British Columbia Birding with Canadian Geographic
June 19 – 25, 2026
From boreal forest to Pacific ocean, true desert to teeming rainforest, and from grasslands to alpine tundra, British Columbia has the most diverse set of habitats in North America and perhaps even the world. This ultimate tour of Canada’s westernmost province could in fact be the ultimate temperate birding and wildlife adventure!
We begin in B.C.’s northeast Peace River district where grasslands and boreal forest meet. Birds of both ecosystems abound, many of whose ranges extend just into the province here in this region. Examples are Canada warbler, Nelson’s sparrow, yellow rail and upland sandpiper.
From here we’ll fly to Vancouver, on the mighty Fraser River delta. This city’s position makes it a huge draw for birders from around the world who seek migrants, breeding birds and vagrants. Highlights here include exciting shorebird viewing in Boundary Bay, montane birds of the North Shore Mountains and seabirds and rainforest specialties of Stanley Park.
Vancouver Island awaits us after a two hour ferry ride. We’ll spend three days exploring birding hotspots near Victoria such as Swan Lake and Martindale Flats, and take a whale-watching tour to view orcas up close. We’ll visit the wild west coast near Tofino for a pelagic tour that opens up a world of possibilities for seabirds, and comb the beaches in hopes of whimbrels, eagles and perhaps even a wolf.
From here we’ll traverse inland to the famed Okanagan region, known not only for its vineyards but also for avian diversity. Areas such as Kilpoola Lake host common poorwills and perhaps even sage thrashers, while Vaseux Lake is a site where we could have our highest daily species totals for the trip.
Overall this unique British Columbia birding tour offers the chance to see an incredible array of birds — over 200 species — in addition to some of the world’s best wildlife viewing. British Columbia is a magnificent province that has much to offer the naturalist explorer, from wild Pacific coastline to alpine tundra, and from arid desert to lush rainforest and more.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver and meet for a discussion of the tour.
Day 2: Visit birding locations in Vancouver, including the Fraser River delta and Stanley Park.
Day 3: Explore Boundary Bay and on to Manning Park.
Days 4 – 6: Visits to prime birding locations in Manning Park and then on to the Okanagan Valley.
Day 7: Departure from Kelowna.
Meet your RCGS Travel Ambassador
Fred Cattroll
Fred Cattroll has over 35 years of experience in the art of creating images and a long list of honoured appointments. These include recruitment as the official photographer for the Assembly of First Nations’ historic meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, designated photographer for the Dalai Lama delegation’s visit to Ottawa and the Dalai Lama’s Ethics for a Whole World event in Ottawa and The Canadian Museum of Civilization has requested Fred’s lifetime work for use as a national collection.
Fred’s photography is well known for its intimate human touch. Seductive in simplicity, his pictures are subtle interplays of light and image, carrying forward messages of intelligence, honesty, and elegance. In many ways, Fred’s unique photographic style is an extension of himself. Physically distinctive, at six-feet and seven-inches tall, he has a warm interpersonal manner that quickly puts people at ease. While attending Carleton University School of Journalism, Fred discovered a passion for photography. This led him to Toronto’s Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Still Photography. His work has been published in the Ottawa Citizen, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Times of London, and the Toronto Star. His work is also in the collection of the National Gallery, Canadian Museum of Photography, the National Arts Centre, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.