Esquimalt Lagoon
British Columbia · Canada
Moderate
May-October
Free
Open daily
About This Location
Esquimalt Lagoon is a productive birding destination in British Columbia, with 244 species recorded on eBird. This wetland habitat attracts Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, and Mallard among many others. Boreal and temperate forests host breeding warblers, sparrows, and waterfowl during the productive summer months.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Golden-crowned x White-throated Sparrow (hybrid)
Zonotrichia atricapilla x albicollis
Mallard x Northern Pintail (hybrid)
Anas platyrhynchos x acuta
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Spotted Towhee (maculatus Group)
Pipilo maculatus
Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Black Oystercatcher
Glaucous-winged Gull
Turkey Vulture
European Starling
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Brewer's Blackbird
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Birding Tips
- 1
Bring waterproof boots for marsh trails and muddy edges.
- 2
Scan the edges of open water for herons, egrets, and rails at dawn.
- 3
Peak breeding season runs from late May through June for most songbirds.
- 4
Check tide tables before visiting — low tide exposes mudflats that attract the most shorebirds.
- 5
Onshore winds can push pelagic species closer to shore, making post-storm days excellent for rarities.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse
- Royal Roads University
- Hatley Castle
More in British Columbia
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Fraser River Delta sanctuary near Vancouver with 300+ species and massive winter Snow Goose flocks.
Beatton Provincial Park
Boreal/Taiga birding hotspot in British Columbia with 212 recorded species.
Becher's Prairie & Lakes North of Hwy 20
Grassland birding hotspot in British Columbia with 207 recorded species.