RBA: FIELDFARE in Kelowna - Jan 10-13th

At 3:10pm on Jan 10-2022, Jasmine Korcok found a Fieldfare at the viewing platform at the NE corner of Munson Pond.

The bird is being viewed by multiple observers at the same location in the company of several robins and a Rusty Blackbird as of 3:45pm. The bird flew west at 4pm.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues in a flock of robins in the same location on Jan 11th.

At 11:50 am, Chris Charlesworth relocated the bird at the corner of Morrison Ave and Rhondda Cres with robins. Keep an eye on a large Mountain Ash tree at the corner with lots of berries.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen at the corner of Morrison Ave and Rhondda Cres on Jan 13th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not relocated on Jan 14-16th, despite multiple observers looking.***

This is the third record for BC and the first for the Okanagan.

A news story on the bird can be read HERE

Fieldfare in Kelowna - Photo: David Bell

Fieldfare in Kelowna - Photo: Chris Charlesworth 

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Chilliwack - Dec 17-18th

At 9 am on Dec 17-2022, Benjamin Pap found a Black Phoebe flycatching and calling from the exhaust output at the west end of the barn on Jess Rd near Carey Rd.

Map to location HERE

The bird is actively flycatching and also flew across the dyke to this tree HERE

The bird was last seen in the first location on Dec 18th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 38th record for BC.

Black Phoebe in Chilliwack - Photo: Krissi Martin

RBA: BRAMBLING in Powell River - Dec 12th

At 10:30 am on Dec 12-2022, Teresa Bouchard found a Brambling in a flock of juncos in the yard of her private home in Powell River.

The home is not open to the general public and please do not go searching in the neighbourhood as it is on Tla'amin First Nations Land and is not open to the public except for invited guests. 

Please be respectful of this request and do not trespass.

The bird was not relocated on subsequent days.

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Duncan - Dec 11/22-March 29/23

At 9:10 am on December 11-2022, Jeremy Gatten found a male Tufted Duck at the sewage lagoons in Duncan. This is most likely the same bird that first showed up at the site in 2020.

There is no public access inside the lagoons but birders can view the bird through the fence from the elevated trail off Wharncliffe Rd that gives a good view over most of the sewage lagoon.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues in the same location on March 29th, 2023 and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Tufted Duck in Duncan - Photo: Jeremy Gatten

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - Dec 2nd

At 3:40pm on Dec 2-2022, Marc Sole found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at a sawmill on Field Rd in Sechelt.  He was able to photograph and videotape the bird (video below) with his cell phone.

Map to location HERE

He viewed the bird for a few mins before it flew across the street to the treed lot HERE 

This is the 25th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 3rd, despite multiple observers looking.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Sechelt - Photo: Marc Sole

RBA: PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in Vancouver - Nov 30-Dec 6th

**UPDATE: In May 2023 the bird was banded and released successfully into the wild.****

*This bird has been captured by Wildlife Rescue Association and is currently in their care. It will be released in Vancouver in the spring. Please see the Press Release HERE **

At 2:30pm on Nov 30-2022, Peggy Mersereau photographed a Prothonotary Warbler at a private home in Vancouver.

On Dec 1-3rd, the bird was relocated at a public park (Riverfront Park) at the end of Jellicoe St and has beeen viewed by multiple observers.

Please be respectful of private residences in the area. Please do not point cameras at private homes. 

Map to location seen HERE and HERE

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

The bird was seen Dec 6th in the underground parking area of a nearby apartment complex. This area is off limits to birders.

**The bird was captured by Wildlife Rescue Association on Dec 6th and is currently in their care.***

This is the 11th record for BC and 2nd record for Metro Vancouver. It is also the first winter record for Canada.

Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Peter Candido

RBA: ARCTIC LOON in Victoria - Nov 23rd

At 9:30 am on Nov 23-2022, Geoffrey Newell found and photographed an Arctic Loon off McMicking Point. He observed the bird through a scope for 10 mins at a distance of 1 km. The bird then took off after a few minutes and flew west. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated despite multiple observers looking. 

The bird was accepted by the BC Records Committee.

Arctic Loon in Victoria - Photo: Geoffrey Newell

RBA: PRAIRIE WARBLER in Victoria - Nov 21st

At 3pm on Nov 21-2022, Danielle Geller found and photographed a Prairie Warbler at Glencoe-cove Kwatsech Park in Victoria. She watched it for 15 seconds before she lost it.

Map to location HERE

This is the 6th photographed record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 22nd, despite multiple observers looking. 

Prairie Warbler in Victoria - Photos: Danielle Geller

RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Kamloops - Nov 21-26th

At 10:30am on Nov 21-2022, Tana Coetzer found a Slaty-backed Gull in a mixed gull flock on a sandy bank off the Kamloops Airport River Trail at the end of Aviation Way.

The bird was still present when she left at 2pm.

Map to location of where she stood HERE and where the bird was HERE

The bird also has been seen HERE and HERE at Mission Flats and at the dump.

This is the 86th record for BC.

On Nov 24-26th, the bird was last seen HERE at Mission Flats and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird has not been relocated since.

Slaty-backed Gull in Kamloops - Photos: Tom Beeke

RBA: WHOOPER SWAN in Courtenay - Nov 19-26th

At 4:30pm on Nov 19-2022, James MacKenzie, Nathan and Iain Haigh found a Whooper Swan at a retention pond on private property in Courtenay. The bird was not banded on either leg and toes did not appear to be clipped. It was in a flock of 78 Trumpeter Swans.

These ponds are not accessible to the public. Local birders have an agreement with the property owner. Please do not trespass.

At 4:45pm, the bird flew away to the SW towards Comox Lake.

Map to original location HERE

At 1:30pm on Nov 20-2022, the bird was relocated HERE in a field on Marsden Rd.

The bird later moved to a field HERE on Charter Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers as of 3pm.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 21.

On Nov 22-24th the bird was relocated HERE in a field off Dove Creek Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers.

On Nov 26th  the Whooper Swan was relocated in a field off Piercy Rd HERE and seen by multiple observers.

It has not been relocated since, despite multiple birders looking.

This is the second record for BC of a presumed wild vagrant.

Whooper Swan in Courtenay - Photos: James MacKenzie

Whooper Swan on Dove Creek Rd in Courtenay - Photo: Roger Beardmore