Birding Highway 97

[Ben]

Does anyone know about good birding locations on the way up to Williams Lake?

I know eBird has hotspots, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience heading up that way, and what spots are good to check.

Thanks

[Randy]

I suspect Chris and Paul will have some great suggestions! I've never been there myself

[paulos]

Hey Jon, yes, I bird there a lot and was there not long ago. I miss doing that drive from the Fraser Valley.

In the Williams Lake area

• Scout Island is a good all around riparian/wetland walk.
  
• Mission Road in 150 Mile has some excellent grassland and riparian habitat. I've had over 60 birds there on a stop, including Vesper Sparrows, both Kingbirds, Bobolinks (probably late now), Clay-coloured Sparrows and Mountain Bluebirds. It makes a good quick detour on the way to or from Williams Lake. 
• Soda Creek is just north of Williams Lake, and is a warmer lower elevation area along the Fraser, with some more southern species occasionally or regularly seen, such as Lewis's woodpecker, Black-chinned Hummingbird and Western Kingbird. 
• 130 Mile Marsh is a long stretch of wetland along the highway that often has Black Terns.
• If you have some time in the area, you would not regret a trip to Becher's Prairie in Riske Creek. Rock Lake, Separating Lake, Roundup Lake and Drummond Lake are all great shorebird spots (and ebird hotspots). You can message me if you head that way if you want, as some of the backroads there can be tricky.

Further south, there are hundreds of lakes in the 100 Mile area.

• If you're driving through during shorebird migration and you have a good vehicle with some clearance, Soda Lake east of 108 Mile Lake is fantastic (take the gravel road up from across the highway at 108 Mile Lake, then take the major road left. The best spot is a small pond/inlet toward the northeast end of the lake).
  
• 108 Mile Lake often attracts Pelicans (though water's a bit high this year and covers the island where I see them roost).
  
• The west end of Horse Lake is a good place to spot the odd gull or larger shorebird. There was an alder flycatcher at the East end of the lake earlier in the season, but I don't think it stuck around.
  
• The 100 Mile Sewage Ponds are always full of ducks, and often have shorebirds at the far end. 
• The burned areas northwest of town are great for Black-backed Woodpeckers right now. Around kilometer 8-10 on Helena Lake road is a great spot (accessed from Tatton Station Road past Watson Lake). You might also get White-Throated Sparrows there. Gustafson North forest road is another burn area to check.
  
• On your way there Watson Lake has a huge Eared Grebe colony, and Walker Valley is a nice walk through some fields long some small lakes.

South of 100 Mile, there are a few regular stops I used to make.

• Loch Lomond is a nice alkaline lake, and has had breeding Black-necked Stilts and plenty of waterfowl (though it might be late to see the stilts).
  
• The Clinton sewage ponds can make for a nice quick stop. 
• During migration, I haven't found a place that beats Loon Lake Road between Clinton and Cache Creek for warblers and songbirds (I once had over 80 Wilson's Warblers, and another time a Blackpoll). The road overlooks riparian habitat along the Bonaparte river, and goes through some grasslands as well. With the fire a few years ago, the river is even more of an oasis for migrating songbirds. 
• Venables Valley is a beautiful area with some small lakes. The north end of Venables Valley road is also a good place to park to explore the sagebrush grasslands. I've seen Lark Sparrows there among other things. 
• And between Spences Bridge and Cache Creek, keep your eye our for Chukars by the highway.

Feel free to message me if you have any particular questions too. I have other recommendations if you're looking for more.

[Chris]

Hey Jon, I've stopped at a few areas when I drive from Chilliwack to Fort St. John. I would like to stop at more areas but I typically do the drive in one day and it's quite long!

Just to add what Paul has said, Scout Island is a really nice stop. I always stop there. Paul recommended Mission Rd to me and I have done that four times and it's a really nice detour. Even in March it had a lot of birds.

Becher's Prairie is a great area as well as Paul has mentioned.

I have not stopped at Loch Lomond but there is a road that you can access it instead of the highway.

I also have stopped at 100 Mile Marsh. Can be good for waterfowl at certain times of the year and it's a quick stop.

Clinton to Williams Lake is one of my favorite areas I have been to in BC.

[Ben]

Wow! So much fantastic information, thank you Paul and Chris!

I'm heading up that way tomorrow, but I think I will have to take it slow in order to not miss anything

I appreciate that you mentioned many specific birds -- Black-backed Woodpecker is high on my target list so I'll be sure to try Helena lake road, and I'll keep my eyes peeled for Chukar!

I'll post a report once I get back

[paulos]

Nice, hope it goes well!