Did you know that over 200 species of birds call Surrey their home at one time or another throughout the year? That’s a whole lot of feathers! There are so many bird-watching spots it would be close to impossible to list them all, so below are our favourite spots to see the birds fly, rest or nest in Surrey.
Grab your binoculars and your camera and download a birding app like Merlin or BirdNET, and see how many different bird species you can spot! And once you’ve spotted your birds, be sure to upload your sightings to eBird, a global citizen database-driven bird watching resource. Not only can you upload your finds, but you can also use eBird to discover what birds to look out for in Surrey’s bird-watching spots.
If you’re new to birding or are looking to take your bird-watching skills up a notch, book a guided bird walk with Kris Cu. Kris is a nature photographer and Conservation Engagement and Outreach worker for Birds Canada, and leads 90-minute guided bird walks in Surrey’s key birding areas and around Metro Vancouver.
Green Timbers Urban Forest is one of the largest parks in the city and includes 183 hectares of wetland, lakes, grassland, meadows and a fishing dock and nature trails. With such a diverse environment, there is an equally diverse collection of bird species to spot while walking or bicycling through the park, including kingfishers, bald eagles, pileated woodpeckers, spotted towhees and bewick’s wrens.
14600 100 Avenue | North Surrey
Photo Credit: Kevin Van Der Leek
Surrey Lake Park is an important habitat for many amphibians, reptiles, fish, mammals and, of course, birds. It attracts many shorebirds like great blue herons, green herons, buffleheads, march wrens, kingfishers and the greater yellowlegs. And in the trees surrounding the lake watch for forest-dwelling birds like black cap chickadees, spotted towhees, cedar waxwings and pileated woodpeckers.
7500 152 Street | Fleetwood
Photo Credit: Frank Lin
Located along the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in North America, Blackie Spit, with its tidal marsh and eelgrass beds is an important stop for migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Keep your eyes peeled for sandpipers, northern flickers, pileated woodpeckers, brown creepers and yellow-rumped warblers, among many more. You may also see a few aquatic mammals such as harbour seals and their pups.
3136 McBride Avenue | South Surrey
Photo Credit: Frank Lin
The Serpentine Wildlife Management Area, better known as the Serpentine Fen, provides a home to more than 130 different bird species across its 150-hectare land. Cormorants, owls, red-winged blackbirds, and various types of hawks can all be spotted at Serpentine Fen, as well as muskrats, coyotes, frogs, and harbour seals. It’s a haven for bird enthusiasts and a scenic walk through a nature reserve with three wooden towers with great views of the area. Please be sure to stay on the trails, leave only footprints, and take only photos.
4981 King George Boulevard | South Surrey
Photo Credit: Kevin Van Der Leek
Designated as Canada’s most valued Important Bird Area, Boundary Bay, where Mud Bay Park is located, provides a winter home to hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. And depending on the time of day, the view, and the birds spotted can be drastically different. Low tide is perfect for shorebirds when the mudflats and eelgrass meadows are exposed. The nature trail is nearly 3 kilometres long and takes about 1.5 hours to walk.
13030 48 Avenue | Newton
Photo Credit: Frank Lin
Launched in September 2020, the BC Bird Trail is an online resource and trip-planning tool. Discover self-guided birding itineraries for the South Fraser, the Fraser Valley, the Columbia Valley and Central Vancouver Island. Look up, stay grounded and start planning your trip to the heart of BC’s Pacific Flyway!
Surrey is called the city of parks for a reason – with over 200 green spaces and urban oases just waiting to be explored, you’ll never be far from a trail, beach, or blind where you can spot a feathered friend.
Learn More about the Parks and Outdoor Spaces in Surrey:
