Oct 30-Nov3: *Another Blackburnian Warbler--this time in Revelstoke

There are a lot of birding chat groups around BC and I'm usually pretty good at monitoring them fairly regularly. I admit this one slipped by me for a couple days!

Originally reported as an unknown warbler on October 30th, this apparent hatch-year female Blackburnian Warbler has been frequenting the "Southside" neighbourhood of Revelstoke since then. It was seen again today (Nov 3) and apparently it's been hanging with chickadees. This is near the corner of Edward St and 4th St. Look for the feeders just up Edwards ~70m (NE) and that is roughly where it has been seen off and on. It's been mainly gleaning in the cottonwoods.

This is Revelstoke's 26th warbler species all-time! Pretty darn good for a small western mountain town.

Please report YES or NO sightings!

Photos and report from Darlene Cancelliere

Nov 1-3--Blackburnian Warbler in Victoria

Today Ian Cruickshank found a Blackburnian Warbler in Beacon Hill Park (in the vicinity of Goodacre Lake and the bandshell--foraging in vine maples and oaks with kinglets). It was seen throughout Saturday..

Here are some tips from Steven Roais for finding it:

1.) Deciduous trees (maples in particular)

2.) other bird activity (especially golden-crowned kinglets)

3.) persistent chip call (once heard, easy to locate)

4.) look high up into the canopy (bird was as close as 10 feet from the ground but mostly in the 20 foot range)

The bird was not seen as of Nov 4th.

[Photos below from Geoffrey Newell]

Oct 26--Brown Thrasher near Chetwynd

Glenda and Evan Pye found this Brown Thrasher in their yard today (just east of Chetwynd) and apparently a Gray Catbird has been around too! Hopefully both birds smarten up and head south soon. As you can see, it's not exactly Mexico up there.

Oct 12--White-headed Woodpecker seen near Merritt

Thanks to David Schutz for passing on a report from Al Serfas of a White-headed Woodpecker (seen by Al) on Thanksgiving weekend along the Coldwater Rd SW of Merritt. When questioned, the ID sounds reliable so this may very well be worth checking out for birders in the Nicola Valley, or anyone desperate for a White-topped Pine-picker in Canada!

Below are the sight details from Al:

(Along Coldwater Rd--Roughly 20km south of Merritt): There are a bunch of large bales wrapped in green plastic on the north side of the road and a rail fenced corral on the south. There are gas pipeline markers there as the pipeline crosses the road. The pine trees are on the north side just east of all the green bales, and the bird was seen well moving through these pines. 

Oct 13-14--Red-throated Pipit near Victoria

From Dave Fraser:

"At about noon four pipits flushed off the newly plowed field on Puckle Rd (Martindale Flats, Saanich Peninsula). Settled briefly back down and then flew towards the plowed fields on Lamont Rd. One was a bright adult Red-throated Pipit (face, throat and chest chestnut red, heavily streaks on sides) the other three I assumed were American Pipits although to be honest I hardly looked at them. I have been unable to find them from Lamont Rd for the last 15 minutes or so."

Click HERE for Dave Fraser's checklist complete with field sketches.

Seen again nearby on the 14th by Kirsten Mills. It has not been reported since.


Watch here for updates.

Oct 12--Black-throated Blue Warbler banded near Victoria

An apparent hatch-year female Black-throated Blue Warbler was banded at the Pedder Bay site of Rocky Point Bird Observatory (west of Victoria) on October 12.  Subsequent efforts to relocate this bird were unsuccessful.  Many cameras were luckily on hand for this bird and Emma and Rebecca Reader-Lee have supplied a couple nice shots of it.

Photo: Emma Reader-Lee

Photo: Rebecca Reader-Lee

Oct 10-28--Lesser Black-backed Gull in Penticton

This 3rd-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull was discovered near the S.S. Sicamous in the SW corner of Okanagan Lake (Penticton) by Dick Cannings on Oct 10. It was soon after photographed (above) by Laure Neish, and since then it has been seen off and on along the Okanagan beachfront in Penticton (Lakeshore Drive). It seems to be absent for most of the day with daily sightings ranging from early morning to late afternoon. Once a reliable visitors to several locations in the Okanagan each winter, this species has been more irregular over the past few years.

Oct 10--Dickcissel in Francois Lake

Keith Walker photographed this Dickcissel in his yard on Oct 10. Nice find for Francois Lake--near Burns Lake in West-Central BC.

This is the 24th record for BC.

Sept 30--Red-throated Pipit and Brambling in Haida Gwaii

Not satisfied with Yellow Wagtail the day before, James Bradley joined up with resident birders Peter Hamel and Margo Hearne, finding a Brambling (pictured below), 

Red-throated Pipit, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper around Sandspit, Haida Gwaii

Photo: James Bradley

Sep 29--YELLOW WAGTAIL in Queen Charlotte City

Not satisfied with simply finding a Little Stint near Victoria this fall, James Bradley just called in with this doozie for BC. Seen late this morning in Queen Charlotte City on Graham Island, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). The bird was found within the Skidegate Inlet Important Bird Area which supports globally important populations of Black Oystercatcher and Pigeon Guillemot. Exact location here.

Presumed to be the "Eastern" Yellow Wagtail. Contrary opinions on ID welcome.
Apparently it was quite wary and did not allow for an approach closer than 30m.
(Photos: James Bradley)