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British Columbia Bird and Wildlife Guiding

Whether it’s a half-day or several days we offer excellent bird and wildlife guiding services throughout British Columbia. Our guides are the some of the brightest and best birders in the province that know where and when to get the birds. Please contact us and let us know your wishes. We are located in the Vancouver area boasting huge numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds in winter and passage, and only a few hours drive from a great variety of habitats holding an excellent assortment of birds. From pelagic waters to montane forest, and rain forest to Okanagan sagebrush specialties, there is a lot to offer.

Sooty Grouse, Harrison Lake                                                                                                                                           Photo: Thomas Plath

Highlights: Trumpeter Swan, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, American White Pelican, Sandhill Crane, Gyrfalcon and Prairie Falcon, White-tailed and Rock Ptarmigan, Sharp-tailed, Sooty, Dusky and Spruce Grouse, Wild Turkey, Wandering Tattler, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Rock and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Thayer’s and Glaucous Gull, Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled and Ancient Murrelet, Western Screech-Owl, Flammulated, Boreal and Great Gray Owl, Red-breasted and Williamson’s Sapsucker, Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Pacific-slope, Hammond’s and Gray Flycatcher, Gray and Steller’s Jay, Cassin’s and Hutton’s Vireo, Chestnut-backed, Mountain and Boreal Chickadee, Bushtit, Varied Thrush, Townsend’s, Black-throated Gray and McGillivray’s Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Golden-crowned, Grasshopper, Brewer’s and Lark Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Bobolink, Red and White-winged Crossbill, Cassin’s and Rosy Finch. Were happy to suggest itineraries to look for target species or to enjoy the best birding for that particular time of year.

Great Gray Owl, Peace River                                                                                                                                             Photo: Thomas Plath

Rates: Daily rates are based on a minimum of 8-12 hours in the field but can go much longer based on the desires of the client. We are happy to go the distance in the field as our guides have a passion for birding. Fuel and food costs are not included.

Day Rates (min 8 hours): 1 person $250 CAN

2 persons $350 CAN

3 persons $425 CAN

4+persons $500 CAN

General: From fall through to spring weather in coastal BC can be cool, wet and windy. Please dress accordingly for field conditions. Meals are not included and up to the client – either stopping at a restaurant or bringing bagged lunches. All of the birding areas are easy walking for the reasonably fit on for the most part on level terrain. The exception to this is in the North Shore mountains.

Sabine’s Gull, Barrow AK                                                                                                                                                           Photo: Thomas Plath

Birding Itineraries: Below are suggested itineraries for the Vancouver Area. Please consult a Birder’s Guide to Vancouver available through Nature Vancouver, for information regarding the places listed below. Day 1 Fraser River Delta: White Rock Pier Blackie Spit Boundary Bay Tsawwassen ferry jetty Reifel Bird Sanctuary Iona Island Day 2 North Shore: Maplewood Flats Lighthouse Park LeGrebe Islets Cypress Mountain Wildlife Tours In addition to birding tours we can offer itineraries to look for wildlife. Douglas and Red Squirrel, Yellow-pine and Townsend’s Chipmunk, Cascade-mantled and Columbian Ground Squirrel, Hoary and Yellow-bellied Marmot, American Pika, Black Bear, River Otter, Mink, Striped Skunk, Northern Raccoon, California and Steller’s Sea Lion, Harbour Seal, Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep, Black-tailed and Mule Deer, Orca, Gray and Humpback Whale are just a few of the mammals that can be seen in season.

August 7th – August 28th, 2018

Itinerary: Click Here

Guides: Thomas Plath, Dylan White

Cost: $7200.00 CAD

Tour Duration: 22 days

Tour Starts/Ends: Windhoek, Nimibia

This is a Must See tour. Five reasons why you should go:

Etosha National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest protected ecosystems in the world. Dubbed the “RollsRoyce” of game reserves, in the dry season it offers Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunity. Thousands of herbivores, predatorsand birds congregate at natural and floodlit man-made springs offering breath-taking views of one of the largest concentrations of large mammals inthe world. Good possibility of the Big Seven.

Mahango Reserve and Okavango River. Crazy birding and cool mammals are the best ways to describe this area. Over 400 species recorded in asmall area offering diverse and rich habitats make this one of the best birding sites in southern Africa. Range-restricted mammals such as Lechwe and Sitatunga, and sought after goodies like Cape Hunting Dog, Buffalo makeMahango a must on everyone’s itinerary. A leisurely sunset river cruise with crocodiles,Hippopotamus, Rufous-bellied Heron, White-backed Night-Heron, Rock Pratincole, African Skimmer and Pel’s Fishing Owl and you’ve got bliss!

Throngs of Greater and Lesser Flamingos, White Pelicans and shorebirds light up Walvis Bay during low tides, all accessible by a beautiful walk along the town’s promenade. Giant dunes at Duisek featuring what else but Namibia’s only true endemic the Dune Lark. Acrobatic Heaveside’s Dolphin tour.

The ancient inselberg of Spitzkoppe and Namibia’s highest mountain Brandberg (with famous bushman petroglyphs) hold striking range-restricted species like White-tailed Shrike, Herrero Chat, and the amazing Rockrunner. Desert and rock formations offer great photographic opportunities.

It’s not just birds! Enjoy local food, Bushman culture, good beer and great accommodation.

We do the work you have the fun!

With almost 45 shorebird species possible in a year, representing roughly 90% of the regular ABA total, Vancouver is one of the premier locations in the North America to view this fascinating group of birds.

Major plumage differences between ages and sexes, between and within a species make shorebirds a difficult group to identify. This in-the-field workshop aims to sort out the identification of the many species we will seek out during this two-day course. Participants can register for both days or one day. Learn how to identify shorebirds, where the hot spots are, when to go and what’s around in the different seasons.

In the Fraser Delta, autumn shorebird diversity peaks between mid August and early September with many rarities showing up. Two days will be spent at the Lower Mainland’s best shore birding spots searching for as many species as possible. By carefully arranging the itinerary to best suit tide heights, up to 30 shorebird species are possible during the two-day workshop. Possible rarities at this time include: American and Pacific Golden Plover, Bar-tailed and Hudsonian Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Ruff, Stilt Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Uncommon fall shorebirds during this migration window include Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Solitary Sandpiper, Red Knot, Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalarope.