Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park Most people mention the endless stretches of sandy beach, ocean swimming and eel-grass tide pool exploration when they talk about Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. However, this 347 ha Provincial Park has much to offer the terrestrial naturalist as well. There is no question that the rich eelgrass beds hold a treasure …
Central Vancouver Island
Brandt’s, not Brant’s
A Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) showing off its exotic blue gular patch and white breeding feathers. If I only had a dollar for every time I’ve seen the confusion in the spelling of Brandt’s and Brant, I might be able to afford my dream birding trip to Ecuador. Right now we are nearing the end of the Brant Goose migration …
Where the Wildflowers Are
Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum), one of many streamside flowers to look for this spring on Vancouver Island. The spring wildflowers are in bloom on Vancouver Island! When British Columbia emerges from its long damp winter it is an ideal time to look for flowers in bloom. There are a number of different species of beautiful wildflowers that grow along coastal …
Big Day Birding – Brant Wildlife Festival
One of the fun activities associated with the annual Brant Wildlife Festival is the Big Day Birding competition. Groups of birders work together to find and count the most birds over the course of a big day. The winning team takes home prizes and claims bragging rights. Search for gulls during the Brant Wildlife Festival Big Day bird count. Saturday, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Winter Birding at Oyster Bay
Looking out at the old pilings at Oyster Bay. The eastern coast of Vancouver Island has many locations that are excellent for winter birding. Sheltered bays offer resting places for numerous species of waterfowl and the beaches can be productive for shorebirds. One of the highlights between Courtenay and Campbell River is Oyster Bay Shoreline Regional Park, which is located …