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
Short-billed Dowitcher (caurinus)
Limnodromus griseus
Cackling Goose (Aleutian)
Branta hutchinsii
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
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
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Canada Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Rock Pigeon
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Dunlin
Glaucous-winged Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
American Crow
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Turkey Vulture
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.
British Columbia Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in British Columbia →