Pelagic Birding Tour
This is a special exploratory tour to the water surrounding the undersea canyons off Quatsino Sound off the west coast of Vancouver Island. We search for a myriad of pelagic bird species and have the opportunity for unique marine mammals, like Northern fur seals and Fin whales, as we explore these offshore waters.
Some pelagic bird species we may possibly view include:
- Pink-footed, Sooty, and Short-tailed shearwaters
- Fork-tailed and Leach’s storm petrels
- Parasitic, Pomarine, and Long-tailed Jaegers
- Northern Fulmars
- Black-footed albatross and if we are real lucky Laysan and Short-tailed albatross
- Occasional alcids
Tour Details
- Minimum age of 15 years old. Passengers 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- We meet at Coastal Rainforest Safari’s office at 7185 Market Street in Port Hardy, BC on Northern Vancouver Island.
- Please arrive 30 minutes before the tour’s departure time to be outfitted in floater suits and sign a waiver. At the office, your guide will provide a safety briefing plus an overview of the tour and area we will be exploring.
- For this tour only, our boat is docked in Coal Harbour a 15 minute drive from our office. From here we will travel by boat for about an hour through Holberg Inlet, Quatsino Narrows, and Quatsino Sound before reaching the open ocean.
- Our open RHIB vessels have comfortable seats on shock mitigating platforms and an on-board toilet.
- RHIBs are not suitable for people with a history of back or neck injuries, recent surgery, or are pregnant.
- Please dress warmly. You will be provided with two-piece flotation suits, warm hats, goggles, and binoculars.
- Plenty of wildlife photography opportunities are available but please do not bring tripods on board.
- A morning snack, lunch, soft drinks, and hot drinks are provided on the Pelagic Birding tours.
Below is a trip checklist compiled by guest Liam Ragan from the time we departed the dock until we returned.
Species Observed
- 71 Cackling Goose
- 12 Canada Goose
- 1 Common Merganser
- 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove
- 1 Red Phalarope
- 19 Red-necked Phalarope
- 2 Parasitic Jaeger
- 1 Pomarine Jaeger
- 914 Rhinoceros Auklet
- 4 Tufted Puffin
- 3 Cassin’s Auklet
- 3 Marbled Murrelet
- 330 Common Murre
- 2 Sabine’s Gull
- 15 Bonaparte’s Gull
- 330 Short-billed Gull
- 3 American Herring Gull
- 176 California Gull
- 234 Glaucous-winged Gull
- 1 Arctic Tern
- 2 Red-necked Grebe
- 4 Western Grebe
- 1 Pacific Loon
- 39 Black-footed Albatross
- 13 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel
- 19 Northern Fulmar
- 48 Pink-footed Shearwater
- 1 Buller’s Shearwater
- 48 Sooty Shearwater
- 11 Short-tailed Shearwater
- 8 Brandt’s Cormorant
- 20 Pelagic Cormorant
- 1 Turkey Vulture
- 8 Bald Eagle
- 5 Belted Kingfisher
- 1 Steller’s Jay
- 38 American Crow
- 1 Common Raven
- 35 European Starling
Additional taxa
- 3 duck sp.
- 4 Red/Red-necked Phalarope
- 1 shorebird sp.
- 2 jaeger sp.
- 52 gull sp.
- 729 Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater
- 92 cormorant sp.
Departs at 7:30 am
8 to 10 Hour Tour
Scheduled public tours
June 8 and 22
*** a minimum of six passengers are required to run this trip ***
Adult (15 and older): $525
Private Charter: $4725
Enjoy peace of mind with our all-inclusive tour prices! No additional fees or surprise surcharges at checkout—just a mandatory 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST).
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Port Hardy Whale Watching and Sea Otter Viewing Tours
We are located in Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island.
While sea otters, sea lions, and humpback whales are the most frequently viewed marine mammals on our tours, encounters with orcas are always a special treat — whether it’s the fish-eating Northern Residents or the marine mammal-hunting Bigg’s.
Unlike some companies that prioritize finding orcas at all costs, we take a more holistic approach. We focus on the incredible diversity of wildlife that calls this coastline home. We don’t race around at high speeds looking for orcas at the expense of missing all the other amazing wildlife we could encounter. While orcas aren’t seen on every tour, when they do appear, it’s always a magical moment.
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#WhaleWatching #orcas #KillerWhales #NRKW #Biggs #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #indigenousBC
Steller sea lions are among the most vocal marine mammals we encounter on our tours. These massive pinnipeds can weigh over a tonne and are often seen hauled out on rocky islets, growling and jostling for space.
We’re fortunate to have three year-round haul-outs in our area, which means we have the opportunity to see sea lions on every trip. Further south on Vancouver Island, most sea lions leave their haul-outs in summer to head to breeding rookeries — but here, hundreds stick around throughout the summer. We often spot them lounging in the sun, cooling off in the water, or socializing in large, boisterous groups. Their size, sound, and sheer presence never fail to leave a lasting impression.
They’re just one of the many fascinating species we encounter — a reminder of how rich and wild the waters around northern Vancouver Island truly are.
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#sealions #StellerSeaLions #wildlifephotography #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC
We’re counting down the days to another summer of incredible humpback whale sightings!
There are already reports of some familiar humpbacks returning from their wintering grounds to feed in the rich, productive waters off northern Vancouver Island.
We can’t wait to welcome back these gentle giants, see which whales have new calves in tow, and hopefully meet a few new faces (or flukes!) along the way.
Every season tells a new story — and we’re excited to share it with you.
Whale watching tours start May 31 — link in bio to learn more.
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#HumpbackWhales #WhaleWatching #Humpback #wildlifephotography #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC
While our signature experience is our 6-hour Sea Otter & Whale Watching tour, we love getting off the beaten track.
This June and July, we’re especially looking forward to heading back out into the remote offshore waters in search of seabirds — including Tufted and Horned Puffins!
We’ve got five Puffin & Seabird tours and two Pelagic Birding tours scheduled this June and July. These longer trips spend 9-10 hours on the water, exploring wild, rarely-visited areas.
Many of these tours are already filling up — check our website for more details and availability.
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#birding #puffins #seabirds #pelagicbirding #birdsofinstagram #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC
A sea otter out of the water is an extremely rare sight. Usually, it can be a sign of injury or illness — but in this case, this otter seemed perfectly healthy and was just enjoying a good roll in the eelgrass during an exceptionally low tide last summer.
Being on land does come with risks — sea otters are vulnerable to predators like coastal wolves when they’re out of the water.
We kept a respectful distance and photographed this moment with a long zoom lens (and lots of cropping).
Counting down the days until our season starts up on May 31!
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#seaotter #wildlifephotography #marinewildlife #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC
There are a few names for wolves on Vancouver Island North amongst the Kwakwa̱ka̱`wakw people. Atła’na̱m, U’liga̱n, Xwaxwilik̓a, and in ceremonies Długwala, and Ga̱lg̱a̱m. Seeing these animals is such a profound blessing that it makes our trips special. Looking forward to the 2025 season! #crs #coastalrainforestsafaris #wolf #vancouverisland
This was such a really cool interaction last year as the orcas were in and out of the kelp forest; in T̕łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la territory. As you travel up the waterways towards the northern tip of Vancouver Island, you can’t help but notice how beautiful the environment really is. It truly is a remarkable experience just to witness all of the marine life within it. #coastalrainforestsafaris #crs #orcas #gonorthisland #indigenousbc #wildlifeplanet #natgeo
Whales and landscapes! It’s getting to be about that time where you should be thinking about booking your experiences on the north Island. Check out our website to find different options on how you can get out on the water with us! #coastalrainforestsafaris #crs #safetrueeducational #gonorthisland #wildlifeplanet #indigenousbc #explorebc
The Humpback we call Celly spotted in the territory this past season. Humpback whales have made leaps towards reestablishing their presence in our traditional areas. The connection to these gentle giants have been made for millennia and we are grateful to keep this going! #coastalrainforestsafaris #crs #safetrueeducational #humpbackwhale 🐋 #gonorthisland #indigenousbc #indigenoustourism
Otters, whales, and wolves. Oh my!
Gift certificates are available on our website. Link in bio.
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#whalewatching #seaotter #orca #humpbackwhale #wolf #puffin #wildlife #gonorthisland #indigenousbc
Photography Tours in the Great Bear Rainforest
The Great Bear Rainforest is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. This remote, lush region offers opportunities to capture stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and cultural stories. With its ancient cedars, mist-shrouded fjords, and glassy waters, every frame tells a story of untouched wilderness. Photography tours often focus on intimate encounters with humpback whales, orcas, grizzly bears, and coastal wolves, providing visitors with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to document these moments.
On a boat-based tour, the interplay of light and water often creates breathtaking compositions as humpbacks breach against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains or glide through calm seas. The silence and serenity of the rainforest amplify the beauty, enabling photographers to connect deeply with the environment.
These experiences aren’t just about capturing images—they’re about fostering a profound appreciation for this unique ecosystem. For many, these tours are transformative, as they combine the thrill of wildlife encounters with a growing understanding of the importance of conservation and stewardship of these precious lands and waters.
With skilled guides, such as those at Sea Wolf Adventures and Coastal Rainforest Safaris, guests not only leave with unforgettable photographs but also with a deeper connection to the natural and cultural heritage of the Great Bear Rainforest. #seawolfadventures #coastalrainforestsafaris #gonorthisland #explorebc #explorecanada #indigenousbc #goindigenous
It’s as simple as this: The overall impression is one of peace and tranquility, capturing a moment of serenity in the otter’s natural habitat! #seaotter #cuteness #otter #coastalrainforestsafaris #crs #gonorthisland #vancouverisland #vancouverislandwildlife #indigenousbc #explorebc #explorecanada