RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Saanich - October 28th

At 9 am on  Oct 28th-2018, Randy Dzenkiw found a Red-throated Pipit in an American Pipit flock in the tilled fields at McHugh Rd and McIntyre Rd. The bird was viewed by multiple observers. Randy had great views with Mike Bentley from 11:30 am until he left the bird in the same field at 12pm.

Map HERE

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

The bird was not relocated on October 29th.

Red-throated Pipit in Saanich - Photos: Randy Dzenkiw

RBA: VERMILION FLYCATCHER in White Rock - October 20th

At 3:30 pm on October 20th-2018, Kaichi Huang found an immature female Vermilion Flycatcher perched in a tree in the parking lot west of White Rock Pier. He viewed the bird for 15 mins before it flew and he lost track of it.

This is the first record for the province of BC.

Map to exact location of bird HERE

Despite multiple observers looking the bird was not relocated on Oct 20th or 21st.

 

BC's first Vermilion Flycatcher (Imm. Female) in White Rock - Photos: Kaichi Huang

RBA: PINE BUNTING in Victoria - October 15th

At 1:30 pm on October 15-2018, a 1st year female Pine Bunting was photographed by Maury Swoveland. The bird was initially identified as a Lapland Longspur and therefore word did not get out until Oct 16th when it was identified. The bird was first found on the grass by the the park signs at the south end of Uplands Park along Beach Drive (where Beach Drive bisects Uplands Park). He last saw it perched in a nearby Garry Oak.

Map to location HERE

If accepted by the BC Bird Records Committee this would be the first record for the province of BC and the first record for the ABA outside of Alaska.

The bird has not been relocated on October 17th or 18th, despite multiple observers looking.

A news story can be found HERE at CBC news

Female Pine Bunting in Victoria - Photos: Maury Swoveland

RBA: LESSER GOLDFINCH in Cranbrook - Oct 6th

At 3 pm on October 6-2018, Dianne Cooper and Joe Rothermund found a male Lesser Goldfinch. It was in a small flock of American Goldfinches and House Finches, which flushed from a feeder beside the road at a private residence which is located in the 2200 block of Mission Wycliffe Rd. The bird flushed to a small bush off the west corner of the property.  Dianne watched the bird in the bush for 15 minutes, then the flock was flushed by a Red-tailed Hawk. The bird returned to the feeder area 15 minutes later where she viewed it foraging. She was able to get some digiscoped shots.

The feeder is just inside the property's fence adjacent to the road.and is viewable from a wide parking spot. Please do not block any driveways when viewing this bird and be respectful of all private property and residents in the area.

This is the 25th record for the province of BC.

The bird was not relocated on Oct 7th.

Male Lesser Goldfinch in Cranbrook - Photos: Dianne Cooper