RBA: July 7 - Lesser Black-backed Gull in Salmon Arm!

On July 7th, Allan and Reba Dupilka found a 3rd year Lesser Black-backed Gull in Salmon Arm, representing what is likely the first July record for BC.

The bird was located at Shuswap Lake near the pillings which are west of the wharf at Salmon Arm Bay. The gull was flocking with Ring-billed Gulls.

Lesser Black-backed Gull in Salmon Arm - Photo: Allan Dupilka

MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD north of Kamloops - July 4th

July 4--This apparent adult male Magnificent Hummingbird was photographed at a private residence in the Bridge Lake area north of Kamloops, BC. If accepted, this would constitute the first record for British Columbia, a first for Canada(as far as I can tell), and the most northerly record of the species in the World (Mags regularly only occur as far north as Arizona and New Mexico).
Apparently it has not been seen since the first day. For the time being, the homeowners have requested to keep the exact location private.
If the status changes, I will update this post.

RBA: May 28 - FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in Kelowna and Knutsford!

On May 28th, Ten Birders on a BCFO field trip found a Light morph adult Ferruginous Hawk at 8:30 am on Beaver Lake Road in Kelowna.

The bird was flying North at Kilometer 2 just before the log yard on the East side of the road.

The bird was reported by Logan Lalonde, one of the co-leaders with Don Wilson of the BCFO - Kelowna field trip.

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*Late report RBA:  An adult Light morph Ferruginous Hawk was also seen on May 16th by Rick Toochin. The bird was flying North over Separation Lake in Knutsford,  alongside a Light morph Rough-legged Hawk and a Swainson's Hawk.

A Roughie and a Ferruginous in this area, at this time of year, are both fantastic birds!

It is great to hear about both these BC Ferruginous Hawk sightings, in the month of May!

Loggerhead Shrike May 26th Hope Airport

Another Loggerhead Shrike was found by Gord Gadsden at Hope Airport. For more details click here

RBA: May 24 - LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Revelstoke

Catherine Craig found a single Loggerhead Shrike at 6:15 am on the grassy flats south of Machete Island in Revelstoke near the Airport on May 24th!!

This is the third Loggerhead Shrike for that exact location in 6 years!

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Kootenay National Park, May 21

A Brown Thrasher was observed and photographed in the Kootenay River Day Use Area at Kootenay National Park north of Radium at 8 AM on May 21 (Frank Chappell, et al) and was not seen since.

This is the 37th record for the province of BC.

Brown Thrasher. Kootenay National Park. May 21 (Frank Chappell).

RBA: HAWAIIAN PETREL off the West Coast of Vancouver Island - May 19th

At 3pm on May 19-2015, Ilya Povalyaev, Mike & Sharon Toochin, Peter Candido, Gary Rosenberg and Paul Lehman and his WINGS tour group, saw a Hawaiian Petrel as it crossed the bow of their Princess cruise ship. The bird was approximately 27 km SW of the Brooks Peninsula (49.91 N, 128.13 W).

Map to approx location HERE

They noted the high arcing flight typical of Pterodroma petrels. It had pointed wings, a long attenuated tail and was gleaming white below and very dark above (darker than Cookilaria petrels). No photos were obtained.

This record also appears in:
Lehman, P. 2016. Pelagic Birds from Cruise Ships Along the Pacific Coast: Southern California to Southwestern Alaska, 1995-2016. North American Birds. 69(3): 316-341.

RBA: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE in Golden - May 18th

On May 18th Doug Leighton found a Green-tailed Towheer at his home near Golden. This was a one day wonder and was last seen feeding at 6 PM on the 18th.

This is the 11th record for BC.

Green-tailed Towhee. Golden, May 18 (Doug Leighton).

White-faced Ibis in Revelstoke - May 17th

On May 17, Wayne and Brent Diakow found an adult White-faced Ibis in Revelstoke. The bird was seen at 10:40 am when it flew in and landed in the marsh just north of the Revelstoke airport. The bird was not seen since.

May 13 - Aug 10: A dozen White-faced Ibis at Separation Lake near Kamloops

Rick Howie reports a group of a dozen WHITE-FACED IBIS at Separation Lake, located south of Kamloops along Hwy 5A. The birds were feeding at the north end of the lake where a road will allow fairly close access, though please be careful not to flush the birds. Rick saw the ibis at about 4 PM on May 15.

Update: These birds were originally located by Chris Chutter on May 13th, but the sighting may not have been known to many. As of May 24 two birds were seen at Separation Lake in Knutsford. As of May 25 two Ibises were present at Separation Lake in Princeton off Summerland Rd. On August 10 an  observer saw 4 Ibises at the main parking lot at Beaver Ranch Flats (on Hwy 5A - North of Merritt near Quilchena).

The birds have not been seen since August 10th.

White-faced Ibis at Separation Lake, near Kamloops. Part of flock of 12. May 15 (Rick Howie).