Archive 2013 · Vancouver Island, BC: Advice?

jdc562
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Vancouver Island, BC: Advice?

Starting on August 1st I will be spending several weeks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It will be my first trip there, and I would very much appreciate advice for good places to photograph wildlife (and scenery, too). I have lenses ranging from wide-angle to 600mm+tcs. I will have my SUV with plenty of time to go just about anywhere. I am looking for opportunities beyond the the well-advertized--and crowded--tourist trips to see whales and bears.

In keeping with the purpose of the forum, here's a juvenile bald eagle from a long-ago trip to Unalaska Island (in Alaska's Aleutian Islands).
http://cubit.smugmug.com/Nature/Misc/i-zPz4Pgx/0/L/PICT0067crop-L.jpg

Jul 18, 2013 at 02:48 PM

KCollett
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Vancouver Island, BC: Advice?

My best advice for whales is to head up to Telegraph Cove, and use Stubbs Island Tours to get out there and photograph Orca. Unless they have changed in the past few years, I will say they are top notch for the purpose (as long as you're OK with sharing a boat with a bunch of people). That part of the island is also a good jumping off point for other things like bear tours. Sea lions may be found on the outer islands of the Broken Island Group. Tofino has lots of whale tours too (greys & humpbacks, sometimes Orca). Pacific Rim National Park should be good for shorebirds.

I'm sure others will chip in with their faves too. Enjoy your trip.

Jul 18, 2013 at 07:13 PM

ScottHM
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Vancouver Island, BC: Advice?

Hope you enjoy the trip...I'm planning on heading up that way myself sometime around that time, but will probably go up to Van Island, then hop back across over to the mainland a little further up the coast, might even bring my kayak with me now that it's fixed.. If you see a blue yak on a green subaru outback give a wave.

Jul 18, 2013 at 08:04 PM

jdc562
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Vancouver Island, BC: Advice?

KCollett wrote:
My best advice for whales is to head up to Telegraph Cove, and use Stubbs Island Tours to get out there and photograph Orca. Unless they have changed in the past few years, I will say they are top notch for the purpose (as long as you're OK with sharing a boat with a bunch of people). That part of the island is also a good jumping off point for other things like bear tours. Sea lions may be found on the outer islands of the Broken Island Group. Tofino has lots of whale tours too (greys & humpbacks, sometimes...Show more →
Ken---Thanks very much for all these specifics. I will be visiting non-photographer friends in Bamfield and Ladysmith, so your info is very helpful in continuing from those places.---John

Jul 19, 2013 at 04:20 PM

jdc562
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Vancouver Island, BC: Advice?

ScottHM wrote:
Hope you enjoy the trip...I'm planning on heading up that way myself sometime around that time, but will probably go up to Van Island, then hop back across over to the mainland a little further up the coast, might even bring my kayak with me now that it's fixed.. If you see a blue yak on a green subaru outback give a wave.
Thanks, Scott. It looks like I'll be driving most of the drivable length of the Island. To identify the waver, I'll be in a Silver Toyota RAV4 with California license plates...

---John

Jul 19, 2013 at 04:25 PM


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