Tours

A beautiful area to explore year round. Elk, Moose, Mule and White-tailed deer, Coyotes can be encountered with frequency. Grizzly bears, Wolves, Cougars, Bobcats and Porcupines are most often detected through their tracks in the snow, markings on trees or cries in the night.

This is an excellent location to learn to identify animal tracks, view some of the most majestic old-growth trees in the Okanagan Valley, hear dawn chorus in the grasslands, or watch the local Golden eagles soar overhead.

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Hawk migration is best observed from late March to mid May, or from mid September to early October. However, it is largely dependant on winds, so hikes should be scheduled no more than a few days in advance.

Tours at Salmon Arm Bay differ widely throughout the year. During the fall, the mudflats attract more shorebirds than anywhere else in the Interior of B.C.!

May - June by canoe or kayak, enjoy views of displaying Western and Clark's grebes.

July - September is phenomenal for shore-birding along the extensive mud flats. Either scoping from shoreline parks or the pier, or walking out over the mudflats for closer looks - which is not for the feint of heart

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October - December Large congregations of birds continue as long as there is exposed mud on the bay. Large congregations of Long-eared and Short-eared owls can also occasionally be found.

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In 2023 a forest fire burned much of Rose Valley, but this is till a phenomenal location for both birding and hiking. Since the fire, I have still managed to detect over 100 species here in a single day, including many Okanagan specialty birds!

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Post fire, five species of owls still breed in the park + the cryptic Common poorwill, which can be encountered on night walks in the area.

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Hiking the McDougal Rim trail provides one of the best views of the valley, with potential for some excellent wildlife encounters along the way. 

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Notable birds include: Flammulated owl, Western screech owl, White-throated swifts, Peregrine falcon, Black-backed woodpecker, American three-toed woodpecker and Canyon wren.

A 4x4 vehicle is necessary for a journey up to Little White Mountain, but this hike does not disappoint. This is the highest peak in the Central Okanagan, and the temperatures are mild, even on the hottest summer days. It is rare to encounter other hikers on this remote trail.

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Alpine lakes are home to nesting Barrow's goldeneyes, Columbia spotted frogs, and are an excellent place to cool down after a tough hike.

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Spruce and Dusky grouse, Fox sparrow, Boreal chickadee, Golden mantled ground squirrel, American pika and Mountain goats can all be found along the way. Hawk migration is excellent in fall.

The nearest location to Kelowna B.C. where I have reliably found alpine specialty species such as Grey-crowned Rosy finches and White-tailed ptarmigans within a few hours of hiking.

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This is not an easy hike, but at a comfortable pace we can climb from the parking lot to the lookout tower within 3 hours and descend within two hours.

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Wildflower bloom is the most extreme from mid July to early August. The early bloom is also incredible, this occurs in late June as the snow begins to retreat from the alpine and Pasqueflowers, Globeflowers and Glacier lilies poke out of the snow!

Looking for a short guided hike right close to downtown, with great views of the city and Lake Okanagan?

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Spring and early summer are an excellent time to witness many species of Okanagan wildflowers in bloom, and to see some classic Okanagan specialty birds such as Lark sparrow, Lewis's woodpecker and  Rock wrens. 

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White-breasted nuthatches, (tenuissima subspecies) and Pygmy nuthatches and Townsend's solitaires can be found in the park year round.

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Home to some of the most range-restricted breeding birds in Canada, White Lake is truly an Okanagan gem. 

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Sage thrasher, Burrowing owl, Grasshopper sparrow, Brewer's sparrow, Grey partridge, Chukar, Lark sparrow, Golden eagle, Rough-legged hawk and Sandhill cranes can all be found here during the appropriate times of year.

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Northern Pacific rattlesnakes, Gopher snakes, Yellow-bellied racers, Western tiger salamanders, Great Basin spadefoots, Sagebrush sheepmoths and American badgers can also be encountered.

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The White Lake Grasslands Protected Area has excellent hiking trails with great forest and grassland birding.

Robert Lake is a large alkaline lake, home to the only breeding colony of Black-necked stilts in British Columbia, and is an excellent spot to view waders like American avocets.  

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Other breeding species include Eared grebe, Ruddy duck, Cinnamon teal and Wilson's phalaropes. 

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During migration, Robert lake is a great spot for viewing shorebirds, the best in the Okanagan. Large congregations of swallows, waterfowl and pipits, as well as species like Horned larks, Snow buntings, Lapland longspurs, Northern harriers, Northern shrikes and Short eared owls can be found here during their appropriate migratory windows. 

A beautiful, wild protected area featuring sagebrush and pine forests, home to many sought after birds and spectacular plants such as Lyall's Mariposa lily. ​The trails can either be hiked or explored by 4x4.

It is often worth spending the night in Osoyoos so that the nightlife can be appreciated. Tracking down Flammulated owls, Common poorwills and black-lighting for nocturnal insects and Northern scorpions is a great way to end a day!

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Birds found here during the summer include Dusky grouse, Burrowing owl, Short-eared owl, Long-eared owl, Long-billed curlew, Grasshopper sparrow and Brewer's sparrow.

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Nahun Wenox, also known as Grant Island is a small rocky island, 300m offshore from Kopje Regional Park. It has a large breeding colony of mainly California and Herring gulls. Access is easiest by canoe or kayak on calm days. I only own one kayak, so if you would like to book a tour it is best to bring your own kayak / canoe, or to rent one.

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About 200 pairs of gulls nest on this island, mainly California and Herring gulls, but mixed in are Glaucous winged and Glacucous-winged x Western gull hybrids from the coast which are mixing with the Herring gulls.

Wether you are a serious birder or not, this is a fascinating island to visit. The gull chicks and complex pair bonding rituals are a spectacle to watch. Additionally, because of all of the hybrid combinations, this is an excellent place to learn gull ID or to spot rare hybrid combinations like California x Ring-billed gulls or to see gulls with genetics from three species!

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The Greystokes Plateau is a large area of mostly intact upper elevation forest, wetlands and subalpine habitat. Because of the long, easily traversable wetlands, this is a very fun and easy location for long backcountry hikes. 

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This forest is home to nesting Pine grosbeaks, Boreal chickadees, Fox sparrows, Spruce grouse, Northern goshawks, Northern pygmy owls, Greater yellowlegs and Solitary sandpipers. 

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Driving the access road through the mid elevation habitat also reliably produces Chestnut-backed chickadees, making this the best spot to get a chickadee-grand-slam, 

(all 4 species), in the Okanagan!

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John's Family Regional Park is a popular location for both rock-climbing and hiking in South-East Kelowna, with spectacular views of the valley. Although I am not licensed as a rock-climbing instructor, I would love to take you to John's Family Regional Park on an interpretive hike!

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Canyon wrens sing from the cliffs here year round, Common poorwills can be seen on night walks and Mountain bluebirds migrate through in large numbers in late April. Hawk migration is excellent from April to early May and from mid September to late October with proper winds.