Victoria, BC - Part 5

 23 June, 2026

Goldstream Provincial Park 

     Whenever we visit Vancouver Island this park is one of our favourite places to visit, set in magnificent coastal rainforest, where moss and lichens drip off the trees.

     This stream is close to the parking area and we have seen American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) there in the past.

     No such luck today, however.

     A Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) was foraging among the picnic tables and seemed to be having great success picking off insects.

     Several Western Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio rutulus) were observed; they would do well to skirt clear of the thrush.

     Wall Lettuce (Mycelis muralis), an invader from Europe, was quite abundant.

     We are always quite awestruck in the presence of the giant coastal trees. Miriam standing against one of them will illustrate the point.

      We see Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) in central and eastern Canada, but it is far more abundant in the west.

     It was not difficult to find.

     Brambles (genus Rubus) will soon bear fruit.

     Giant Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) was evenly distributed throughout the forest.

     This was equally true of Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum).

    Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) was introduced to Southern Vancouver Island from its native range of Europe in 1967 and has slowly been spreading since.

     While undeniably attractive, its spread should be discouraged. It has now made its way to the very northern tip of the Island, being regularly sighted in the Campbell River area.

     This dead tree was hosting a Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) but it flew off the moment I hit the button on the camera! Any wildlife photographer will offer sympathy for this familiar occurence!

     Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) is one of my favourite woodland flowers so I was delighted to see this familiar species so far from home.

     Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) populated the wet spots.

     Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) is native to Europe and southwestern Asia, but has become naturalized in many parts of the world.

     Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) was very common throughout our stay in BC.

     False Bindweeds (genus Calystegia) is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae.

     The whole area is characterized by trees festooned with mosses and lichens.

     A Buttercup (genus Ranunculus) enlivened the gloom of the dark recesses of the forest.

     Coastal hedge nettle (Stachys chamissonis) is a tall, aromatic perennial herb in the mint family native to the moist coastal regions of western North America.  Despite its common name, it does not sting like true nettles.

     We made our way back to the car.

     An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was there to bid us farewell and to implore us to return soon!

Cowichan Bay

     It was lunch time so we decided to drive up to Cowichan Bay where we knew there would be good local fish available.

     We found a modest little place with outdoor seating which had many good ratings on line.

     It was obviously a popular establishment for most of the tables were occupied and they were doing a brisk takeout trade. So brisk in fact we waited an hour for our meals! The quality of the food was excellent, but the wait time was clearly unreasonable.

     We did see a Pacific Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) swimming close by.

     We did not, however see either Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) or Purple Martin (Progne subis), two species we had seen on all previous visits to this location. There were few gulls in the harbour and no cormorants either.

     

     The temperature had reached 31 degrees so we opted to return home rather than continue birding in the oppressive heat. 

     We took a nap and had a simple dinner, having feasted well at lunch time.

     In what was becoming a regular evening ritual the stag Columbian Back-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) paid us a visit.

     We were always happy to see him.