RBA: PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in Vancouver - Nov 30-Dec 6th

**UPDATE: In May 2023 the bird was banded and released successfully into the wild.****

*This bird has been captured by Wildlife Rescue Association and is currently in their care. It will be released in Vancouver in the spring. Please see the Press Release HERE **

At 2:30pm on Nov 30-2022, Peggy Mersereau photographed a Prothonotary Warbler at a private home in Vancouver.

On Dec 1-3rd, the bird was relocated at a public park (Riverfront Park) at the end of Jellicoe St and has beeen viewed by multiple observers.

Please be respectful of private residences in the area. Please do not point cameras at private homes. 

Map to location seen HERE and HERE

The bird was not relocated on Dec 4th, despite multiple observers looking.

The bird was seen Dec 6th in the underground parking area of a nearby apartment complex. This area is off limits to birders.

**The bird was captured by Wildlife Rescue Association on Dec 6th and is currently in their care.***

This is the 11th record for BC and 2nd record for Metro Vancouver. It is also the first winter record for Canada.

Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Peter Candido

RBA: ARCTIC LOON in Victoria - Nov 23rd

At 9:30 am on Nov 23-2022, Geoffrey Newell found and photographed an Arctic Loon off McMicking Point. He observed the bird through a scope for 10 mins at a distance of 1 km. The bird then took off after a few minutes and flew west. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated despite multiple observers looking. 

The bird was accepted by the BC Records Committee.

Arctic Loon in Victoria - Photo: Geoffrey Newell

RBA: PRAIRIE WARBLER in Victoria - Nov 21st

At 3pm on Nov 21-2022, Danielle Geller found and photographed a Prairie Warbler at Glencoe-cove Kwatsech Park in Victoria. She watched it for 15 seconds before she lost it.

Map to location HERE

This is the 6th photographed record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 22nd, despite multiple observers looking. 

Prairie Warbler in Victoria - Photos: Danielle Geller

RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Kamloops - Nov 21-26th

At 10:30am on Nov 21-2022, Tana Coetzer found a Slaty-backed Gull in a mixed gull flock on a sandy bank off the Kamloops Airport River Trail at the end of Aviation Way.

The bird was still present when she left at 2pm.

Map to location of where she stood HERE and where the bird was HERE

The bird also has been seen HERE and HERE at Mission Flats and at the dump.

This is the 86th record for BC.

On Nov 24-26th, the bird was last seen HERE at Mission Flats and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird has not been relocated since.

Slaty-backed Gull in Kamloops - Photos: Tom Beeke

RBA: WHOOPER SWAN in Courtenay - Nov 19-26th

At 4:30pm on Nov 19-2022, James MacKenzie, Nathan and Iain Haigh found a Whooper Swan at a retention pond on private property in Courtenay. The bird was not banded on either leg and toes did not appear to be clipped. It was in a flock of 78 Trumpeter Swans.

These ponds are not accessible to the public. Local birders have an agreement with the property owner. Please do not trespass.

At 4:45pm, the bird flew away to the SW towards Comox Lake.

Map to original location HERE

At 1:30pm on Nov 20-2022, the bird was relocated HERE in a field on Marsden Rd.

The bird later moved to a field HERE on Charter Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers as of 3pm.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 21.

On Nov 22-24th the bird was relocated HERE in a field off Dove Creek Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers.

On Nov 26th  the Whooper Swan was relocated in a field off Piercy Rd HERE and seen by multiple observers.

It has not been relocated since, despite multiple birders looking.

This is the second record for BC of a presumed wild vagrant.

Whooper Swan in Courtenay - Photos: James MacKenzie

Whooper Swan on Dove Creek Rd in Courtenay - Photo: Roger Beardmore

RBA: SCARLET TANAGER in Kaslo - Nov 18th

At 4pm on November 18, 2022 Allison Grant found a female Scarlet Tanager in her yard on A Avenue. The bird appeared sick and listless. It was shivering and having difficulty breathing.

The homeowner took the bird inside and it seemed to recover for a bit. She planned to release it the next morning but sadly it died overnight.

This is the 5th confirmed photographed record for BC and the 1st record for the Central Kootenay.

Female Scarlet Tanager in Kaslo - Photos: Allison Grant

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Delta - Nov 14th

At 12:30pm on Nov 14-2022, Lochlan Wylie et al. found an adult female Brown Booby while aboard his family’s sailboat. The Booby stayed with the vessel for 11 mins as they were off Westham Island. At 12:41pm it flew off to the NE.

Map to location he first saw it HERE 

The bird was refound 2 hours later at 2:30pm by John Hall. The Brown Booby landed on his sail boat and stayed on the boat for over ten mins and he was able to obtain photos. 

John Hall first saw the bird HERE before it flew off towards Galiano Island.

This is the 20th record for BC.

Brown Booby in Delta - Photos: Lochlan Wylie

Brown Booby on John Hall’s boat off Delta, BC - Photo: John Hall

A video of the bird taken by Lochlan Wylie can be viewed below:

A video of the bird taken by John Hall can be viewed below:

RBA: BELL’S VIREO in Victoria - Nov 6-9th

At 4pm on Nov 6-2022, Steven Roias and Amelie Rousseau found a Bell’s Vireo at the NE end of Panama Flats. The bird was feeding in blackberry bushes.

Map to location HERE

This is the 2nd record for BC.

The bird was last seen HERE near the original location on November 9th and was viewed by multiple observers. 

It has not been seen since despite multiple observers looking.

Bell’s Vireo in Victoria (Photo: Amelie Rousseau)

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Port Moody - Nov 1st (late report)

At 5:15 pm on Nov 1-2022, Gillian McMillan photographed a female Acorn Woodpecker at her private home in Port Moody.

The bird only stayed at her feeder for ten minutes and did not return. If the bird returns the home may be open to the public.

This is the 14th record for BC and 3rd for Metro Vancouver.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Port Moody - Photos: Gillian McMillan