RBA: LESSER GOLDFINCH in Victoria - Dec 11/17-Jan 7/18

Update: This bird was first photographed by Susan Harper at her home on December 11/2017. However, at the time she didn't realize it was a Lesser Goldfinch.

At 11:50am on December 24-2017, while viewing  a previously reported Tennessee Warbler, Nathan Hentze found a female Lesser Goldfinch. The bird was feeding in the backyard of Susan Harper's home at 820 Rogers Court. However, the Lesser Goldfinch is best viewed by looking at the feeders in the backyard from Rogers Way. It was also seen directly across the street at 840 Rogers Way. The bird was viewed by multiple observers all afternoon and photographed.

Please do not trespass on home owner's property and be respectful of other residents in the area.

This is the 22nd record for the province of BC.
 
The bird has not been relocated since January 7th/2018, despite multiple observers looking.

Female Lesser Goldfinch in Victoria, Dec 24/17  - Photo: Gordon Hart

Female Lesser Goldfinch in Victoria, Dec 24/17 - Photo: Marie O'Shaughnessy

RBA: BROWN BOOBY off the West Coast of Vancouver Island - Dec 5th

Greg Petri had an adult Brown Booby land on his fishing vessel in pelagic waters, west of the Brooks Peninsula on December 5th-2017. The bird rode on the boat for quite some time before flying off to sea.

This is the 14th record for the province of BC.

Brown Booby on the West Coast of Vancouver Island - Photo: Greg Petri

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Cranbrook - Dec 9/17-April 19/18

At 1:45 pm on Dec 9th-2017, Ryan Tomlinson found a Brown Thrasher in Joseph Creek. This location is directly across from Greg Ross and Katrin Powell's home; who have a Northern Cardinal visiting their yard since Nov 7th at 213 17th Ave N.

Map to location of bird HERE

At 2:45pm the bird was relocated in the same location by Chris Charlesworth and photographed.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 10th, despite multiple observers looking.

On December 26th, bird was relocated in Greg Ross's Yard at 213, 17th Ave N.

The bird was last seen at the above location on Dec 29th, 2017.

On Jan 1, 2018 Wendy Norris Roberts relocated the Brown Thrasher in her yard on 11th Ave S in Cranbrook.

The bird continues in the same location on 11th Ave S as of March 5, 2018. Please view the bird from the street only and do not trespass. Please be respectful of neighbors and private property. The address is withheld per request. Contact the RBA if you plan to go searching for this bird.

This is the 39th record for the province of BC.

The bird was seen in the yard of a private home on 13th Ave S on March 18, 2018.

*The bird was last seen at 11 Ave S as of April 20, 2018.  Contact the RBA for viewing access.*

Brown Thrasher in Cranbrook. Jan 31, 2018. Photo: Greg Ross

Brown Thrasher in Cranbrook. Feb 19, 2018. Photo: Wendy Norris Roberts

RBA: SUMMMER TANAGER in Vancouver - Dec 9/17-April 20/18

At 8:25am on Dec 9th-2017, Wendy Kahle found an immature male Summer Tanager (red feathers appear on the bird's face and back) at her home near W 71st Ave in Vancouver. The bird has a bill deformity but is coming to her suet feeder on her patio in her backyard. The bird can be viewed from the public lane (Avery Ave), behind the property. It may also be possible to view it from the Arbutus greenway. Please do not trespass on her property or in the townhouse complex. Please be respectful of private property.

Map to where to stand to view her patio feeder HERE.

The bird has not been seen since April 20th.

This is the 6th record for the province of BC and 1st for Metro Vancouver.

This bird has received a lot of media attention and you can read/watch news stories on it HERE, HERE, HERE , HERE and HERE.

Imm. Male Summer Tanager with bill deformity in Vancouver - Photo: Liron Gertsman

Imm. Male Summer Tanager with bill deformity in Vancouver - Photo: Melissa Hafting

RBA: Another Male KING EIDER in Vancouver - Dec 4-16th

At 3pm on Dec 4th-2017, Peter Woods found a male King Eider at Stanley Park in Vancouver. The bird was near to shore allowing for close views. It was between the north end of English Bay and the Second Beach swimming pool. It was viewed from the seawall off Stanley Park Drive in a small Surf Scoter flock until 4:20pm, when it became dark and the observer left.

A map to exact location HERE

At 8:10 am on Dec 5th-2017 it was viewed by multiple observers at the same time that the male King Eider was being viewed in Berth 5 in Tsawwassen. To read about the Delta bird click HERE.

The Vancouver male King Eider was relocated with six Surf Scoters off the north end of English Bay off the seawall at Beach Ave, near the Sylvia Hotel.

A map to exact location HERE.

At 8am on Dec 6th the Eider was relocated with a large flock of Surf Scoters about 150m off the parking lot, just north of the 2nd beach swimming pool.

At 1:10pm on Dec 7th, the King Eider was seen near the SeaBus terminal at Waterfront Station in a large raft of Surf scoters. It was still present as of 3:30pm.

At 1:30pm on Dec 8th, the bird continues as viewed from the Seabus near the tip of Canada Place.

On Dec 9th, 10:30am the bird continues at Canada Place.

Map to Canada Place location HERE.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 10th or 11th, despite multiple observers looking.

At 11:50am on Dec 16th, the bird was relocated just off Canada Place near the blue drop sculpture, with a flock of Surf Scoters and one female Long-tailed Duck. It has not been relocated since.

** An aside: On Dec 2nd-2017, Ryan Terrill reported seeing a bird that he thought was "undoubtedly a Female King Eider" offshore from the "Star Princess" cruise ship between UBC and Lighthouse Park. His description fit a female Eider and it was last seen flying north with a Surf Scoter flock towards Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver. However, due to distance and unidentifiable photos, other Eider species could not be ruled out. Therefore, that record had to be left unconfirmed. There are now 3 potential King Eiders in Vancouver.

If this male King Eider in Vancouver is in fact a second individual, it would represent the 36th record for the province of BC.

Male King Eider in Vancouver - Photo: Peter Woods