The Victoria Waterfront Birding Route
Instructions

In this section you will find a rough map and instructions for birding spots along the Victoria Waterfront.  The birding information itself is found at www.birdinfo.com/BirdFinding/birdroute001.html

We strongly suggest you obtain a regional road map for easier navigation.

Stop 1  Ogden Point

Stop 2  Harrison Yacht Pond (0.9 km from Ogden Point)

Stop 3  Beacon Hill Park Ponds.  Turn left at Mile "0", turn right after two blocks (across from the Beacon Drive-in), drive to the little zoo and park

Stop 4  Clover Point.  From Stop 3 the road loops to the right, back to Dallas Road.  Turn left and continue along Dallas until you see the short loop road around the point.  If you skipped Beacon Hill Park, you will simply continue on Dallas Road from Stop 2.

Stop 5  McNeill Bay.  Just follow the waterfront drive.  It changes name frequently and makes several interesting curves.  There is a great viewpoint along King George Terrace overlooking Trial Island and Juan de Fuca Strait.  After the viewpoint the road descends back to sea level, and you join Beach Drive.  You are now at McNeill Bay.  Check the rocks at both the west and east ends of the bay.  There is a good pullout at the east end.

Stop 6  Victoria Golf Course.  A few blocks further along the scenic drive.

Stop 7  Turkey Head and Queens Park.  Past the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, you again are at the seaside.  Pull into the Oak Bay Marina parking lot to scan the ocean and adjacent islets.  Leaving the marina, turn right for about a block.  The tiny treed park on the the right is Queens Park.

Stop 8  Bowker Creek.  Continue along Beach Drive for several blocks, then turn right on Bowker Avenue.  Park at the end and walk along the beach straight ahead and to your right.

Stop 9  Cattle Point.  Head back to Beach Drive, turn right and continue through the Uplands Gates.  The next public road (one very long block) is the Cattle Point loop.  Park near the first boat launch and scan the ocean, walk the grassy point to the northeast, and scout out the adjacent scrubby forest.

Stop 10.  Mt. Tolmie/University of Victoria.  Continue along the Cattle Point loop and turn right on Beach Drive.  A little further on turn left on Rutland Road, which swings left onto Lansdowne.  Continue along Lansdowne, then turn right on Richmond Avenue (third traffic light).  After winding your way several blocks turn right at Mayfair Drive.  This road climbs up to the summit of Mt. Tolmie.  Park anywhere near the top and wander the trails on both sides of the road.  If you continue downslope to the north, you'll will eventually run into Cedar Hill X Road.  Across this road and to your right you will see the overgrown fields, forest and gardens of the University of Victoria.  Birding can be quite good in this spot.

Stop 11.  Ten Mile Point.  The best birding is usually out near the end of the point, best accessed at the foot of Baynes Road or White Rock Street.  From the peak of Mt. Tolmie, continue downslope toward the University of Victoria.  Turn right at the stop sign on Cedar Hill X Road and drive along until you reach Cadboro Bay Road.  Turn left, travel through the little commercial centre and keep following the main road for just somewhat less than a kilometre.  Just after the road swing sharply to the left, you will need to turn right onto Arbutus (a very tight corner).  Take the next left, which is the long straight stretch of Tudor.  Just as you approach the ocean the road makes a 90 degree left hand curve, turn then goes over a small hill.  Turn right on Baynes Road, and travel to the end and park.

The route ends here.  To return to downtown Victoria, retrace your tracks to Cadboro Bay Road, turn left and follow it into town.  Note that it becomes Fort Street when it crosses Foul Bay Road.