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Rare Bird Alert

Birders are also encouraged to post their common and uncommon sightings to eBird.

Recent rare birds in the Capital Regional District reported on eBird

Recent rare birds in the Cowichan Valley Regional District reported on eBird

Here is a short video on how to use eBird to look for alerts.

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Tweets by @VictoriaNHS

Upcoming

August 2025

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  • Island View Beach Birding

    Island View Beach Birding

    August 2, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am
    Victoria Region

    FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1.5)

    Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the north end of the parking lot. At this time of year, we may find some interesting shorebirds on their southbound migration, and we will still see a few beach flowers in the dunes as we walk along. We’ll walk back on the inland trail to check for interesting land birds. DIRECTIONS: To reach Island View Beach, go north on the Pat Bay Highway, turn right at the lights at Island View Road (Michell’s Market) and follow that to a left on Homathko Road, which leads to the parking lot.

    See more details

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  • Monthly Butterfly Walk

    Monthly Butterfly Walk

    August 3, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

    Field trip (Level 2)

    Join us on our monthly Butterfly Walk. Each outing is intended to help us learn more about local butterflies. This field trip is weather-dependent as it needs to be sunny and warm to make it worthwhile. We start at the top of Mount Tolmie (off Cedar Hill X Road). Meet at 1 p.m. in the lot by the reservoir where we will have an initial look for butterflies and then decide where to go from there. Car-pooling is encouraged. We try to return by 4 p.m. Cancellations or special instructions will be posted on the calendar (https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?page_id=1518 ) closer to the date. Contact Gordon Hart at 250-721-1264 or butterflies@vicnhs.bc.ca  for more information.

    See more details

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  • Tuesday Birding

    Tuesday Birding

    August 5, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
    Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

    We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

    Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!
     
    For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

    See more details

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  • Fall Migration Birding at the RPBO Pedder Bay Banding Station

    Fall Migration Birding at the RPBO Pedder Bay Banding Station

    August 9, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am
    Pedder Bay RV Resort & Marina, 925 Pedder Bay Drive, Victoria, BC V9C 4G9, Canada

    FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 3, OR 1.5 IF YOU SKIP THE HILL LOOP)

    Meet: 7:30 a.m. at Pedder Bay (check online calendar for parking instructions). 
     
    Join us at the Rocky Point Bird Observatory banding location at Pedder Bay. We will start the morning birding the Pedder Bay census route and contribute our sightings to Pedder Bay’s day list. The location should be busy with passerine migrants, so there should be many birds around. Mid-morning, we will visit the banding station to see the fall bird monitoring program in operation, maybe watch a bird being banded, and meet the RPBO banders and crew there that day. 
     
    DIRECTIONS: Drive time from Victoria is approximately 30 minutes. The most enjoyable drive to Pedder Bay is following Metchosin Road, turn right on Happy Valley Road, then left on Rocky Point Road. Follow Rocky Point Road until Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina. Turn left on Pedder Bay Drive. PARKING: Please check the online calendar for parking location updates. (Usually, the grass parking lot is available, but Pedder Bay RV may need to put us elsewhere to accommodate boat trailer customers.)

    See more details

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  • Tuesday Birding

    Tuesday Birding

    August 12, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
    Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

    We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

    Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!
     
    For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

    See more details

•
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  • Saturday Birding

    Saturday Birding

    August 16, 2025 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
    Victoria Region

    Meets every Saturday morning, usually at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. We ask that participants have both vaccines completed, to come on this walk. Check here on the Thursday/Friday before to find out the week’s time and location. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. Non-members can participate up to three times, after which they are expected to join the Society.

    See more details

•
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  • Tuesday Birding

    Tuesday Birding

    August 19, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
    Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

    We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

    Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!
     
    For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

    See more details

•
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  • Sidney Spit Birding

    Sidney Spit Birding

    August 22, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Sidney Spit Ferry, 9835 Seaport Pl, Sidney, BC V8L 4X3, Canada

    FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1.5)

    Please purchase ferry tickets as soon as possible, before they sell out.
     
    Meet: 9:00 a.m. -- Each year, around this time, we take the ferry to Sidney Spit to look for interesting shorebirds on their southbound migration. Possibilities include Baird’s Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and maybe the elusive Buff-breasted Sandpiper. We will also check out the Purple Martins at their nest boxes on the dock and enjoy other passerines migrating through.
     
    The group will take the 9:30 a.m. ferry from Port Sidney Marina. We will have lunch on the island. Bring food and water as there is no drinking water within the park. N.B., Purchase your ticket online at SidneySpitFerry.com to reserve your spot (remember to book your return time as well). The cost is $25 for adults ($21 for seniors and children). The return ferry leaves the island at 1:00, 3:00, and 4:00 p.m., so you can choose how long you wish to stay. 
     
    DIRECTIONS: Port Sidney Marina is at the end of Seaport Place in Sidney. Parking can be found a short distance away in the residential areas.

    See more details

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  • Saturday Birding

    Saturday Birding

    August 23, 2025 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
    Victoria Region

    Meets every Saturday morning, usually at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. We ask that participants have both vaccines completed, to come on this walk. Check here on the Thursday/Friday before to find out the week’s time and location. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. Non-members can participate up to three times, after which they are expected to join the Society.

    See more details

•
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  • Tuesday Birding

    Tuesday Birding

    August 26, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
    Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

    We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

    Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!
     
    For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

    See more details

•
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  • Saturday Birding

    Saturday Birding

    August 30, 2025 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
    Victoria Region

    Meets every Saturday morning, usually at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. We ask that participants have both vaccines completed, to come on this walk. Check here on the Thursday/Friday before to find out the week’s time and location. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. Non-members can participate up to three times, after which they are expected to join the Society.

    See more details

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RARE BIRD ALERT
INVERTEBRATE ALERT
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CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (External)

About

The Victoria Natural History Society offers many field trips and presentations for its members. The VNHS formed in 1944 and is a volunteer-run organization.

Contact Us

Victoria Natural History Society
P.O.Box 24061, Royal Oak
Victoria, BC, V8Z 7E7
members@vicnhs.bc.ca

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