NORTHERN WHEATEAR at Iona Island!

[Photo: Mike Tabak]
This afternoon, a Northern Wheatear was found at Iona Island by Roger Foxall. The bird was located at the intersection of all four ponds, and was still present at dusk. Also nearby was a VESPER SPARROW (locally rare), and a STILT SANDPIPER (first of the season).

Iona Island is located just north of the Vancouver International Airport.

SEPT 1 UPDATE: Many birders turned out to try to re-locate the wheatear today but unfortunately they were unsuccessful. With all the habitat out there though, the bird could easily be foraging happy somewhere among the brambles to the north.

RED-NECKED STINT *and* RUFF near Victoria!

On August 26, a RED-NECKED STINT and a RUFF were found at the east corner of Witty's Lagoon in Metchosin by Nathan Hentze, Jamie Fenneman, Pierre-Paul Bitton, and Jeremy Gatten. The Ruff was present into the evening and seen by many observers, but the peep flock containing the Red-necked Stint was flushed out of the area by a Merlin before most observers arrived.

The Ruff was still present in the early afternoon on August 27 (Aziza Cooper).

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Indigo Bunting at Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory

First assumed to be a hybrid, this bird may in fact be a pure Indigo Bunting.

More details--
http://tatlayokobirds.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/17-aug-a-rare-return/

Aug 11--RUFF (French Creek, Vancouver Island)

From Guy Monty:

"There was a Ruff at the pond between the SE end of Admiral Tryon Blvd and French Creek this afternoon. It was there until at least about 2:45pm. I went back to try and get photos an hour later, and could not relocate it. I was on bike though, so did not have the range to check everywhere. It could certainly still be in the area, as there is lots of habitat to check in that area."

Aug 12 update-- still present in the AM (fide Guy Monty)