Revelstoke Lark Bunting

Well this hurts me as much (or more) as it does most of you. While I was turning up a few nice birds south of Revelstoke, my good friend Jennifer Greenwood caught this beauty up by the Revelstoke Dam! (May 26). This was an incidental catch, as the intended target(s) were Savannah Sparrows (Which Jen is studying for her PhD). Could it be the same bird seen by Jeremy G further south a week ago, or are there several in the Columbias this spring?

Photo Credit: Becca Ferguson

White-headed Woodpecker near Osoyoos

From Doug Brown:

"I just got a report of a White-headed Woodpecker that was seen yesterday on Deerfoot Road on Anarchist Mountain east of Osoyoos. Caroline, who runs the Villa Blanca Bed and Breakfast there, is a very competent observer familiar with all the local species so I have no doubt the sighting is genuine. The bird was last seen flying east towards Long Joe Road, an area where the species has been seen in the past."

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Agassiz

Kevin Jones saw and photographed an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Agassiz around 5:00pm on May 23rd. It was seen on Whorely Rd. This is the third sighting for Kevin at this location in the last few years so it makes one wonder if this is the same individual?

RBA: Male Lark Bunting in Edgewood, BC

This male Lark Bunting was found and photographed by Jeremy Gatten on May 21.  It was possibly associating with nearby Bobolinks along Ferret S Rd just north of Edgewood (Arrow Lakes area south of Nakusp).
Click HERE for a map of the area.

***May 26---Male LARK BUNTING caught in a mist-net in Revelstoke!***
Could this be the same bird? On the morning of the 26th, some sparrow biologist accidentally caught a male Lark Bunting while studying Savannah Sparrows near the Revelstoke Dam!

WHITE-FACED IBIS near Cranbrook!

May 10--Dean Nicholson reports finding a White-faced Ibis at Wasa Lake while leading a field trip for the WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES festival. Wasa Lake is located between Cranbrook and Invermere (signed off the highway).

[Photo credit: Brent Wellander]

Help Support the Spoon-billed Sandpiper!

Do you ever feel frustrated that you weren't birding in Vancouver in 1978, thus blowing your chance to see...

 THE COOLEST SHOREBIRD IN THE WORLD?

Well here's an opportunity to make a difference!

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper project Birds Korea is doing with Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology is the making of a science-driven mini-documentary on the Spoon-billed Sandpiper aimed at a national audience.  Filming is set to begin this year and is to be concluded in May 2014.  The documentary will focus on the birds and key sites in the Republic of Korea, such as the Geum Estuary, Saemangeum reclamation area, Gomso Bay and the Nakdong Estuary in Busan, as well as leading figures in society. This project is happening at the same time as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force works on its captive breeding project in Eastern Russia and other smaller projects at South Korean schools aim to raise public awareness of the plight of this enigmatic shorebird and about what actions are needed to save this species from extinction.

So in summary: Enhanced Public Awareness->Habitat Conservation-->More Spoonies-->Possibly leading to one popping up on our fair shores one day!

How can you help?

On May 7th, Geoff Styles and Russell Cannings will be conducting a high-paced 24-hour birdathon near their homes in the Okanagan/Shuswap. They will be collecting pledges with all proceeds going to this important Spoon-billed Sandpiper project. You can pledge a flat rate, or make it interesting and pledge "per species." Although it's still early in the spring we plan to get over 100 species!

To make a pledge or inquire more about the project, contact Geoff 

(gem_styles@yahoo.ca)

OR, you can challenge us and try your own birdathon in the coast and/or interior!

*(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