British Columbia Coast & Pelagic

Upon arrival at Vancouver International Airport, you can transfer to our hotel in nearby Richmond. We'll meet for a welcome dinner, where your guide will introduce the itinerary, discuss our target birds and wildlife, and prepare us for the exciting days ahead.
Night in Vancouver.

We begin our birding at Boundary Bay, part of the vast Fraser River Delta and one of the Pacific Coast's most important stopover sites for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. At this time of year, the extensive mudflats and marshes attract a wonderful variety of migrants, including Western, Least, Baird's and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plover and Hudsonian Whimbrel. Nearby marshes and coastal shrubs offer opportunities to find Northern Harrier, Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, Willow Flycatcher, Anna's Hummingbird and migrating warblers.

Next, we board the ferry from Tsawwassen to Duke Point for a scenic crossing of the Strait of Georgia. Around the ferry terminal, we'll watch for Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Surf Scoter and three species of cormorant: Brandt's, Pelagic and Double-crested. During the crossing, we'll scan for Pacific Loon, Marbled Murrelet and other seabirds, along with marine mammals such as Humpback Whale and Orca.

Arriving on Vancouver Island, we travel west through forested mountains and beautiful coastal scenery toward Tofino. Depending on our timing, we may make a few birding stops along the way, looking for species such as Red-breasted Sapsucker, Steller's Jay and Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Night in Tofino.

Today is one of the highlights of our BC Coast & Pelagic tour as we venture into the open Pacific Ocean in search of seabirds and marine wildlife. Departing from Tofino, we'll travel through the sheltered waters of Clayoquot Sound, watching for Bald Eagle, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklet and Marbled Murrelet. Humpback Whale, Gray Whale and Sea Otter are among the marine mammals we may encounter.

Weather and sea conditions permitting, we'll continue offshore toward Clayoquot Canyon and the edge of the continental shelf, where nutrient-rich waters attract an exciting variety of pelagic birds. Black-footed Albatross is a major target, while the much rarer Laysan and Short-tailed Albatrosses are exceptional possibilities. Other seabirds we may encounter include Pink-footed, Sooty, Buller's and Flesh-footed Shearwaters, Northern Fulmar, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Sabine's Gull, Red-necked Phalarope, Cassin's Auklet and jaegers. Rare visitors such as South Polar Skua and Scripps's Murrelet add to the excitement of birding these unpredictable offshore waters.

We'll also explore the waters around Cleland Island, where Tufted Puffins nest. This area is excellent for Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklet, Pigeon Guillemot and other coastal seabirds, while rocky islets may hold Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Surfbird and Wandering Tattler. Heermann's Gull is another species we'll be watching for. Marine wildlife can be equally impressive, with possibilities including Dall's Porpoise, Northern Fur Seal, Risso's Dolphin and even Ocean Sunfish.

After our boat trip, we'll return to Tofino, with time to relax or enjoy some additional local birding if conditions and energy levels allow. Night in Tofino.

Note: The pelagic excursion is weather-dependent, and our route will be determined by sea conditions. If offshore conditions prevent us from reaching the continental shelf, we will focus on productive nearshore waters and sheltered coastal areas.

Today we explore the spectacular coastline, sandy beaches and temperate rainforests of Pacific Rim National Park and the surrounding Tofino and Ucluelet areas. The region offers a wonderful combination of coastal birding, forest specialties and breathtaking scenery.
We may begin at Amphitrite Point, where rocky shorelines and offshore waters provide excellent opportunities to search for Wandering Tattler, Surfbird, Black Oystercatcher, Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet and Pigeon Guillemot. Loons, scoters and other migrating waterbirds are also possible.

We'll explore some of the area's beautiful beaches, such as Long Beach, Combers Beach or Chesterman Beach, where flocks of migrating shorebirds gather along the shoreline. Western and Least Sandpipers, Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover and Baird's Sandpiper are among the species we'll be searching for. Gulls can also be plentiful, including Western, Glaucous-winged, California, Heermann's and Short-billed Gulls.

The coastal rainforests offer a completely different birding experience. Walking beneath towering Sitka Spruce and Western Redcedar, we'll search for Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Hutton's Vireo. Migrating warblers, flycatchers and Western Warbling-Vireo may also be encountered. Wildlife is another attraction of this remarkable coastline, with opportunities to encounter Black Bear.

We'll make the most of the day's birding opportunities, adjusting our stops according to tides, weather and bird activity.

Night in Tofino.

After breakfast, we leave the west coast and travel back across Vancouver Island, stopping at Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park. This magnificent old-growth forest is home to towering Douglas-firs and Western Redcedars, some more than 800 years old. Walking beneath these ancient giants is a memorable experience, and we'll watch and listen for forest birds such as Pacific Wren, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Steller's Jay, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hammond's Flycatcher.

Continuing east, we may have time for additional birding. Coastal estuaries can attract migrating shorebirds such as Black-bellied Plover, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs, along with waterfowl and gulls. Nearby forests offer opportunities for Hutton's Vireo, Red Crossbill and other woodland species.

We'll then make our way to Duke Point for our return ferry crossing to Tsawwassen. The Strait of Georgia provides another opportunity to watch for seabirds and marine mammals. After arriving on the mainland, we return to our hotel near Vancouver International Airport for our final evening together.

Night in Richmond.