RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Ucluelet - May 28th

At 7am on May 28-2022, Ian Cruickshank found a Manx Shearwater flying NW 1 km out from Amphitrite Point.

He viewed the bird through his scope and described it as the following: “small shearwater with long/slender wings and noticeably snappy, fast wingbeats (a few beats at a time interspersed with long glides, of course); at distance appeared entirely clean white from throat to undertail, contrasting dark upper half to head, uniformly very dark upperwings and upperparts, underwings mostly pale but could make out dark borders. Smaller bird with quicker/snappier wingbeats than solo PFSH seen earlier today.”

Map to location HERE 

This is the 73rd record for BC.

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Dawson Creek - May 26th

At 2pm on May 26-2022, Steve Ogle found a Brown Thrasher at McQueen’s Slough. The bird is 250m down from the start of the main trail in the area where the trail has a small corridor of trees on both sides. The bird was singing and was viewed by all in his group.

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 43rd record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on May 27th, despite observers looking.

Brown Thrasher in Dawson Creek - Photo: Sue Milks

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER near Calvert Island - May 25th

At 10:47 am on May 26-2022, Joshua Brown and Amicie Lavault spotted a Manx Shearwater flying south near the south end of Calvert Island which is south of Bella Bella. They viewed the bird while aboard a BC Ferries Vessel.

Map to location HERE

This is the 72nd record for BC.

Manx Shearwater near Calvert Island - Photo: Amicie Lavault

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER off Haida Gwaii - May 24th

At 11:43 am on May 24-2022, Joshua Brown found a Manx Shearwater in Hecate Strait in a flock of Sooty Shearwaters while he was aboard a BC Ferries vessel. The bird was last seen flying south.

Map to location HERE

This is the 71st record for BC.

Manx Shearwater in Hecate Strait - Photo: Joshua Brown

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Elkford - May 23rd

This morning (May 23-2022), Mona Walsh found a male Indigo Bunting at her private residence in the East Kootenay town of Elkford. The bird was in her garden for much of the morning and remained until early afternoon, at which point it was not seen again.

Indigo Bunting. Elkford, BC. May 23, 2022. Photo: Mona Walsh.

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER IN Chilanko Forks - May 20th

At 3pm on May 20-2022, Jim Sims, Lubna Khan and Sean and Betty Donahue found an adult Snowy Plover at Chilanko Marsh in Chilanko Forks (near Tatla Lake).

Map to location HERE

This is the 39th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on May 21st despite multiple observers looking.

Snowy Plover in Chilanko Forks - Photos: Jim Sims

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Richmond - May 13-14th

At 9:15am on May 13-2022, Craig Huish found a Snowy Plover sitting on the south jetty and then it flew to the mudflats off the north side of the south jetty (near marker 207) at Iona Regional Park.

Map to location of bird HERE

**The bird was last seen 2:15pm in the same location on May 14th and was viewed by multiple observers. It flew north and has not been relocated as of 2:45pm**

***The bird has not been relocated on May 15th.**

This is the 38th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Richmond - Photo: Craig Huish

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Ucluelet - May 13th

At 6:15 am on May 13-2022, Ian Cruickshank viewed a Manx Shearwater by scope from Amphitrite Point. The bird was one km out and landed on the water several times. You can view the description from this experienced observer here.

Map to location HERE

This is the 70th record for BC.

RBA: 3 SNOWY PLOVERS in Tofino - April 29-May 15th

On April 29-2022, David Caudwell found a Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach. He was able to photograph the bird before it was flushed by a dog.

At 12pm on April 30-2022, Bob Hansen relocated the bird HERE on Chesterman Beach near Frank Island. The bird was in a flock of Semipalmated Plovers. 

A second bird was also seen at 1:40pm alone at Comber’s Beach by Michelle Hamilton. The bird was near the Comber's Beach Trailhead.

At 8:30am on May 1-2022, Ian Cruickshank saw 3 birds together on Comber’s Beach near the sandhill creek mouth HERE. 

2 birds continue HERE on Wickaninnish Beach on May 2-12th.

On May 14-15th - 1 bird continues on Comber’s Beach at the sandhill creek mouth HERE. 

This is the 35th, 36th and 37th record for BC.

Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach in Tofino - Photos: Harry Sedin

3 Snowy Plovers on Comber's Beach, Tofino - Photo: Michelle Hamilton

RBA: KING EIDER in Comox - April 23-24th

At 7:10 am on April 24-2022, Krista Kaptein spotted a female King Eider at Singing Sands Beach in Comox. The bird was with 2000 Surf Scoters, some Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Greater Scaup. She was able to get photographs of the bird.

Multiple observers saw the bird until it flew off towards the SE at 8:50am.

Map to location it was first seen HERE

**After reviewing photos today, Iwan van Veen noticed that he had photographed the female King Eider HERE in a mixed scoter flock from the Comox to Powell River ferry at 9:25am on April 23rd.**

This is the 39th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on April 25th.

King Eider in Comox - Photos: Krista Kaptein