NANAIMO REGION
NANAIMO REGION
A. Buttertubs Marsh - This remarkable man-made walking and birding area is almost in the middle of Nanaimo and features an amazing variety of birds and marsh life. Sightings in 2003 included the Green Heron, Ruddy Duck, and Bullock's Oriole. Current winter birds include species like Gadwall, Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, Widgeons, Ring-necked Ducks, and American Coot. Spring brings an entourage of migrants headlined by the Bullock's Oriole. Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, and Black-throated Gray Warblers are also common. Other regulars include Belted Kingfishers, Merlin, woodpeckers, and Marsh Wrens. Buttertubs can be accessed from Buttertubs Dr. off Bowen Road or if you are coming north on the Island Highway, exit right at Jinglepot Road. Watch for the Buttertubs parking lot on the left as you near the marsh area. An excellent, well-maintained 2.1 km walking trail circumnavigates the marsh.
Click the following link for more information on Buttertubs Marsh:
BUTTERTUBS MARSH
Photo: Marsh Wren at Buttertubs Marsh
B. Nanaimo River Estuary - One of the largest estuaries on the Island and possibly the most productive birding site in the Mid-Island. Access is available at the end of Raines Rd. in Cedar. Heading south from Nanaimo, turn left onto Cedar Road and proceed past the landfill and just past the Silver Bridge. Turn left on Raines Road and proceed to the conservation area at the end of the road. Coming from the south proceed towards Nanaimo past the exit to Parksville and Campbell River. Cedar road is the next right.
C. Neck Point - Heading north through Nanaimo, turn right on Hammond Bay Road (near Woodgrove Mall) and watch for the Neck Point sign on the left past Piper's Pub. Neck point is a 14.5 hectare city park and an environmentally sensitive forest and waterfront ecosystem. Neck Point's trail system has just been extended along the waterfront to McGuffie Road.
Click the following link for more information on Neck Point and Piper's Lagoon.
NANAIMO PARKS
D. Piper's Lagoon - Located just down the road from Neck Point, Piper's Lagoon is a diverse ecosystem with open sea on the outside and a secluded lagoon on the inside. A walk along the isthmus an around the rocky headland is a treat in itself, but birders will also often be rewarded by a host of Belted Kingfishers, Bald Eagles, Northern Flickers, Black Oystercatchers, Great Blue Heron, Cormorants, and Loons. At low tide you can also walk across to the famous and picturesque Shack Island.
E. Linley Valley - Recently acquired by the Nanaimo Area Land Trust and the city of Nanaimo, Linley Valley is now a 145 acre wilderness city park. It contains old growth forest, open meadows and woodlands, hidden wetlands and Cottle Lake, and is an excellent environment for forest and songbirds. Access points are from Rock City Road, Burma Road, or Linley Road. Map and information is available on the web.
Click the following link for more information.
LINLEY VALLEY
F. Morrell Nature Sanctuary - Owned by the Nature Trust of B.C., Morrell is 278 acres of second growth forest with ponds and lakes and 11 km. of trails. It is an ideal wilderness habitat birds and other creatures. It can be accessed by exiting the Nanaimo Parkway at Malaspina College (College Dr.). As you pass the College turn right on Wakesiah then right on Harewood. Watch for signs on the right just after you pass the Colliery Dam on the left.
G. Hemer Provincial Park
Located on Holden Lake south of Nanaimo, Hemer Park features 93 hectares of wilderness, an extensive 11 km. trail system, a mature forest of Douglas fir, red alder, and maples, a marsh area rich in birds and other marsh life, and a lake ecosystem complete with turtles and other aquatic creatures. Hemer Park is a favourite destination for bird watchers and ornithologists who will likely encounter everything from ducks to woodpeckers. The park can be located by following Cedar Road to Hemer Road. Watch for the Provincial Park sign.
Photo (top right) - Marsh Wren at Buttertubs Marsh
B. Nanoose Creek Estuary (inland section) - Turn right at the Petro Can. The estuary is on your immediate right as you cross the train tracks. There is a gate and a small parking space on your right a hundred meters past the tracks. The eagle tree (photo on the right) is visible from the gate.
B. Enos Lake trails - Continue along Northwest Bay Road from the estuary and turn right on Powder Point Road just after the next set of train tracks. Continue towards Fairwinds until you see a cedar fence parking area on your left just past the 4-way stop. Maps and trail markers are posted for a fairly extensive trail system.
C. Schooner Cove - From the previous stop, continue through the Fairwinds Golf Course until you come to a marina on your right. This is Schooner Cove Marina which is a popular Loon, Cormorant, Kingfisher, and duck viewing spot in the winter. A Yellow-billed Loon, and a few Common and Pacific Loons have been hanging around the pub all winter.
D. Dolphin Lake - Take the first left as you leave Schooner Cove. The short road ends at the Dolphin Lake end of the Enos Lake Trails. There is a large eagle tree and nest on your left by the gate. Dolphin Lake is an excellent habitat for many species of birds.
E. Beachcomber - The main road from Schooner Cove returns to Northwest Bay Road. Turn right on Northwest Bay Road and head towards Parksville. Take the first right (Claudet Road) down to Beachcomber Marina and Beachcomber Park.
PHOTO: Eagle tree in Nanoose Estuary
A. Englishman River Estuary - As you approach Parksville, turn right on Plummer Road just past the Rathtrevor Park exit. Plummer follows the Englishman River. Just before the road turns right, there is a parking area and trail on the left. The trail follows the river to the famous San Malo Mud Flats. The whole area is popular for birds. There is beach access just past the San Malo flats.
C. French Creek Marina - Follow the Old Island Highway north out of Parksville towards Qualicum. The marina is on the right just a few kilometers towards Qualicum. The estuary and mouth of French Creek is usually a busy bird habitat. A Rock Wren was diiscovered on the breakwater early in the year. The creek is often a great spot to sneak up on ducks and shorebirds. Make sure you check the marina. Seabirds often enjoy the protected waters between the boats. The small bay on the south is excellent for gulls and ducks during brant season.
D. Admiral Tryon's Lagoon - The first road to the right after you cross French Creek leads to Columbia Beach. Turn left when the road ends and head north until the road turns left. There is a small parking spot at the corner on the right and beach access to Admiral's Lagoon. This is one my favorite spots for shorebirds and seabirds. The photo of Western Sandpipers (above) was taken at Admiral's.
PHOTO: Western Sandpipers at Admiral's Lagoon
B. Qualicum Beach - The whole beach front in Qualicum is excellent for birding. Where else can you bird from paved sidewalks with public facilities, restaurants, and even an ice-cream stand in season? High tide during the winter is particularly interesting as many of the Scoters and other sea birds come very close to the seawall and sidewalk.
C. Little Qualicum River - At the north end of Qualicum look for Kincaid Road on your right. There is beach access on the right at the end of the road. Follow the beach north to the mouth of the Little Qualicum River. This is Gull heaven during the salmon spawn but often has many surprises at any time of the year. During my last visit in November, I was fortunate enough to get my first looks at 3 Greater White-fronted Geese. Spawning time is also eagle time. Hundreds of Bald Eagles congregate in the area to take advantage of the spawning fish.
Photo: Surf Scoters at Qualicum Beach
Deep Bay
A. Deep Bay Spit - Deep Bay Spit is a remarkable ecosystem that features birds of many species. The sheltered waters are the ideal habitat for many seabirds including Commmon Tern, Trumpeter Swans, Grebes, Murrelets, Loons, Guillemots, Cormorants, ducks, and Gulls. A Little Gull was spotted there in September. The end of August and early September is also the time that Common Terns frequent the area on their southward migration. A winter specialty in the waters at the end of the spit is a flock of Long-tailed Ducks. As well, the postage stamp size park at the end of the spit can surprise you with a variety of finches, sparrows, and other songbirds. The nearby Deep Bay Harbour has handy public facilities and a restaurant as well as a healthy population of Purple Martins thanks to the nest boxes on the pilings. The photo above was taken at Deep Bay in September/03.
PHOTO: Common Tern at Deep Bay
COMOX - CAMPBELL RIVER
(under construction)
B. Parksville Beach - Turn right at the Community Park. This is a great spot for Gulls and other marine birds including Brant.
Qualicum
A. Eaglecrest - As you head north past French Creek all the roads on the right lead to beach accesses. These are all good birding areas for Peeps, Balck-bellied Plovers, Blackturnstones, and other shore and sea birds.
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