RBA: BLACK PHOEBE near Anahim Lake - May 30th

At 4pm on May 30-2019, Steve Juhasz found a Black Phoebe flycatching from a water tank on a private ranch near Anahim Lake. He returned to his cabin to get his camera but when he returned, he was not able to relocate and photograph the bird. The bird was described well and the observer has seen many of this distinctive species.

The bird was located HERE.

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

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Kelowna - May 25th

At 4:45pm on May 25-2019, Michael Force found an Ash-throated Flycatcher at the Okanagan Rail Trail in Kelowna. The bird was mostly in saskatoon berry bushes and rose thickets.

Location of bird HERE

Directions: Park in the gravel parking lot on the north side of “Majestic Mattress”, 2720 Hwy 97 N. Walk south along the rail trail and the bird was on the uphill slope between telephone poles 50L103 and 50L104.

The bird was last seen at 6:30pm and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on May 26th.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Kelowna - Photos: Logan Lalonde

Ash-throated Flycatcher showing its diagnostic tail in Kelowna - Photo: Mike Force

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Revelstoke - May 23rd

At 4 pm on May 23-2019, Eric Tompkins found a White-winged Dove sitting on a fence post in his garden on his farm HERE on Lennard Drive.

The bird flew off a couple minutes after Eric was able to photograph of it and has not been relocated by other birders.

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

White-winged Dove in Revelstoke - Photo: Eric Tompkins

RBA: COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD in Halfmoon Bay - May 19-22nd

At 12:20pm on May 19-2019, John Hodges spotted a male Costa’s Hummingbird at a feeder at a private home on Redrooffs Rd. As a few local birders were over having lunch they too were able to see the bird.

The home is not open to the general public and the feeder cannot be viewed from the public road.

The bird continues in the same location as of May 22nd.

This is the 30th record for the province of BC.

Male Costa's Hummingbird in Halfmoon Bay - Photo: Rand Rudland

RBA: GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL in Kelowna - May 13-17th

On May 13-2019, Ryan Tomlinson found what he thought to be a Western Gull but didn’t have binoculars at the time. On May 15th he put the word out to local birders who went out and saw the bird. They got some photos, including flight shots which helped confirm the sighting as an adult Great Black-backed Gull.

The bird is on sandbars at the mouth of Mission Creek.

Directions: Go to the end of Capozzi Road. There is limited parking. Water levels on the creek are high so be extremely careful walking along the edge of the creek. You then have to cross over a small dock and you will see the sandbars where the gull is through the willow trees. This is not for anyone with mobility issues.

Map to location HERE

***The gull can take long absences of 3-5 hours between sightings. Patience is key with this bird!***

The bird was last seen in the same location at 10:25 am on May 17th. 

The bird was not relocated on May 18th despite multiple observers looking.

This is the second record for the province of BC

Great Black-backed Gull in Kelowna - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Great Black-backed Gull in Kelowna - Photo: Nathan Earley

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Campbell River - May 13th

At 3 pm on May 13-2019, Beth Rand found and photographed a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The bird was photographed along The Salmon Point Trail at Woodhus Slough. The bird was just past the Salmon Point Lighthouse near the small ponds. Beth watched the bird for 15 mins and then continued on her walk. An hour later when she returned, he was still there flycatching.

On May 14th she and a few birders went to look for the bird but did not relocate it. The bird was also not relocated on May 15th.

Map to where the bird was last seen along the trail HERE.

This is the 37th record for the province of BC.

A stunning Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Campbell River - Photos: Beth Rand

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Creston - May 11th

At 10:15 am on May 11-2019, Lyle Grisedale found a Brown Thrasher at Rykerts Lake near the US-Idaho border. The bird was perched on a leafless branch HERE along Porthill Rd. By the time he got out his camera it had flown south down the lake. He followed it but lost the bird in thick bushes.

He returned with other birders on May 12th but could not relocate the bird. The bird was well described and this is the second Brown Thrasher he has seen in BC.

This is the 42nd record for the province of BC.

RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Squamish - May 6th

At 9:00 am on May 6-2019, Chris Dale and Christoper Di Corrado found a Loggerhead Shrike HERE at the Squamish River Estuary. The bird was at the end of 3rd Ave. They last saw the bird way out HERE in the East Marsh (where the road to the Squamish Terminals and Rail line meet).

The bird was last seen in the east marsh at 6pm on May 6th but not since.

Chris Dale was able to obtain nice photos of the bird and a video that can be viewed HERE

This is the 93rd record for BC.

Loggerhead Shrike in Squamish - Photos: Chris Dale

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Nakusp - April 29 - May 3rd

An adult male Indigo Bunting is visiting a feeder at Bev Sinclair and Andy Moffat's home at 928 - 5th St. in Nakusp. The bird was first present on April 29-2019, but was first thought to be a bluebird until Julia Flesaker found and identified it correctly on May 2-2019.

The home is open to the public and birders are allowed and welcome to enter the yard to view the bird. The homeowner has generously put out chairs for birders to use. There is a sign on the front lawn welcoming birders into the yard.  Please do not walk under the feeders and walk on the upper driveway to the rear deck to view the feeder.

Please respect private property and residences in the area while viewing and do not block driveways.

The bird was last seen in the same location on May 3rd and has been viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not seen at all on May 4th.

Male Indigo Bunting in Nakusp - Photos: Julia Flesaker

RBA: 2 LESSER GOLDFINCHES in Princeton - May 1-7th

Edward Lahaie found a Lesser Goldfinch at a nyjer feeder at his home at 460 Auburn Crescent in Princeton. This is the 5th year, that he has had a Lesser Goldfinch in his yard.

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

Lesser Goldfinches are most likely breeding now in the province in the city of Osoyoos with up to 15 birds still present. However, no nests have been found yet to confirm this.

On May 7th a second bird (a male with a darker cap) turned up at the property that looked very different than the original bird.

The public is more than welcome to come view these birds but please knock on the front door first before going in to view the bird. Please be respectful of private property and other residences in the area.

The birds continue in the same location as of May 7th.

Male Lesser Goldfinch in Princeton on May 3rd - Photo: Edward Lahaie

Second Male Lesser Goldfinch with darker cap in Princeton - Photo: Edward Lahaie