June 3-6--SNOWY EGRET in Kelowna

Matthias Deter found this SNOWY EGRET at Robert Lake around 740pm on June 3rd. Apparently it came in from the east, moved around the lake a bit, then was last seen flying north toward Alki Lake/Glenmore Landfill.

Harvey Chapple managed this image (cropped obviously) before it flew north.

*June 6 UPDATE: Still present as of 9am June 6 (Stu Weir)---Robert Lake

June 2-3--Lesser Goldfinch in Princeton

Amanda Lahaie photographed this male Lesser Goldfinch at her house in Princeton. This is roughly the 14th BC record and the 3rd record for the little town of Princeton!

Visitors are welcome: Contact: "Amanda" <amlahaie@gmail.com>

HAWAIIAN PETREL NEAR TOFINO

Some great seabirding yet again from Paul Lehman, scanning the Pacific waters off the west coast from the comfort of cruise ship(s)....

May 25:

WASHINGTON/BRITISH COLUMBIA
Laysan Albatross:  263 km WSW of La Push  (47.168-169, 127.950-948)
Murphy's Petrel (photo'd):  261 km WSW of La Push or 260 km SW of 
Tofino  (47.226-228, 127.970-971)

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Hawaiian Petrel:  242 km SW of Tofino  (47.503, 128.099)

On 26 May, we had:

BRITISH COLUMBIA2 Horned Puffins:  96 km SW of w. end Vancouver Is.  (50.033, 129.302)

Kite invasion continues?

Jody McBlain reports a WHITE-TAILED KITE hunting on their farm in Canyon, BC (just south of Creston) for 3 consecutive days (May 19, 20, 21) . More specifically this was along 40th Street, off Canyon Lister Rd. Will post more info if the bird continues.

**May 27--White-tailed Kite seen flying north over Vaseux Lake boardwalk, Okanagan Falls (Ted Hillary)

May 21--White-faced Ibis in Revelstoke

This morning around 10:40am, Catherine Craig saw a White-faced Ibis near Cartier Point (south of Revelstoke airport). Around 11am Michael Morris coincidentally re-sighted it on a pond at the airport itself but it took off and was last seen flying north.

RBA: WHITE-TAILED KITE near Williams Lake - May 18th

At 10:30am on May 18-2018, Phil Ranson found a White-tailed Kite on Mission Road in 150 Mile House. The bird was hunting throughout the day over fields and was viewed by multiple observers until at least 6pm.

Map to last known location HERE

It was not relocated on May 19th.

White-tailed Kite in Williams Lake - Photos: Phil Ranson

May 17--Black-throated Sparrow in Osoyoos

Doug Brown found a singing Black-throated Sparrow in the arid sage hills of the Osoyoos West Bench. This is an area where he and others have had the species several times before. If this or other birds become reliable, watch for updates here.

This area is accessed by driving through the subdivision directly south of the Osoyoos Golf Course (Fairwinds Drive etc).

May 14--*60+* WHITE-FACED IBIS near Cranbrook!

From Chris N on the East Kootenay yahoo group:

"Had an amazing experience tonight.  Back at Bummer's Flats this evening.  Paddling upstream from the boat launch, came across a pair of cormorants standing on a log at the water's edge.  Assume they were the double crested.  On our way back to the launch, I looked downstream and there was a large flock of birds coming up river.  at a distance thought it was a big flock of Canada geese.  As they got closer I realized it was something different.  Ended up a flock of just over 60 white-faced ibis flew right over top us.  Sunlight was perfect to see the chocolate brown body, green wings, and of course the long bill.  fantastic site and we got extremely close."

Bummer Flats is a complex of wetlands along the Columbia River just north of Fort Steele. Will post more info as it comes.

May 11--BAR-TAILED GODWIT near Port McNeill

Peter Curtis photographed this Bar-tailed Godwit (right) on the Cluxewe Estuary (NW of Port McNeill) on May 11th. It was in the company of a Long-billed Curlew (also a rare bird for the upper island, particularly this late in the season). Juvenile 'Barwits' are nearly annual in fall on the BC coast but spring birds are few and far between!

May 11--Laysan Albatross off Ucluelet

Hi all,

I've just returned to the Alberni Valley after a very enjoyable Ucluelet pelagic organized by WildResearch BC. Highlight was a single LAYSAN ALBATROSS that stayed with the boat for over 15 minutes--it was also our first albatross of the day!

Laysan Albatross (Photo: Catherine Jardine)

Laysan showing upperside (Photo: Catherine Jardine)

For WildResearch's full report, click HERE.

*Note that the trip list is still being adjusted a bit as have 80+ birders on board can lead to a range of species lists and totals at times.

Russ Cannings