RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in Sidney - Feb 16th-March 17th

A photo of a male Hooded Oriole taken by Stan Coe in his private yard in the 2000 block of Bradford Ave in Sidney; was submitted to the Peninsula News Review on March 25, 2021. The bird was visiting Mr. Coe's hummingbird feeder daily from Feb 16-2021 but has not been seen for ten days now. It was initially misidentified as an American Goldfinch; hence why the word did not get out right away.

However, when Barbara Begg and Ann Nightingale noticed the bird in the local paper, they notified the homeowner on what a rare bird he had actually found.

This is the 24th record for the province of BC.

Male Hooded Oriole in Sidney - Photo: Stan Coe

Photo of a male Hooded Oriole in Sidney - Photo: Stan Coe/ Peninsula News Review

RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Comox - March 18-March 25th

At 2pm on March 18-2021, Liam Singh found and photographed a third cycle Slaty-backed Gull sitting on the beach at Point Holmes in Comox. 

Map to location of where bird was first spotted HERE

The bird was last seen HERE on March 18th just north of the initial location at 6pm.

The bird was not relocated on March 19th, despite multiple observers looking.

On March 23rd, Liam Singh relocated the bird on the beach in a gull flock HERE accessed off Seacroft Rd in Qualicum Beach. The bird later moved HERE on the beach accessed off Kinkade Rd and was viewed by multiple observers.

**On March 24-March 25, the bird continued on the beach HERE off Island Hwy in Qualicum Beach and was viewed by multiple observers**

This is the 84th 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 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 10 people. You can read it HERE***

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

Slaty-backed Gull in Comox - Photos: Liam Singh

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER off Tofino - March 11th

At 10:40 am on March 11-2021, Christopher Di Corrado found a Manx Shearwater off Tofino on Vancouver Island. He viewed the bird from aboard a research vessel for less than ten seconds at close range before the bird flew north. He was unable to obtain photographs.

Exact location HERE

This is the 64th record for BC.