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