March 27 – Victoria Natural History Society

2017 March 27

Jeremy Tatum writes: Bryan Gates sends us some identification challenges of nematoceran flies from his window. I am certainly no expert on nematoceran flies, but I think all three of Bryan’s are different from Ken Vaughan’s winter gnat (Trichoceridae) posted on March 20. The first two of Bryan’s are male and female of doubtless the same species of non-biting midge. We can’t see the wing venation on the third so I’m slightly less sure of it, but I believe it is a small crane fly (not, obviously, the familiar Tipula paludosa). We’d need an expert to go below Family level. None of them bites humans.

Male midge (Dip.: Chironomidae) Bryan Gates

Female midge (Dip.: Chironomidae) Bryan Gates

Crane fly (Dip.: Tipulidae) Bryan Gates

July 2024

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Tue

Wed

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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 8:00 a.m. Not many waterbirds are still around, but there will be lots of migrant passerines as well as the resident birds.

DIRECTIONS: Parking is adjacent to the observation stand on Interurban Road, a short distance north of the Interurban Campus of Camosun College.

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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

Birding Beacon Hill Park
Birding Beacon Hill Park

July 13, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Beacon Hill Children's Farm, 815 Circle Dr, Victoria, BC V8V 2P2, Canada

FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2): mostly flat with a walk up to the summit

Meet: 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot by the petting zoo.
Few waterfowl are in the park at this time of year, but adult songbirds and herons are looking after fledglings. We'll focus on the forested areas and Garry oak meadows for the songbirds and the heron colony around Goodacre Lake.

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.

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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 inter-tidal 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 in Port Renfew. 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

Birding Beaver and Elk Lakes
Birding Beaver and Elk Lakes

July 27, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Beaver Lake Main Parking Lot, Canada, 728 Beaver Lake Rd, Victoria, BC V8Y 2T6, Canada

Meet at 8:00 a.m.--The walk will start at the big parking lot at Beaver Lake and follow the lakeshore toward the Rowing Club at the south end of Elk Lake, then loop back along another trail. DIRECTIONS: Turn into Beaver Lake Road from Elk Lake Drive (which parallels the Pat Bay Highway). There is a large Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park sign at the Beaver lake Road intersection. Meet at the big parking lot at Beaver Lake.

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 8:00 a.m. Not many waterbirds are still around, but there will be lots of migrant passerines as well as the resident birds. DIRECTIONS: Parking is adjacent to the observation stand on Interurban Road, a short distance north of the Interurban Campus of Camosun College. 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 Birding Beacon Hill Park Birding Beacon Hill Park July 13, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Beacon Hill Children's Farm, 815 Circle Dr, Victoria, BC V8V 2P2, Canada FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2): mostly flat with a walk up to the summit Meet: 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot by the petting zoo. Few waterfowl are in the park at this time of year, but adult songbirds and herons are looking after fledglings. We'll focus on the forested areas and Garry oak meadows for the songbirds and the heron colony around Goodacre Lake. 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 inter-tidal 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 in Port Renfew. 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 Birding Beaver and Elk Lakes Birding Beaver and Elk Lakes July 27, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Beaver Lake Main Parking Lot, Canada, 728 Beaver Lake Rd, Victoria, BC V8Y 2T6, Canada Meet at 8:00 a.m.--The walk will start at the big parking lot at Beaver Lake and follow the lakeshore toward the Rowing Club at the south end of Elk Lake, then loop back along another trail. DIRECTIONS: Turn into Beaver Lake Road from Elk Lake Drive (which parallels the Pat Bay Highway). There is a large Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park sign at the Beaver lake Road intersection. Meet at the big parking lot at Beaver Lake. 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