A year of birds

2025 was my first full year of birdwatching, and the year I began to appreciate all the birds, big and small, that live on Canada's west coast. I started photographing birds more seriously (which was much harder than I had initially thought, what with their twitching and flitting), and exploring different bird sanctuaries in every city I visited. This post highlights some memorable moments from the year, which are largely the moments that my camera was actually in focus.

Great blue heron in Victoria, BC

Visiting Calgary this year largely involved taking my parents and friends on walks through the nearby creeks, rivers, and mountains, searching for birds that brave the snow and cold. Of course, it wasn't always birds that we stumbled upon.

Boundary Bay, Vancouver

In Victoria, there were many days spent at Esquimalt lagoon, a migratory bird sanctuary where you can always find great blue herons and a variety of ducks throughout the seasons.

Black oystercatcher at Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island

Moving to Quadra Island was a big change, but taking the time to hike and birdwatch made the transition a lot easier. I quickly found my favourite spots to watch the eagles soar overhead and to see the Caspian terns diving headfirst into the ocean.

Spotted towhee in Buttertub Marsh, Nanaimo

The top highlight for the year came at the end of the summer, when I joined Eagle Wing tours and Rocky Point Bird Observatory on a boat tour of an offshore tufted puffin colony.