COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD on Quadra Island - May 4-June 3rd

On May 4-2024, Meredith McGill found a male Costa’s Hummingbird coming to her hummingbird feeder at her private home on Quadra Island.

The homeowner is generously allowing birders to come see the bird by appt only.

Please contact the RBA at bcbirdergirl@gmail.com to arrange visitation.

The bird continues on June 3rd and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

This is the 33rd record for BC.

Costa’s Hummingbird on Quadra Island - Photo: Danielle Lacasse

Costa’s Hummingbird on Quadra Island - Photos: Tristan Chapman

Costa’s Hummingbird on Quadra Island - Photo: James MacKenzie

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING near Bella Coola - May 12-18th

On May 12-2024, Sunder Green found a male Indigo Bunting at her private home on Hwy 20 near Snootli Creek Regional Park in Hagensborg in the Bella Coola Valley.

The bird continued on May 18th and was viewed by multiple local observers.

Indigo Bunting in Bella Coola - Photo: Harvey Thomassen

RBA: TEMMINCK’S STINT in Victoria - May 10-13th

At 6:45 pm on May 11-2024, Joachim Bertrands and Sean McElaney found a Temminck’s Stint at the SE corner of Panama Flats in Victoria.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed for over 40 mins foraging with Least Sandpipers, before it flew off with them towards the Central Dyke and was not relocated as it was dark.

This is the second record for BC.

The bird was photographed on May 10-2024 by Gordon Hart who initially thought it was a Spotted Sandpiper. You can view that image HERE

The bird continued HERE at Panama Flats on the Centre Dyke and HERE in the SE corner on May 12th and 13th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not relocated on May 14th and 15th, despite multiple observers looking.***

Temminck’s Stint in Victoria (Photos: Joachim Bertrands)

*Parking is on Baker Street HERE off Carey Rd or on Barrington Rd off Baker St HERE Please do not block driveways or park too close to street corners.

The entrance to Panama Flats is on Carey Rd near Baker Rd - walk around the gray metal gates with the No Parking signs to access Panama Flats and the trail to the bird.*

Videos of the bird filmed by Joachim Bertrands on May 11th, can be viewed below:

RBA: LESSER NIGHTHAWK in Tofino - May 3-4th

Kelsey Freitag photographed a Lesser Nighthawk at 8:45pm on May 4th-2024. She originally viewed the same bird the night before on May 3rd at 8pm and took video. She initially thought it was a Common Nighthawk but her photos show a bird with white wing bars extending closer to the tips of the wings and the time of year fits Lesser Nighthawk much better as well.

Map to location she viewed the bird both nights is HERE

The bird was not relocated on May 5th, despite many looking.

This is the 4th record for Vancouver Island and the 5th record for BC.

Lesser Nighthawk in Tofino - Photos: Kelsey Freitag

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK in Chilliwack - May 4th

At 9:30 am on May 4-2024, Paul Foth photographed a Ferruginous Hawk that flew east over the intersection of Sherlaw and Extrom Rds in the Ryder Lake area of Chilliwack.

Map to location HERE

Ferruginous Hawk in Chilliwack - Photos: Paul Foth

RBA: SNOWY PLOVERS in Tofino - May 1-23rd

At 2:45 pm on May 1-2024, Daryl Henderson and Annette Bailey found a Snowy Plover at the mouth of Sandhill Creek on Comber’s Beach in Tofino.

Map to location HERE

On May 4th-2024, Ian Cruickshank found a new or relocated the same Snowy Plover HERE on Wickaninnish Beach.

On May 5th-2024, Michelle Hamilton relocated the bird HERE 500m south of Greenpoint on Comber’s Beach.

The bird continues on Comber’s Beach on May 6th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

On May 7-11th, 2024, 2 Snowy Plovers were observed side by side HERE on Wickaninnish Beach.

On May 12th, 2 were found on Wickaninnish Beach by Nygel N. but one was banded and all previous birds were not banded proving this was at least one new individual.

On May 14th, 2024 Adrian Dorst relocated one of the birds or found a new one on Long Beach in Tofino.

**On May 23rd, 2024 Ian Cruickshank found another unbanded Snowy Plover on Comber’s Beach.**

These are presumed to be the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th and 49th record for BC

Snowy Plover in Tofino - Photo: Daryl Henderson

RBA: BRAMBLING in Quesnel - April 26th

On April 26-2024, a Brambling hit Leanne Davies’s window at her private home in Puntchesakut Lake near Quesnel. The bird survived and flew off once recovered.

Brambling in Quesnel - Photo: Leanne Davies

RBA: ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE in Surrey - April 17-24th

At 4:36pm on April 17-2024, Cos van Wermeskerken found an Oriental Turtle-Dove sitting on the grass at the edge of the slough near Dunsmuir St at Blackie Spit.

He watched the bird for a few mins before it flew west and high over the intersection of Dunsmuir St.and Gilley St. He was unable to relocate the bird.

Map to location of where he saw the bird is HERE

This is the 4th record for BC and is listed as ABA Code 4.

At 6:55pm on April 18th, Ilya Povalyaev and Melissa Hafting relocated the dove at a feeder at a private home at the corner of Agar St and McBride Ave. 

Map to location HERE

Please be respectful of private property and do not block driveways or point cameras at windows of private homes.

The bird was briefly there before flying south and high at 7:05pm over Sullivan Street.

On April 24th, the bird continued at the same feeder and has been viewed by multiple observers.

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

**Please do not spread seed down in the neighborhood at the request of homeowners, as it can attract rats**

Oriental Turtle-Dove in Surrey - Photo: Eric Ellingson

Oriental Turtle-Dove in Surrey, BC - Photos: Ilya Povalyaev

Oriental Turtle-Dove in Surrey - Photo: Cos van Wermeskerken 

RBA: KING EIDER in Ucluelet - April 10-11th

At 10:30 am on April 10-2024, Chris Coxson found a female King Eider in a large mixed Scoter flock of over 900 birds off of Little Beach in Ucluelet.

Map to location of bird HERE

Best spot for birders to stand and view the bird is HERE on Little Beach

This is the 41st record for BC.

The bird continued in the same on April 11th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

King Eider in Ucluelet - Photos: Chris Coxson

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Langley - April 3-5th

At 9 am on April 3-2024, Cos van Wermeskerken found an adult Black Phoebe calling at the NW corner of Brydon Lagoon.

Map to location HERE

This is the 46th record for BC.

On April 5th, the Black Phoebe continued in the same spot and had been viewed by multiple observers.

On April 6th, the bird was not relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

Black Phoebe in Langley - Photos: Cos van Wermeskerken