
the Vancouver waterfront, and witness the impressive movement of land birds
along the coast and over the mountains. We will also view west coast
residents and high level specialities as we cross from lowland to
highlands to the desert-like conditions of the Okanagan.
September 2007's pre-tour resulted in many excellent finds. Some are shown
below. |
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Black Oystercatcher | Blue Grouse | Barrow's Goldeneye |
California Quail | Golden Eagle | Gray Jay |
Brandt's Cormorant | Audubon's Warbler | Surfbird |
American Golden Plover | Black Turnstone | Red Crossbill |
3 male Harlequin Ducks | Mew Gull | Sharp-tailed Sandpiper |
Pygmy Nuthatch | Western Grebe | Western Sandpiper |
Pacific Golden Plover | Stellar's Jay | Pelagic Cormorant |
Day 1 - Arriving
in Vancouver, we immediately head to Iona Islands adjacent to the airport,
where a fine breakwall, a marsh and sewage lagoons should provide us with
many birds. Loons, grebes, shorebirds, gulls, cormorants, herons and ducks
should be abundant. We may have time to visit Boundary Bay close to our
motel, but success will depend on the tides. High tide is essential for
best viewing of thousands of wading birds on the mudflats. We will check
this area several times while in Vancouver. |
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Day 2 - After
breakfast, we visit Beach Grove Park in Tsawwassen, where many passerines
should be migrating through. These could include Western Tanager,
Bullock's Oriole, western flycatchers, west coast warblers such as
Townsend's and McGillvray's, sparrows, Bushtits, maybe 3 species of
Chickadee, along with attendant birds of prey such as Merlin, Peregrine
Falcon and Sharp-shinned hawks. Just south of here is Point Roberts, a small cut-off part of Washington state, where we can find many pelagic and rare sea birds. After crossing the border, we will proceed to Lighthouse Marine Park to search for Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Surfbird, offshore Harlequin Ducks, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre and 3 species of cormorants. We will also visit the nearby Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal back in Canada where similar species can be seen. Ov. Sundance Motel. B/L. |
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Day 3 - Today
we drive via Hope to Manning Provincial Park, where high range birds such
as both Crossbills, Clark's Nutcracker, Townsend's Solitaire, Stellar's
Jay, Pine Grosbeak, and Varied Thrush were seen in 2007. There is the
possibility here of Spotted Owl and 3-toed Woodpecker at Sumalo Grove and
Lightning Lake respectively. The drive to the top of the Cascade Mountains
is spectacular. Ov. Evergreen Motel, Princeton. B/L |
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Day 4 - Another
wonderful day at Manning Park walking new trails and exploring picnic
grounds in search of migrants and resident birds. Animal possibilities
include Black Bear, Mule Deer, ground squirrels and chipmunks. Ov.
Evergreen Motel. B/L |
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Day 5 - We
head east to the Okanagan to explore the area around Vaseux Lake. Canyon
and Rock wrens, Golden Eagle, Chukar, Great Horned Owl, Western Bluebird,
White-throated Swift and Rufous Hummingbird are all possible, along with
California Bighorn Sheep on the cliffs. Ov. Evergreen
Motel. B/L |
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Day 6 - Back
to Vancouver to the Reifel Refuge, one of B.C.'s best spots for finding
rare Asian strays. The wooded trails should turn up Golden-crowned
Sparrow, Spotted Towhee and several warblers. But the highlight should be
the flocks of shorebirds feeding there. In 2007 we found 2 Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers, Marbled Godwit, Stilt, Western, Semipalmated, Pectoral
sandpipers, both Yellowlegs, both Dowitchers, Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe.
At high tide, the nearby farm fields can also host many shorebirds. Ov. Sundance Motel, Ladner. B/L |
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Day 7 - We will have most of the day to visit Beach Grove Park. Pt. Roberts, Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and Iona Island before evening. B/L | ||
Day 8 -
We will have time to revisit Reifel Refuge or Iona
Island before departing from Vancouver Airport in the late afternoon.
B/L |
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THE COST OF THIS TOUR INCLUDES ALL TRANSPORTATION,
HOTELS, BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES, ENTRY FEES AND GUIDING. COST : $ 1095 from Vancouver. |