RBA: WHITE WAGTAILS near Prince Rupert - Nov 10-13th and Dec 9-11th

Erik Milton found a White Wagtail of the Black-backed subspecies (lugens) on Triple Islands Lighthouse, that he mans. The bird was present from Nov 10-13th. The bird was not seen on Nov 14th.

This location is not open to the public.

Map to location HERE

On Dec 9-11th Jim Redden found another or the same White Wagtail 32km away from Triple Islands Lighthouse at Green Island Lighthouse. A photo of the bird can be seen HERE.

The BRC has accepted this as a separate record, noting it could be the same individual that Erik Milton first found.

This is the 15th and 16th record for the province of BC.

White Wagtail in Prince Rupert - Photo: Erik Milton

RBA: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW in Revelstoke - Nov 11-Dec 9th

At 8:30 am on November 11-2019, Darlene Cancelliere found an adult Black-throated Sparrow in her yard. This is not the first rarity to visit her yard. She has also had such rarities as a Black-throated Blue Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Brambling, Sage Thrasher, Dickcissel and Blackburnian Warbler just to name a few.

The home is open to the public at 407 Edward St. Please view the bird from the front yard only and do not enter the backyard. Please be respectful of all residences in the area.

**The bird was rediscovered on Nov 23 and Dec 9 at the same location, both following snow storms**

The bird has not been seen since Dec 9th.

This is the 50th record for the province of BC.

Black-throated Sparrow in Revelstoke - Photos: Darlene Cancelliere

RBA: IVORY GULL in Wardner - Nov 10th

At 12:15 pm on November 10-2019, Alan Barnard and Mike Bentley found an Ivory Gull on Lake Koocanusa. The bird was viewed from 50 feet away with binoculars as it flew by them. They were not able to get photos (didn't have cameras) but had clear views. Their description of an adult all white bird with black legs and greenish yellow tipped bill does not fit anything else but an Ivory Gull. A leucistic gull would be ruled out due to the black legs. The bird kept flying south after their observation and they tried to relocate it for 8 km down the lake in vain but increasing snowfall made them stop.

However, there is an area further down the river that birders should check at Koocanusa Crossing that has open water (not iced over) with plenty of spawned out Kokanee Salmon that could attract the gull.

Map to location of where bird was last seen HERE.

This is the 8th record for the province of BC.

*The gull was not relocated on Nov 11th, despite multiple observers looking over a 20km stretch for several hours.*

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Victoria - Nov 8th

At 1:15pm on November 8-2019, Gordon Rowles saw an adult female Brown Booby who tried to land on his sailboat. The bird was HERE about 4 miles south of Victoria and eventually flew off to the SW in the direction of Race Rocks.

This is the same bird that was recently seen in Richmond due to the notch in the same right wing. You can read about that sighting and see the photos of the wing with the damaged secondary feather HERE.

This will be treated as the same record, which is the 18th record for BC.

Brown Booby off Victoria - Photos: Gordon Rowles

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in North Van - Nov 5-15th

At 1 pm on November 5-2019, John Gordon and Carlo Giovanella found and photographed a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in a mixed warbler/kinglet/chickadee flock just east of the bridge at Maplewood Flats. The bird has been mostly seen in a deciduous tree with orange leaves just east of the bridge. Its tail is very short and most likely was taken by a predator.

Map to original location of bird HERE

This is the 23rd record for the province of BC.

The bird continues in the same location and was also seen HERE on Nov 15th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in North Van - Photo: John Gordon

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in North Van - Photo: Cos van Wermeskerken