Victoria, British Columbia October 16, 2025

With an overcast forecast and the probability of showers, I thought this would be the best day to drop by Beacon Hill Park and see what the birds would be up to. I was feeling for a slow-go day and birding is the best way to make that happen. I did notice reports there are lots of small birds to be seen so that is what I went in search of.  I ventured in away from the main entrance to sweet sights of autumn shades.

The Mallard Ducks took over the log where last April I saw a line up of turtles.

lots of beautiful colours

Throughout the area I walked, little birds of all kinds went about their business.

I heard lots but they were difficult to spot and once I did spot them, they flew off. 

They tested my patience!  

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

someone placed seeds on the log

Anna’s Hummingbird 

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

 Brown Creeper

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Indian Peafowl

I ended up on trails I never knew existed and they were a joy to stroll along.

They led me to an exit where the totem pole stood. 

It looked like something was on the top of the pole so I zoomed in.

It was a juvenile Bald Eagle.

Adult Bald Eagle

Eventually I ended up at Mile 0 at Dallas Road.

From Mile 0, I made it back to Mile whatever where Munroe’s Bookstore is at in city Center.

Cloud cover did end up happening later in the day but the showers never did transpire.

Victoria, British Columbia October 15, 2025

Today’s colours and clouds were wonderfully dreamy and gave a “little piece of paradise” feel!  While mostly sitting yesterday for four hours of whale watching, today I was ready to hit the walkways and cover lots of kilometres.  The sky was gorgeous from the second I walked out of my Inn to the second I returned after the long walk. The Inner Harbour always calls out to me and the call was extra loud this time.

The plan was to walk the walkway to Fisherman’s Wharf then on towards Dallas Road.  I walked this way to get to where I needed to be for whale watching yesterday but did not take time to savour the scenery. Today was all about savouring!

While eyeing the reds in the trees, around the corner floated a red plane!

It had just landed and was floating to the Inner Harbour Airport.

view as I passed by Fisherman’s Wharf

 view from The Breakwater

another view from The Breakwater as I walked back

Bushtit

there were a couple dozen of these 

Golden-crowned Sparrow 

Cooper’s Hawk

it landed right in front of me 

would not turn around

I watched the sky go from this…..

…..to this!

Anna’s Hummingbird 

After walking tbrough this canopy…..

…..I exited to see the still amazing sky!

I let it frame me!

Got it right on the first try!

a panorama photo

I was giving all my attention to the sky over the water.

 Then I turned around and saw this off towards Beacon Hill Park.  

I arrived back at the Inner Harbour in time for a late lunch.  When I asked for a seat outside, she looked at me with a look that said “really”.  I wanted an unobstructed view  so sat outside bundled up with a blanket over my legs. The beer and fish tasted the best!

If I had not already walked enough, I walked more. Not that I wanted to so quickly walk off my lunch, but the views were so pretty with those clouds in the sky and the sun felt very warm.  I added another hour of walking to the three hours I did earlier.

It eventually came time to settle in with my feet up and 

savour sips of that Sea Star Salish Sea wine!

Victoria, British Columbia October 14, 2025

One of the main reasons to visit Victoria is to be near water and if possible then to be on it.  I was not interested in a pickle boat tour of the Inner Harbour so the only other way for me to be on the water at this time of year was to sign up for a whale watching tour which I have never done. I wanted to see the scenery  that is offered by being away out there and whatever else I saw would be a bonus.  I signed up for a tour in a partially covered catamaran which is the only option this late in autumn.  

Upon checking in at the counter, I was informed there were problems with the catamaran’s engine so the tour would be going in a smaller boat that was fully open.  I was game!  We were provided with pants and jackets to wear over top of what we had on, for warmth.  Hats, gloves and sunglasses were also provided but I had my own.  All aboard and once past the breakwater, the Captain put the pedal to the medal.

I picked the back row and was settled in for speeds of up to 75 kms/hr.

view in front of me 

Naturalist front left

Captain front right 

view to my right

Being in the smaller boat that could go great guns a fire, the plan was to quickly get out amongst the San Juan Islands and once there then meander along with hopes of seeing whales. I was so content with seeing the sights I was already seeing.  

a Bald Eagke

I had no idea exactly where we were out in the Salish Sea, I was lost in the mountain views, the fresh salty air and just being on the water.  If this was all I saw, I would return a happy sailor.  

Then, just like that, SWOOSH!

The Captain cut the engine and we watched, in awe, with lots of ooohhs and aaahhs, then complete silence.  Seeing a pod of Orca Killer Whales brought so much joy.  The Naturalist pointed out there was a calf amongst the pod.  I came away with a hundred or so whale photos, I am sharing a few of those with you.  About an hour was spent slowly moving around this area where we could watch the Ocra Whales go about their day, 

This is a very small snippet of a video I captured.

While we were watching the whales, so was this boat.  I googled the Bear Paw.

I captured this photo for the beautiful view only to realize when I got home and looked at my photos, there is a whale at middle left.

a lone Sea Otter

Cormorant nests

I have no idea what lighthouse this is, but will google later to try and find out.

We arrived at a location that is populated with Sea Lions and Cormorants.

I didn’t want this expedition to end!  

Time came to once again put the pedal to the metal and aim for Victoria.

One last view back!

The thick black line to the right shows our route.  

The Naturalist filled in all the information summarizing the highlights of our tour.  

He would be reporting the sighting of the new calf.

from my Strava