*(Reported) BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER in Kelowna

Apr 29--A male BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER has been reported from the Kelowna area where it was apparently visiting a suet feeder in the riparian wooded area near the intersection of Cook St and Lakeshore Drive.

Several birders scoured the area this morning but were unable to find the bird. The landowner was contacted around 8am and she said that she had a brief glimpse at the bird around 7:15am. Unfortunately no photographs have been obtained yet, but this seems to be a credible report. If the bird returns I will post more details on the blog and inquire with the landowner about visitors. "Keeners" can contact me privately if they want to have a go themselves but at this point it seems the bird may have left the area once the sun came out. My email is provided at the top of the main page.

RBA: Black Phoebe - Tofino April 24th

April 24th--[Comber's Beach, Pacific Rim National Park] From Adrian Dorst:
"At Comber's Beach we had a big surprise with the appearance of a Black Phoebe. At first we had only glimpses, but eventually we had long, thorough looks at it through our spotting scopes and we were both thrilled to add it to our respective BC lists. I had only see this bird before in Mexico. As far as I know, this is the first record for the west coast of the island. With this weather, it could still be there tomorrow. It was hanging out between the fallen Sitka spruce on thebeach and the broken down bridge."

RBA - Tufted Duck in Kootenays -April 23-28th

A male TUFTED DUCK was found by Dianne Cooper & Greg Ross on Reade Lk between Kimberley and Cranbrook in the Kootenays on April 23. The pond itself is on the private Pine Butte Ranch. The pond can be seen, although at a distance and with a scope, from a public easement road. For more details email Dianne Cooper at kestrel374@yahoo.ca

                                           Male Tufted Duck with Lesser Scaup.

Dickcissel in Ladner - Apr 20-Apr 26

A Dickcissel was seen and photographed at a Ladner feeder this afternoon. On the north corner of Elliott St. and Chisholm (Douglas Bamford). The bird was relocated in the afternoon of April 21st and 22nd at Chisholm and Georgia around two blocks away at a feeder on the West side of the street and in the trees surrounding the feeder and across the street from the feeder as well. It is still associating with House Sparrows. 

April 25/26--Apparently the bird has moved some distance away from the original sighting, where it is frequenting a private residence, not accessible to the public. Will update if any more info arises.

This is the 20th record for BC.

Photo: Douglas Bamford

April 13--HOODED ORIOLE in Powell River

April 13--Make HOODED ORIOLE seen at a private residence in Powell River. At this time we are not aware of any subsequent sightings. Will update if more info arises.

[Photo: Bob & Rita Valine]

31 March -- Burrowing Owl in Williams Lake

Phil Ranson has found an unbanded Burrowing Owl on the Sugarcane First Nations Reserve at the east end of Williams Lake. The bird is still present as of today (1 Apr) and anyone wanting to chase it should contact Phil (ranson1@telus.net) for specific directions.

Burrowing Owl at Williams Lake, 1 Apr 2013 (photo: Evan Nicholson)

Red-flanked Bluetail still present March 23rd

Check Vancouver page for more details or scroll down to see old posts on main page. This bird is still being seen in New Westminster.

Over 300,000 visits to the Bird Alert!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to thank all the great people who contribute to this site, both directly as moderators (names listed to my right), and all of you who submit bird reports and photographs from every corner of the province. Since I started the blog in November, 2010, we've had over 310,000 hits on the site---a clear sign that people use it and enjoy checking on bird news from around the province.

I also want to apologize for not updating the twitter feed over the fall/winter since I've been traveling around Australia/Malaysia. It will be up n' smoking come mid-April--just in time for the main migrant push!

Have a great spring one and all, and get outside!

Russ Cannings
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Citrine Wagtail Still Present Mar 25

The Courtenay Citrine Wagtail was observed briefly at 3:30pm on Mar 25 ("L Dea").  The bird is now showing a yellowish wash to its underparts and cheeks.

[PHOTO: JUKKA JANTUNEN (March 11)]

BC Brambling #5

Brambling Mania has reached the Sunshine Coast with a confirmed sighting in the Gibsons area. Gibsons resident Peter Feichtner spotted the bird roughly a month ago, and local birders John Hodges and Marcia Mason confirmed the sighting February 3rd. This is the second Brambling record on the Sunshine Coast in 40 years of record keeping and the fifth current Brambling record in BC!

Photo Courtesy Marcia Mason