New Canadian "Big Day" Record

FEBRUARY 13--Russell Cannings, Jess Findlay, and Jeremiah Kennedy successfully cracked the 130-barrier for the first time in Canadian history--nabbing 131 species in one day, in the Vancouver area. This beat the previous February record of 109, and the best winter record (from Jan): 127

For more details, click HERE.

Feb 7-12+: ICELAND GULL in Penticton

This adult ICELAND GULL (possibly of the nominate glaucoides subspecies?), was found by Laure Neish on the morning of Feb 7.

Comments on subspecies welcome.

This bird was hanging out with the main Penticton Gull flock along Okanagan Beach (near "The Peach" concession stand at the east end of Lakeshore Drive).

SUMMER TANAGER continues!

[Photo: Ralph Hocken]
This female-type (possible "first-winter" male?) Summer Tanager is still being seen in the Columbia Beach area (Parksville); as of January 26th. It has been present since late November.

Jan 30/31--*Two* Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the Okanagan

Jan 30--

Chris Charlesworth and Michael Force report seeing a 2nd-cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the mouth of Vernon Creek (Okanagan Landing, just SW of Vernon) today. This is apparently a different-looking individual than the bird seen in Oct-Nov. There is also an adult GLAUCOUS GULL present.

Jan 31--

Chris Charlesworth just found this adult at Maude Roxby, Kelowna!

Feb 14 UPDATE: Lately, both LBBGs have been in Penticton

LESSER GOLDFINCH near UBC (Vancouver)

The bird has not been seen since the morning of January 25th

(Photo: Jeremiah Kennedy)

BRAMBLING in Victoria!

Photo by Ray Lapshinoff

An apparent HY female Brambling was seen at a feeder at a private residence in Victoria from Dec 31 to Jan 2. The bird was reported today, but could not be relocated despite a thorough effort by 15 or so birders all day today.

Stay tuned for updates as available!

ROSS'S GULL just over the border!

[Photo: Ryan Shaw]

For anyone close to the Okanagan, you may want to grab your passports and head to Palmer Lake, Okanogan County, Washington! This bird has been present since the 15th.

Details from the Washington bird group:
"For those wishing to catch a glimpse of the gull, Palmer Lake is about 15 miles northwest of Tonasket, six miles south of the Canada border. Heinlen says there are two developed areas for public parking along the lake-the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Split Rock day-use site at the south end of the lake and a Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR)campground on the eastern shore. There are restroom facilities at each of these areas."

See video HERE.

For anyone planning on trying, please respect private property and do not block any driveways etc. Thus far, the bird has been frequenting a deer carcass left along the lakeshore near the south end.

Update: It has not been seen since the morning of the 27th

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in Penticton

(Dec 18)--Russell Cannings, Jack Somers, Evalyn Wood, Michelle Hamilton, and Grant Halm observed a hatch-year female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER along the Okanagan River opposite the Penticton Golf & Country Club. It was foraging alone in the thick riparian area known as "Ecommunity Place" (No public access but the bird was viewed from the jogging/biking path adjacent to the woodland).

Directions for those trying for it:

Park along Riverside Drive just north of Hwy 97. Cross over the river on the hwy bridge, then walk south along the west dyke of the river. After passing the driving range--look along the riparian thickets on the west side. Listen for the junco-like call-note. In addition to the thick brush on the west side, the warbler has also been seen gleaning insects off the rocks along the side of the Okanagan River.

Dec 25--Still present in the same area [near the power pole with caution tape] (Doug Brown)

For more awesome shots of the bird from Laure, click HERE.

HOARY REDPOLL - SOUTHERN INTERIOR

Here is a picture of the 4th (presumed) Hoary Redpoll to turn up in the southern interior this winter. [Photo credit: Gail Spitler, Johnson's Landing] Be sure to check through your local redpoll and siskin flocks this winter! ID can be tricky, as there is a lot of plumage overlap between Common and Hoary. It is best to use a combination of fieldmarks to reach a decision.

Click HERE for a helpful character index for redpoll identification.

Dec 4-10: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Victoria

Report from Steven Roias:

"I spotted the Gnatcatcher at 09:30 on Saturday (Dec 04) at the Cook street entrance to Beacon Hill park. It was foraging erratically at the tree tops usually alone, but was accompanied by a loose flock of Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets. After half an hour or so, the Gnatcatcher and Kinglets moved on towards James Bay. I never did check for the bird again."

Dec 10 UPDATE: Still present in the AM-- in the same area (in between the tennis courts and the maintenance yard). Later on at 1030, it was near the totem pole, then around 1130 it was in the SE corner of the park.

--You can also track some of the previous sighting locations HERE.