RBA: CURLEW SANDPIPER at Sandspit, Haida Gwaii

Sep 28--Andrew Keaveney photographed this apparent CURLEW SANDPIPER just SE of Sandspit on Moresby Island (Haida Gwaii). *A different photo shows a better angle on the rump (which looks fully white). If accepted this would be the first BC record since 1993! Andrew's been hot lately (not surprising on HG), with 2 RED-THROATED PIPITS and 2 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS also seen yesterday at the Sandspit Airport. 

Sep 29--AK joined forces with local birders Margo Hearne and Peter Hamel. I understand they had a RED-THROATED PIPIT in the dune-grass just east of Dixon Entrance Golf Course (SW of Tow Hill), and 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers at Delkatla Slough. I hope I have the details correct.

Sep 26-27--ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE near Tofino

From Adrian Dorst who made this observation on Stubbs island:

"First observed flying past, then landing on the beach about 100 meters away. It caught my attention immediately by being so much darker than the Eurasian Collared Doves also in the area. What was striking was the large amount of rust or rufous on the back in a pattern very similar to the Oriental Turtle Dove I saw in Tofino in 1992. But this bird looked darker overall and I suspect it is a juvenile. Head and neck appeared grey. I could not see any markings on the neck, but at the closest point it was still perhaps 80 meters (yards) away. A very shy bird. I suspect it may be joining collared doves at a feeder."

***This is on private land, so in the event that the bird stays around, permission will first need to be confirmed by landowners. Follow the blog for updates***

Sep 25--RED-THROATED PIPIT on Vancouver Island

From Ian Cruickshank:

"This morning at Rocky Point I had a flyover small passerine giving flight calls I didn't recognize - a single very high, completely clear "tseeew" with no buzzy quality, fairly long, and slightly descending/thinning gradually at the end.  I immediately thought it may be a wagtail sp. based on the calls, and though I remembered that Red-throated Pipit calls were distinctive, I've never heard one and couldn't remember the specifics.  Well, I just listened to flight calls of all the east Asian wagtails and pipits, and none of them fit, except Red-throated: a perfect match.  It was heading south across the strait on its own, and while I heard the flight call several times, I only got a visual on it once it was a little speck against the sky heading away from me.  The size/structure/flight style of this speck did look consistent with a pipit..."

BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY off Stubbs Island

A Blue-footed Booby was photographed off Stubbs Island, north of Telegraph Cove on Sept 24 (Kyle Howard).  Details to follow as available.

Sep 22-HOODED ORIOLE in Jordan River

From Jeremy Kimm: "At around 9am this morning my wife and I found a female/immature HOODED ORIOLE at Jordan River, in the small clump of trees across from the gravel parking area.  I had a brief glimpse of the bird that threw me for a loop, then after more searching, the bird sat up in the open for 5 minutes before flying east across the bay."

Sep 13--Ruff at Pantage Lake

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And they're doing it again. Rod Sargent & Adrian Leather found yet another Ruff/Reeve (this one--a juvenile) at Pantage Lake on Sep 13. Possibly their *3rd of the year at this location!* This hard-to-access spot is NW of Quesnel. Comments on sexing this bird are welcome.

Sep 15--Chestnut-sided Warbler found 20+km off Ucluelet

This hatch-year female CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was first seen circling a boat well off Ucluelet (20-40km offshore). More specific info to come. It eventually landed on the boat that was quickly captured. Once back on land it was released at a local park in Ucluelet and seemed to be foraging happily. Hopefully this bird recorrects its route!

CRESTED AUKLET IN VICTORIA

On Sept 8, Mike Sheehan photographed a CRESTED AUKLET 100m south of Discovery Island in Victoria.

Photo by Mike Sheehan

Sep 11--*3* Laysan Albatross seen off Tofino

Artie Ahier captured this image of a LAYSAN ALBATROSS approximately 25
miles off Tofino while fishing for tuna. There were apparently 3 in the area.
Hopefully this bodes well for the big WildResearch Pelagic happening Sunday!

Great Shearwater(s), Crested Auklet, and more cool birds in BC waters

This GREAT SHEARWATER was photographed by Jared Towers on Sep 5 in the Hecate Strait. Jared says he saw *2 more Great Shearwaters* the following day but was unable to attain photos. He also mentioned that a colleague of his doing cetacean surveys, has recorded no less than 4 in BC waters since June!

Jared also captured this COOL BIRD! A leucistic Rhinoceros Auklet

 

Sep 4--BROWN BOOBY near Nootka Island

Near the end of the day (~7:30pm) Mike & Sharon Toochin and Meg Brown observed this apparent adult female fishing alongside their cruise ship. This was approximately 20 nautical miles west of the southern tip of Nootka Island. It was present for around 30 minutes and Sharon managed a few great shots including this one.

The other highlight of the trip was a pair of FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS near the mouth of the Juan de Fuca Strait on September 5th.