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

RBA: LITTLE GULL in Penticton - Nov 17-18th

At 9am on November 17-2017, Chris Charlesworth and Jesse Hannebauer found a First-winter Little Gull in Penticton. The bird is actively feeding 150m offshore off of Lakeshore Drive W, between the "Peach" on the beach and the "SS Sicamous" Boat on Okanagan Lake in Penticton. Photographs were obtained.

Map to location HERE

The Gull continues as of 4:30pm on Nov 18th. It is staying mostly off the end of the old Lakeshore Hotel and Casino Pier and has been viewed by multiple observers. The bird is best viewed with a scope.

Map to location of pier and Gull HERE

One observer reported seeing the gull at 8:30am but despite multiple observers looking, it has not been relocated by anyone else on Nov 19th or 20th.

This is the 98th record for the province of BC and the first record for the Okanagan.

Imm. Little Gull. Penticton, BC. Nov 17, 2017. Photo: Don Cecile.

Imm. Little Gull. Penticton, BC. Nov 17, 2017. Photo: Don Cecile.

Imm. Little Gull. Penticton, BC. Nov 17, 2017. Photo: Don Cecile.

RBA: NORTHERN CARDINAL in Cranbrook - Nov 7/17- Feb 27/18

UPDATE: This bird was accepted by the BC Bird Records Committee in December 2017. It is the FIRST confirmed record for the province of British Columbia.

A female Northern Cardinal was found by Katrin Powell and Greg Ross at 9:50am on November 7th-2017. The bird was in the front yard of their home at 213-17th Ave N., as it visited her feeder with black-oil sunflower seeds. It was present for 40 mins.

Provenance was considered, as cardinals are kept as cage birds in some areas. However, they have been reported in Alberta and confirmed by the Alberta Bird Records Committee as vagrants. Northern Cardinals have also bred successfully in Alberta and the first confirmed breeding record there was 2009. BC has a hypothetical record from Prince George in 1994 that was never confirmed and a carcass of one was found in March 2014 in Nanaimo.

The time of year and the part of the province where it showed up bodes well for a vagrant. Also, this is the time of year (late fall/winter) when many eastern vagrants show up out west. The other thing that lent credence for the bird being of wild origin is that it is a female. Most (but not all) caged birds from collectors (not breeders) are male.

The public is allowed to look at the bird as it visits the feeder in the yard from the sidewalk. Please respect other homeowners in the area by not blocking driveways and not pointing binoculars at homes. Please do not trespass on the homeowner's property or yard. 

The bird has been viewed by multiple observers coming to the feeder at their yard. It has also been seen across the street, sitting in the brush adjacent to Joseph Creek.

*On Dec 5th a Hoary Redpoll was found by Danny Tyson in the same yard. The bird is still present as of Dec 7th as well.*

The Northern Cardinal was last seen in the same location on Dec 8th.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 9th or 10th, despite multiple observers looking.

The bird was relocated on Dec 20th in a flock of Common Redpolls, at a feeder at Lorraine Schmidt's home in the 200 block of 13th Ave S.  Please view the feeders from the back lane. The homeowner doesn't want the address published online but contact the RBA for the address, if you plan to go searching for it.

The bird has not been seen since Feb 27/18.

CBC radio did an interview with Katrin Powell (homeowner who found the bird) and you can listen to it HERE (starts at 33:55).

You can also read a newspaper article about this bird from the "Cranbrook Daily Townsman" HERE.

Female Northern Cardinal in Cranbrook - Photo: Michael Klotz

Female Northern Cardinal in Cranbrook - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: WHITE WAGTAIL IN COMOX - Oct 24th

At 1:50pm on October 24th-2017, Krista Kaptein found a White Wagtail at Point Holmes in Comox. The bird was with Golden-crowned and Savannah Sparrows on the upper beach, 500m east of the boat launch. It made a few chip notes and short flights but always returned to the same spot. She left the bird actively foraging on the beach at 2:10pm.

Point Holmes is located at 348 Lazo Rd in Comox.

Map to location HERE.

The bird has not been relocated on October 25th, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 13th record for the province of BC.

White Wagtail in Comox - Photos: Krista Kaptein

RBA: KING EIDER in Delta - Oct 24-Dec 5th

At 9:15 am on October 24th-2017, Michael Klotz found an adult male King Eider at the end of the steel piling at Berth # 5 at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The bird was associating with a flock of Surf Scoters. This area is only open to paid passengers walking on or boarding a ferry by car. It is not open to the unpaid public. A walk on passenger fee is 17.20$ each way. Passengers are asked to board the ferry and not view it from the waiting room and leave. Please be respectful of BC Ferries rules.

PLEASE DO NOT WALK INTO THE TERMINAL WITHOUT PAYING FOR A TICKET. Remember birders want to see the bird after you, so please act in the best interest of all.

A scope is suggested to best view this bird. 

As of Dec 5th, the bird (who is now in almost full breeding plumage) continues frequenting in between Berth 3, 4 and 5.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 6th.

Map to location of bird HERE.

A discount parking lot, priced at 11$ a day with free shuttle, is located nearby HERE. Short and Long-term parking are also available at the ferry terminal.

This is the 35th record for the province of BC.

Male King Eider in Tsawwassen - Photos: Blair Dudeck

Adult Male King Eider in Delta, 11/26/17 - Photos: Liron Gertsman

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Sechelt - Oct 17-19th

At 2:40pm on October 17th-2017, John Hodges found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Wilson Creek Estuary in Sechelt. The bird was in the bushes between the big sand pile and the estuary. It called briefly and posed on top of a bush that was 4 metres in front of him. John was able to view the bird for brief periods on and off for about 5 minutes but was unable to get a photo. He lost the bird soon after and it was not relocated as of posting time.

A map to where the bird was found at the Estuary is HERE

A map to where to park at Wilson Creek Estuary can be found HERE.

Wilson Creek Estuary is located at 1580 Field Rd, Sechelt.

The bird was last seen in the same location on Oct 19th. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 20th record for the province of BC.

RBA: COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in Powell River - Sept 7/17- March 16/18

On Sept 6th-2017, Ken and Kathleen Pritchard found an adult male Costa's Hummingbird at a window feeder on their property "SeaSide Escape Retreat." The bird was first dismissed as an Anna's Hummingbird, hence the delay in them getting the word out. This property is located at 2102 Donkersley Rd in Powell River and is open to the public. Please call them first at (604) - (344-1235) before going to view this bird as a courtesy to them and per their request. Please be respectful of all guests and the homeowners private property as this is a resort.

The bird has been viewed by multiple observers but has not been seen since March 16, 2018.
Map to location HERE.

This is the second Costa's Hummingbird occurring in the province right now. The other is in Abbotsford, please see HERE. 

This is the 28th record for BC.

Adult Male Costa's Hummingbird in Powell River - Photos: Kathleen Pritchard

RBA: BROOWN BOOBY in Richmond - October 2nd

At 12:30pm on October 2-2017, Mark Hamel found an adult Brown Booby. The bird flew onto his fishing vessel as he passed by active pass near Mayne Island. The bird remained perched on the vessel as he traveled the Strait of Georgia until he came to Sand Heads in Richmond. The bird flew off the ship as he came into the mouth of the Fraser River and perched on the lighthouse in the water. He then watched it fly off as he continued on into Steveston Harbour.

Exact location of where he last saw the Booby HERE.

This location is at the end of Steveston Jetty and is only accessible by boat.

Adult Brown Booby in Richmond - Photo: Mark Hamel

RBA: COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in Abbotsford - April 2/17-Sept 4/18

On April 2nd, Michael Dossett found an adult male Costa's Hummingbird as it came to his backyard feeder.

The bird continues as of Sept 14th, 2018.

This home is not open to the public.

This is the 27th record for BC.

Male Costa's Hummingbird in Abbotsford - Photo: Michael Dossett

RBA: CURLEW SANDPIPER in Point Roberts and Delta - Sept 10-17th

At 11:30am on Sept 10th - 2017, Mary Taitt, Hank Tseng, Anne Murray and Julian Skes found and photographed an adult Curlew Sandpiper. The bird was in the SW end of the West Field at Reifel Bird Sanctuary and was viewed by multiple observers. It was associating with a flock of Western Sandpipers. The flock with the bird in it was soon flushed after 15 mins of viewing by a Peregrine Falcon and was not relocated that day. This bird is most likely tidal driven, so plan your visits around high tide.

Reifel is located at 5191 Robertson Rd in Delta and is open from 9am-4pm. The admission cost for adults is 5$. 

Map to Reifel HERE 

Map to where bird was seen in the park HERE.

The bird was not relocated in BC from Sept 11-16th.

At 5:30pm on Sept 16-2017, Mario Lam relocated the adult Curlew Sandpiper at Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, WA. 

Point Roberts is 5 mins from Tsawwassen, BC and accessed through Canada. It is birded primarily by British Columbians, hence why I am posting about it here.

The Washington Bird Records Committee has been notified. This is the 12th record for Washington State.

The bird was with a flock of Sanderlings on the beach, half way between the light beacon and the end of the park boundary (where the private beach and homes begin). He viewed the bird for 30 mins, photographed it and left it roosting there on the beach at 6pm.

Map to exact location of where bird was found HERE.

A valid passport/enhanced driver's license is required to enter the United States.

Lighthouse Marine Park is located at 811 Marine Drive in Point Roberts, WA.

Map to parking lot HERE.

At 5:30pm on Sept 17th, the Curlew Sandpiper was relocated by multiple observers at the foot of 96th St at Boundary Bay in Delta, BC - Canada. The bird was with a flock of Western Sandpipers and flew at 6:19pm and could not be relocated.

Map to where bird last seen on Sept 17th HERE.

This is the 12th record for the province of BC. The last Curlew Sandpiper was found at Sandspit in 2013 in Haida Gwaii.

The bird was not relocated on Sept 18th.

This adult Curlew Sandpiper was relocated in Point Roberts before it flew back to Canada - Photos: Mario Lam

Adult Curlew Sandpiper in flight showing its distinctive white rump in Delta - Photos: Devon Yu

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Maple Ridge - Sept 12-15th

There is another White-winged Dove in BC, this time in Maple Ridge! The bird in Richmond is continuing to be seen as well, in the same location as of Sept 15th, see HERE

Sharon Talson has been watching a White-winged Dove that has been coming to her feeder several times a day at her home in Maple Ridge. The bird is associating with Eurasian Collared Doves and is very aggressive at the feeder. This bird was photographed at the same time as the other White-winged Dove that is being seen in Richmond; confirming two separate individuals.

The bird has been present every day in Maple Ridge, since Sept 12th and continues on Sept 15th.

This is the 19th record for the province of BC.

This home is not open to the public and the bird has not been seen since the 15th of Sept.

A second White-winged Dove is in Maple Ridge at the same time as another in Richmond - Photos: Sharon Talson

RBA: RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS in Revelstoke - Sept 10th

At 8 am on Sept 10th-2017, Darlene and Daryl Cancelliere et al. found an adult Red-headed Woodpecker in Greely, which is 12km East of Revelstoke. The bird was hawking insects from telephone poles near to a forested area beside the railroad tracks and an abandoned farm.

Directions: Turn off Hwy 1, 12 Km E of Revelstoke and follow Greely Road, and you will cross the bridge over the river until you see the railroad tracks by the abandoned farm.

The Red-headed Woodpecker was seen at 7pm in the same location.

This is the sixth record for the province of BC.

Map to the location where the birds were seen HERE

The bird was not relocated on Sept 11th, despite multiple observers looking.

Red-headed Woodpecke in Revelstoke - Photos: Darlene Cancelliere

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Richmond - Sept 10-17th

At 7:45am on Sept 10th-2017, during the monthly Terra Nova Rural Park bird survey, a White-winged Dove was spotted by Steffany Walker and subsequently seen by all four other members of the survey group. The bird was with a flock of Rock Pigeons that frequents the parking lot next to the Terra Nova Adventure Playground at the far end of River Road where it meets the dyke.

The address is 2340 River Rd in Richmond.

The bird was viewed until 6:30pm in the same location near the playground and multiple observers are looking at it.

Map to location of where bird was seen HERE

This is the 18th record for the province of BC. This is the second record for the Metro Vancouver area and coincidentally both records were in Richmond.

As of Sept 17th - the bird is still present in a pine tree, beside the parking lot near the heritage building (just to the east of the playground).

The bird has not been relocated since Sept 17th.

Map to tree where bird has roosted past two days HERE

There is another White-winged Dove being seen in the province of BC as of Sept 15th in Maple Ridge as well, see HERE.

Richmond's 2nd White-winged Dove - Photo: Liron Gertsman

White-winged Dove in Richmond - Photo: Peter Candido

RBA: SCRIPPS'S MURRELETS off the West Coast of Vancouver Island - Sept 7th

On the morning of Sept 7th-2017, while doing an offshore NOAA survey, Ryan Merrill et al. found and photographed 2 Scripps's Murrelets. The birds flushed in front of the boat they were on. They viewed the birds for 30 seconds as they flew along the NE edge of Nitinat Canyon. On the exact same date last year, Ryan Merrill et al. found 4 Scripps's Murrelets in almost the same location!.

GPS coordinates are: 48.236998, -125.660527.

One of 2 Scripps's Murrelets seen in Nitinat Canyon - Photo: Ryan Merill

 2 Scripps's Murrelets seen in Nitinat Canyon - Photo: Ryan Merill

RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Maple Ridge - August 31st

At 12 noon on Thursday Aug 31st-2017, Greg Humphrey found a Loggerhead Shrike on the dyke north of 216th St in Maple Ridge. 

Directions: At the north end of 216th St there are trails to the east and west and north. The bird was on the north arm - about a quarter mile - almost to the fork in the dyke. It was on the west side.

He viewed the bird for three minutes before it flew south. He tried to look for the bird yesterday and today but has not been successful in relocating it.

Loggerhead Shrike in Maple Ridgde - Photo: Greg Humphrey

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Tatlayoko Lake - August 30th

At 6:55 am on August 30-2017, a male INBU was caught and banded at Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory by Gwyn Case and Anna Tran.

The photos were taken by Kyle Cameron bander-in-charge.

Male Indigo Bunting - Photos: Kyle Cameron

RBA: PIPING PLOVER in Delta - August 24-25th

At 8 pm on August 24-2017, Doug Martin found a Piping Plover at the foot of 96th St at Boundary Bay in Delta. He showed the bird to Michael Klotz who was present on the dyke and he also got good looks at the bird. He immediately thought it looked like a Piping Plover. Doug noted that the bird was pale sandy brown in colour, had orange legs and what appeared to be a complete neckband and looked different in shape and colour to the Semipalmated Plovers it was associating with. The light was poor and he was only able to get a digiscoped shot through his scope, that he admitted was poor. He reported the bird to me but although suggestive of a Piping Plover due to shape, posture, neckband and leg colour;  I could not rule out a Leucistic Semipalmated Plover based on the photographs I was presented. Not to mention John Gordon had photographed a Leucistic Semipalmated Plover in the same area a few days prior. I did in fact show John's photograph of the Leucistic Semipalmated Plover (which you can see HERE) to Doug Martin and Michael Klotz but they both were adamant that this was not the same bird. I decided, therefore to post it last night as a "Possible Piping Plover."

On the evening of August 25th, out-of-town birder Jennifer Wu was out looking for the reported Plover, Hudsonian and Bar-tailed Godwits. As she was walking back from 88th St to the parking lot at 72nd St, she noted a small bird with bright orange legs running along the edge of the water. She walked off the dyke onto the mudflats to get a closer look but at a safe distance, as to not spook the bird. She noted it was different than the Semipalmated Plovers she had seen before. The bird was foraging completely alone. She checked field guides and realized she had actually seen a Piping Plover, she reported the bird to me when she got home and sent in her photos.

This photo confirms that the bird Doug Martin found was indeed a Piping Plover.

This is the first confirmed record for the Province of British Columbia. All 2 previous records have been sight records only.  

**As per the BC Bird Records Committee a first provincial record must be documented with physical proof (ie. a photo). ***

*Despite multiple observers looking the bird has not been seen since.*

On August 27th Jennifer sent in new photos after taking time to go through them all upon her return home. I have posted the best of the lot which shows the identification features more clearly further confirming the ID.

Peter Pyle author of "Identification Guide to North American Birds", David Sibley author of "The Sibley Guides"  and Kevin Karlson and Michael O'Brien authors of "The Shorebird Guide" have also confirmed the ID of Piping Plover.

If you are going to look for this bird please note that parking on the dyke at 96th St is illegal and the Park Patrol is enforcing this by handing out tickets. There are two public parking lots, one at the end of 72nd St and one at the end of 104th St.

Maps to both parking lots below:

72nd St

104th St

Map to where the bird was seen the first day HERE

Map to where the bird was seen the second day HERE

Piping Plover in Delta- Photo: Jennifer Wu

The first confirmed Piping Plover in BC at Boundary Bay, Delta - Photo: Jennifer Wu

Piping Plover in Delta - Photo: Jennifer Wu

A Piping Plover in Delta - Photo: Doug Martin

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK in Sechelt - Aug 8-19th

At 10:30am on August 8-2017, Mike Steele and Lynne Dunham found and photographed a light morph Ferruginous Hawk. The bird was first found on the beach to the west of the marina at Wilson Creek Estuary in Sechelt. They originally thought it was a Red-tailed Hawk but Rand Rudland notified them that they actually had a Ferruginous Hawk on their hands. Multiple observers got to look at the bird when it was relocated on August 10th on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary. It was quickly mobbed by crows and flew to the trees to the left of the estuary as you look towards the ocean.

The word only got out to the general public on August 10th.

The bird continues as of 9:30am on August 11th in the trees to the left (east) of the estuary. The bird moves around and has been seen by Mission Point as well as on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary where he prefers to sit, patience is key with this bird.

The bird continues on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary as of Aug 14th.

The bird was not seen on August 15th or 16th, despite multiple observers looking.

The bird was relocated on August 19th on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary but has not been seen since.

Map to the location of where the bird was last seen on the breakwater HERE

Ferruginous Hawk in Sechelt - Photos: Lynne Dunham

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Okanagan Falls - Aug 4th

At 5pm on August 4-2017, Dr. Rodger Titman et al. found a Black Phoebe at 328 Eastside Rd. It was flycatching near Skaha Lake from a Ponderosa tree and would occasionally perch on the ground. He did not obtain a photograph.The bird was located on private property and it is not open to the public. The bird has not been seen since despite Rodger looking for it.

Map to the exact location HERE.

This is the 22nd record for the province of BC.

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Richmond - July 25-28th

At 7:15pm on July 25-2017, Doug Martin found and photographed a Black Phoebe at Iona Regional Park. The bird was flycatching at the west side of the SW pond and is still present as of posting time, as viewed by multiple observers.

A gate code is required to enter the sewage ponds. To gain access please email Jude Grass at judegrass(at)shaw(dot)ca

Iona Regional Park is located at 943 Ferguson Rd.

The bird continues at the SW inner pond and it is also being seen between the banding station and the SE corner of the North outer pond as of July 27th.


The bird was seen by a single observer on July 28th near the banding station between the outer north and south ponds.

The bird was not relocated on July 29th.


This is the 21st record for the province of BC.

Black Phoebe in Richmond Photo: Mike Fung

RBA: CURVE-BILLED THRASHER near BURNS LAKE - July 7th

At 10 am on July 7-2017, Keith Walker found and photographed a Curve-billed Thrasher in his yard, close to the west of Francois Lake which is south west of Burns Lake. He watched the bird for 30mins as it was dive bombed by swallows.

The bird was not relocated on July 8th. If it is seen again, it will be open to the public and I will post his address here.

This is not the first rare bird on his property, he has also had an Oriental Greenfinch before.

This is the first record of a Curve-billed Thrasher for the province of British Columbia.

The first Curve-billed Trasher in BC near Burns Lake - Photos: Keith Walker

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Abbotsford July 3-6th

At 7:50pm on July 3-2017, Gabriele Cuff found and photographed a Male Indigo Bunting east of Whatcom Rd at the end of Florence Drive in Lower Sumas Mtn.

Directions to where she saw the bird (about a 5 min walk from the end of Florence Dr.):

At the end of Florence Dr, the formal road ends, and there is a metal gate. Beyond the gate there is an area that is being developed. You follow the crushed rock roadway which goes up a hill, and then down again. You will see large mounds of dirt to the right and then there are small alder trees that are along the right side of the roadway. This is just before a roadway that forks off to the right. This is the spot where she saw the bird in an Alder tree. She saw the bird for 20 seconds, before it flew west.

A map to the exact location, she saw the bird is HERE

She looked for it on the evening of July 5th but did not relocate it.

On July 6th, the bird continues in the same location as of 8:30pm.

On July 7th, multiple observers looked for the bird but it was not relocated.

*Since the area is under development, anyone going to look for this bird should do so after working hours or on weekends. Please follow the directions of all construction signs in the area.*

 

Male Indigo Bunting in Abbotsford - Photos: Gabriele Cuff

RBA: Ash-throated Flycatcher in Port Alberni - July 1st

At 1:10pm on July 1-2017, Penny Hall found an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Port Alberni. She had good looks at the bird through her bins for 3 mins. The bird was sitting on a fence and when she approached it, the bird flew from the fence into the trees. She tried to relocate the bird into the evening but could not relocate the bird.

Directions to where the bird was last seen: Enter the trail at the bottom of Mozart Road and follow the trail along the farmer's fence line to where the big boulders are and the bird was last seen in the stand of trees right next to the cleared field.

Map to the exact location of where the bird was seen HERE

The bird has not been relocated since the initial sighting.

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Victoria - June 17-Aug 26th

At 4:30pm on June 17-2017, Ted Ardley found a female Acorn Woodpecker at a feeder at his home near Aldersmith Park off Burnside Rd W and Meadow Park Lane near the Eagle View Elementary school.

The bird was viewed by multiple observers as of 6:05pm.

Directions: Park along Meadow Park Lane and walk to the end where you see a small round about and communal mail box. This is one of the entrances to Aldersmith Park. Go to the right on the trail along a chain link fence and just a few yards in look over the fence at some feeders there in a stand of Garry oaks behind the trailer.

Map to where to park HERE

Please be respectful of private residences and do not walk on private driveways.

The bird continues in the same location as of August 26th but was not relocated on August 27th.

This is the 10th record for BC.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Victoria - Photos: Ted Ardley