On Dec 16-2021, Tom and Kristine Greig found a first year male Blue Grosbeak at the feeder at their home in Tofino.
The bird continued in their yard up to April 28th, 2022.
The home is not open to the public.
This is the second confirmed record for BC.
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| Blue Grosbeak in Tofino - Photo: Tom Greig |
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| Blue Grosbeak in Tofino - Photos: Adrian Dorst |
At 3pm on Dec 23-2021, Suzy Wright found a Brambling in her yard in a flock of American Goldfinches.
The bird was briefly present before a Northern Shrike scared it away and has not returned since.
The home is currently not open to the general public but this may change if the bird returns.
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| Brambling near Quesnel - Photo: Suzy Wright |
At 2 pm on December 23-2021, Jeremy Gatten found a male Tufted Duck at the sewage lagoons in Duncan.
There is no public access inside the lagoons but birders can view the bird through the fence from the elevated trail off Wharncliffe Rd that gives a good view over most of the sewage lagoon.
Map to location HERE
The bird continues in the same location as of March 30, 2022.
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| Tufted Duck in Duncan - Photo: Jeremy Gatten |
At 4:15pm on Dec 17-2021, David Caudwell found a female King Eider swimming off Steve Fonyo Beach on Dallas Rd near the foot of Menzies St.
Map to location HERE
The bird was relocated on Dec 18th and was last seen flying west past McMicking Point at 9am. It has not been relocated since.
This is the 38th record for BC.
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| King Eider in Victoria - Photo: David Caudwell |
At 12:50pm on Dec 12-2021, Susan Fennellow found an adult Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a tree on Tuyttens Rd in Agassiz.
Map to location HERE
PLEASE DO NOT TRESPASS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WHILE VIEWING THIS BIRD. PARK WELL OFF THE ROAD AND DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS OR ROADWAYS.
*This is the first photo-documented record for BC.*
It was not relocated on Dec 16th, despite multiple observers looking.
On Dec 19th, the bird was last seen in the same location and was viewed by multiple observers.
The bird was not relocated on Dec 20-21st, despite multiple observers looking.
At 10:30 am on Dec 22nd the bird was relocated HERE along Whelpton Rd in a tall willow in a yard just west of the junction with Agassiz-Rosedale Hwy and East of the Junction with Tuyttens Rd.
On Dec 28th the bird was seen at the west end of Cutler Rd.
It was relocated on Jan 14th and 15th on nearby Whorley Rd.
On Jan 18th the hawk was seen on Whelpton Rd.
**On Jan 23rd the hawk continued in the original location and HERE on Caignou Rd. It has also been seen on Bridge Rd just north of Whelpton Rd**
**On Feb 11th the hawk continued at the original location and on Whorley Rd. It has not been seen since.**
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Red-shouldered Hawk in Agassiz - Photos: Marc Sole |
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| Red-shouldered Hawk in Agassiz - Photo: Susan Fennellow |
On Dec 8-2021, Dwayne Flexhaug found a White-winged Dove at a feeder at his private home.
This home is not open to the public.
This is the 23rd record for BC.
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| White-winged Dove in Osoyoos - Photo: Jayme Flexhaug |
At 2pm on Dec 6-2021, Carey Bergman found an adult Emperor Goose within the Skidegate Inlet IBA. The bird was still present 2 hours later when she returned.
The exact location is being kept as private by request.
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| Emperor Goose in Haida Gwaii - Photos: Carey Bergman |
At 1:30pm on Nov 19-2021 Darlene Cancelliere found a female Brambling at the feeders in the front yard of her home at 407 Edward St. This is the second she has had in her yard over the years.
Map to location HERE
Birders are welcome to come view the bird but please view the bird from the public street and do not enter the yard. Please do not block driveways and be respectful of neighbours.
*The bird was relocated at a neighboring home at the corner of 5th St E and Downie St on Nov 28th.
Darlene relocated the bird at her place in her front yard on Nov 29th. It was travelling with house finches and eating Mountain Ash Berries.
On Dec 4th and 8th, the bird continued at the feeders HERE at 5th St E and Downie St.
**On Jan 11/22 the bird continued in the original location in Darlene’s front yard.**
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Brambling in Revelstoke - Photos: Melissa Hafting |
At 10am on Nov 18-2021, Margo Hearne et al. photographed an Asian subspecies of Eurasian Skylark in the pekinensis group at Mather’s Bight in Sandspit.
Map to general location HERE
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
At 9 am on Nov 4-2021, Huw Williams found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in a Black-capped Chickadee flock at Munson Pond. The bird was seen off the viewing platform near the parking area.
Map to first location HERE
The bird was still present in the SE corner of Munson Pond HERE and was viewed by multiple observers.
The bird continues HERE behind the nearby school on Nov 22nd and has been viewed by multiple observers.
This is the 24th record for BC.
*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Kelowna - Photo: Chris Charlesworth |
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| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Kelowna - Photo: Ian Walker |
At 10:35 am on Oct 18-2021, Paul Levesque and Christine Rock found a White Wagtail in Queen Charlotte City. The bird was flycatching from the roof of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans building at 137 Bay St. It was also seen foraging along the beach near the same building. The bird has an injury to its right foot but doesn’t seem too affected by it.
The bird was last seen by them at 11:35am in the same area that day.
The bird was not relocated on Oct 19th.
At 3pm on Oct 22nd Paul Levesque relocated the bird at the same location. The bird was foraging for insects on the roof of the DFO building and on the ground at the adjacent baseball diamond.
Map to location HERE
The bird was last seen in the same location on Oct 29th and was viewed by multiple observers.
The bird was not relocated on Oct 30th or 31st.
This is the 17th record for BC.
*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| White Wagtail in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Carey Bergman |
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| White Wagtail in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Paul Levesque |
At 10 am on Sept 28-2021, Keith Matthieu found and photographed an adult Slaty-backed Gull as it sat on the beach near the Ken Forde Boat Launch at Willow Point Estuary.
The bird was present in the area as of 12:56pm and was viewed by multiple observers before it flew south.
Map to location HERE
On Sept 30-2021, the bird was relocated by Jack Bindernagel at Oyster Bay and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.
Map to location HERE
This is the 85th record for BC.
*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Slaty-backed Gull in Campbell River - Photos: Keith Matthieu |
At 7:35am on Sept 28-2021, David Bell banded a female Orchard Oriole at Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Metchosin. The bird was still present near the banding station as of 12:15pm before flying east.
This location is not open to the public.
This is the 10th record for BC.
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| Female Orchard Oriole in Metchosin - Photo: David Bell |
At 1pm on Sept 27-2021, Ian Cruickshank found a Snowy Plover on the upper part of Comber's Beach. The bird was located 300m SE of the Sandhill Creek Mouth in Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino.
**Note it is impossible and dangerous to wade across this creek at high tide. At high tide it is best to access this location from the Wick Beach parking lot rather than the Comber's Beach parking lot.**
Map to location HERE
This is the 34th record for BC.
*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Snowy Plover in Tofino - Photos: Ian Cruickshank |
At 6:30pm on Sept 24-2021, Jared Towers found a Manx Shearwater at Bold Head in Blackfish Sound near Swanson Island.
Map to location HERE.
This is the 68th record for BC.
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| Manx Shearwater near Port McNeill - Photos: Jared Towers |
At 9:45am on Sept 10-2021, Susan Fennellow found a Black Phoebe at McDonald Park in Abbotsford.
Map to location HERE
The bird was last seen in the same location on Sept 24th and was viewed by multiple observers. It was not seen on Sept 25th.
This is the 34th record for BC.
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Black Phoebe in Abbotsford - Photo: Neal Doan |
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| Black Phoebe in Abbotsford - Photo: Mark McAnally |
At 7:30am on Aug 30-2021, Gary Davidson and Cat McLean found an immature Ferruginous Hawk in Edgewood. The bird was sitting on a irrigation pipe in a hay field in the NW corner of the Ferret Rd Loop.
Map to location HERE
The bird has not been relocated since.
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Ferruginous Hawk in Edgewood - Photo: Gary Davidson |
At 10:45 am on Aug 29- 2021 during a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters, Mike Toochin spotted an immature Short-tailed Albatross at Clayoquot Canyon off the “Miss B Haven” boat. The bird was banded and all observers got on the bird. The band info from Japan follows:
The researcher Mr. Fumio Sato said the bird was banded on 7th March 2021 at Hatsunezaki colony of Torishima, Japan. When this bird was banded, it was a chick in the nest.
Map to location of bird HERE
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| Banded Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photos: Melissa Hafting |
Gord Curry was able to photograph one of the birds. They were travelling in a flock of approximately 2000 Short-tailed Shearwaters an unheard of number on our BC coast in August.
Map to location of Gord Curry’s August 20th sighting HERE
At 1pm on August 23-2021, Gord Curry found 4 Manx Shearwaters in Blackfish Sound NW of Bold Head HERE
On Aug 26-2021 Jared Towers saw 1 bird also at Bold Head.
On Aug 28-2021, Gord Curry relocated one bird in the same area.
All of these sightings will be treated as 1 record as they are most certainly the same birds hanging around the area.
On Sept 2-2021, Guy Monty et al. saw 2 Manx Shearwaters HERE near Nigei Island.
This the 66th and 67th record for BC.
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| Manx Shearwaters near Alert Bay - Photos: Jared Towers |
At 2:10pm on August 7-2021, Marc Sole and Catherine Denny found and photographed a Black Phoebe at Cheam Lake Wetlands. The bird was actively flycatching from the nearby vegetation and logs. They viewed the bird for 15 mins from the floating bridge as they looked west over the lake.
Map to location HERE
This is the 33rd record for BC.
On August 10th, the bird was seen west of the viewing platform near the picnic area. The bird has also been seen north of here near the creek outflow.
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Black Phoebe in Rosedale - Photo: Marc Sole |
At 9am on July 28-2021, Evan Larson found and photographed a Manx Shearwater as it flew by the fishing charter he was on. He viewed the bird for twenty seconds as it quickly disappeared west.
Map to location of where he saw the bird HERE
Proper photos to come.
This is the 65th record for BC.
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| Manx Shearwater near Port Hardy - Photo: Evan Larson |
At 10:30 am on July 21-2021, Graham Sunderland found a male Indigo Bunting by the yellow gate and works yard at Colony Farm.
Map to location HERE
The bird was last seen in the same location on July 30th and has been viewed by multiple observers.
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Indigo Bunting in Coquitlam - Photos: Melissa Hafting |
Map to location HERE
The bird has not been photographed or reported at the location since June 12th.
This is the 32nd record for BC.
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| Female Costa’s Hummingbird in Delta - Photos: Mark Rubensohn |
At 7am on July 12-2021, Ken Thorne and Len Van Driel found and photographed a Tricolored Heron at the Cowichan Bay Estuary.
Ken asked me not to post the exact location as he does not want the bird inundated with people and the rural area inundated with traffic. The bird was found on public property and birders should search the three trails into Cowichan Bay Estuary. If the bird is refound by others a location will be posted.
This is a 1st record for BC.
The bird has not been refound, despite multiple observers looking all around the area.
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Tricolored Heron in Cowichan Bay - Photos: Ken Thorne |
At 9:30 am on July 5-2021, Geoffrey Newell found an adult Wood Sandpiper in the SW quadrant of Panama Flats in Victoria. The bird can disappear for length periods of time in the vegetation.
Map to location HERE
The bird was last seen in the same spot in the SW quadrant but has also seen in the NE quadrant on July 9th and was viewed by multiple observers.
*The last photographed confirmed sighting was on July 9th.*
This is the 3rd record for BC.
A news story on the bird can be found HERE
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Liam Singh |
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| Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Mike Tabak |
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| Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Emma Reader-Lee |
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| Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Geoffrey Newell |
At 1:30pm on July 4-2021, Denis Shumeyko found and photographed a female Great-tailed Grackle at Esquimalt Lagoon. The bird was foraging along the water on the ocean side and also on the freshwater lagoon side but flies back and forth to both sides.
Map to location HERE
The bird was seen in the same location across from the food trucks as of 5pm.
The bird was last seen on July 19th by the bridge HERE on the lagoon side and and was viewed by multiple observers.
This is the 7th record for BC.
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Great-tailed Grackle in Colwood - Photo: Warren Lee |
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| Great-tailed Grackle in Colwood - Photo: Geoffrey Newell |
At 9 am on July 4-2021, Alan Barnard found a male Indigo Bunting in bushes around an old barn at the corner of Ha Ha Creek Rd and Howell Rd.
The bird was last seen on July 30th and was viewed by several observers.
Map to location HERE
**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*
**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**
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| Male Indigo Bunting in Wardner - Photo: Bobby Dailey |
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| Male Indigo Bunting in Wardner - Photo: Alan Barnard Video of Indigo Bunting in Wardner by Bobby Dailey |