The Sunshine Coast and the Salish Sea region in general have a great diversity of species during the winter, as birds migrate here to take advantage of the mild climate. Many of these species are waterbirds, so we are talking about swans, geese, ducks, shorebirds, auks, gulls, grebes, loons, etc.
Waterbirds are generally more easily seen and identified than terrestrial species, which are usually smaller, often cryptic, fast-moving, and hidden in foliage. Many waterbirds are easily identified to species, or at least family, by obviously unique plumages (this argument excludes the gull family which is one of the most difficult).
The entire length of the Sunshine Coast from Howe Sound to Egmont and back down Sechelt Inlet to Porpoise Bay has waterbirds to be seen. The exact mix of species depends on the local geography, which includes sheltered/exposed to the wind, water depth, is there an estuary, offshore islands, open water or a bay, and many other factors. However, some locations clearly yield more birds (numerically) and species than others. The two most productive locations are Mission Point and the Roberts Creek jetty. Other excellent locations are Chaster beach in Gibsons, Wakefield Road in West Sechelt and Porpoise Bay in Sechelt. Some of these locations depend on wind and state of the tide to deliver lots of birds.
Mission Point and Roberts Creek jetty can both yield 40 odd species in an hour or two. These totals include some minimal adjacent land birding. For best results, a telescope is recommended, in addition to binoculars, as waterbirds may be far out in the strait.
Mission Point is the gravel spit created by the outflow from Chapman Creek and is a favourite loafing spot for sometimes thousands of birds. Huge flocks of gulls of numerous species congregate here and it is quite a spectacle when an eagle flies over and spooks the birds, and they all take to the air in an instant. Mission Point is famous among B.C. birders for the opportunity to observe the four local species of rocky coastlines: black oystercatcher, black turnstone, surfbird and rock sandpiper, with the last species the most desired. Ducks, auks, grebes, loons and cormorants of various species can almost always be observed here. Over the years some of the Sunshine Coast’s rarest birds have appeared here.
Roberts Creek jetty has slightly different attributes than Mission Point and is better for some species, less so for others. The area of ocean looking west to the White Islets sometimes has huge flocks of western grebe and Pacific loons. The jetty’s most obvious claim to fame is the 21,000+ ancient murrelets observed in about an hour on a Christmas Bird Count. This record is an all-time and all-locations record high number for the species.
To report your sightings or questions contact [email protected]. Good birding.
