2024 March 20 – Victoria Natural History Society

2024 March 20

Happy Nowruz, everyone!

Now that Spring is here, insects are starting to stir, although this syrphid fly photographed yesterday by Aziza Cooper seems to have had a chilly night, for it is covered with dew.

Hover fly (Dip.: Syrphidae) Aziza Cooper

Jochen Möhr was wondering why we seem to have more butterflies here in suburban Victoria than he sees in the wilds of Metchosin. We are glad to hear, therefore, that on March 19 Jochen at last saw his first Mourning Cloak of the year on William Head Road. Unfortunately much too briefly even to attempt to photograph it. Jeremy Tatum writes: Well, I haven’t seen a Mourning Cloak yet this year – so Metchosin can’t be all that bad!

July 2024

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

July 2, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

TUESDAY BIRDING. 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.
For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.

See more details

Viaduct Flats Birding
Viaduct Flats Birding

July 6, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Viaduct Avenue West Parking, Viaduct Ave W, Saanich Core, BC V9E 2J7, Canada

Meet at 8 a.m.

See more details

Evening Birding at Blenkinsop Lake
Evening Birding at Blenkinsop Lake

July 7, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Don Mann Excavating Ltd., 4098 Lochside Dr, Victoria, BC V8X 2C8, Canada

FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1)

This is part of the continuing series of evening walks. Blenkinsop Lake is a great place for evening birding. Commuting cyclists and group running clubs are done for the day and we should have the trail largely to ourselves. Late in the day, diurnal birds are starting to wind down but are still foraging for the day's last meal for themselves and their young. A few songbirds sing until late in the day or even for a while after sunset. Crepuscular birds such as owls and Common Nighthawks will be active.

DIRECTIONS: Parking is available between Don Mann Excavating (4098 Lochside Drive) and the Lochside Trail.

See more details

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

July 9, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

TUESDAY BIRDING. 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.
For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.

See more details

Saturday Birding
Saturday Birding

July 13, 2024 @ 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

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

July 16, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

TUESDAY BIRDING. 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.
For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.

See more details

Birding Thetis Lake
Birding Thetis Lake

July 20, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Thetis Lake, View Royal, BC V9B, Canada

FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2/3: mostly a gently undulating trail except for the optional hike up Seymour Hill)

Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Thetis Lake parking lot

We will walk around Thetis Lake Park on Saturday, July 20. Meet at the top right edge of the main parking area near the south end of Thetis Lake. This will be a mostly leisurely walk around the picturesque lakes. This forested area is productive for nesting songbirds. We can expect to encounter many juvenile forest birds, possibly including chickadees, juncos, robins, sparrows, nuthatches, creepers, warblers, and more. Taking a clockwise route, we will first go around Upper Thetis Lake, where Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons may be seen fishing. We will then return along Lower Thetis Lake, with an optional hike over Seymour Hill (70-metre elevation gain), where raptors and vultures may be seen.

DIRECTIONS: To reach the park, take the Colwood exit off the Trans-Canada Highway and follow the Old Island for a short distance. Turn right at the traffic light at Six Mile Road just before the bridge. Continue on this road when it goes under the highway and you will come to the Thetis Lake Park parking lot.

Parking is $2.25 for the day; information about fee options can be found at https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/crd-regional-parks/park-usage-rules/parking-fees.

See more details

Birding Botanical Beach (Day Trip)
Birding Botanical Beach (Day Trip)

July 22, 2024 @ 6:00 am - 3:00 pm
Botanical Beach, Capital Regional District, BC, Canada

FIELD TRIP (Level 4 - Slippery rocks in the inter-tidal zone)

Meet: 6:00 a.m. at the Helmcken Road park and ride (or 8:00 a.m. at the Botanical Beach parking lot).

Botanical Beach is known for its fabulous intertidal life and fascinating geology, and this trip coincides with a low tide event to maximize both. It is also good for birding with summer specialties we don’t hear in full song in the capital region, such as Varied Thrush and Hermit Thrush. There is also a possibility to see Brown Pelican cruising offshore. This exposed west coast location is rugged and the rocks can be slippery. West coast weather is unpredictable with summer rain and fog. Bring rain gear and good hiking boots. After exploring the beach, we will have lunch at the Port Renfrew Pub. In the afternoon, and weather dependent, we may go birding at a second location (Pacheedaht Beach or Jordan River).

DIRECTIONS: For those traveling from Victoria, we will meet at 6:00 a.m. at the Helmcken Road park-and-ride parking lot located at the Helmcken Interchange with Highway 1. It takes roughly 2 hours to drive to the trailhead. The goal is to be at the Botanical Beach parking lot by 8:00 a.m.

See more details

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

July 23, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

TUESDAY BIRDING. 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.
For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.

See more details

Saturday Birding
Saturday Birding

July 27, 2024 @ 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

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

July 30, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

TUESDAY BIRDING. 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.
For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.

See more details

	July 2024
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding July 2, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria TUESDAY BIRDING. 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. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. See more details •	3	4	5	6 Viaduct Flats Birding Viaduct Flats Birding July 6, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Viaduct Avenue West Parking, Viaduct Ave W, Saanich Core, BC V9E 2J7, Canada Meet at 8 a.m. See more details •
7 Evening Birding at Blenkinsop Lake Evening Birding at Blenkinsop Lake July 7, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Don Mann Excavating Ltd., 4098 Lochside Dr, Victoria, BC V8X 2C8, Canada FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1) This is part of the continuing series of evening walks. Blenkinsop Lake is a great place for evening birding. Commuting cyclists and group running clubs are done for the day and we should have the trail largely to ourselves. Late in the day, diurnal birds are starting to wind down but are still foraging for the day's last meal for themselves and their young. A few songbirds sing until late in the day or even for a while after sunset. Crepuscular birds such as owls and Common Nighthawks will be active. DIRECTIONS: Parking is available between Don Mann Excavating (4098 Lochside Drive) and the Lochside Trail. See more details •	8	9 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding July 9, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria TUESDAY BIRDING. 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. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. See more details •	10	11	12	13 Saturday Birding Saturday Birding July 13, 2024 @ 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 •
14	15	16 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding July 16, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria TUESDAY BIRDING. 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. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. See more details •	17	18	19	20 Birding Thetis Lake Birding Thetis Lake July 20, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Thetis Lake, View Royal, BC V9B, Canada FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2/3: mostly a gently undulating trail except for the optional hike up Seymour Hill) Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Thetis Lake parking lot We will walk around Thetis Lake Park on Saturday, July 20. Meet at the top right edge of the main parking area near the south end of Thetis Lake. This will be a mostly leisurely walk around the picturesque lakes. This forested area is productive for nesting songbirds. We can expect to encounter many juvenile forest birds, possibly including chickadees, juncos, robins, sparrows, nuthatches, creepers, warblers, and more. Taking a clockwise route, we will first go around Upper Thetis Lake, where Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons may be seen fishing. We will then return along Lower Thetis Lake, with an optional hike over Seymour Hill (70-metre elevation gain), where raptors and vultures may be seen. DIRECTIONS: To reach the park, take the Colwood exit off the Trans-Canada Highway and follow the Old Island for a short distance. Turn right at the traffic light at Six Mile Road just before the bridge. Continue on this road when it goes under the highway and you will come to the Thetis Lake Park parking lot. Parking is $2.25 for the day; information about fee options can be found at https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/crd-regional-parks/park-usage-rules/parking-fees. See more details •
21	22 Birding Botanical Beach (Day Trip) Birding Botanical Beach (Day Trip) July 22, 2024 @ 6:00 am - 3:00 pm Botanical Beach, Capital Regional District, BC, Canada FIELD TRIP (Level 4 - Slippery rocks in the inter-tidal zone) Meet: 6:00 a.m. at the Helmcken Road park and ride (or 8:00 a.m. at the Botanical Beach parking lot). Botanical Beach is known for its fabulous intertidal life and fascinating geology, and this trip coincides with a low tide event to maximize both. It is also good for birding with summer specialties we don’t hear in full song in the capital region, such as Varied Thrush and Hermit Thrush. There is also a possibility to see Brown Pelican cruising offshore. This exposed west coast location is rugged and the rocks can be slippery. West coast weather is unpredictable with summer rain and fog. Bring rain gear and good hiking boots. After exploring the beach, we will have lunch at the Port Renfrew Pub. In the afternoon, and weather dependent, we may go birding at a second location (Pacheedaht Beach or Jordan River). DIRECTIONS: For those traveling from Victoria, we will meet at 6:00 a.m. at the Helmcken Road park-and-ride parking lot located at the Helmcken Interchange with Highway 1. It takes roughly 2 hours to drive to the trailhead. The goal is to be at the Botanical Beach parking lot by 8:00 a.m. See more details •	23 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding July 23, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria TUESDAY BIRDING. 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. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. See more details •	24	25	26	27 Saturday Birding Saturday Birding July 27, 2024 @ 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 •
28	29	30 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding July 30, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria TUESDAY BIRDING. 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. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. See more details •	31