1 | Vancouver Island Nature Viewing Region | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2 | Comox Valley Area | ||
3 | Kye Bay, Comox | ||
4 |  |  |  |
5 | Whimbrel: Bill Heybroek drawing | Kye Bay: Krista Kaptein photo | Moon snail egg case: Robin Harrison photo |
6 | Spherical Panorama | ||
7 | Photo Gallery | ||
8 | Kye Bay has one of the most spectacular sandy beaches on the east coast of Vancouver Island, as well as a long offshore reef which dries at some tides, creating two very diverse habitats to explore. Some marine life inhabits the sand flats and shallow tidal pools, including a colony of sand dollars. Various clams, starfish, snails, limpets and chitons occupy the reef habitat. Several varieties of seaweed are present, often in large quantities in the fall. A sensitive ecosystem, the upper beach zone supports dune grass, sea rocket, silver burweed and large-headed sedge. Chocolate lilies grow in Elk Park at the children's playground. Gulls and Bald Eagles are seen most months of the year. Many migratory birds visit the area and several species of ducks are present during the winter. Situated at the bottom of a coastal bluff, Kye Bay has a stunning view of the BC Coastal Mountains. The beach is very popular with young families, particularly in the summer. Check a tide guide if you plan to visit the reef. | ||
9 | Comox Valley Naturalists Society | ||
10 | Site Map | ||
11 | Geographical Description | Extensive sand flats on east side of Comox Peninsula (east of CFB Comox) between Kin Beach to the north & Cape Lazo to the south. | |
12 | Area/ Trail Length | 2.8 km of shoreline from Airforce Beach to Longview Rd.; approx. 90 ha. of sand flats at low tide | |
13 | Habitat | Sand & cobble beach, brackish lagoon, coastal bluffs, forest. | |
14 | Highlights | Extensive sand beaches & pools at low tide; views of VI mountains from far east end of sandbar/cobble spit; dynamic shoreline; large quantities of seaweed in autumn. | |
15 | Best Season | Winter for waterbirds; Summer for low tide & intertidal life. | |
16 | Main Access | Parking area at Parkway Rd at bottom of hill down Kye Bay Rd. | |
20 | Secondary Accesses | West end of Windslow Rd. | |
21 | Cautions | Seaweed covered beach may be slippery. Many dog walkers use the beach. | |
22 | Jurisdiction | Town of Comox out to approx. 320 m. from shore; Intertidal zone: Provincial MOE; Fish & fish habitat: Federal DFO. | |
23 | Birds | Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Bufflehead, Spotted Sandpiper, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup; Glaucous-winged Gull; Swainson's Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet. | |
24 | Bird List | ||
25 | Mammals | Harbour Seal. | |
26 | Reptiles | ||
27 | Amphibians | ||
28 | Fish | ||
29 | Intertidal Life | Flat worms, tube worms. Invertebrates: Sea stars: giant, pink-skinned, leather, mottled , blood. Sand dollars, sea cucumber, red nudibranch, giant sea urchin. Shellfish: clams: bent-nose, sand , Japanese varnish, native little-neck, cockle, horse, butter, mud, gaper (horse)Lined chiton,mossy chiton, bubble snails, jingle shell, Japanese oysters, limpets. Crustaceans: black-tipped crab, porcelain crab, kelp crab. Moon snails. | |
30 | Insects | ||
31 | Other species | ||
32 | Trees | Douglas-fir. | |
33 | Shrubs | Ocean spray, salal. | |
34 | Flowering Plants | Blue-eyed Mary, beach pea, sea rocket, gumweed, hairy cat’s ear, big-leaved sandwort, false Solomon’s seal, red-flowering currant, herb-Robert, large-headed sedge, chocolate lily, silver burweed. | |
35 | Ferns, Lichens, Mosses | ||
36 | Other Species | ||
37 | Invasive/ Non- native species | Invasive: Scotch broom, holly, daphne laurel, Himalayan blackberry. Non-native:Yellow lupine. | |
39 | Seaweeds | Coralline seaweed (Corallinales), Turkish towel (Chondracanthus spp), Sugar wrack (Laminaria saccharina) , seersucker kelp (Costaria costata) | |
40 | Mushrooms | ||
41 | Geology | High energy shoreline zone: Longshore drift system driven by winter storms from south-east: Cape Lazo is the main sediment source for Kye Bay (which is the sediment sink): bluffs receding by as much as 6m/year in one spot. Currents & wave actions have caused many visible shoreline changes: Lagoon at Kye Bay btwn. old shoreline & newer sand spit w/ driftwood; Actively eroding bluffs at Cape Lazo (east end of Longview Rd,) revealing cobbles & occasional huge boulder on beach (residue from erosion of Vashon Till which makes up much of the bluffs) | |
42 | Regulations | Please leash and clean up after your pet. | |
43 | Facilities | Playground (Elks and Royal Purple Park), washroom, bike rack, picnic table, interpretive signs, benches, | |
44 | Other Features | ||
45 | Other Connections | To Kin Beach 3.5 km along waterfront at low tide; to Point Holmes 2 km along waterfront at low tide; to Goose Spit Park 5.7 km along waterfront at low tide. | |
47 | FMI | Town of Comox Beach Access Map pdf | |
48 | Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas | ||
49 | Framework Plan for Coastal Zone Management pdf | ||
50 | Tide Tables | ||
51 | Coastal Shore Jurisdiction in BC pdf | ||
52 | WSU Intertidal Life Identification | ||
53 | eBird Hotspot | ||
54 | © 2011-2023 Comox Valley Naturalists Society | ||