RBA: BLACK-TAILED GULL near Victoria - May 2-7th

At 4:30pm on May 2-2023, Les Peterson found an adult Black-tailed Gull at Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood near Victoria. The bird was resting on the lagoon side on the low tide sandbar that is opposite to the anchor/cairn near the bridge at Esquimalt Lagoon. He did not see it fly away.

Map to exact location HERE

The bird was refound by Eric Tull at 3:20pm at the same location on May 3rd and was viewed by multiple observers.

It was flushed by a Bald Eagle and it flew high and west and then south out into the strait just after 4:20pm. 

On May 4th the bird continued at the same spot until 1:15 pm when it was chased off by a dog walker. It was relocated again at 5:30pm.

The bird continued in the same location at Esquimalt Lagoon during the day on May 5th.

It was also seen in the evening from the end of Stewart Ave looking across to the Navy base HERE on the opposite shore by scope as it roosted on the construction pillings. Map to location of where to stand to view bird is HERE

***On May 6-7th, the bird continued in the same location as the evening before as viewed from the Stewart Ave access and in the late afternoon it was seen at the original location at Esquimalt Lagoon.***

**The bird has not been relocated on May 8 or 9th at either location.**

This is the 4th photo-documented record for BC.

Black-tailed Gull in Colwood - Photos: Nick Park