Was OK, but the bed was awful very uncomfortable in fact it was more comfortable on the floor! The hotel due to some haggling from my girls was free so no loss.
Plenty of Gulls flying overhead, the sea wasn’t far away so most heading that way, California, Glaucous Winged and Western Gull.
We walked down to coast two tiny Marbled Murrelet were miles out but a new lifer for us both, with Common Murre or in UK Guillemot floating on the Salish Sea.
Peacocks wandered through the park with locals feeding the birds.
Next morning a bus ride to Butchart gardens, a beautiful place with amazing gardens and grounds
Amongst the crowds and trying to find our way out I spotted a bird flying. across the park, a Pileated Woodpecker!! A bird that I always seem to miss, I saw which tree it landed in but at least 100 people stood in my way, I couldn’t re-locate, I settled for this Chestnut-Sided Chickadee, one of the few birds we saw here.
That Afternoon our almost free Whale Watching Trip. We headed out as before in better conditions towards Race Rock some 19km or 11 miles to Race Rocks
The following morning we did the Hop on Hop off bus tour, we hopped off at Oak Bay a place from our Whale tour last year where we saw Orca...flashback picture.
So seemed a good bet to try to see what was about. Around a small inlet a few birds were wading & feeding
But no Orca seen on this visit, the hop on was returning so we hopped on and headed back into Victoria for another Whale Watching Trip.
The last and following morning Lauren had a lie in, mistake…. as I entered Beacon Hill Park the Pigeon which she heard the previous morning turned out to be Horned Owl!! It was almost dark but I was so chuffed to see two owls flying around.
One flew and landed on a balcony where I managed a few snaps, shame it was dark, the other owl joined it and they flew into a Jew tree and disappeared, wow and a lifer.
But the Jay was not squawking at the hawk, a flash of wings and a Barred owl appeared, no photo so no tick but the Owl the called a few times but I couldn’t located it position. Still what a fabulous morning! Here's the only proof of the event, Merlin bird app was running at the time.
That morning we were leaving for the next part of our trip and had ordered the taxi the night before confirming that we needed a 5 seater for luggage. All booked and we waited,
a taxi eventually, 30 mins late and too small turned up, they had to book another, more money obviously, to take us to airport.
Victoria International to Toronto Pearson International Airport then a transfer to Boston Logan International a day of nothing but travel.
We decided as no cases were at hotel to go to airport and sort Air Canada out!!
We spent the remainder of the day and evening exploring Boston.
Really ending on a high we returned to Boston.
The next Morning we caught the Amtrak to Providence Rhode Island a new state for us all, just 40 miles as the crow flies and what a beautiful place, a seemingly empty city we walked along Providence River, very pretty.
The next morning me & Lauren went birding first to Jamaica Bay our 3rd visit here, a Storm surge warning was all over the TV channels, but we went anyway, being from the UK, we're used to a bit of rain and wind!
The most common bird of prey, Osprey lost count how many, they were in every city we visited this trip.
A bus ride away was the Salt Marsh Center, Brooklyn.
Another bus ride to Prospect Park, a lot of walking already and our feet were aching the park was extremely busy 1000’s of people and very few birds such a difference to our previous trips.
Black N White Warbler
We returned to New York city for a sit down, that evening visited time square and the lights.
Me and my Wife, Melanie
Next morning we visited the much quieter Governor's Island.
Red-eyed Vireo
Statue of Liberty
Central Park and our last day but the storm which had been forecast arrived to New York and the rain was awful 6am till 2pm non stop, a few birds but cameras left in bag as so wet, such a shame..
We arrived back to hotel to shower and dry off then subway to JFK and home, a amazing trip and wildlife, the Whales and Canada was great a real bucket list event!
The list of 111 species can be seen here:
Butterflies:
Thanks for reading if you did, please leave a comment so I know someone is reading or looking at our blogs, comment can be left at bottom of page or at top in comment box , .
If you need any help with planning your adventure also happy to help
Thanks Wayne and Lauren
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