Victoria - Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary
British Columbia · Canada
Moderate
May-October
Free (donations appreciated)
Open daily, dawn to dusk
About This Location
Victoria - Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary is a productive birding destination in British Columbia, with 229 species recorded on eBird. This lake habitat attracts Canada Goose, Mallard, and Common Merganser 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
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
American Wigeon x Green-winged Teal (hybrid)
Mareca americana x Anas crecca
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Anna's Hummingbird
Virginia Rail
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Violet-green Swallow
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Marsh Wren
Bewick's Wren
Birding Tips
- 1
Scan the water surface methodically for diving ducks, loons, and grebes.
- 2
Check the shoreline and mudflats for shorebirds and wading birds.
- 3
Peak breeding season runs from late May through June for most songbirds.
- 4
A spotting scope is essential here — many waterbirds stay far from shore and are difficult to identify with binoculars alone.
- 5
Winter months bring peak waterfowl diversity — visit November through February for the best duck and goose viewing.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Swan Lake Nature House
- Rithet's Bog
- Beacon Hill Park
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 →