RBA: SIBERIAN PIPIT in Saanich - Oct 2-6th

At 11:30 am on October 2-2026, Melissa Hafting found a Siberian Pipit at Panama Flats. The bird was present in the same field as a continuing Red-throated Pipit and was travelling with 25 American Pipits. Melissa was able to call over 2 other birders who were searching for the Red-throated Pipit in different areas of the flats and they were also able to get on the bird. There was a delay in posting to seek confirmation on the species that she believed it was from experts, such as Sulli Gibson.

Map to location HERE

This is the 8th record for BC.

On Oct 5-2026, Val George reported viewing the bird at the same location.

On Oct 6-2026, Michael Bentley had the Siberian Pipit at Panama Flats.

Siberian Pipit in Saanich - Photo: Melissa Hafting

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Wynndel - Oct 3rd

At 11:30 am on Oct 3-2026, Marc-Andre Beaucher found a Brown Thrasher in a private backyard in Wynndel. The home is not open to the public and the bird is not viewable from the public road.

This is the 47th record for BC.

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Kelowna - Oct 2-6th

On October 2-2026, Roberta Snow found a Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kelowna at the community garden at 464 Sutton Crescent at Sutton Glen Brandt’s Creek Linear Park. The bird was travelling in a flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Map to location HERE

This is the 96th record for BC.

The bird continues in the same location on Oct 6th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kelowna - Photo: Brad Vissia

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Rosedale - Sept 30-Oct 2nd

On Sept 30-2026, Chris McDonald found a Black Phoebe near the viewing platform at Cheam Lake Wetlands.

Map to location HERE

This is the 78th record for BC.

On Oct 1 and 2nd, the bird continued in the lake east of the Loop Trail.

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Saanich - Sept 30th-Oct 2nd

On September 30-2026, Trevor Henry, Isaac Esselink and Andrew Jacobs found and photographed a Red-throated Pipit at Panama Flats.

Map to location HERE

This is the 74th record for BC.

The bird continued HERE on Oct 1st and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

On Oct 2nd, the bird continues in cut field HERE 

Red-throated Pipit in Saanich - Photos: Trevor Henry 

RBA: MOTTLED PETREL off Triangle Island - Sept 28

At 12:30pm on Sept 28-2026, Ilya Povalyaev found a Mottled Petrel from a cruise ship to Alaska. He did not obtain photos. The bird was 23km NW of Triangle Island.

Map to location HERE

RBA: CASSIN’S SPARROW in Delta - Sept 27-29th

At 5:45pm on Sept 27-2026, Katherine Scrimshaw found a Cassin’s Sparrow near the mansion by 96th St at Boundary Bay.

Map pin HERE

This is the first record for BC.

The bird was relocated on Sept 28th HERE near to 96th at Boundary Bay and was viewed and heard singing a full song by multiple birders at 6:10pm.

At 6:40 pm on Sept 29th, the bird was heard singing its full song again at the same spot.

The bird did not sing on the evening of Sept 30th, despite multiple observers looking.

Cassin’s Sparrow in Delta - Photos: Katherine Scrimshaw

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in North Cowichan - Sept 28th

At 11am on September 27-2026, Curtis Rispin found a Red-throated Pipit in a flock of 18 American Pipits in a private farm field. 

The bird was recorded as it called in flight. The fields are not open to the public and you must stand on the public street to scan and listen for the bird as the dyke is now closed to the public.

Map to location of where to stand HERE

This is the 73rd record for BC.

RBA: JUAN FERNANDEZ PETREL off Haida Gwaii - Sept 24th

At 6:30pm on Sept 24-2026, Ilya Povalyaev found a Juan Fernandez Petrel while scoping off Shingle Bay from Sandspit in Haida Gwaii.

Map to location of where he stood to view HERE

Map to location of bird HERE

This is a first record for BC and Canada.

Juan Fernandez Petrel off Haida Gwaii - Photos: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: COCOS BOOBY in Campbell River - Sept 24th

At 1:25 pm on September 24-2026, Jeremy Gatten found a Cocos Booby off the end of Heard Rd. The bird was last seen south of the Ken Forde Boat Launch.

Map to initial location HERE and south of the Ken Forde Boat Launch HERE

This is the 31st record for BC

Cocos Booby off Campbell River (Photo: Jeremy Gatten)

RBA: EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL in Haida Gwaii - Sept 23rd

At 4:50pm on September 25-2026, Ilya Povalyaev found an Eastern Yellow Wagtail on the beach and grassy trail around the perimeter of the Sandspit Airport in Haida Gwaii.

The bird was seen HERE and HERE as of 7:20pm 

This is the 9th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on Sept 24th.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: COCOS BOOBY near Telegraph Cove - Sept 22nd

At 12:45pm on Sept 22, 2026, Kennedy Hayes and Conor Melanson found a Cocos Booby at the south end of Weynton Passage near Telegraph Cove, while aboard a whale watching vessel.

Map to location HERE

This is the 30th record for BC.

Cocos Booby near Telegraph Cove - Photo: Kennedy Hayes

RBA: GARGANEY in Port McNeill - Sept 20th

On September 20-2026, Blair Dudeck found an immature male Garganey at Cluxewe Resort in Port McNeill, 20 mins south of Port Hardy. The bird was walking along the shoreline and was later seen on the water, 100m offshore with 100 Harlequin Ducks.

Map to location HERE

This is the 15th record for BC.

The bird has not been relocated on Sept 21st, despite multiple observers looking. 

Garganey near Port Hardy - Photo: Blair Dudeck

RBA: Sub-adult SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS off Tofino - Sept 18th

At 6pm on Sept 18-2026, Kalin Ocana et al. found a sub-adult Short-tailed Albatross on a private boat off Tofino.

This is only the second photographed record of a bird older than 2 years old, that has been found south of Alaska. 

Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Kalin Ocana

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Saanich - Sept 14-16th

At 6pm on September 14-2026, Trevor Henry found a Red-throated Pipit at the SE end on Panama Flats in Saanich.

He viewed and recorded the bird. It was travelling in a flock of American Pipits.

Map to location HERE

This is the 72nd record for BC.

The bird continued HERE on Sept 16th.

Red-throated Pipit in Saanich - Photo: Trevor Henry

RBA: SAGEBRUSH SPARROW in Castlegar - Sept 14th

At 9 am on September 14-2026, Craig Sandvig found a Sagebrush Sparrow at Selkirk College Trails in Castlegar. The bird was first seen in shrubs close to the Welsh Rd trail gate and then moved around the orchard and came back to the shrubs/hedgerow.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed by multiple observers and continued as of 6:15pm.

The bird was not relocated on Sept 15th, despite observers looking.

Sagebrush Sparrow in Castlegar - Photos: Craig Sandvig 

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Victoria - Sept 13th

At 11:05 am on Sept 13-2026, Katy Flint and Evan Larson found a Chestnut-sided Warbler in a mixed warbler flock at Uplands Park in Victoria.

Map to location HERE

This is the 95th record for BC.

The bird was viewed by multiple observers as of 12:25 pm.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Victoria - Photos : Evan Larson

RBA: 2 COCOS BOOBIES in Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley waters, Active Pass and Metro Van waters - Sept 10-Oct 6th

At 5:45 pm on September 10-2026, Jordy Houkes found a Cocos Booby near the Duke Point Ferry terminal. He viewed the bird from a BC Ferries vessel.

Map to location HERE

The bird was relocated by Guy Monty on Sept 11th HERE in Cowichan Valley waters from a BC Ferries vessel travelling from Duke Point to Tsawwassen.

On Sept 12th, the bird continues HERE off the BC Ferries vessel viewed by Rob Worona and Kurt Henninge. 

On Sept 14th, the bird was viewed from the Swartz Bay ferry near Active Pass HERE and from a whale watching vessel HERE near the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay ferry route.

On Sept 15th, the bird was seen off the Departure Bay ferry near Gabriola Island.

On Sept 18th and 19th, the bird was viewed off Stearman Beach and Acadia Beach HERE and off Spanish Banks.

On Sept 20th, the bird was viewed off Jericho Pier and was sitting on the Ken Citrus Tanker off Locarno Beach/Jericho Beach.

On Sept 21st the bird was viewed by boat while on the Star Africa tanker ship anchor. The bird is currently not viewable from any land point.

On Sept 22-23rd, the bird was seen by scope from Acadia Beach as it sat on the anchor of the Jiyu Rose tanker.

On Sept 22 and 23rd two birds were photographed by Stephen Feng and Luke Crosby off Acadia Beach an adult and a juvenile.

On Sept 24th, the birds were seen by scope from Acadia Beach as it sat on the anchor of the Jiyu Rose tanker.

On Sept 26, the juv was seen flying around English Bay from a boat.

On Sept 27, the juv was viewed from Tower Beach and the adult was sitting on the anchor of the tanker ship Thalia and viewed from Locarno Beach.

On Sept 29, the adult was sitting on the anchor of the tanker ship "Thalia" and viewed from Locarno Beach.

On Sept 30th the adult was viewed on light beacon between Acadia Beach  and Pt. Atkinson.

*On Oct 6th, a Cocos Booby was found HERE in Nanaimo waters off the Duke Point Ferry by Guy Monty.*

This is the 29th and 30th record for BC.

Immature Cocos Booby in Vancouver - Photo: Stephen Fang

Cocos Booby in Vancouver - Photo: Tobin Sparling 

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Victoria - Sept 7th

On Sept 7-2026, Michael McGrenere found a Chestnut-sided Warbler at his private home in Cordova Bay in a mixed warbler flock. He only viewed the bird for 6 seconds and was unable to get a photo but saw it well.

This is the 94th record for BC.

RBA: RED-FOOTED BOOBY in Victoria - Sept 6-Oct 4th

At 2:15pm on September 6-2026, Nathan Hentze found a second cycle dark morph Red-footed Booby sitting on Race Rocks in Victoria. The bird was viewed during a RPBO Tour with Eagle Wings and all observers on board saw the bird.

Race Rocks is only accessible by boat.

Map to location HERE

This is the 2nd record for BC.

The bird continued HERE on Race Rocks on Oct 4th and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

The bird was not viewed on Oct 5th.

Red-footed Booby in Victoria - Photo: Nathan Hentze

Red-footed Booby in Victoria - Photo: Trenton Schulz-Franco

Red-footed Booby in Victoria - Photo: Trevor Henry