Esquimalt lagoon migratory bird sanctuary colwood all. The unique geological history and physical processes of esquimalt lagoon have created an area rich in wildlife that is highly valued by locals and visitors. Central coast salish used the area prior to european settlement. Digilab was the result and is a hit with teens to 18. Lagoon north of beach serves as a wildlife sanctuary and refuge. Esquimalt lagoon is a saltwater lagoon located at the base of the royal roads university property in colwood, approximately 7 kilometers to the west of downtown victoria. Royal roads to seaward lies an anchorage or roadstead first used in 1790 by the spanish and named in 1846 for its location between albert head and victoria.
Esquimalt lagoon migratory bird sanctuary home facebook. Try the bacon wrapped pork medallions they are tremendous. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Esquimalt naval base a history of its work and its. German uboats began operating off the american coast, and it was naturally foreseen that this would probably result in increased danger to shipping in eastern canadian waters, requiring a corresponding stepup in the already intensive antisubmarine campaign. Langfords paul lewis is the artist behind the new pieces of driftwood art overlooking the ocean at the esquimalt lagoon in colwood. The station was established by the british government in. Injured birdswildlife can be taken to spca wild arc at 1020 malloch rd, metchosin.
Tide calendars prediction esquimalt lagoon windfinder. The esquimalt municipal archives provides a safe, permanent, and accessible home for records of historical and legal value for both the municipality and the community. You may sight a belted kingfisher sitting quietly on a branch and, either stalking the shorelines or perched high in the evergreens, you may see a number of great blue herons. Click on an image below to download a larger pdf file. Activities in this area are carried out with the highest respect for the deep history of the land and its cultural significance to local first nations. Eswhoymalth meaning place of gradually shoaling water. It was also the site of farms, a tannery and a sawmill in the 19th century. What drew our attention, however, were the driftwood sculptures created along the beach by paul lewis.
A federally designated migratory bird sanctuary encompasses the lagoon and adjacent lands. The word esquimalt is a transliteration of esswhoymalth, a phrase usually translated as place. Kendra wongnews gazette staff langford man creates animals out of driftwood at esquimalt lagoon. Before the arrival of european settlers there was a first nations presence, with people of the coast salish linguistic group inhabiting the area for. Fisgard lighthouse national historic site, on fisgard island at the mouth of esquimalt harbour in colwood, british columbia, is the site of fisgard lighthouse, the first lighthouse on the west coast of canada.
Esquimalt lagoon migratory bird sanctuary victoria and. The idea was initiated by a group of esquimalt youth who wanted to develop and lead programs that would see likeminded teens meeting and collaborating while exploring new technologies. Birding at esquimalt lagoon do not forget to look up too. Rru occupies the largest single land base adjacent to the lagoon. The esquimalt lagoon to cole island paddle is an excellent day trip which can take a couple of hours or half a day or more depending on how much you would like to explore. Among the intertidal gravel bars at the entrance to the lagoon, butter clams, littleneck clams, mussels and oysters are quite plentiful. Wind and weather webcams esquimalt lagoon windfinder. Other abundant resources were fish, birds, mammals and other riches of the surrounding forest lands.
Find esquimalt properties for sale listings at the best price. In 1854, a naval base was established at esquimalt harbour. This calm, shallow lagoon is a migratory bird sanctuary where a variety of birds, including ducks, swans, eagles and herons, can often be observed. Esquimalt lagoon migratory bird sanctuary, colwood. Last spring high tide at esquimalt lagoon was on fri 08 may height. The unique geological history and physical processes of esquimalt lagoon have created an area rich in wildlife that is highly valued by locals and visitors to the area. Last week lewis created an owl pictured eagle, and raven. Esquimalt is situated 4 km east of esquimalt lagoon. Straits salish indian settlement site at esquimalt lagoon. Officially called beach food fridays and saturdays at the colwood waterfront, this is a weekly occurrence that runs from early may until late september on the last two days of the week between 11 am. Esquimalt lagoon victoria, british columbia atlas obscura.
The base occupies approximately 41 km 2 10,000 acres at the. The rcn has done a great job of showing their extensive history, both recent and long past. Esquimalt article about esquimalt by the free dictionary. Park virtually on the beach, rig on pebbles beside your vehicle, launch on sand. A contribution to straits salssh prehistory richard wi 11 i am bl ackl aws b.
By the 1880s rapid growth was occurring through the building of royal navy dry docks 1887, the construction of the esquimalt and nanaimo railway 1886, and the founding of a. History of colwood vancouver island news, events, travel. Along the lagoon are several signs to highlight some of the significant aspects of this unique area. Esquimalt naval base a history of its work and its defences, f. The present and potential anthropogenic uses of the lagoon include swimming, boating, fishing, and site seeing. The treaties of the hudsons bay company hbc, signed in 1843, refer to these people as the kosampsom group, though they are now known as the esquimalt nation. Like the land around hatley park, it also has a rich and varied history. For birders its a great place to sit with a pair of binoculars and with its breathtaking views, its a great spot.
The tide charts below show the height, time and date of high and low tides for the next 30 days. One of the firs, dubbed the magna carta tree, dates back to the era of runnymede. Esquimalt british columbia travel and adventure vacations. Esquimalt lagoon to cole island paddle route ocean river. Abandoned deertrail resort sooke, british columbia.
Esquimalt lagoon beach with cfb esquimalt in the background. Premier listings for esquimalt the township of esquimalt is located in greater victoria on the southern tip of vancouver island, british columbia. Beach food fridays and saturdays is a summer event with food trucks and sometimes even live music on the beach at the colwood waterfront by esquimalt lagoon beach food at the colwood waterfront. The lagoon is one of seven migratory bird sanctuaries in british columbia, and an important stopover for birds journeying between north and. Esquimalt lagoon is located just east of esquimalt harbor near the southern tip of vancouver island. Current conditions and forecasts including 7 day outlook, daily highlow temperature, warnings, chance of precipitation, pressure, humiditywind chill when applicable historical data, normals, record values and sunrisesunset times. Centennial book corporation of the township of esquimalt. Located in naden on canadian forces base esquimalt, the museum exhibits include spotlights on the canadian womens army corps, the royal canadian navy on the west coast, and the west coast defences.
A small plaque on a concrete cairn in the shore of the esquimalt lagoon outlines its history. Langford man creates animals out of driftwood at esquimalt. Dec 03, 2007 esquimalt officially became the headquarters of the royal navys pacific station in 1865, although the navy had constructed buildings on duntze head as early as 1855. Rru occupies the largest single land base adjacent to the. The beach at esquimalt lagoon about esquimalt lagoon. Esquimalt naval base a history of its work and its defences.
This small beach park is littered with a collection of unique driftwood sculptures. The name means place of gradually shoaling waters in the local indian language. The centennial book esquimalt centennial, 1912 to 2012 written by sherri robinson, wellknown historian and writer, is a tangible legacy of our history, our pioneers, and their stories. Prior to european contact, the intertidal clam beds at the entrance to the lagoon were extensively harvested by ancestors of the esquimalt and songhees first nations. Journey through canadian military history at the cfb esquimalt naval and military museum, built in 1891 as an annex to the royal naval hospital. Pacific herring were known to spawn in esquimalt lagoon before the 1950s, and spawning was observed in the early 1990s. You dont have to go to cathedral grove to see giant trees. You can see fisgard lighthouse in the distance from one end, and if you face away from the ocean you can see hatley. Pack a picnic and head over to the esquimalt lagoon. Indigenous history and culture historical timeline of the area the daily ebb and flow of life at the lagoon birds of the lagoon. Esquimalt s original native inhabitants knew it as the place of shoaling waters, derived from a native indian expression eswhoymalth. The tide conditions at esquimalt lagoon, british columbia can diverge from the tide conditions at esquimalt lagoon. Esquimalt lagoon features miles of breathtaking ocean beachfront with a view across to the city of victoria at one end and the amazing snow capped peaks of. Canadian forces base esquimalt cfb esquimalt is canada s pacific coast naval base and home port to maritime forces pacific and joint task force pacific headquarters.
The lagoon is bordered by some of the oldest coastal douglas fir forest remaining in the. The shallow lagoon is enclosed by a sand and gravel barrier spit, and tidal channel at the northeast end connects the lagoon to the ocean. Esquimalt lagoon is a salt water lagoon not far from the national historic site of fort rodd hill and fisgard lighthouse as well as royal roads university and hatley castle. Abandoned deertrail resort copy link facebook twitter reddit flipboard pocket. Don came from a railway family with both his father a. This shallow lagoon is enclosed by sand and gravel barrier spit, and is connected to the ocean with a tidal channel at the northeast end. The topography of this land is characterized by rocky slopes to the north, and gravel slopes to the south end of the lagoon. Please note that esquimalt lagoon is a migratory bird sanctuary. When you consider that this route encompasses a migratory bird sanctuary, beautiful natural areas, many interesting historical sites and a busy, working naval harbour, best to allow yourself lots of time. The region now known as esquimalt was settled by first nations people approximately 400 years before the arrival of europeans. It continued to be used as a rifle range by royal roads military college well into the 20th century. Esquimalt lagoon is a saltwater lagoon rich in wildlife.
Beach food weekends at esquimalt lagoon victorias best. Discover esquimalt lagoon in victoria, british columbia. Predictions are available with water levels, low tide and high tide for up to 10 days into the future. The esquimalt branch is home to the digilab, a tech and craft program designed by teens for teens. Esquimalt lagoon migratory bird sanctuary colwood all you. A special island moment esquimalt lagoon is one of my favourite places to enjoy nature in greater victoria. Since european contact, the area has been used for farming, logging, g milling. This is the webcam overview page for esquimalt lagoon in british columbia, canada. This shallow lagoon is enclosed by a sand and gravel barrier spit, and is connected to the ocean with a tidal channel at the northeast end. Herring is an important food source for many marine fish, mammals and birds. You can view all wind and weather webcams nearby esquimalt lagoon on the above map.
This calm, shallow lagoon is a migratory bird sanctuary where a variety of birds, including ducks, swans, eagles and herons, can often be. Paul lewis has created an eagle, raven and owl out. Esquimalt lagoon features miles of breathtaking ocean beachfront with a view across to the city of victoria at one end and the amazing snow capped peaks of the olympic mountains at the other. Next high spring tide at esquimalt lagoon will be on sat 23 may height. The entry of japan and the united states into the war in 1941 had two widereaching effects on canadian coastal defence policy. Esquimalt lagoon was used as a firing range for the royal navy during the 1880s. Perhaps the nicest rigging and launch in the greater victoria area. Beach food weekends at esquimalt lagoon victorias best places. James douglas visited the harbour in 1843, and later signed treaties with the native people allowing the development of 3 hudsons bay company supply farms.
There is one only restroom at the junction of lagoon rd. Today esquimalt lagoon and coburg peninsula are protected as a park and migratory bird sanctuary, enjoyed by thousands. The history of esquimalt esquimalt has a long and significant history resulting in a legacy of heritage buildings, sites, structures and cultural landscapes. Esquimalt lagoon and surrounding lands have been important to coast salish people for thousands ofyears. The unique geological history and physical processes of esquimalt lagoon have created an area rich in wildlife, that is highly valued by locals and visitors to the area. This land above esquimalt lagoon contains trees that are among the top 10 biggest douglas fir trees in the province. The concerns regarding esquimalt lagoon pertain to the recreational use of the lagoon. Lagoon is sheltered and could make a good beginner venue except too many water birds and lousy water quality. Esquimalt lagoon beach and estuary seen from one the searchlight emplacements on the nature trail, fort rodd hill park just up the road from the esquimalt lagoon on ocean boulevard drive. As an estuary, it provides an important habitat for a diverse community of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna. It has the chief naval station and naval dockyard of w canada. Parking is all along the road that runs adjacent to the lagoon. Bc books for your summer west coast adventure caitlin press. The book features wonderful archival photos that remind us how esquimalt has changed from a wooded hamlet to the thriving community it is now.
It appears that some of the birds swans and ducks seem to home there as well. The esquimalt lagoon is very attractive, and birdwatchers obviously really love the place. Covid19 information the archives will be closed starting march 17 until further notice. Esquimalt lagoon migratory bird sanctuary colwood 2020 all.