RBA: EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL in Sechelt - Aug 15th

At 2:45pm on Aug 15-2022 John Hodges found and photographed an Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Wilson Creek Estuary in Sechelt.

The bird was observed for the next 3 hours by multiple observers. 

The bird moved all around the estuary but a map pin to the first location on the beach where it was foraging is HERE

The bird has not been relocated on August 16th, despite multiple observers looking.

A video of the bird foraging at low tide on the mudflats taken by Mari Petznek can be viewed below:

Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Sechelt - Photo: John Hodges

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Saanich - Aug 11-16th

At 8:15am on Aug 11-2022, Mike McGrenere found a Brown Thrasher foraging on the ground in the yard to the west of the intersection of Lohbrunner Rd E and Lochside Regional Trail. At 10 am it was observed by several observers further up along the driveway as the homeowner has allowed birders to enter.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues on Aug 16th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Please be respectful of private property and do not block the driveway with cars as the homeowner has generously allowed birders to travel up the driveway by foot to view the bird.

This is the 44th record for BC.

Brown Thrasher in Saanich - Photo: Evan Larson

Brown Thrasher in Saanich - Photo: Les Peterson

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Richmond - July 29th

At 10 am on July 29-2022, Craig Huish found a juvenile Black Phoebe sitting on the south jetty (on the north side) at marker 75 at Iona Regional Park in Richmond.

Map to approximate location HERE

This is the 35th record for BC.

The bird has not been relocated since.

Black Phoebe in Richmond - Photo: Craig Huish

RBA: NAZCA BOOBY in Victoria - July 23-24th

At 6:22pm on July 23-2022, Tasli Shaw found a Nazca Booby off Victoria while driving a whale watching vessel for Ocean Ecoadventures. The bird seems to be the same bird photographed in Seattle, WA on July 20th due to the distinctive plumage since it is a subadult. Tasli watched the Nazca Booby circling and sitting on the water at the south end of Trial Island for 8 minutes before she saw it fly SE at a rapid pace. She followed it as it flew SE for 5 mins until it was out of sight. She was able to obtain video documentation and photographs of the bird as well.

Map to location of where she saw the Nazca Booby HERE

At 4:12pm the Nazca Booby was relocated by Orion Giles and was photographed sitting on a log HERE off Race Rocks. It is not viewable from land and a boat is required to access this spot.

At 7:06pm the bird was photographed sitting on a log HERE by another whale watching captain Matt Stolmeier. This location is 4 nautical miles from the original observation. 

The bird was not relocated on July 25th, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 3rd confirmed record for BC.

Nazca Booby in Victoria - Photos: Matt Stolmeier

Video by Tasli Shaw:

RBA: LITTLE GULL in Newgate - July 18th

At 12:30 pm pm July 18-2022, Michael Bentley and Neal Hutchinson found a Little Gull in Newgate near the Montana border. The gull was resting on an island on Gold Bay on Lake Koocanusa. They viewed the bird until 1:40pm when they left.

The bird was not relocated on July 20th.

Map to location HERE

This is the 101st record for BC and therefore will no longer will be reported on the main page going forward. It is the 1st record for the East Kootenays.

Little Gull in Newgate - Photos: Neal Hutchinson 

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Lardeau - July 18th

At 9:30am on July 18-2022, Margaret Murphy found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at her home on 5th Ave near Main Street in Lardeau. 

At 11:30am the bird was relocated along Main Street by Marlene Johnston but has not been relocated since posting time despite multiple observers looking. 

Map to location of initial sighting HERE

This is the 38th record for BC.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Lardeau - Photos: Marlene Johnston

RBA: 2 SEDGE WRENS CONFIRMED BREEDING near Fort St. John - July 4-12th

At 4:15 am on July 4-2022, Chris Coxson found 2 Sedge Wrens singing in the marsh across the parking lot from Watson Slough. He viewed both birds at the same time.The birds were present during his entire visit until 7am. He was able to obtain photos and audio. 

1 bird was found at the same location in 2019. Watson Slough is 30 mins from Fort St. John on Highway 29 towards Hudson’s Hope.

If birders travel through the marsh please be careful of trampling the habitat as the birds are nesting there and Yellow Rails do as well. Please do not use playback on these nesting birds.

Map to location HERE

At 2:30pm Christopher Di Corrado reported that he had 3 Sedge Wrens at once. 

On July 7-2022 Bill Beadle got video documentation showing a Sedge Wren carrying food confirming a first breeding record for BC.

Video by Bill Beadle below:

At least 2 adult birds continue in the same location on July 12th and have been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 6th record for BC.

Sedge Wrens near Fort St. John - Photos: Chris Coxson

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER and SCRIPPS'S MURRELET off the Brooks Peninsula (West Coast of Vancouver Island) - July 3rd

At 1:30pm on July 3rd, 2022, Guy Monty and Bernard Schroeder found and photographed a Manx Shearwater while doing bird surveys for the government in the Brooks Peninsula near Ououkinsh Canyon.

Map to location of sighting HERE

This is the 74th record for BC and due to increasing multi annual numbers will no longer be published on the main page. 

At 2pm on July 3rd, 2022 Guy Monty also spotted a single Scripps's Murrelet during the same survey. He was not able to photograph the bird but described it well.

Map to location of sighting HERE

This is the 37th record for BC.

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Pitt Meadows - June 25-July 10th

At 2:30pm on June 25-2022, Mike Klotz and Carli Gilmore found a male Chestnut-sided Warbler singing from the cottonwoods on the dyke at Catbird Slough.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same spot on July 10th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 85th record for BC.

Male Chestnut-sided Warbler in Pitt Meadows - Photo: Carli Gilmore

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Pitt Meadows - Photo: Sue Flecker

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Kelowna - June 23rd-July 7th

At 11:45 am on June 23-2022, Benoit Hilty photographed a male Chestnut-sided Warbler at Bear Creek Provincial Park in Kelowna.

Map to exact location HERE

The bird continues HERE in the parking lot to Canyon Rim Trail at Bear Creek Provincial Park and also flies to the entrance of the campground across the street on July 7th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 84th record for BC.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kelowna - Photo: Kalin Ocana 

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kelowna - Photo: Mike Force

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER near Nakusp - June 12th

At 7:15 am on June 12-2022, Julia Flesaker found a Chestnut-sided Warbler at the ski and snowboard area at Summit Lake which is 18 km SE of Nakusp.

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 83rd record for BC.

It has not been relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Nakusp - Photo: Julia Flesaker

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING near Quesnel - June 6th

At 8am on June 6-2022, Suzy Wright found a male Indigo Bunting with Lazuli Buntings at her home on Freeman Rd. 

The bird may be viewed from along Freeman Rd near HERE but please do not trespass.

It has not been relocated since.

Indigo Bunting near Quesnel - Photo: Suzy Wright

 

RBA: SNOWY EGRET in North Cowichan - June 5-6th

At 12:30pm on June 5-2022, Luke Downs found a Snowy Egret on the Cowichan Estuary Conservation Trail in Cowichan Bay.

The bird was feeding in the slough HERE and perching in trees and has been viewed by multiple observers.

On June 6th the bird was last seen HERE in the marsh along Westcan Terminal Rd and hasn’t been seen since. 

Snowy Egret in Cowichan Bay - Photo: Nathan Hentze

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Richmond - June 4th

At 12:30pm on June 4-2022, Kayne Meyers-Harris found an Ash-throated Flycatcher perched in shrubs near the pond on the pipe at Iona Regional Park.

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been relocated as of 7pm, despite multiple observers looking.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Richmond - Photo: Kayne Meyers-Harris

RBA: 2 SCARLET TANAGERS in Vancouver - June 4-6th

At 7:25 am on June 4-2022 Ian Burgess and Brent Diakow found a male Scarlet Tanager at the upper main parking lot in a flock of Western Tanagers at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Map to location HERE

The bird has also been seen HERE near the lawn bowling area. However the main location at the upper parking lot is where it prefers most.

On June 5th, Sharon Toochin discovered a second male Scarlet Tanager at the same location. While one was being viewed at the main upper parking lot HERE a second bird was being seen and photographed at the quarry garden beneath Seasons in the Park Restaurant HERE. Then both birds were viewed together at the upper main parking lot by several observers.

On June 6th both bird continue at the original location (main upper parking lot).

**The birds were not relocated on June 7th**

**This is the 4th confirmed photographed record for BC and the 1st record for Metro Vancouver.**

Male Scarlet Tanager in Vancouver - Photo: Cole Gaerber

Male Scarlet Tanager in Vancouver - Photo: Ian Burgess

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Ucluelet - May 28th

At 7am on May 28-2022, Ian Cruickshank found a Manx Shearwater flying NW 1 km out from Amphitrite Point.

He viewed the bird through his scope and described it as the following: “small shearwater with long/slender wings and noticeably snappy, fast wingbeats (a few beats at a time interspersed with long glides, of course); at distance appeared entirely clean white from throat to undertail, contrasting dark upper half to head, uniformly very dark upperwings and upperparts, underwings mostly pale but could make out dark borders. Smaller bird with quicker/snappier wingbeats than solo PFSH seen earlier today.”

Map to location HERE 

This is the 73rd record for BC.

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Dawson Creek - May 26th

At 2pm on May 26-2022, Steve Ogle found a Brown Thrasher at McQueen’s Slough. The bird is 250m down from the start of the main trail in the area where the trail has a small corridor of trees on both sides. The bird was singing and was viewed by all in his group.

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 43rd record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on May 27th, despite observers looking.

Brown Thrasher in Dawson Creek - Photo: Sue Milks

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER near Calvert Island - May 25th

At 10:47 am on May 26-2022, Joshua Brown and Amicie Lavault spotted a Manx Shearwater flying south near the south end of Calvert Island which is south of Bella Bella. They viewed the bird while aboard a BC Ferries Vessel.

Map to location HERE

This is the 72nd record for BC.

Manx Shearwater near Calvert Island - Photo: Amicie Lavault

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER off Haida Gwaii - May 24th

At 11:43 am on May 24-2022, Joshua Brown found a Manx Shearwater in Hecate Strait in a flock of Sooty Shearwaters while he was aboard a BC Ferries vessel. The bird was last seen flying south.

Map to location HERE

This is the 71st record for BC.

Manx Shearwater in Hecate Strait - Photo: Joshua Brown

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Elkford - May 23rd

This morning (May 23-2022), Mona Walsh found a male Indigo Bunting at her private residence in the East Kootenay town of Elkford. The bird was in her garden for much of the morning and remained until early afternoon, at which point it was not seen again.

Indigo Bunting. Elkford, BC. May 23, 2022. Photo: Mona Walsh.

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER IN Chilanko Forks - May 20th

At 3pm on May 20-2022, Jim Sims, Lubna Khan and Sean and Betty Donahue found an adult Snowy Plover at Chilanko Marsh in Chilanko Forks (near Tatla Lake).

Map to location HERE

This is the 39th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on May 21st despite multiple observers looking.

Snowy Plover in Chilanko Forks - Photos: Jim Sims

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Richmond - May 13-14th

At 9:15am on May 13-2022, Craig Huish found a Snowy Plover sitting on the south jetty and then it flew to the mudflats off the north side of the south jetty (near marker 207) at Iona Regional Park.

Map to location of bird HERE

**The bird was last seen 2:15pm in the same location on May 14th and was viewed by multiple observers. It flew north and has not been relocated as of 2:45pm**

***The bird has not been relocated on May 15th.**

This is the 38th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Richmond - Photo: Craig Huish

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Ucluelet - May 13th

At 6:15 am on May 13-2022, Ian Cruickshank viewed a Manx Shearwater by scope from Amphitrite Point. The bird was one km out and landed on the water several times. You can view the description from this experienced observer here.

Map to location HERE

This is the 70th record for BC.

RBA: 3 SNOWY PLOVERS in Tofino - April 29-May 15th

On April 29-2022, David Caudwell found a Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach. He was able to photograph the bird before it was flushed by a dog.

At 12pm on April 30-2022, Bob Hansen relocated the bird HERE on Chesterman Beach near Frank Island. The bird was in a flock of Semipalmated Plovers. 

A second bird was also seen at 1:40pm alone at Comber’s Beach by Michelle Hamilton. The bird was near the Comber's Beach Trailhead.

At 8:30am on May 1-2022, Ian Cruickshank saw 3 birds together on Comber’s Beach near the sandhill creek mouth HERE. 

2 birds continue HERE on Wickaninnish Beach on May 2-12th.

On May 14-15th - 1 bird continues on Comber’s Beach at the sandhill creek mouth HERE. 

This is the 35th, 36th and 37th record for BC.

Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach in Tofino - Photos: Harry Sedin

3 Snowy Plovers on Comber's Beach, Tofino - Photo: Michelle Hamilton

RBA: KING EIDER in Comox - April 23-24th

At 7:10 am on April 24-2022, Krista Kaptein spotted a female King Eider at Singing Sands Beach in Comox. The bird was with 2000 Surf Scoters, some Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Greater Scaup. She was able to get photographs of the bird.

Multiple observers saw the bird until it flew off towards the SE at 8:50am.

Map to location it was first seen HERE

**After reviewing photos today, Iwan van Veen noticed that he had photographed the female King Eider HERE in a mixed scoter flock from the Comox to Powell River ferry at 9:25am on April 23rd.**

This is the 39th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on April 25th.

King Eider in Comox - Photos: Krista Kaptein

RBA: PARAKEET AUKLETS and MANX SHEARWATER off Tofino - April 10th

At 10:00am on April 10-2022 on a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters on the Miss B Haven, Mike Toochin et al. spotted 5 Parakeet Auklets near Clayoquot Canyon. One bird was photographed and viewed well by all on board.

The birds were seen HERE

This is the 47th record for BC.

At 1 pm on April 10-2022, Ilya Povalyaev and Yousif Attia spotted a Manx Shearwater off the same boat. It was viewed by half on board as the bird did one quick flyby and didn’t allow for photos.

The bird was seen HERE

This is the 69th record for BC.

1 of 5 Parakeet Auklets off Tofino - Photo: Melissa Hafting

RBA: PARAKEET AUKLETS off Tofino - April 2

On April 2-2022, Joachim Bertrands et al found 6 Parakeet Auklets during a pelagic out of Tofino to the Clayoquot Canyon. 

Three of the birds were seen HERE. 

This is the 46th record of Parakeet Auklet for BC. 

Parakeet Auklet off Tofino - Photo: Joachim Bertrands

RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS and PARAKEET AUKLET off Tofino - March 27

On March 27-2022, Blair Dudeck, Joachim Bertrands, et al found a Short-tailed Albatross and Parakeet Auklet during a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters out of Tofino. The Short-tailed Albatross was with a small group of Black-footed Albatrosses but not at a fishing boat. The Parakeet Auklet was seen by only a few on board.

The Short-tailed Albatross was observed HERE and the Parakeet Auklet was observed HERE.

This is the 45th record of Parakeet Auklet for BC. 

Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Joachim Bertrands

Parakeet Auklet off Tofino - Photo: Blair Dudeck

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK near Spider Lake, Vancouver Island - March 26

At around 2:15pm on March 26-2022, Derek Isbister found a light morph adult Ferruginous Hawk along Blacktail Rd near Spider Lake. This road is accessed by exiting the Inland Island Highway (Hwy 19) at Horne Lake Rd. The bird was observed on a large snag.

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been located since, despite multiple observers looking. 

Ferruginous Hawk near Spider Lake on Vancouver Island - Photo: Derek Isbister

RBA: WHOOPER SWAN in Vancouver and Richmond - March 17-18th

At 5:30pm on March 17-2022, Edward Nygren found an adult Whooper Swan at the NE corner of Trout Lake. Both legs were able to be fully visualized and they are unbanded. The bird is also not wing clipped as it flew in there this evening with 28 Trumpeter Swans.

This could be the same bird seen recently (March 16th) in Monroe, WA.

If accepted by the BC Bird Records Committee as a wild vagrant, this would be the 1st confirmed record for BC.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen at Trout Lake just after 12pm on March 18th and was viewed by multiple observers. 

The Whooper Swan and the flock of Trumpeter Swans took off and flew high and away heading NW at 12:15pm and have not returned to Trout Lake.

The bird was relocated in a field HERE in Richmond at 3:30pm with a flock of Trumpeter Swans near Number 7 Rd off the East-West Connector (Hwy 91) but has since picked up and flown north.

***The bird has not been relocated in either location on March 19th.***

Whooper Swan in Vancouver - Photos: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: BROWN BOOBY off Vancouver Island - March 12-13th

At 2 pm on March 12-2022, a Brown Booby was spotted by the crew as it landed on the research vessel the Canadian Coast Guard ship John P. Tully.

Map to location of where the bird flew on the ship HERE

The vessel is now heading towards Triangle Island. Marie Robert was able to get photos on March 13th. The bird is being fed sardines on board and heaters placed by it since it didn’t appear to be doing well. 

At 2:30pm on March 13th-2022, the bird flew off the ship which was positioned HERE.

This is the 19th record for BC.

Brown Booby on CCGS J P. Tully - Photo: Marie Robert

RBA: Apparent NAZCA BOOBY off Vancouver Island - Feb 26-27th

At 9:08 pm on Feb 26-2022, Rebecca LaForge and Captain Hans Jessen found an apparent subadult Nazca Booby while aboard the fishing vessel The FV Raw Spirit. The photos available are not that clear but appear to show a rosy/orange cast to the basal half of the bill blending to a yellowish tip. The concavity on the culmen also points to Nazca. Nazca Booby would also be more likely in our waters.

The bird stayed put on the bow until 3 am on Feb 27th when it flew off. It did not return for the remainder of their time at sea. Rebecca and the crew were able to obtain photos and video of the bird.

The bird was viewed off the Brooks Peninsula, 170 nautical miles from land as they were heading WNW.

Map to location HERE

If this were to be accepted as a Nazca Booby by the records committee it would be the 3rd record for BC. There was also a Nazca/Masked Booby in 2020 off Galiano Island that could not be confirmed to species.

Apparent Nazca Booby off Vancouver Island - Photos: Rebecca LaForge