RBA: 2 LEAST TERNS in Lumby - July 24th

At 7:30 am on July 24th, Scott Thomson found and photographed 2 adult Least Terns at Rawlings Lake. He viewed both birds until 9:30am.

At 1:30pm Chris Siddle relocated one bird on the lake, while viewing it from Rawlings Lake Rd, on the west side of the lake.

Map to location of where to view the bird from HERE

When viewing the bird please do not trespass or attempt to get close to the lake. You must view the bird from the road by scope or binoculars. The land around the lake is all private property. Please be respectful of the private landowners. 

This is the 4th record for BC.

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

Least Terns in Lumby - Photos: Scott Thomson

Least Tern in Lumby - Photo: Chris Siddle

RBA: COMMON RINGED PLOVER in Campbell River and Parksville - July 22-26th

At 6pm on July 22-2024, Kyle Fitzpatrick found a Common Ringed Plover at Oyster Bay in Campbell River. Kyle was able to photograph and obtain audio recordings of the bird calling. He viewed the bird until 7pm and a few other observers got to see the bird after this as well.

You can listen to the audio below:

Map to location HERE

This is the 3rd record for BC and the second time a Common Ringed Plover has been found at this location.

The bird was not relocated on July 23, despite multiple observes looking.

***The bird was relocated HERE on July 25th by Cathy Carlson at the same location.***

****On July 26th - the same bird or a different one was found by Mark Wynja at Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. If this is a different bird this represents the 4th record for BC.****

Map to location in Parksville HERE

Common Ringed Plover in Campbell River - Photos: Kyle Fitzpatrick

RBA: RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on Galiano Island - July 17th

At 7:45 am on July 17-2024, a Red-headed Woodpecker was found by Brian Banno at Bluffs Park on Galiano Island. The bird flew away to the east at 8:06 am shortly after viewing.

Directions: 

If you park at the lot HERE near the top of Bluffs Park and then walk along the trail heading North, Brian spotted the bird about 200yards up the trail, on a large dead Douglas Fie tree that was on the ocean side. It then flew east and stopped on a few trees before it flew away to the east high over the trees.

Map to location HERE

The bird was relocated at 2pm at the same spot and has been viewed by multiple observers. It flew east at 2:45pm and hasn’t been relocated since.

**The bird was not relocated on July 18 or 19th, despite multiple observers looking.**

This is the 7th record for BC.

Red-headed Woodpecker on Galiano Island - Photos: Brad Vissia

Red-headed Woodpecker on Galiano Island - Photo: Brian Banno

RBA: LEAST TERN in Delta - July 12th

At 10am on July 12-2024, Brian Self,  Kevin Louth, Roger Foxall and Philip Wright found an adult Least Tern in the channel off the mansion near 96th St at Boundary Bay in Delta.

Map to location HERE

This is the third record for BC.

The bird was viewed by a few birders before flying high towards White Rock at 10:50am. It was not relocated, thus far, despite multiple observers looking.

Least Tern in Delta - Photo: Philip Wright

A video of the bird below by Kevin Louth:

RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS near Cape Scott

At 4pm on July 1st-2024, Sebastian Pardo found an immature Short-tailed Albatross south of the Scott Islands while aboard the CCGS Sir John Franklin research vessel.

Map to location HERE

Short-tailed Albatross near Cape Scott off Vancouver Island - Photo: Sebastian Pardo

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Vancouver - June 24th

At 1:45pm on June 24-2024, Gord Smith found and photographed a Black Phoebe at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.

Map to location HERE

This is the 47th record for BC

The bird was not relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

Black Phoebe in Vancouver - Photo: Gord Smith

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Chilliwack - June 19-20th

On June 19-2024, Angela Moore found and photographed a female Acorn Woodpecker on her farm in the Ryder Lake area of Chilliwack. She also viewed the bird on June 20th.

This is the 16th record for BC.

The home is currently not open to the public.

Acorn Woodpecker in Chilliwack - Photos: Angela Moore

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Coquitlam - June 15-18th

At 6pm on June 15-2024, Stephan Dryagin found an Ash-throated Flycatcher west of the bridge at Colony Farm in Coquitlam. He viewed it for a minute before it flew off to the west.

Map to location HERE

On the evening of June 18-2024, Kerri Zhao relocated the bird briefly at the community gardens at Colony Farm, before it flew towards the forensic hospital. 

Map to last location HERE

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Coquitlam - Photo: Stephan Dryagin
 

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Coquitlam -
Photo: Kerri Zhao

RBA: NORTHERN PARULA in Surrey - June 7th

At 7 am on June 7-2024, Ilya Povalyaev found a male Northern Parula singing in bushes near the dog park at Blackie Spit Park.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen at 11 am in an Oak tree by Dunsmuir St and Gilley St HERE and was viewed and heard by multiple observers.

The bird has not been relocated since 11 am, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 27th record for BC.

Northern Parula in Surrey - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD on Quadra Island - May 4-June 3rd

On May 4-2024, Meredith McGill found a male Costa’s Hummingbird coming to her hummingbird feeder at her private home on Quadra Island.

The homeowner is generously allowing birders to come see the bird by appt only.

Please contact the RBA at bcbirdergirl@gmail.com to arrange visitation.

The bird continues on June 3rd and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

This is the 33rd record for BC.

Costa’s Hummingbird on Quadra Island - Photo: Danielle Lacasse

Costa’s Hummingbird on Quadra Island - Photos: Tristan Chapman

Costa’s Hummingbird on Quadra Island - Photo: James MacKenzie

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING near Bella Coola - May 12-18th

On May 12-2024, Sunder Green found a male Indigo Bunting at her private home on Hwy 20 near Snootli Creek Regional Park in Hagensborg in the Bella Coola Valley.

The bird continued on May 18th and was viewed by multiple local observers.

Indigo Bunting in Bella Coola - Photo: Harvey Thomassen

RBA: TEMMINCK’S STINT in Victoria - May 10-13th

At 6:45 pm on May 11-2024, Joachim Bertrands and Sean McElaney found a Temminck’s Stint at the SE corner of Panama Flats in Victoria.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed for over 40 mins foraging with Least Sandpipers, before it flew off with them towards the Central Dyke and was not relocated as it was dark.

This is the second record for BC.

The bird was photographed on May 10-2024 by Gordon Hart who initially thought it was a Spotted Sandpiper. You can view that image HERE

The bird continued HERE at Panama Flats on the Centre Dyke and HERE in the SE corner on May 12th and 13th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not relocated on May 14th and 15th, despite multiple observers looking.***

Temminck’s Stint in Victoria (Photos: Joachim Bertrands)

*Parking is on Baker Street HERE off Carey Rd or on Barrington Rd off Baker St HERE Please do not block driveways or park too close to street corners.

The entrance to Panama Flats is on Carey Rd near Baker Rd - walk around the gray metal gates with the No Parking signs to access Panama Flats and the trail to the bird.*

Videos of the bird filmed by Joachim Bertrands on May 11th, can be viewed below:

RBA: LESSER NIGHTHAWK in Tofino - May 3-4th

Kelsey Freitag photographed a Lesser Nighthawk at 8:45pm on May 4th-2024. She originally viewed the same bird the night before on May 3rd at 8pm and took video. She initially thought it was a Common Nighthawk but her photos show a bird with white wing bars extending closer to the tips of the wings and the time of year fits Lesser Nighthawk much better as well.

Map to location she viewed the bird both nights is HERE

The bird was not relocated on May 5th, despite many looking.

This is the 4th record for Vancouver Island and the 5th record for BC.

Lesser Nighthawk in Tofino - Photos: Kelsey Freitag

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK in Chilliwack - May 4th

At 9:30 am on May 4-2024, Paul Foth photographed a Ferruginous Hawk that flew east over the intersection of Sherlaw and Extrom Rds in the Ryder Lake area of Chilliwack.

Map to location HERE

Ferruginous Hawk in Chilliwack - Photos: Paul Foth

RBA: SNOWY PLOVERS in Tofino - May 1-23rd

At 2:45 pm on May 1-2024, Daryl Henderson and Annette Bailey found a Snowy Plover at the mouth of Sandhill Creek on Comber’s Beach in Tofino.

Map to location HERE

On May 4th-2024, Ian Cruickshank found a new or relocated the same Snowy Plover HERE on Wickaninnish Beach.

On May 5th-2024, Michelle Hamilton relocated the bird HERE 500m south of Greenpoint on Comber’s Beach.

The bird continues on Comber’s Beach on May 6th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

On May 7-11th, 2024, 2 Snowy Plovers were observed side by side HERE on Wickaninnish Beach.

On May 12th, 2 were found on Wickaninnish Beach by Nygel N. but one was banded and all previous birds were not banded proving this was at least one new individual.

On May 14th, 2024 Adrian Dorst relocated one of the birds or found a new one on Long Beach in Tofino.

**On May 23rd, 2024 Ian Cruickshank found another unbanded Snowy Plover on Comber’s Beach.**

These are presumed to be the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th and 49th record for BC

Snowy Plover in Tofino - Photo: Daryl Henderson

RBA: BRAMBLING in Quesnel - April 26th

On April 26-2024, a Brambling hit Leanne Davies’s window at her private home in Puntchesakut Lake near Quesnel. The bird survived and flew off once recovered.

Brambling in Quesnel - Photo: Leanne Davies

RBA: ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE in Surrey - April 17-24th

At 4:36pm on April 17-2024, Cos van Wermeskerken found an Oriental Turtle-Dove sitting on the grass at the edge of the slough near Dunsmuir St at Blackie Spit.

He watched the bird for a few mins before it flew west and high over the intersection of Dunsmuir St.and Gilley St. He was unable to relocate the bird.

Map to location of where he saw the bird is HERE

This is the 4th record for BC and is listed as ABA Code 4.

At 6:55pm on April 18th, Ilya Povalyaev and Melissa Hafting relocated the dove at a feeder at a private home at the corner of Agar St and McBride Ave. 

Map to location HERE

Please be respectful of private property and do not block driveways or point cameras at windows of private homes.

The bird was briefly there before flying south and high at 7:05pm over Sullivan Street.

On April 24th, the bird continued at the same feeder and has been viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on April 25 or 26, despite multiple observers looking.

**Please do not spread seed down in the neighborhood at the request of homeowners, as it can attract rats**

Oriental Turtle-Dove in Surrey - Photo: Eric Ellingson

Oriental Turtle-Dove in Surrey, BC - Photos: Ilya Povalyaev

Oriental Turtle-Dove in Surrey - Photo: Cos van Wermeskerken 

RBA: KING EIDER in Ucluelet - April 10-11th

At 10:30 am on April 10-2024, Chris Coxson found a female King Eider in a large mixed Scoter flock of over 900 birds off of Little Beach in Ucluelet.

Map to location of bird HERE

Best spot for birders to stand and view the bird is HERE on Little Beach

This is the 41st record for BC.

The bird continued in the same on April 11th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

King Eider in Ucluelet - Photos: Chris Coxson

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Langley - April 3-5th

At 9 am on April 3-2024, Cos van Wermeskerken found an adult Black Phoebe calling at the NW corner of Brydon Lagoon.

Map to location HERE

This is the 46th record for BC.

On April 5th, the Black Phoebe continued in the same spot and had been viewed by multiple observers.

On April 6th, the bird was not relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

Black Phoebe in Langley - Photos: Cos van Wermeskerken

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in Port Alberni - March 11-16

On March 11-2024, a male Hooded Oriole was photographed on private property in Port Alberni, and reported to Jeremy Kimm. The observer wishes to remain anonymous.  

The home is not open to the public.

This is the 28th record for BC.

The bird continued as of March 16th at the same location. 

Hooded Oriole in Port Alberni - Photo: via Jeremy Kimm

RBA: REDWING in Vancouver - March 14

At 3:40pm on March 14-2024, Mark Swanson found a Redwing at Fraser River Park in Vancouver. The bird was seen associating with American Robins on the grass in the southeast corner of the park.

Map to location HERE. 

This is the 5th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on March 15th despite multiple observers looking. 

Redwing in Vancouver - Photo: Mark Swanson

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in Cobble Hill - Jan 12-Feb 27th

At 11am on Jan 12-2024, a male Hooded Oriole was photographed at a hummingbird feeder at a private backyard of a home, on Pineridge Dr (near Pineridge Pl), in the gated community of Arbutus Ridge in Cobble Hill. The sighting was posted on inaturalist by the observer’s son Mr. William Innes but the original observer prefers to keep their first name anonymous.

The home is not open to the public. The community is gated and currently there is no public access except for residents.

This is the 27th record for BC.

The bird was seen again by resident of the community on February 27th.

Hooded Oriole in Cobble Hill - Photo: Jeremy Gatten