Bird watching at the Sea to Sky Gondola. Photo: BC Bird Trail
With thousands of birds migrating in from all over the world, fall is the best time to go birding in Vancouver. Late September and October is peak birding season with the arrival of the snow geese, bald eagles, and dozens of other species.
Fall is the Best Time for Birding
Vancouver sits on the Pacific Flyway so fall is the busiest time of the year for birders. Millions of birds migrate through the city on their way south, stopping to rest for a few hours or a few days. Conditions change by the hour, so there are usually new birds to see each time you go out.
The red and gold leaves of autumn are spectacular, but birders can’t wait for them to fall to the ground. That’s because it’s much easier to spot birds on bare branches than leafy ones.
Birds are most active at dawn and dusk, and in the shorter daylight hours of fall, that makes it easier to go birding without having to wake up really early or stay up late. It’s also a bonus for photographers since it’s easy to catch golden hour.
Birds to Look For in Fall
Fall is a busy time for birds so it is easy to spot dozens of species. A highlight in the Vancouver area is the huge flocks of snow geese. Each October, tens of thousands of the white birds descend on marshes and fields in Surrey, Delta, and Richmond from their breeding grounds in northern Russia.
The shorelines of Boundary Bay and Roberts Bank are also great places to look for shorebirds like sandpipers, plovers, and dunlins. Look for buffleheads, hooded mergansers and other ducks in marshes, creeks, ponds, and other waterways.
Fall is also bald eagle season as these majestic birds follow the spawning salmon from the sea to the rivers. Squamish and the Harrison River Valley see huge gatherings of hundreds of eagles to feast on the salmon each fall.
Some birds stick around Vancouver all winter. Watch for songbirds and warblers in the underbrush and raptors circling overhead.
Photo: Phillipp Pilz/Unsplash
What to Bring
- Bring binoculars or use the zoom lens on your camera so you can get a closer look at the birds.
- Get a birding guidebook or app to help you identify the species you are seeing.
- Download the BC Bird Trail app to find bird-watching locations around BC. It also lets you track your birding progress as you spot more and more different species.
- Bundle up with layers of warm and waterproof clothing – fall weather can change fast. The BC Bird Trail has a birding packing list with more tips on what to wear and how to stay safe.
- Many local libraries including Burnaby, Richmond, and North Vancouver have birding backpacks you can borrow. They include binoculars, birding field guides, and tips for nearby places to spot birds.
Bird watching in Terra Nova Rural Park in Richmond. Photo: BC Bird Trail
Birding Tips
- Give birds lots of space. If you get too close they will change their behaviour or fly away.
- Be quiet. Birds can hear better than humans and will fly away if they hear loud noises.
- Be still and avoid sudden movements that can startle birds.
- Try going early or late in the day – many birds are most active near dawn and dusk
Go With a Guide
If you want to learn from the best, book Liron’s Birding 101 Tours. Nature photographer Liron Gertsman leads tours in Richmond. With his help, you’ll learn the basics of birding and spot dozens of species.
You can also see lots of birds on boat-based wildlife tours around Vancouver. Vancouver Whale Watch offers tours from the Steveston dock in Richmond and often spots bald eagles and many species of seabirds, along with whales. White Rock Sea Tours offers both whale watching and harbour cruises from Crescent Beach in South Surrey. You can spot sea lions, whales, and lots of birds along the shores of Semiahmoo Bay and Boundary Bay.
Photo: Vancouver Whale Watch
Best Vancouver Birding Spots
There are dozens of birding spots around the city. You can find birds downtown on the coastlines and forests of Stanley Park. Stop in to the Stanley Park Nature House for tips on which species have recently been sighted. The Foreshore Trail in Pacific Spirit Regional Park near UBC is great for seabirds and shorebirds. The Vancouver Bird Trail has lots more birding spot suggestions.
Bird-watching at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. Photo: BC Bird Trail
Head across the Fraser River south of Vancouver to experience the South Fraser Bird Trail in Richmond, Delta, and Surrey. Look for flocks of snow geese in the fields and shore birds at Boundary Bay. Birding hot spots include Terra Nova Rural Park, George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and Mud Bay Park.
Birding in Terra Nova Rural Park in Richmond. Photo: BC Bird Trail
Or drive north towards Squamish and Whistler to the Sea to Sky Bird Trail. Wander through the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area next to downtown Squamish to watch for waterfowl and shorebirds. Or ride the Sea to Sky Gondola up into the mountains to see black-capped chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, and other mountain birds. The highlight is the huge gathering of wintering bald eagles in Brackedale Eagles Provincial Park, best seen at Eagle Run Dyke.
Birding at the Squamish Estuary. Photo: BC Bird Trail