Beachcomber RV Park

RV camping from days gone by

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Whale watching from shore

When the whales come through, people notice.

From the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head, guests watch the channel for whales and other wildlife. Orcas and other whales sometimes pass through these waters. Seals and otters may surface closer to shore, while crabs, herons, cormorants, eagles, kingfishers, and waterbirds share the coast. Rabbits, deer, cougars, and crows are also seen around the park. Every sighting belongs to the wild—unscheduled, unpromised, and never guaranteed.

A pod of orcas passes through the channel, filmed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.[Silent video filmed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head. Several orcas surface in sequence and travel together across the channel.]

Real sightings from Beachcomber

Keep one eye on the horizon.

You can’t plan a sighting. A whale may surface only briefly before travelling on or diving again. Every photograph and video on this page was taken right here at Beachcomber by someone who stopped to watch.

A whale surfaces offshore, filmed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.[Silent video filmed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head. A whale surfaces, travels across the water, and dives.]

More wildlife along the shore

Whales are not the only reason to keep watching.

Herons, cormorants, and eagles are seen along the shore and overhead. Seals and otters may appear offshore; rabbits, deer, and crows are also seen around the park. No sighting is guaranteed.

Three dark cormorants perched on driftwood in calm coastal water, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.
Three cormorants rest on driftwood just offshore, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.
Two herons forage at low tide, filmed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.[Silent video filmed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head. Two herons forage along the shoreline and briefly spread their wings.]
A great blue heron silhouetted at dawn with a mountain across the water, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.
A great blue heron holds still as the day begins, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.
A dark bird flying low over calm coastal water at dawn, with mountains beyond, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.
A bird crosses the water at first light, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.
Silhouetted waterbirds fly over the bay at dawn, with mountains beyond, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.
Waterbirds cross the bay at dawn, photographed from the shoreline at Beachcomber RV Park on Cowichan Head.

A gentle reminder

Give wildlife room to be wild.

The best way to watch is from shore. Please give animals plenty of space, and never feed or approach them.

Read Be Whale Wise guidance

Stay by the water. See what the day brings.

A whale offshore. An eagle overhead. Mount Baker clear on the horizon. Some days, the best thing to do is pull up a chair and take it all in.

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