RBA: ARCTIC LOON in Sooke - Nov 25-28th

At 7:58 am on Nov 25-2018, David Bell found an Arctic Loon at Beechey Head off East Sooke Park in Sooke. The bird was due west of Beechey Head about halfway to Secretary Island. Daniele Donnecke soon after got on the bird and viewed it as well. At the time, due to a distance of greater than 1.5 km and poor viewing conditions and brevity of the sighting (3 minutes), they were not able to conclusively tell if the bird was an Arctic Loon. Digiscoped photos they took were not conclusive.

On Nov 28-2018 at 9:45 am David Bell relocated the same bird and was convinced this time that the bird was indeed an Arctic Loon. He obtained digiscoped photos but due to distance they are not conclusive but highly suggestive. His description is consistent with an Arctic Loon ie: flat, blocky head, consistent white flanks at all angles and larger size than a Pacific. He was able to view the bird well for ten minutes during this sighting in good viewing conditions as well. The bird was last seen flying far out of sight towards Neah Bay, WA.

Map to location HERE

Map to parking lot HERE

This is the second confirmed photographed record for the province of BC and the 1st photographed record submitted to the BC BRC.

RBA: BLACK-HEADED GULL in Victoria - Nov 20th

At 8:45 am on November 20-2018 Geoffrey Newell found and photographed a winter plumaged adult Black-headed Gull. The bird was flying alone and was heading NE about 400 metres offshore past McMicking Point in Oak Bay. He had excellent scope views of the bird as it flew past.

McMicking Point is located at the end of Radcliff Lane HERE

The bird has not been relocated since the initial sighting.

This is the 27th record for the province of BC.

Adult Black-headed Gull in Victoria - Photo: Geoffrey Newell

RBA: LITTLE GULL in Victoria - Oct 31-Nov 9th

At 7:15am on November 7-2018, Geoffrey Newell found an adult Little Gull at Cattle Point. The bird was flying around with Bonaparte's and Mew Gulls, less than 200 metres offshore. It was last seen heading NE towards Ten Mile Point. A photograph was obtained but the bird has not been relocated since 7:15am. Map to Cattle Point HERE

Upon this news Gordon Hart reviewed his photographs and found he had actually photographed the Little Gull at 2pm on Oct 31-2018 at the same location.

On Nov 8th-2018, the Little Gull was relocated by Cathy Reader at 10:40 am flying around Cadboro Bay. She viewed it off the end of Tudor Ave. It was flying around with Bonaparte's Gulls. It continued throughout the day.

The bird continues at Cadboro Bay as of Nov 9th but was not relocated on Nov 10th despite multiple observers looking.

You can view the Little Gull from these locations: HERE (the end of Cadboro Bay View Rd) and HERE (the end of Tudor Ave).

This is the 99th record for the province of BC.

Adult Little Gull in Victoria - Photos: Gordon Hart

RBA: "PIED" WHITE WAGTAIL in Kimberley - July 20-27th (late report)

Carol Olson found a White Wagtail in her yard on Warren Avenue in Kimberley on July 20th-2018. The bird appears to be a Pied Wagtail of the Motacilla alba yarrellii subspecies. 

Adult male leucopsis is ruled out because it would have a pure white wing panel, whereas the yarrellii subspecies have thin dark centres to the greater coverts. Also yarrellii have grey flanks as the bird photographed, while leucopsis do not. Lugens is ruled out due to the lack of the black eyeline.

The bird stayed in her yard for 7 days before it departed. 

This is the first record of this subspecies for BC.

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

White Wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) in Kimberley - Photo: Carol Olson

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Kelowna - Nov 5-27th

At 1:15 pm on Nov 5-2018, Chris Charlesworth found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher along the Okanagan Rail Trail, 400m north of Scandia Golf and Games. The bird is travelling with a flock of Black-capped Chickadees.

Map to exact location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location near pole 79 on Nov 27th.

This is the 2nd record for the Okanagan and 22nd record for the province of BC.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Kelowna - Photo: Chris Charlesworth