http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com Nature Tours, Bird Watching, Rainforest Hikes, and more. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:55:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It was one of those rare days on Vancouver Island; the weatherman called for sun and it was the weekend! So, the nature tour season having ended about two weeks ago, I said to my better half, lets go for an outing this afternoon.  I suggested we go and see if ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/a-november-nature-tour.php Long Beach Originally uploaded by TheRainbird This was taken a couple of years ago near Combers Beach parking area. I love how the walkers have their shoes in their hands. And how the flock of gulls are nearly hidden in the fog. And how she has turned to watch a gull flying. ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/long-beach.php Thanks to a very strong web presence and new marketing strategies, Rainbird Excursions' Magical Mushroom tour went off without a hitch this weekend. In fact I had to turn down some people. Next year promises to be bigger and better than ever. I plan on having more expertise on site ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/rainbirds-magical-mushroom-tour-went-off-without-a-hitch-this-year.php The more I go to Stamp Falls, the more I am convinced that this Provincial park is the best place to see salmon migrating on Vancouver Island.  And by way of a photo essay I will prove it to you. It is a little off the beaten track. Those of ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/the-best-place-to-see-salmon-migration-on-vancouver-island.php Photographing a Cassin's Auklet Originally uploaded by TheRainbird I just got back from a really successful pelagic birding trip to northern Vancouver Island.  The American Birding Association (ABA) had a regional conference in Vancouver, which moved to Victoria on Vancouver Island. ABA conferences usually have pre and post conference excursions which explore ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/photographing-a-cassins-auklet.php Rainbird Excursions and Batstar Cafe & Picnic have teamed up to create a unique outdoor and gourmet experience. Ron Storey, Batstar's gourmet chef and creator of the superb meal served last year to a lucky group of guests, will again create a meal fit for an epicure. But ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/a-magical-mushroom-tour.php [caption id="attachment_225" align="aligncenter" width="471" caption="A view of Sproat Lake from the Teodoro Trail"][/caption] A couple of weeks ago Patti and I went for a hike along the Teodoro Trail in the Alberni Valley. It is a nice trail mostly through second-growth forest to a remnant patch of old growth. There ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/the-teodoro-trail-in-the-alberni-valley.php In mid April I had two tours with people from the opposite sides of the globe. The first was a group of Eskimos or Inuit as they are now called. They were from Rankin Inlet, a small settlement on the west side of Hudson's Bay. This place is way up ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/guests-from-two-very-different-climates.php It's called the Angler's Trail, Stamp Long River Trail, and Sayachlas t'a saa'nim in the Hupacasath language. Don't ask me how to pronounce the last name. I have no idea! I did find out that it means Stamp Long River Trail! This trail was constructed a year and a half ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/the-angler%e2%80%99s-trail-or-stamp-long-river-trail.php A couple of days ago a fellow birder from nearby Parksville, announced that he had found a male three-toed woodpecker on the slopes of Mount Arrowsmith. This is a rare bird for Vancouver Island! Later he gave out the UTM coordinates for those with GPSs. So today, I thought I ... http://vancouverislandnaturetours.com/birding-mount-arrowsmith-cameron-valley.php