RBA: GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL in Kelowna - May 13-17th

On May 13-2019, Ryan Tomlinson found what he thought to be a Western Gull but didn’t have binoculars at the time. On May 15th he put the word out to local birders who went out and saw the bird. They got some photos, including flight shots which helped confirm the sighting as an adult Great Black-backed Gull.

The bird is on sandbars at the mouth of Mission Creek.

Directions: Go to the end of Capozzi Road. There is limited parking. Water levels on the creek are high so be extremely careful walking along the edge of the creek. You then have to cross over a small dock and you will see the sandbars where the gull is through the willow trees. This is not for anyone with mobility issues.

Map to location HERE

***The gull can take long absences of 3-5 hours between sightings. Patience is key with this bird!***

The bird was last seen in the same location at 10:25 am on May 17th. 

The bird was not relocated on May 18th despite multiple observers looking.

This is the second record for the province of BC

Great Black-backed Gull in Kelowna - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Great Black-backed Gull in Kelowna - Photo: Nathan Earley

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Campbell River - May 13th

At 3 pm on May 13-2019, Beth Rand found and photographed a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The bird was photographed along The Salmon Point Trail at Woodhus Slough. The bird was just past the Salmon Point Lighthouse near the small ponds. Beth watched the bird for 15 mins and then continued on her walk. An hour later when she returned, he was still there flycatching.

On May 14th she and a few birders went to look for the bird but did not relocate it. The bird was also not relocated on May 15th.

Map to where the bird was last seen along the trail HERE.

This is the 37th record for the province of BC.

A stunning Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Campbell River - Photos: Beth Rand

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Creston - May 11th

At 10:15 am on May 11-2019, Lyle Grisedale found a Brown Thrasher at Rykerts Lake near the US-Idaho border. The bird was perched on a leafless branch HERE along Porthill Rd. By the time he got out his camera it had flown south down the lake. He followed it but lost the bird in thick bushes.

He returned with other birders on May 12th but could not relocate the bird. The bird was well described and this is the second Brown Thrasher he has seen in BC.

This is the 42nd record for the province of BC.

RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Squamish - May 6th

At 9:00 am on May 6-2019, Chris Dale and Christoper Di Corrado found a Loggerhead Shrike HERE at the Squamish River Estuary. The bird was at the end of 3rd Ave. They last saw the bird way out HERE in the East Marsh (where the road to the Squamish Terminals and Rail line meet).

The bird was last seen in the east marsh at 6pm on May 6th but not since.

Chris Dale was able to obtain nice photos of the bird and a video that can be viewed HERE

This is the 93rd record for BC.

Loggerhead Shrike in Squamish - Photos: Chris Dale

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Nakusp - April 29 - May 3rd

An adult male Indigo Bunting is visiting a feeder at Bev Sinclair and Andy Moffat's home at 928 - 5th St. in Nakusp. The bird was first present on April 29-2019, but was first thought to be a bluebird until Julia Flesaker found and identified it correctly on May 2-2019.

The home is open to the public and birders are allowed and welcome to enter the yard to view the bird. The homeowner has generously put out chairs for birders to use. There is a sign on the front lawn welcoming birders into the yard.  Please do not walk under the feeders and walk on the upper driveway to the rear deck to view the feeder.

Please respect private property and residences in the area while viewing and do not block driveways.

The bird was last seen in the same location on May 3rd and has been viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not seen at all on May 4th.

Male Indigo Bunting in Nakusp - Photos: Julia Flesaker

RBA: 2 LESSER GOLDFINCHES in Princeton - May 1-7th

Edward Lahaie found a Lesser Goldfinch at a nyjer feeder at his home at 460 Auburn Crescent in Princeton. This is the 5th year, that he has had a Lesser Goldfinch in his yard.

This is the 25th record for the province of BC. 

Lesser Goldfinches are most likely breeding now in the province in the city of Osoyoos with up to 15 birds still present. However, no nests have been found yet to confirm this.

On May 7th a second bird (a male with a darker cap) turned up at the property that looked very different than the original bird.

The public is more than welcome to come view these birds but please knock on the front door first before going in to view the bird. Please be respectful of private property and other residences in the area.

The birds continue in the same location as of May 7th.

Male Lesser Goldfinch in Princeton on May 3rd - Photo: Edward Lahaie

Second Male Lesser Goldfinch with darker cap in Princeton - Photo: Edward Lahaie 

RBA: 3 MOTTLED AND 4 MURPHY'S PETRELS off Vancouver Island - April 30th

At 7 am on April 30-2019, Paul Lehman spotted 3 Mottled Petrels and 4 Murphy's Petrels off the northbound "Star Princess" cruise ship that was SSW of the Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver Island. All in his tour group were able to see the bird. The Mottled Petrels were the first Paul had ever seen in BC waters.

Photos of one of the Mottled Petrels at (48.954000, -128.746000) was obtained by Bruce Rideout.

The Murphy's Petrels were located: 2 birds were 172 km SW of Estevan Point HERE and 1 HERE and 1 HERE

The Motted Petrels were located: 1 bird 160 km SSW of the Brooks Peninsula HERE and 1 HERE and 1 HERE

Mottled Petrel in BC - Photos: Bruce Rideout

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Point Roberts - April 24 - May 11th

At 12pm on April 24-2019, Damion Ruthven found and photographed a male Tufted Duck on Edwards Drive pond HERE in Point Roberts, WA. The bird is sticking close to a female Greater Scaup.

Point Roberts is 5 mins from Tsawwassen, BC and accessed through Canada. It is birded primarily by British Columbians, hence why I am posting about it here.

The bird was last seen in the same location on May 11th but has not been seen since.

Male Tufted Duck in Point Roberts, WA - Photo: Eric Ellingson 

RBA: SNOWY PLOVERS near Tofino - April 23rd and May 23rd

At 3:25pm on April 23-2019, Sarah Tyne found a Snowy Plover in Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino. The bird is on Wickaninnish Beach about 800m NW of the parking lot "E" access.

The bird was last present as of 4pm and was not associating with any other shorebirds. The bird was viewed by multiple observers.

On May 23rd-2019 Lorraine Hall found a different Snowy Plover (that was banded in OR) on the same beach. A photo of that bird can be found HERE.

This is the 24th and 25th record for the province of BC.

Snowy Plover on Wickaninnish Beach - Photo: Toby Theriault

Snowy Plover in Pacific Rim National Park - Photo: Ian Cruickshank

RBA (Late Report): RUSTIC BUNTING in Bull River - Dec 16/18 to Mar 12/19

A Rustic Bunting was coming to Glen Todd’s feeder in Bull River (located in the Kootenays) from December 16/18 to March 12/19. It was initially identified by the observer as a Lapland Longspur and reported to Bird Studies Canada’s Project FeederWatch  on April 14th, 2019. Thanks to those at Bird Studies Canada (Ron Ridout and Kerrie Wilcox) the bird was identified to its correct species and reported to the BC RBA. When the bird was present it was with a large flock of Dark-eyed Juncos.

It has not returned since March 12, 2019.

This is the 6th confirmed photographed record of Rustic Bunting in BC and there are 10 reports.

Rustic Bunting at a private home in Bull River, BC - Photos: Glen Todd