RBA: WHITE-WAGTAIL in Powell River - Oct 31-Nov 4th

On Oct 31-2025, Kathie and Ken Pritchard found an adult female White Wagtail of the lugens subspecies in the parking lot of Starbucks at the Town Centre Mall.

Map to location HERE

This appears to be the same bird from Richmond, BC. It wasn’t found in Richmond today and feather wear and plumage appears to be identical.

The bird continued in the same location and in the A & W parking lot HERE on Nov 4th.

It has not been relocated on Nov 5 or 6th.

White Wagtail in Powell River - Photos: Kathie Pritchard 

RBA: LITTLE BUNTING in Roberts Creek - Oct 30th

At 11:39 am on October 30-2025, Kaiden Bosch found a Little Bunting in Roberts Creek. He watched the bird fly in calling and land on the pier ten feet in front of him, for one minute before it quickly flew off towards Gibsons.

He watched it fly high for at least 1 Km and lost it.

Map to location HERE

This is the first confirmed record for BC and Canada.

Little Bunting in Roberts Creek - Photos: Kaiden Bosch

RBA: RUSTIC BUNTING in Haida Gwaii - Oct 29-31st

At 2:15 pm on October 30-2025, Carl Hughes found an adult female Rustic Bunting near Sandspit Airport in Haida Gwaii. The bird was foraging in a flock of Dark-eyed Juncos on the lawn 200m south of the airport terminal.

Map to location HERE

This is the 7th confirmed photographic record for BC.

The bird continues in the same spot on Oct 31st.

Rustic Bunting in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Carey Bergman

Rustic Bunting in Haida Gwaii - Photos: Carl Hughes

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Haida Gwaii - Oct 26th

At 10:30 am on October 26-2025, Carl Hughes found a Red-throated Pipit at the Sandspit Airport in Haida Gwaii.

This is the 70th record for BC.

You can hear a recording Carl Hughes made of the bird below:

RBA: SPOTTED REDSHANK in Delta and Richmond - Oct 25-28th

At 12:13 pm on Oct 25-2025, Michelle Lamberson and Arne Toma found a Spotted Redshank on a log at Fuller’s Slough at Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

Map to location HERE

Admission is 8$ for adults and reservations must be booked online for entry. Reifel is closed on Mondays.

The bird flew north at 3pm.

On Oct 26th, the bird continued at Fuller’s Slough at the same spot and at the nearby House Pond HERE and West Field HERE

***  On Oct 28th, the Spotted Redshank was relocated HERE on the dock at Britannia Shipyards***

The bird has not been relocated thus far at either location on Oct 29th, thus far.

Spotted Redshank in Delta - Photos: Scott Edwardson

Spotted Redshank in Delta - Photo: Dan Tyson

Spotted Redshank in Delta - Photo: Cameron Walker

A video of the bird by Eric Ellingson can be viewed below:

RBA: SIBERIAN PIPIT in Haida Gwaii - Oct 25th

At 9:27 am on Oct 25-2025, Jody Wells, Ian Cruickshank, Carl Hughes and James Bradley found a Siberian Pipit at the NW corner of Sandspit Airport.

Map to location HERE

This is the 6th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated.

Siberian Pipit in Haida Gwaii - Photos: Jody Wells

RBA: EURASIAN SKYLARKS in Haida Gwaii - Oct 25-Nov 6th

At 9:27 am on Oct 25-2025, Ian Cruickshank, Jody Wells, Carl Hughes and James Bradley found 2 Eurasian Skylarks at the NW corner of Sandspit Airport. They were initially found on the beach but flushed into the grass of the runway of the airport. Photos and audio recordings were obtained.

Map to location HERE

On Oct 26-Nov 6th, one of the birds continued HERE

Eurasian Skylark in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Jody Wells

Audio recorded by Ian Cruickshank posted below:

RBA: EURASIAN SKYLARK - Oct 22nd

At 9:40 am on Oct 22-2025, James MacKenzie  found an Eurasian Skylark at Trent River Estuary in Royston in the Comox Valley. The bird flew up and sang a few calls and then circled four times and flew to the NW.

Map to location HERE

Eurasian Skylark in Royston - Photo: James MacKenzie

RBA: LITTLE BLUE HERON in North Vancouver and Coquitlam - Oct 21-Nov 3rd

At 2:10pm on Oct 21-2025, Brett Brown and Josh Bruce found a juv Little Blue Heron at Inter River Park in North Vancouver.

Map to location HERE

The bird was flushed at 3:11 pm by a dog. The bird flew high and flew towards the cemetery Rice Lake and Seymour Demonstration Forest. The bird has not been relocated thus far.

This is the 6th record for BC.

At 3pm on Oct 24-2025, The bird was relocated by Michelle Geernaert-Clark at Como Lake near the parking lot.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued at Como Lake on Nov 3rd and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

It was not relocated on Nov 4th or 5th, despite multiple observers looking.

Please give the bird space and do not approach too closely, even it appears tame, ensuring it can hunt and have no stress.

Little Blue Heron in Coquitlam - Photos: Scott Edwardson

Little Blue Heron in North Van - Photo: Vanessa Schmidt

RBA: BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in Kelowna - Oct 15-20th

On Oct 15-2025, Joyce Li found and photographed a male Black-throated Blue Warbler on the campus of UBC Okanagan. 

The bird was first viewed HERE in front of the UNC building.

At 5:30pm on Oct 16th, Matthew Lowery refound the bird HERE

On Oct 17-19th, the bird continued HERE and was viewed by multiple observers.

On Oct 20th, the bird continued at UBCO Kelowna on the ivy and on the oaks on the Science Building.

Black-throated Blue Warbler in Kelowna - Photo Kalin Ocana

RBA: EURASIAN SKYLARK in Tofino - Oct 15th

At 3:15pm on Oct 15-2025, Ian Cruickshank found a Eurasian Skylark at Tofino Airport. This location is restricted access and not open to the public. This is potentially the same bird he found a day prior near Ucluelet.

He never saw the bird land but watched it in flight overhead calling.

He made a video of the bird attached.

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Victoria - Oct 15th

At 5:30 pm on October 15-2025, Randy Dzenkiw found and photographed a Red-throated Pipit at Cattle Point off Beach Rd

The bird was flying over him to the SW and calling.

Map to location HERE

This is the 69th record for BC. 

Red-throated Pipit in Victoria (Photo; Randy Dzenkiw)

RBA: EURASIAN SKYLARK near Ucluelet - Oct 14

At 4 pm on October 14-2025, Ian Cruickshank found and photographed an Eurasian Skylark near Ucluelet.

The bird was on the shoulder of the road feeding at the corner of Hwy 4 and the gravel Swim Beach Rd near Kennedy Lake.

He returned at 5pm to find the bird still there feeding.

Map to location HERE

Eurasian Sylark near Ucluelet - Photo: Ian Cruickshank

RBA: SIBERIAN PIPIT in Port Renfrew - Oct 13th

At 8 am on October 13-2025, Joachim Bertrands found a Siberian Pipit on driftwood at Pacheedaht Beach in Port Renfrew.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed briefly before flying to the west and was not relocated.

This is the 5th record for BC.

Siberian Pipit in Port Renfrew (Photos: Joachim Bertrands)

RBA: COCOS BOOBY off West Coast of Vancouver Island - Oct 13th

At 2pm on Oct 13-2025, while working on the FV Ocean Pearl, Lindsay Dealy and the crew found and photographed an adult female Cocos Booby. The bird landed on the ship and stayed for ten minutes before flying north near Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park.

Map to location HERE

This is the 23rd record for BC

Cocos Booby off Brooks Peninsula - Photo: Lindsay Dealy

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Nanaimo - Oct 13-15th

At 8:25 am on October 13-2025, Blair Dudeck found a Red-throated Pipit in a flock of American Pipits just past the main viewing area at Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo.

The bird was relocated HERE on October 14-2025 and was viewed and heard by multiple observers.

**On Oct 15th, the bird continues at the same location as on Oct 14th and has been viewed by multiple observers.**

This is the 66th record for BC.

2 RED THROATED PIPITS in Tofino - Oct 13-30th

At 11:15 am on October 13-2025, Ian Cruickshank found a Red-throated Pipit at the Tofino Airport in short grass in the field at the east end of the floatplane pond. He viewed the bird flying west and out of sight making its diagnostic and distinctive "pseeee" call in flight.

At 3pm on Oct 15th, he found 2 birds in the same spot. He was able to make a recording of their call attached.

The birds continue on Nov 1st and he was able to obtain photos.

Red-throated Pipits in Tofino - Photos: Ian Cruickshank

This location is not open to the public.

This area is restricted access only and not open to the public.

This is the 67th and 68th record for BC.

RBA: EURASIAN SKYLARK in Richmond - Oct 4th (Late Report)

At 2pm on Oct 4-2025, Francis Jones photographed an Eurasian Skylark of the Far Eastern Group (Alauda arvensis japonica/intermedia) from Eurasia.

The bird was located on the lower part of the South Jetty near the tip at Iona Regional Park.

Map to location HERE 

Eurasian Skylark in Richmond - Photos: Francis Jones

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Port Hardy and Port McNeill - Oct 11-12th

At 10 am on Oct 11-2025, Émile Brisson-Curadeau found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at the airport at Port Hardy.

Map to location HERE and HERE on the airport fence.

This is the 42nd record for BC.

The bird was viewed by multiple observers but hasn’t been relocated since 2pm.

On Oct 12th the bird was relocated HERE past the entrance to the Cluxewe Resort in Port McNeill by the gate to the road leading to the estuary. 

The bird was not relocated on Oct 13th, despite multiple observers looking.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Port Hardy - Photo: Émile Brisson-Curadeau

RBA: ORCHARD ORIOLE in Port Hardy - Oct 10th

At 11:20am on October 10-2025, Émile Brisson-Curadeau found an Orchard Oriole near the Port Hardy Airport.

Map to location HERE

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

This is the 14th record for BC.

Orchard/Hooded Oriole in Port Hardy - Photos: Émile-Brisson-Curadeau

RBA: 2 SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS off Tofino - Oct 8-10

At 11am on Oct 10-2025, while working on the FV Ocean Pearl, Lindsay Dealy and the crew found and photographed 2 immature Short-tailed Albatross. She has viewed both birds at the same time in the same area on Oct 8 and 9th but wasn't able to obtain photos until Oct 10th.

Map to location HERE

2 Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photos: Lindsay Dealy

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Delta - Oct 8th

At 2pm on Oct 8-2025, John Gordon found an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Boundary Bay near the 80th St pumphouse in Delta.

Map to location HERE

The bird was seen HERE calling at 4 pm before flying north and out of sight. 

The bird has not been relocated since.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Delta - Photos: John Gordon

RBA: STELLER’S EIDER in Port Hardy - Oct 8-26th

At 12 pm on October 8-2025, Émile Brisson-Curadeau found an immature male Steller’s Eider in Port Hardy at the Quatse Estuary Wildlife Management Area.

Map to location bird was seen HERE and HERE

The bird is best viewed at high tide when the ducks are less spread out.

**Please park tight to the road (on the bay side) and do not block the work trucks that have to use the road.**

**On Oct 9-2025, the bird was relocated HERE off Tsulquate Park and HERE at Carrot Park and was viewed by multiple observers.

On Oct 10th the bird continues HERE  off Carrot Park which is at the end of Market Street.**

On Oct 11-26th, the bird continued HERE off Tsulquate Park and back at Carrot Park.

The bird has not been relocated since Oct 26th, despite multiple observes looking.

Steller’s Eider in Port Hardy - Photo: Mike Tabak

Steller’s Eider in Port Hardy (Photo: Nick Park)

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Port Hardy - Oct 8th

At 12 pm on October 8-2025, Émile Brisson-Curadeau found a Black Phoebe in Port Hardy at the Quatse Estuary Wildlife Management Area. The bird briefly perched on a barn just south of the trail and then flew east.

Map to location HERE

This is the 64th record for BC.

***Since this species has become so frequent in BC it will no longer be posted on the main page of provincial rarities but on regional pages only.***

Black Phoebe in Port Hardy - Photo: Émile Brisson-Curadeau

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE on Saturna Island - Oct 4-Nov 9th

At 2:30pm on October 4-2025, Anne Murray found a Black Phoebe perched on a powerline on Trueworthy Rd on Saturna Island.

Map to location HERE

This is the 63rd record for BC.

The bird continues on Nov 9th and was relocated by Peggy Lee on the roof of nearby Feral Goat Bistro at the Sage Hayward Vineyard HERE

Black Phoebe on Saturna Island - Photo: Anne Murray

RBA: SUMMER TANAGER on Sonora Island - Sept 26-Oct 3rd

At 11:30 am on Sept 26-2025, Jody Eriksson found a female Summer Tanager at their private home on Sonora Island.

The homeowner is generously allowing birders to come see the bird. The only way to access the home is by water taxi from Campbell River or private boat.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues on Oct 3rd but was not relocated on Oct 4th.

This is the 11th record for BC.

Summer Tanager on Sonora Island - Photos: Tavish Campbell