RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Vernon - March 31-April 1st

At 11 am on March 31-2019, Christopher Siddle found and photographed a Loggerhead Shrike at the Historic O’Keefe Ranch. He viewed the bird for 12 mins as it hunted bugs on the ground from a series of posts between the bridge and the corn maze.  He then saw it fly towards the corn maze where he left it. He returned to the site and relocated the bird at 4:40pm in the same general location. It is extremely active and quickly changing perches every few mins as it hunts from the fence line that crosses the creek to St. Anne Rd.

Directions to location: Park at the O’Keefe Ranch parking lot near the sign that says “RV Parking” then cross the small bridge over Deep Creek. Look for a standing dead corn maze just to the NW. Scan the fence line north of the corn maze. This fence line runs from St. Anne’s Rd to the creek.The  shrike was hunting bugs on the ground from a series of posts between the bridge and the corn maze.

Map to ranch parking lot HERE

The bird was last seen in the same general location in a Hawthorne bush HERE on April 1st.

The bird was not relocated on April 2nd.

This is the 92nd record for the province of BC.

Loggerhead Shrike in Vernon - Photo: Michael Force

Loggerhead Shrike in Vernon - Photos: Christopher Siddle

RBA: 7 PARAKEET AUKLETS off Tofino - March 24th

On March 24-2019 during a pelagic out of Tofino on the "Miss B Haven" with Ocean Outfitters; Joachim Bertrands photographed some distant alcids that he and one other briefly observed but didn't id at the time. After the pelagic, during photo review, Joachim saw that he had indeed photographed 7 Parakeet Auklets.

 This is the 44th record for the province of BC.

RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS off Tofino - March 17th

At 11 am on March 17-2019, Douglas Martin spotted an immature Short-tailed Albatross during a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters on the “Miss B. Haven”, out of Tofino. All 12 on board were able to see and photograph the bird well, before it flew off after 15 minutes. The bird was banded on its right leg. 15 Laysan Albatrosses were also seen during this pelagic. This is the second year in a row that a Short-tailed Albatross was seen off a pelagic in BC; as 3 were seen on a similar trip on March 24th-2018.

Map to exact location bird was seen HERE.

Immature Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Cathy Reader

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK in Kelowna - March 8 (Late Report)

At 2pm on March 8-2019, Ryan Tomlinson saw an adult light morph Ferruginous Hawk flying over Maquinna Rd near Hall Rd in Kelowna. Ryan does not own a camera but has seen many Ferruginous Hawks and described a hawk that was larger than a Red-tailed Hawk with a distinctive hefty build and long tapered wings that were held in a slight dihedral. He said the under-wings were very pale with no patagial bar.  He noted the wing linings mottled with dark and rufous and dark 'commas' on each wing out towards the base of the primaries. He said the flight feathers were white with tiny dark tips to the primaries. He noted that the body was very white except for the presence of dark leggings. Below the tail was pale and from above he noticed a golden hue. He also said the bird had a pale head with a dark line extending back from behind the eye. He watched the bird for 4 mins before it flew off to the NW.

Map to where he saw the bird HERE