The vantage point of the top of Mount Douglas in Saanich offers a spectacular 360o view of rural Saanich and downtown Victoria. The Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington state are visible. However, it is worth turning one’s eyes from the striking vista and looking to the ground at this time of year. Much of …
Author: Editor
Spawning Spectacle!
Herring roe on fucus, a nutritional meal for many birds and animals. Photo © Guy Monty. Each year herring spawn around Vancouver Island, British Columbia in early March. This year is no exception. Last week, I heard that the herring were spawning near French Creek between Parksville and Qualicum Beach. This area has traditionally been one of the most important …
It’s Satinflower Show Time!
Don’t let the rain stop you – Satinflowers (Olsynium douglasii) look splendid with a few drops of water on the petals. Early spring on Vancouver Island means it’s time to lace on the hiking boots and head out to see the Satinflower (Olsynium douglasii) show. From mid-February to early April this tiny member of the Iris (Iridaceae) family dots the …
Pollen is in the Air
Red Alder (Alnus rubra) begins to produce pollen as early as late February on Vancouver Island. When my husband starts sneezing and snuffling, I know that allergy season has arrived. Here on the coast, pollen allergies can start in late February and continue through to September. To better understand my husband’s suffering I went to the source, the pollen itself. …
20th Annual Brant Festival – March 5 to April 28
Brant (Image © Guy Monty) The return of Brant geese to the estuaries and bays of Vancouver Island in late February and early March on their migration from California and Mexico is celebrated annually by the Brant Wildlife Festival in Parksville/Qualicum Beach. This year’s festival runs from March 5th to April 28th and features a wide range of activities and …
Pacific Rim Whale Festival (March 6 to 14)
Pacific Rim Whale Festival – March 6th to 14th Every March, spring splashes into Canada with the Pacific Rim Whale Festival! This year’s festival begins in Ucluelet and Tofino on Saturday, March 6 and runs through to Sunday, March 14th. Join the fun on the shores of Vancouver Island’s wild west coast, as we celebrate the visit of approximately 20,000 …
Rainfall on the “Wet Coast”
It’s always a good idea to bring an umbrella. One of the questions I often get asked is, “How much does it rain on Vancouver Island? Good question. After all, we live here in a temperate rainforest. And the answer, of course, is “It varies!” But it is a considerable amount of rainfall. I pulled out some precipitation data from …
Victoria Natural History Society Field Trips
Victoria Natural History Society Walk Joining a local natural history club is an excellent way to learn more about nature and meet like-minded people. The Victoria Natural History Society (VNHS) has a number of interesting walks and presentations for both members and non-members throughout the year. Field trips are ranked according to difficulty: Level 1 – easy walking, mostly level …
See Shells by the Sea Shore
A young beachcomber discovers some Japanese Varnish Clams on the beach at Kye Bay, Comox, BC. One of the joys of walking the beaches of Vancouver Island is finding a clam shell or two while out on the sand or cobble. For those new to West Coast beach combing, determining the species of bivalve that the shell belongs to can …
Cape Scott Provincial Park by Water Taxi
The dramatic north coast shore in Cape Scott Provincial Park makes for striking black and white photographs. Cape Scott Provincial Park is at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The conventional way of visiting the northern part of the Park is to backpack from the trail head. Nels Bight is 16.8 km from the trail head and the trail can …