RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Victoria - July 24th

At 10 am on July 24-2018, Ann Nightingale found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Victoria. The bird was not banded but was viewed foraging near the shoreline and vocalizing for 5 mins before it flew off.

This location is not open to the public.

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

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher in Victoria - Photo: Ann Nightingale

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Tofino - July 23rd

At 8:20am on July 23-2018, Arthur Ahier found a Manx Shearwater. He viewed the bird at the SE corner of Cleland Island off Tofino from a boston whaler from The Whale Centre. He was not able to get photos but noted the white undertail coverts to differentiate it from a Black-vented. He has experience with this species on the East Coast. Multiple observers saw the bird.

This is the 59th record for the province of BC.

RBA: NORTHERN PARULA in Victoria - July 22-Aug 22nd

At 5:45 am on July 22-2018, an adult female Northern Parula was banded by Siobhan Darlington at Rocky Point Bird Observatory.

The bird was captured and banded on Aug 6th and again seen on Aug 22nd.

This location is not open to the public.

Female Northern Parula in Victoria - Photo: Donna Talluto

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

RBA: 15 LESSER GOLDFINCHES in Osoyoos - July 15/18-Sept 24/19

At 10:37 am on July 15-2018, a male Lesser Goldfinch was found by David M. Bell on Kruger Mtn Road. The bird was loosely associating with a flock of Pine Siskins near 19610 Kruger Mtn Road.

Map to location of first bird HERE

At 12:30pm he found 2 males and 1 female and was was able to photograph the birds. The 2 males were flying around the female. The female was frequenting a rosebush across from 19610 Kruger Mtn Rd.

A 4th bird was found and photographed by Daniel Bastaja and it was juvenile male. This does not prove local breeding as they are molt migrants. Both age groups leave breeding territories shortly after the young fledge and can travel thousands of kilometres.

Map to location of the four birds HERE

Directions: At the end of the pavement there's a turnaround where it turns to gravel. Park there and the birds are 20m back down the road. They are moving around the yards and roadside there.

On Dec 12-2018, Chris Charlesworth found 15 Lesser Goldfinches in the same area. There is a high probability as first suspected that these birds bred in BC which would be the first record of breeding in BC. Unfortunately this was never confirmed.

15 birds continue at the corner of Alkali Rd and Old Richter Pass Rd as of January 14th, 2019.

On Feb 6th-2019, 10 birds were seen at 15523 Old Richter Pass Rd in Osoyoos.

***On July 5th-2019 David Bell photographed an adult female feeding a barely fledged bird that cannot fly. This finally confirms breeding at this site and the first breeding record for the province.***

Lesser Goldfinch fledgling with adult in Osoyoos - Photos: David Bell

***The birds continue along Kruger Mtn Rd as of Sept 24th.***

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

Male Lesser Goldfinch in Osoyoos - Photo: David M. Bell

Adult Female Lesser Goldfinch in Osoyoos - Photo: David M. Bell

Juvenile Male Lesser Goldfinch in Osoyoos - Photo: Daniel Bastaja

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER off Nigei Island - July 10th

At 2:38 pm on July 10-2018, Jared Towers found and photographed a Manx Shearwater while conducting a whale survey for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Gordon Channel off Nigei Island. The bird was viewed from the research vessel  "Merlin." The bird was present until 2:42 pm and was also observed by Mark Malleson. Jared was able to get photos of the bird in flight.

Map to exact location of bird HERE

This is the 58th record for the province of BC.

Manx Shearwater in Gordon Channel - Photos: Jared Towers

RBA: CURVE-BILLED THRASHER in Canal Flats - July 5th

At 3pm on July 5-2018, Gord Littlejohns found and photographed a Curve-billed Thrasher in a dead tree along the shoreline near the boat launch at the south west end of Columbia Lake. He watched the bird for 1 minute before it disappeared into the bushes. The bird never sang or called and he could not relocate it after looking for 30 minutes.

Gord returned to the site on July 6 and 7th but couldn't relocate the bird.

Directions to bird: Heading south on Highway 95 on the way to Canal Flats just as you come to the bottom of the hill there is a small gravel pull off and a gravel road to the left that runs along the west shoreline of the lake. The gravel road ends at a small boat launch approximately 250 yards from the turn off. The Thrasher was in a dead tree on the shoreline about 25 yards south of the boat launch. 

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 2nd record for the province of BC.

Curve-billed Thrasher in Canal Flats - Photos: Gord Littlejohns

RBA: GUADALUPE MURRELET off the West Coast of Vancouver Island - July 9th

At 6:15 pm on July 9-2018, while on board the NOAA vessel "Reuben Lasker," Michael Force, Christopher Hoefer and Juan Carlos Salinas found a single Guadalupe Murrelet. The bird was photographed.

The exact location of the bird is HERE, which is 122 nautical miles SSW of Estevan Point.

This is the second record for BC; the first being a sight record from Michael Force on Aug 2, 1994 off Haida Gwaii. This is the first photographed record for the province of BC.

Guadalupe Murrelet off the west coast of Vancouver Island - Photo: Christopher Hoefer 

RBA: MOTTLED PETREL off the West Coast of Vancouver Island - July 2nd

At 12:42pm on July 2-2018, while on board the NOAA vessel "Reuben Lasker"; Christopher Hoefer found a Mottled Petrel about 28.5 nautical miles South of Clerke Point, Brooks Peninsula. No photos were obtained. Other birds seen so far on this research expedition have been a Horned Puffin, 7 Murphy's Petrel and a Laysan Albatross.

Map to location of bird HERE

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Golden - July 2-July 19th

At 8:30 am on July 2-2018, Glenn Harasym found a singing male Indigo Bunting at a residential property on Lapp Rd in Golden. He was able to get a digiscoped record shot. The bird is viewable from the public street. When viewing please be respectful of the owner's property and other residences in the area.

Map to exact location of bird HERE

The bird continues in the same location on July 19th.

Male Indigo Bunting in Golden - Photo: Jeremy Gatten

Male Indigo Bunting in Golden - Photo: Chris Charlesworth