Saturday, November 17, 2012

14 Nov - 21 March -- CITRINE WAGTAIL in COMOX!!!

Update: still present March 21

Photos of the Comox wagtail have now been taken by several observers (18th Nov, am) and clearly show a first winter Citrine Wagtail! This bird was first found on Nov 14th by David and Adele Routledge and seen again and photographed on the 17th. Congratulations to the finders of this first Canadian and second North American Record, and thanks to members of the local birding community who initiated contact with the landowner to permit access to the site.

First winter Citrine Wagtail, Comox, 18th Nov 2012 (photo: Jeremy Gatten)

Diagnostic features supporting the identification include an overall pale and light grey bird with a lack of any olive or brown tones on the upperside. The absence of any breast markings, extensive white tips to the median and greater coverts forming two bold white wing bars, pale lores, a bold white supercilium and white undertail coverts are also useful for separating this bird from both 1st winter Yellow and White Wagtails. The most distinctive feature, however, is the "open" face pattern showing only slightly dark auriculars bordered posteriorly by a neat whitish crescent.

Direction to the site are as follows: From Courtenay, take 17th St heading east out of town. Cross the bridge and turn right. Continue towards Comox approximately 500m to the second dirt track on the left. The bird is being seen 100+m along this track beyond the the steel cable blocking vehicle access. Please note that this is private land and for those wishing to see the bird, permission has been granted to walk down the farm track but NOT to enter the property on the left side of the road. Please be considerate and respectful and park your vehicle responsibly.


Sunday, November 11, 2012

11 Nov -- CAVE SWALLOW at Iona!

Photo: Peter Candido
A CAVE SWALLOW was present today (Nov 11) feeding over the Southern outer pond on Iona Island and was seen up until dusk. Jamie Fenneman, Jeremiah Kennedy and Paul Levesque, found the bird at around 13:00 hours. This is a first BC record of this species and has been photographed repeatedly. The bird is still present Nov 18th.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

November 3 -- Little Gull in Victoria

This afternoon Louis Haviland found an adult Little Gull at the Ogden Breakwater in Victoria. The observation is supported by a series of distant photos (all posterior views) showing black underwings and a clean grey upperwing with no black tips to the primaries. This is third Little Gull reported from BC this year but the only one from Vancouver Island. Updates will be posted as received.

Friday, November 2, 2012

November 1/2 -- Elegant Tern in Victoria

On November 1 Steven Roias reported an ELEGANT TERN from Cattle Point in Victoria. The bird was still present in the area today (3rd) and appears to move between Cadboro Bay and Oak Bay, periodically passing Cattle Point. There are very few records of this species in BC, with most during August and September. Also present at Cattle Point on the 1st was a Tropical Kingbird (Iain Cruickshank) which left the area heading southwest and has not been refound.