The Wildlife We See

-the list

Bird Watching

(more topics to be added soon)

Every day out on the water we are viewing birds and learning.

Much of our local area in the region of Broughton Strait, Johnstone Strait and Queen Charlotte Strait is steep and rocky with habitats that include forested and rocky islands, rocky shores, estuaries, sheltered bays, kelp and eel grass beds, tidal upwellings, mud flats, and open marine waters.

The Broughton Archipelago

Fresh and salt water mixing along with levels of ocean turbulence enhances plankton growth. This in turn supports an abundance and variety of fishes, snails, eels, clams and crustaceans which provide food for birds. As a result the region is a critical area in the world for water birds throughout the year.

Over a 100 species of marine birds, from numerous countries and three continents breed, migrate and / or spend the winter here.
Throughout the months that we operate our whale watching and marine wildlife viewing tours, we get to view a variety of seabirds.
Birds common to the area year round that we see daily while on tour: Bald Eagles (their nests and Eaglets when hatched) Great Blue Herons, Pelagic Cormorants, and gulls: Bonaparte's, Mew, Herring and Glaucous-Winged.

Red-necked Phalarope

Other species we see over the summer months include: Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-Winged Scoters, Black Oyster Catchers, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklets, Belted Kingfishers, Red-Necked Phalaropes, Herring and Bonaparte's Gulls, Surf, White-Winged and Black Scoters.

Top ^

The month of September brings greater numbers of birds. Of special interest are the arrival of large flocks of Sooty Shearwaters stopping to feed and rest before continuing on their journey south, where they will breed off the coast of Australia and New Zealand. Large gatherings of Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklets, Surf and White-Winged Scoters will also be viewed at this time.
In Fall, Winter and Spring we continue to Bird Watch!

Lesser Yellowlegs and Gull

From the deck, table window and glass patio-door inside the suite "On the Beach", we are rewarded daily with the sight and activity of water birds. Most common species to be seen in November, December, January, February March and April are: Pelagic Cormorants, Double-Crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Buffleheads, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Red-Breasted Mergansers, Harlequin Ducks, Common Loons, Pacific Loons, Red-Necked Grebes, Western Grebes, Herring and Bonaparte's Gulls a few

Greater and Lesser Scaups.

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfishers are frequently observed diving for small fish from the piling out in front of the suite, as well, Great Blue Herons often frequent our dock and pilings and when the tides are low, they can be seen fishing on the shore.

The Ecological Park is a unique place from which to view birds year round. The sound of Woodpeckers working on the dead Cedar trees of the Ecological Park are wonderful and Bald Eagles can be viewed sitting high on top of the cedar trees.

A dedicated bird watcher or amateur naturalist may well find a visit to Cormorant Island fascinating and enjoyable.

Top ^