GETTING THERE
From the south, turn right/north (signed for Sayward) 60 km (37 mi.) north of Campbell River. This same junction is 129 km (80 mi.) south of Port McNeill. Access to the two short nature trails is off the Salmon River Rd. which branches off to the right from the main road to Sayward, 7.4 km (4.6 mi.) from the highway junction (after crossing the second bridge over the Salmon River). This road parallels the main road and you’ll see several obvious ways to cross over to the main road near Sayward village once the estuary comes into view. There are several parallel roads that head north from Sayward through the mill and on to Port Kelsey. However, this area is quite small and once you’re there it should be obvious how to navigate to each place.
Continuing north along the Salmon River Rd., you will see Sayward village on your left. You can turn left and drive into the village just south of a small community lake (actually more of a large pond) that can hold a wide variety of dabbling and diving ducks in season. The surrounding trees are worth checking for mixed migrant flocks in migration. If you continue north instead of turning into the village, you’ll see a sewage treatment pond on the right. Once again, expect a few ducks (Tufted Duck has been recorded here) as well as a decent mix of gulls, depending on the season. These ponds aren’t very good for shorebirds but a birder could hypothetically run across Red-necked or Red Phalaropes spinning on the surface.
Just beyond the sewage pond, but before the sawmill, is a wide open gravel area. From here it should be obvious that walking along the estuary side of this parking area will offer a good vantage point from which to scope the mudflats of the Salmon River estuary. Tide will be a factor, of course. It’s a small enough estuary that you should be able to see where the main flocks of birds are, but they won’t always be close to this location; you’re looking east, so afternoon is best since the sun will be behind you. Very few birders make it here, so there have yet to be any big rarity finds. However, given the good numbers of shorebirds and gulls noted on short visits here in the past, it’s only a matter of time before someone strikes gold. Expect a similar species mix to that mentioned for the Port McNeill area.
At low tide, a gravel island is exposed at the mouth of the river where gulls and a few shorebirds gather. Follow the signs for a boat launch that’s accessed by driving along the eastern edge of the mill and out to the end of a rocky breakwater. This spot can also be great for scoping a variety of passing seabirds farther out in Johnstone Strait, including Fork-tailed Storm Petrel and Sabine’s Gull in late summer/fall.
For Port Kelsey, head back south toward the sewage pond and turn right onto the paved road that heads north on the left/west side of the mill. This leads a short way to the main fishing docks of Kelsey Bay. You may be lucky enough to see orca whales pass close by. This was the original starting point of the BC Ferries route through the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert.
The protected waters of Comox Harbour provide limitless opportunities for viewing and photographing waterfowl outside of summer. Large flocks of Surf Scoters (pictured) and White-winged Scoters are often the most conspicuous. LIRON GERTSMAN
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COMOX HARBOUR
COMOX HARBOUR, FROM the tip of Goose Spit to the Courtenay River estuary and around to the Royston waterfront, is truly a lovely blend of brilliant scenery, great year-round bird variety, and ease of access for birders. Visiting birders can expect to find a variety of westcoast specialties throughout the year (both on the water and on land), while clear days afford stunning views of the Comox Glacier to the west and the waters of Georgia Strait to the east. The protected waters of the harbour team with waterfowl in winter, providing photographers with some great opportunities, particularly for White-winged Scoters at Goose Spit. Unusual sightings too are increasing with more birding coverage, including Black-tailed Gull, Slaty-backed Gull, and Canada’s first and North America’s second Citrine Wagtail. The latter overwintered at a nearby farm in 2012–13. Of course, I wasn’t in the country that winter.
The ease of access to all the best birding sites in this area is a tremendous asset for Comox Harbour. Public roads and paved walking/cycling trails cover nearly the entire harbour, providing easy accessibility for birders of all degrees of mobility. The relatively sheltered waters here also make the bay ideal for kayak, canoe, and sailboat exploration, allowing for closer views of many waterfowl and seabirds.
BIRDING GUIDE
With so many great options for birding this area, where you start may depend on the weather, tide-state, time of year, time of day (always best to avoid looking into the sun), and the birds you’re after. If herring spawn is on, scan around for clouds of gulls to alert you to where the best birding is.
In general, all the sites mentioned are worth a visit at any time of year. If you’re visiting during spring/fall shorebird migration and the tide is high, check the old rocky breakwater just off the Royston waterfront, Courtenay Airpark ponds, the small islands at the mouth of the Courtenay River, and the westerly beaches of Goose Spit (obey the access signs). By far the best place to look for shorebirds in the area is Sandy (Tree) Island at the north end of Denman Island (visible to the southeast of Goose Spit), but this requires either a private vessel or taking a ferry to Denman then walking out at low tide from the north end. At mid-/low tides, the birds can be spread out through Comox Harbour but can still be scoped well at times, especially from the walkway east of the Courtenay Airpark.
GETTING THERE
The communities of Royston, Courtenay, and Comox essentially surround the harbour and are well signed on Hwy. 19, so getting to the harbour should be fairly straightforward. To get to the Courtenay Airpark if approaching from the south on the main Island Hwy. (19), take the Comox Valley Parkway (main exit for Courtenay) all the way to Cliffe, where you’ll turn left before turning onto Mansfield. Cliffe is basically the Old Island Hwy. (19A), so you can head south on Cliffe to get to Royston. Courtenay and Comox are just over an hour’s drive from Nanaimo.
One relatively unknown but fantastic spot at the southeast corner of the harbour is the Trent River Estuary.
From downtown Royston, head southeast along Hwy. 19A (Old Island Hwy.); shortly after crossing the Trent River, turn left onto Gartley Rd. and follow it to the end (it turns into Gartley Point Rd.) where you can park beside a small fish hatchery. The Trent River Estuary is a wide gravel fan and right now you are on the east side of it. Walk north and northwest to get to the actual river mouth, though the birding can be great anywhere along the shoreline, particularly during herring spawn (late February to late April) when thousands of Brant, scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, loons, grebes, and gulls gather to gobble up the beige-coloured roe. Water birds are usually around in good numbers here any time outside of early summer, although a scope is recommended for the best views. Work the grasslands and shrubby areas around here, as a Yellow Wagtail was spotted in fall 2013, and there are plenty of more common species, such as Northern Shrike (October–March), Marsh Wren, Spotted Towhee, and Purple Finch, that may be pleasing to visiting birders.
For access to the west side of the Trent River Estuary, and probably a site with better potential for interesting songbirds in migration, return to Hwy. 19A, head northwest back across the Trent River (toward Royston), and turn right at Carey Pl. You may have to park just off the highway, but at the end of this short road a trail heads down toward the estuary. This is a