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Description
Cates Park - Whey-ah-Wichen is a nice park for an easy, fairly open birding walk. The park has several habitats - forest, open parkland, coast, beach, and a small marsh. There is a network of trails that allow for a nice loop walk.
Throughout the year, you can find rock pigeon, Anna's hummingbird, short-billed and glaucous-winged gull, double-crested and pelagic cormorant, great blue heron, belted kingfisher, northern flicker, American crow and common raven, bald eagle, black-capped and chestnut-backed chickadee, brown creeper, American robin, European starling, Pacific wren, song sparrow, and spotted towhee.
In the winter, Canada goose, bufflehead, American wigeon, common and Barrow's goldeneye, common merganser, horned grebe, and common loon are readily found along the coast. In the forest and parklands, look for varied thrush, golden and ruby-crowned kinglets, house finch, and dark-eyed junco.
The spring migration brings rufous hummingbird, western flycatcher, warbling vireo, Swainson's thrush, white-crowned sparrow, pine siskin, red-winged blackbird, American goldfinch, yellow-rumped warbler, black-throated gray warbler, Wilson's warbler, western tanager, and black-headed grosbeak. Summer has a few late arrivals including willow flycatcher, cedar waxwing, and brown-headed cowbird.
Fall is a good time to spot flocks of Steller's jay, common loon, pileated woodpecker, red-breasted nuthatch, Lincoln's sparrow, and yellow-rumped warbler.
Details
Access
Cates Park- Whey-ah-Wichen is located in North Vancouver and easily accessed by car, public bus, or bike. It is best explored on foot. You should allow for 1 to 1.5 hours for a good exploration of the different habitats.
There is a large, central parking lot accessible via the park's main entrance off Dollarton Highway. Another good option is to park next to the tennis courts on Sea Shell Lane where there is a small parking lot there and a good stretch of street parking. Press a P on the map for directions to a parking.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , Beach , Park , Scattered trees and bushes , Wetland , SeaConditions
Flat , HillyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Winter , Spring , Autumn , Spring migration , Autumn migrationRoute
Wide pathDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
The park is on-leash dog-friendly, and dogs are free to go splash in the ocean off-leash away from the main beach area.
There are two public washrooms in the park.
In the summer, the park's concession stand, Walleye's Burgers, is open. JJ Bean Coffee Roasters is also located nearby - just across Dollarton Highway at the shopping plaza.