For many local birders, Boundary Bay Regional Park is the crown jewel of Metro Vancouver birdwatching.

Located along the Fraser River estuary, Boundary Bay protects one of Canada’s most important coastal ecosystems and serves as a critical stopover for thousands of migratory birds each year and an extraordinary variety of species.

Some of my favorite points within the Boundary Bay area are the dyke between 64th avenue to 72nd,  North 40 Park Reserve and Centennial Beach. 

Birds You Can See

Depending on the season, visitors may encounter:

• Bald Eagles
• Short-eared and Long-eared Owls
• Great Horned Owls
• Snowy Owls (occasional) 
• Northern Harriers
• Merlin
• Coopers Hawks
• American Kestrel 
• Great Blue Herons
• American Avocets (occasionally)
• Dunlin
• Black-bellied Plovers
• Western Sandpipers
• Long-billed Curlews
• Snow Geese
• Trumpeter Swans
• Belted Kingfishers
• Peregrine Falcons

Winter brings spectacular gatherings of raptors and waterfowl, while spring migration fills the mudflats with thousands of shorebirds.

Best Time to Visit

Boundary Bay is productive throughout the year, but each season offers something different:

• Spring: Shorebird migration reaches its peak.
• Summer: Herons, swallows, and breeding waterfowl dominate.
• Autumn: Raptors become increasingly active.
• Winter: Owls, Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, and Snow Geese steal the show.

For many bird watching enthusiast the winter and early spring season (Nov to March/April) is peak season.  During this time Boundary Bay becomes a hotspot for owls. It is fairly common to see Short Eared owls flying around the fields in the early to late afternoon.  A great spot to look for them is in the field across the parking lot at the end of 72nd Avenue Delta.  

Another highly sought-after bird species people look for at Boundary Bay is the long-eared owl. A good spot to look for them is in the bramble along 104th avenue to 64th along the dyke. They are usually deep within the bramble so make sure to walk slowly and look carefully. If you are lucky you may see one flying around the fields just after sunset.  Always remember to keep a respectable distance when photographing wildlife. 

Less than a 5 minute drive from the 72nd avenue parking is North 40 park reserve. This park is a hot spot for barn owls along with great horned owls. The barn owls are highly sensitive species so if you do come across one roosting in the tree make sure to give it space and remain quiet.  The barn owls tend to roost in the chestnut trees in the back of the park during the summer/fall when there is adequate foliage. In the winter they tend to roost in evergreen trees. It is important to respect the environment when looking for wildlife. Never break branches or heavily disturb areas to get “better views” for photos! 

Aside from owls this park is an excellent spot to find Bald Eagles.  One of the reasons there is such a high concentrations of Bald Eagles in the area is due to the proximity of the organic and general landfills. It is common to see hundreds of bald eagles in and around the park during winter time.  Make sure to check out the artifical turf field across the park on 72nd Ave. This is a great place to watch Eagles hunt for waterfowl. There is also a Eagles nest across the road from the park that has been occupied for many years.