RBA: COMMON POCHARD in Parksville -March 23-Feb 16th

*On March 23-2020, Warren Cronan photographed a Female Common Pochard at Morningstar Golf Course in Parksville, this was not discovered until Dec 4, 2023.*

At 11 am on December 23-2020, Mike Yip found a female Common Pochard at Morningstar Golf Course in Parksville. The bird was in the main pond off Morningstar Drive. 

Map to exact location HERE

The bird was viewed until 4:30pm by multiple observers.

This is the first record for BC and first accepted record for Canada. The legs on this bird were unbanded.

This follows a recent record of a male in November, 2020 in Victoria.

The bird was not been relocated on Dec 24th, despite multiple observers looking.

On Feb 11-2021, John Purves relocated the female Common Pochard at the same location and multiple observers saw the bird.

**The bird was last seen in the same location on Feb 16th, but was not relocated on Feb 17th**

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

***There is a public health order effective now until Feb 6, 2021 restricting non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. It also requires you to limit those you gather with to your core bubble. You can read it HERE***

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE**

Common Pochard in Parksville - Photos: Mike Yip

RBA: Probable ARCTIC LOON in Sechelt - Dec 24-25th

At 10:45 am on Dec 24-2020, Rand Rudland found a probable Arctic Loon off Wakefield Beach in Sechelt. The bird was loosely associating with 40 Pacific Loons. The bird was two thirds the way out between the beach and the north end of Trail Islands. He viewed the bird by bins and then by scope and noticed it did not have a chin strap. He also noticed the white flank patch. The bird never preened or dove for 15 mins straight, as it rested calmly on the water.

On Dec 25th, he returned and refound the bird in the same location but viewed it this time from the nearby beach access off Lewarne Lane. The white flanks were apparent as he watched the bird for 20 mins (it was not preening or diving) and he still did could not see a chin strap.

Photos obtained are suggestive of Arctic Loon but do not show conclusively that there is no chin strap.

Map to location of where to scope the bird from is HERE and the bird was swimming HERE

If confirmed this is the 4th photographed record for BC.

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

***There is a public health order effective now until Feb 6, 2021 restricting non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. It also requires you to limit those you gather with to your core bubble. You can read it HERE***

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE**

Probable Arctic Loon in Sechelt - Photos: Rand Rudland

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Saanich - Dec 1/20-Feb 28/21

At 10am on Dec 1-2020, Mike McGrenere found a Black Phoebe perched in the branches over the small pond on Welch Rd south of Livesay Rd in Saanich. He was able to obtain record shots of the bird.

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 32nd record for BC.

The bird was still present as of Feb 28/2021 and has been viewed by multiple observers.

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

***There is a public health order now in effect restricting non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. It also requires you to limit those you gather with to your core bubble. You can read it HERE***

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE**

Black Phoebe in Saanich - Photo: Liam Singh