BRITISH COLUMBIA

“Does it get any better than this? Watching three species of whale, two species of bear, plus Sea Otters and lots of other fabulous mammals and birds, in some of the most beautiful scenery – this is a joy of a trip that is, in my opinion, on a par with Yellowstone for excitement.” Roy Atkins

Dates Thu 8 - Thu 22 Sept 2022 On Canada’s rugged west coast, awaits Price £6,125 – brimming with bears, birds, whales and more, as they Deposit £1,225 Single Supp £1,150 seize the autumn bounty before the winter closes in.

Leaders Roy Atkins and Simon Eaves Boat trips in search of Orcas, Humpbacks and Gray Whales Flights Air Canada, scheduled Grizzly Bears hunting salmon on spawning grounds Outbound: Morning, Heathrow-Vancouver Dall’s Porpoise, Steller’s Sea Lions plus, with luck, Pacific White-sided Dolphin Inbound: Overnight, Vancouver-Heathrow Black Bear, Beaver, Sea Otter and chance of Raccoon Weather It varies across the island, with wetter West Coast special birds including shorebirds, seabirds, divers and scoters conditions in the west around and Zeballos, drier on the east coast. Beautiful Pacific Rim Rainforest and famous Long Beach Expect some rain (we sometimes have Stunning scenery of lakes, fjords and forests, amidst towering mountains rain for a whole day or more) and fog is possible in the west, but generally warm and sunny with mild conditions Arriving in Vancouver we transfer shore here and, with luck, even River Otter and (14°-22°C) 1-2 to our hotel in Delta. The following Raccoons. We can relax, or wander in search of Walking There’ll be some short easy walks day we enjoy a full day at George C. Reifel Bird White-crowned and Fox Sparrows, warblers and on wide tracks in the forest, in some Sanctuary, where Sandhill Crane, Wood Duck, woodpeckers in the surrounding woodland. places with lots of steps. Nothing steep dowitchers and yellowlegs, Red-winged Blackbird, or strenuous, but a reasonable degree Northern Harrier and Lincoln’s Sparrow are all We shall be picked up from the jetty for a boat of fitness is required possible. It is a fabulous and very productive place ride into rich waters covered in gulls, Common and Meals All included from dinner on Day 1 alive with fabulous birds. We may take a walk along Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets and dainty to lunch on Day 14 Boundary Bay, looking for more shorebirds in an Red-necked Phalaropes. Watched by tree top Bald area that can be great for birding - this may prove Eagles, this is our best chance for Orcas and we hope Insects Biting insects are generally not a to encounter resident groups at close quarters! Dall’s problem on Vancouver Island, but to be the most bird-rich day of the trip! repellent is a good idea just in case Porpoise and Steller’s Sea Lions are here too and, After checking the bays enroute to the with luck, Pacific White-sided Dolphins. Even if we Boat trips Boats vary from larger boats with 3-5 ferry, we board the ferry and don’t see Orcas, we’ll be thrilled by great sightings of indoor seating areas that can hold check the jetties for Black Turnstone and perhaps Humpback Whales! Another day will be spent locally over 50 people, to smaller uncovered boats with no facilities. Sometimes the Surfbird. We then have a long drive north to our in search of more wildlife and visiting Telegraph Cove groups may be split between two boats ocean front lodge overlooking . - a picturesque village on the seafront nearby, with some each with a guide. All boats are excellent The grounds are a haven for wildlife and we nice shops and a wildlife museum, with the chance of have watched Black Bears turning rocks on the Black-tailed Deer or perhaps even Elk enroute. Accom Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite Group 10

Just some of what we hope to see: Grizzly Bear Humpback Whale Dall’s Porpoise Heermann’s Gull Black Bear Orca Black Oystercatcher Rhinoceros Auklet Sea Otter Gray Whale Black Turnstone Marbled Murrelet [email protected] | 01479 812498 www.speysidewildlife.co.uk “Looking back at the wonderful sightings I have had on this trip - from Orcas right under the boat to breaching Humpback and Grey Whales, hundreds of Pacific White-sided Dolphins, some exceptional birding, thousands of Sooty Shearwaters and Red-necked Phalaropes and of course those exceptional close up Grizzly and Black Bears - I can’t wait to be back!” Roy Atkins

We move on to Zeballos on a scenic river to watch Chinook Salmon migrate upstream 6-7 west coast inlet, an old Gold-rush village and leap the falls! From our hotel in Tofino we’ll where Cedar Waxwing, Steller’s Jays and migrant visit Pacific Rim National Park - lush temperate warblers such as Wilson’s and Yellow-rumped are rainforest, with cushions of moss on branches of possible and we hope to find Beavers on a nearby towering Hemlocks, vast beaches and the ocean pond. Sea Otters have a good population here stretching off as far as the eye can see. and we’ll explore the beautiful inlets and rocky shorelines by boat to enjoy great views, as they The forest can be quiet, with Pacific Wren, Steller’s lie on their backs perhaps smashing shellfish on a Jay and Chestnut-backed Chickadees often the stone on their belly! Black Bears are also possible only birds, but it is beautiful and well worth the visit! along the shoreline, turning over boulders as they Beaches may hold flocks of Western Sandpipers, search for crabs. while offshore are Red-necked Grebes, Surf Scoter, Pacific Loons and Marbled Murrelet. After breakfast we head for 8-10 Campbell River, a great area for We’ll go whale-watching too, heading into birding, with shorebirds, Harlequin Duck, Bonaparte’s Clayoquot Sound for Gray Whales, or Humpbacks Outline Itinerary Gull, grebes and divers, plus Red-breasted Sapsucker if the last Gray Whales have left. Amidst the Days 1-2 Fly to Vancouver. Full day birding local in the trees. We’ll also visit the sub-alpine forest maze of rocky islets, there’ll be Harbour Seals area and George C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary of Mount Washington in search of tame Gray Jay, and huge Steller’s Sea Lions, plus Brandt’s and 2 nights Tsawwassen Inn Pelagic Cormorants, Heermann’s Gull, Rhinoceros Ruby-crowned Kinglet, woodpeckers and more. Days 3-5 Ferry to Vancouver Island, then drive Auklet and Pigeon Guillemots and we’ll check towards Port McNeill and our hotel There is lots to see, but we’ll tear ourselves away rocky islands for Wandering Tattler and Black overlooking Johnstone Strait. because there’s the lure of Grizzly Bears! We’ll have Oystercatcher. Boat trip to look for Orcas a full-day, heading across by boat to a picturesque 3 nights Hidden Cove Lodge We head back to Vancouver, inlet, where guides will take us to purpose-built Days 6-7 Drive to Zeballos on west coast where we overnight in Delta viewing platforms. We hope for great close-up 13-15 to explore the coastal forest and views as the bears walk the banks, or down the again. On the following day we visit a different part inlets from our Sea Otter boat trip middle of the river, scanning the water for any hint of Boundary Bay, before dragging ourselves away 2 nights Cedars Inn of a fish to chase - then it’s a mad dash, with the for our flight home in the afternoon, arriving in London on Day 15. Days 8-10 Drive to Campbell River, then birding occasional bear even being successful! local area and a full-day boat trip to Grizzly Bear fishing grounds It is a long and spectacular drive 3 nights Painter’s Lodge 11-12 to Tofino on the west coast and we’ll break the journey to enjoy the astonishing Days 11-12 Transfer to Tofino on the west coast, with boat trip for Humpback/Gray trees of Cathedral Grove and visit a beautiful Whales and walk in Pacific Rim Rainforest 2 nights Tofino Resort Day 13 Return to Vancouver 1 night Tsawwassen Inn Days 14-15 Birding Boundary Bay before flight back to London in afternoon, arriving in London on Day 15

Roy Atkins: Grizzly Bear, Heerman’s Gull Christine Maughan: Humpback Whale, Sea Otters Julian Sykes: Orcas Stephen Batt: Rhinoceros Auklet www.speysidewildlife.co.uk 01479 812498 | [email protected]