RBA: PROBABLE ARCTIC LOON in Sooke - July 29th

At 7 am on July 29-2025, Geoffrey Newell found a probable Arctic Loon, 500m off of Otter Point in Sooke. He viewed the bird by scope and was able to get some digiscoped photos as it moved east. He watched the bird for 30 mins before he lost it when heavy fog rolled in. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

If accepted by the BC Bird Records Committee this would be the 5th confirmed photographed record for BC.

If accepted by the BC BRC, this would also be the second accepted record of Geoffrey’s of this species. He last found an Arctic Loon in Victoria in 2022, which you can read about HERE.

Probable Arctic Loon in Sooke - Photos: Geoffrey Newell 

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Vancouver - July 29th

At 7:10 am on July 29-2025, Laura Moth found a Black Phoebe calling at the west pond at Jericho Park in Vancouver.

Map to location HERE

This is the 58th record for BC.

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

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Vancouver - July 28th

At 7:10 am on July 28-2025, Sabine Jessen found a Black Phoebe calling at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver. The bird was by the pond off Ontario St near the disc golf course.

Map to location HERE

This is the 57th record for BC.

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

RBA: MASKED BOOBY near Winter Harbour - July 27th

At 12:15 pm on July 27-2025, a Masked Booby was photographed from the cruise ship the Norwegian Bliss. The bird was flying NW along the cruise ship for a couple minutes before flying off. It was seen offshore by a couple on board between Winter Harbour and Raft Cove Provincial Park on the NW coast of Vancouver Island.

Map pin to approximate location HERE

This is the 3rd record for BC.

Masked Booby near Winter Harbour - Photo: fide. G. Harrington

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Abbotsford - July 6-8th

On July 6-2025, Ankur Khurana and Kyle Horner found a Black Phoebe at Willband Creek Park in Abbotsford. The bird was seen at the main pond and at the slough by the parking lot off Bateman Rd.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues as of July 8th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 56th record for BC.

Black Phoebe in Abbotsford - Photo: Lucas Meestra

RBA: KING EIDER in Port Hardy - July 5-26th

At 10:17 am on July 5-2025, Arden Powell found a male King Eider at Hardy Bay in Port Hardy. The bird was photographed while on a Coastal Rainforest Safaris boat tour, but the bird is likely viewable from land by scope.

Map to location HERE. 

Shore viewing is possible at DJ Point HERE.

The bird was relocated on July 7th just north of the original point.

The bird continues on July 10th at the original spot.

On July 11-26th, the bird was seen closer to the Quatse River Estuary HERE.

This is the 43rd record for BC.

King Eider in Port Hardy - Photo: Nick Park

King Eider in Port Hardy (Photo: Andrew Jones)

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Coquitlam - July 3rd

At 9:50 am on July 3-2025, Sam Ferguson found a Black Phoebe near the Millennium Bridge at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park in Coquitlam. The bird was vocalizing and last seen flying south along the bank away from the observer.

Map to location HERE.

An audio recording of the bird can be heard HERE. 

This is the 55th record for BC.

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Vancouver - July 3rd

At 1:45pm on July 3-2025, Nick Park found an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Jericho Park in Vancouver.

The bird continues as of 3:30pm and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Map to location HERE.

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

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Vancouver - Photo: Nick Park

RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Prince George - June 27-29th

At 6:45pm on June 27-2025, Liz Hewison found a male Great-tailed Grackle by the bridge at the canoe launch parking area at Cottonwood Island Park in Prince George. 

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in the same spot on June 29th and has been viewed by multiple observers. It was not relocated on June 30th.

This is the 10th record for BC.

Great-tailed Grackle in Prince George - Photo: Jeff Dyck

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Terrace - June 26-July 1st

At 1:25pm on June 26-2025, Anna Linton found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher along Hampton Rd in Terrace. The bird is flycatching from fences on private property but viewable when standing on Hampton Rd.

Map to location HERE.

Please do not trespass onto private property to view this bird.

This is the 41st record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on June 27 despite multiple observers looking. 

At 8:25pm on July 1 it was relocated in the same location. 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Terrace - Photos: Brennan T. Bantle

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Victoria - June 26th-Aug 9th

On June 26-2025, Jeff Gaskin found a female Acorn Woodpecker visiting a feeder at 443 Hector Rd in Victoria. When not at the feeder the bird is in the large oak tree between the road and the house. Best viewing is had from the grassy area opposite the driveway.

The bird has been viewed by multiple observers. According to homeowners it has been present for almost a week.

Map to location HERE.

This is the 17th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on June 27th. 

On July 5th it was relocated in the same area.

It continues as of Aug 9th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Victoria - Photos: Les Peterson

RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Delta - June 19th

At 8:30am on June 19-2025, Lise Owens found a Great-tailed Grackle on the pier at Wellington Point Park in Delta. 

Map to location HERE. 

This is the 9th record for BC.

The bird has not been seen since.

Great-tailed Grackle in Delta - Photos: Lise Owens

RBA: DICKCISSEL in Fort St. John - June 17-30th

At 2:10pm on June 17-2025, Mark Phinney found a Dickcissel along 259 Rd north of Airport Rd. near Fort St. John while leading a BCFO tour. The bird was singing and has a deformed bill.

Map to location HERE.

This is the 34th record for BC.

The bird continued in the same location on June 30th.

Dickcissel in Fort St. John - Photo: Ian Burgess

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Delta - June 12-13th

At 6:48pm on June 12-2025, Yousif Attia found an adult Snowy Plover alone in front of the mansion near 96th St at Boundary Bay. The bird was viewed by him and Roger Foxall briefly before it disappeared with the incoming tide at 7:05 pm.

Map to location HERE

Snowy Plover in Delta - Photos: Rob Lyske

This is the 50th record for BC.

At 11 am on June 13th, the bird was relocated near 88th St HERE and then refound back at the mansion HERE. 

The bird was last seen at 7pm, at the outflow at the mansion before disappearing with the incoming tide.

**The bird has not been relocated thus far on June 14th.**

Video of the bird below by Yousif Attia:

RBA: MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD in Victoria - May 31st

At 7:30pm on May 31-2025, Lightkeeper John Gillevet found and photographed a juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird flying near the lighthouse at Staines Point by the south and east end of Greater Trial Island off Victoria. 

The bird has not been seen since.

Map to approximate location HERE

Magnificent Frigatebird off Victoria - Photo: John Gillevet

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in Tofino - June 3-7th

At 12:30 pm on June 3-2025, Graeme Morgan and Raffaella Bernar found a Hooded Oriole in his yard. After work at 6:30 pm, he relocated the bird in nearby Anchor Park at Main St and Third St.

The bird tends to disappear into the shrub on the ocean side of the park beneath the large totem pole at Anchor Park.

Map to public location HERE

The bird has also been seen in the conifer directly across the street from the park.

Graeme reports that friends believe they have seen the bird a few days prior to this sighting.

This is the 29th record for BC.

The bird continued in the same spot on June 7th and has been viewed by multiple observers. It was not relocated on June 8th.

Hooded Oriole in Tofino - Photos: Ian Cruickshank

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Saanich - May 31st-July 24th

At 10:40 am on May 31-2025, Geoffrey Newell found a Black Phoebe in Saanich. The bird was flycatching from a fence and was on Lochside Dr, south of Lohbrunner Rd. The bird was with an Eastern Phoebe.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on June 1st. On June 20th the bird was relocated by Carl Hughes and continues as of July 24th.

The bird successfully bred with an Eastern Phoebe and 3 out of 5 young survived. This is the first record of a Black Phoebe breeding in Canada and first of it breeding with an Eastern Phoebe. There is no public access to the nest site discovered by Les Peterson but birders should look for the hybrids when they fledge in the Blenkinsop Valley area.

This is the 54th record for BC.

Black Phoebe and Eastern Phoebe in Saanich - Photos: Geoffrey Newell 

Black Phoebe with hybrid Eastern Phoebe offspring in Saanich (Photos: Jody Wells)

RBA: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW in Abbotsford - May 30th

At 12:15 pm on May 30-2025, Jean Bergen found an adult Black-throated Sparrow in Abbotsford. The bird was on a decommissioned road near the end of North Parallel Rd. The decommissioned road is just a little east and below the dyke. The bird was in and out of blackberry bushes on this road.

Map to location HERE

The bird was relocated HERE at 6pm by Justin Flint and viewed by several birders until dark.

The bird has not been relocated on May 31st, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 54th record for BC.

Black-throated Sparrow in Abbotsford - Photos: Jean Bergen

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Cranbrook - May 29th

At 12:40pm on May 29-2025 Aiva Noringseth found a Brown Thrasher near the viewing platform at the north end of Elizabeth Lake in Cranbrook.

Map to location HERE

This is the 45th record for BC.

Brown Thrasher in Cranbrook - Photos: Aiva Noringseth 

RBA: BLUE GROSBEAK in Peachland - May 25-June 7th

At 6:43 pm on May 25-2025, Markus and Martin Weilmeier found a male Blue Grosbeak perched on shrubs and singing on the south-east side of the road (past the fence) in a weedy field at the north end of Sanderson Ave in Peachland.

Directions: Sanderson Ave becomes a gravel road. Continue along the road to the end of Sanderson, which has tall fences on either side of it. You can see through the fences easily. The bird is on the south-east side of the road, through the fence, in the weedy fields.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed by multiple observers until dark.

The bird continued on June 7th but has not been seen since.

This is the third record for BC.

Blue Grosbeak in Peachland - Photos: Martin Weilmeier

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER near Tofino - May 23-24th

At 5:30pm on May 23-2025, Ian Cruickshank identified and relocated a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on beach logs just west of Box Island on Schooner Cove Beach in Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino. The bird was initially found by Katie Kushneryk, Eleanor Brouard-John and Bob Addley. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 40th record for BC.

The bird continued in the same spot on May 24th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

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

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Tofino - Photos: Ian Cruickshank

RBA: BRAMBLING in Burnaby - May 21st

At 6:30pm on May 21-2025, Neil and Andrea MacLeod found a Brambling at their private home.

The home is not open to the public.

The bird has not been seen since.

Brambling in Burnaby - Photo: Andrea MacLeod

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW in Creston - May 18

At 9 am on May 18-2025, Craig Sandvig and Sachi Snively found a Black-throated Sparrow feeding along Channel Rd at Duck Lake in Creston.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in the same location as of 5pm and was viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 53rd record for BC.

Black-throated Sparrow in Creston - Photo: Sachi Snively

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Victoria - March 29th

On March 29-2025, Jeff Gaskin found a Black Phoebe at the north end of the slough at Cuthbert Holmes Park in Victoria.

Map to location HERE

The bird was also seen from the nearby parking lot at Silvercity movie theatre.

Map to location near Silvercity HERE

This is the 53rd record for BC.

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Vancouver - March 22-April 18th

On March 22-2025, Brian and Anne McSkimming found a White-winged Dove at their feeder at their private home. The bird  and feeders are viewable from the public street.

Please stand on the public sidewalk on N. Skeena St to view the bird. Please do not trespass or enter the yard. Please do not block driveways or point cameras at private homes.

Map to location of feeders HERE

The bird was also seen once in a tree on Oxford St HERE

The bird continued at the original feeders on April 18th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been seen since.

This is the 25th record for BC

White-winged Dove in Vancouver - Photo: Ben Lambert

White-winged Dove in Vancouver - Photo: Vanessa Hum

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Vancouver and Richmond - March 1-May 3rd

At 10:50 am on March 1-2025, Christina Balkwill found a immature male Tufted Duck at the main pond at Vanier Park. The bird was not present on March 2nd but was relocated on the afternoon of March 3rd and viewed by multiple observers.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in the same location, after a seven day absence, on March 10th.

At 1pm on March 16th, Frank Lin relocated the bird at Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park. The bird flew off at 2:45 pm.

On March 24th, the bird continued at Vanier Park pond.

On March 25th and March 30th, the bird continued at Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park

On April 10th Bryan Zandberg refound what appears to be the same bird in the SW inner pond HERE at Iona in Richmond.

The bird continues at the same spot at Iona on April 14th.

On April 17-25th, the bird was seen at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park in Vancouver.

On April 26th, the bird was relocated at main outer pond at Iona by Mike Toochin.

**On April 27-May 3rd, the Tufted Duck was back at Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park.**

Tufted Duck in Vancouver - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev 

Tufted Duck in Vancouver - Photo: Ben Lambert

RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Chemainus - March 1st

At 10:30 am on March 1-2025, Jade Blakney found a female Great-tailed Grackle feeding from her hand near the dumpsters by the Chemainus Health Care Auxilliary Thrift Store at 9867 Maple Street in Chemainus. The bird was present all day up until at least 3pm.

Map to location HERE

This is the 8th record for BC.

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

Great-tailed Grackle in Chemainus - Photos: Jade Blakney

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Langley - Jan 9-Feb 2nd

At 2:45 pm on January 9-2025, James Linde found a Black Phoebe at the pond with the beaver lodge at Jackman Wetlands in Langley.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued HERE and HERE on Feb 2nd and was viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 52nd record for BC.

Black Phoebe in Langley - Photo: Gabrielle Cuff

Black Phoebe in Langley - Photo: Robert Enns

RBA: BRAMBLING in Richmond - Jan 3rd-7th

At 10am on January 3rd, 2025 Tak and Mayumi Shibata found a Brambling on the old Ferguson Road. The bird was with a flock of American Robins on the hillside between the YVR Airport fence and the cement plant.

Map to location HERE

Note there is no authorized parking on the old Ferguson Rd you must park HERE and walk down. Pls follow all parking regulation signs.

The bird continued at the original location on Jan 4th up until 10:30 am, after which it flew NW.

At 3pm the bird was briefly relocated HERE with Purple Finches.

On Jan 5th, the bird continued from 8:30-8:45 am at the original location before flying NW.

It was then relocated HERE on Shannon Rd and viewed by multiple observers after periods of long absences.

On Jan 6-7th, the bird continued HERE along Shannon Rd.

The bird has not been reported since Jan 7th.

Brambling in Richmond - Photo: Tak Shibata 

Brambling in Richmond - Photo: Mayumi Shibata