RBA: BLACK-HEADED GULL in Vancouver, Jan 25-Jan 31st

On Jan 25th at 8:40 am, Edward Nygren found an adult Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage in the NW corner of Trout Lake. He noticed right away the small size of the gull , the dark ear spot on the white head, the black wing tips and the blood red legs and bill. The bird was foraging on the lawn with Glaucous-winged and California Gulls.

The bird was relocated at 10:00 am in the gravel soccer field in the West side of the park by Daniele Mitchell on Jan 26th and was photographed by multiple observers. It moves between sitting on the lake and the West parking lot and soccer field.

The address for Trout Lake/John Hendry Park is: 3300 Victoria Drive, Vancouver.

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

Adult Black-headed Gull at Trout Lake in Vancouver - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev 

TUFTED DUCK in Richmond, Jan 11th-March 3rd

At 1pm on Jan 11th, Paul Clapham found an adult male Tufted Duck in the South West inner pond at Iona Regional Park in Richmond. The bird was with 100 Lesser Scaups and Ring-necked ducks.  He was observed roosting on the island in the North West inner pond and also swimming in the NE  and SE inner ponds.

To get the gate code to access the inner ponds, please contact Jude Grass at judegrass@shaw.ca

The park is located at 945 Ferguson Rd in Richmond and is open from 8 am until 5pm daily.

The bird has not been relocated since March 3rd.

Tufted Duck in Richmond - Photo: Peter Candido

RBA: SIBERIAN ACCENTOR in Surrey, Jan 3-20th

At 12pm on Jan 6th, George Clulow and Mandy Lu found and photographed a Siberian Accentor at Gill Farm (5224 160th St). This is along 160th St. south of Colebrook Rd in Surrey in the blueberry fields on the east side of the road. The bird was flocking with 6 Dark-eyed Juncos and was perched in the Northern edge of the blueberry field in a Red Alder. The best way to access this location is to park in front of Capella's Farm on the shoulder of the road and walk south on 160th but it is also accessible South from Hwy 10. The bird is very skittish. The bird was actually first found on Jan 3rd at 2pm on the White Rock Christmas Bird Count but the observer wasn't sure of what he had seen until he photographed it on Jan 6th. More info on previous Siberian Accentors in British Columbia can be found HEREA note on parking and viewing. Please park off to the side of the road at wide spots or as far onto the shoulder as possible. When viewing from the roadway (the only viewpoint), please be respectful of passing vehicles and allow unimpeded passage to the residents and workers who utilize this road and please stay off private property at all times.

It has been seen in the hedgerow to the left (north) side of the house in blackberries and alders, and has also been seen to the right (south) of the house in the large bush. It goes into the blueberry fields as well as further down the hedgerow, both of which can make it difficult or impossible to see, and it may disappear for extended periods of time,. There have been several days with no sightings. When present, it is often only visible for brief moments at a time. It may associate with juncos or be by itself, but either way is usually inconspicuous.

Update: The accentor has not been relocated since Jan 20th.

Siberian Accentor in Surrey - Photo: John Gordon