RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER on Stubbs Island - November 11th

On the morning of November 11th - 2016, Ian Cruickshank found and photographed a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on Stubbs Island. The bird was foraging in brooms and roses along the beach on the NW side of the spit which is located on the north side of the island. Stubbs Island is Private and there is No Public Access above the high tide line. This is most likely the same bird first found by Michael Shepard in Tofino on October 28th.

The bird has not been relocated since November 11th.

This is the 19th record for the province of BC.

Photo: Ian Cruickshank

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Pemberton - July 5th (LATE REPORT)

On July 5th, 2016, Seth and Ethan Stere and Toby Theriault found a singing adult male Indigo Bunting. The bird was perched on top of a bush in the garden of a private farmhouse located on Pemberton Meadows Rd near the corner of Guthrie Rd. They and other observers were able to observe the bird for 30 mins at close range. Joanna Streetly was able to capture a photo of the bird on her cell phone.

Male Indigo Bunting in Pemberton - Photo: Joanna Streetly

11 year old Toby Theriault was able to field sketch the bird she found:

Beautiful sketch of a Male Indigo Bunting in Pemberton - by Toby Theriault

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Sooke - November 4th

On the morning of November 4th-2016, Ian Cruickshank and Avery Bartels found an adult Brown Booby sitting on a log several Kms out from Beechey Head at East Sooke Regional Park. The bird sat on a log for 45 mins and they left it there as the log floated west. The bird was photographed.

The bird was not relocated on November 5th.

This is the 12th record for BC.

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Metchosin - October 30th

On October 30th-2016, David Allinson found a Red-throated Pipit. While he was observing over 150 American Robins flying over head along Swanwick Road. At about 250 metres from the William Head Rd intersection, he heard the distinctive high-pitched flight call and observed the bird in flight. The bird landed in the large field with Sheep on the north side of Swanwick Rd and disappeared. At this point he was not able to relocate it.

Map to location HERE

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Tofino - October 28th

At 2pm on October 28th-2016, Michael Shepard found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at the Tofino Sea Kayaking coffee shop and adjacent coast guard base. The coffee shop is located at 320 Main Street in Tofino.

The Gnatcatcher has not been relocated as of October 29th.

This is the 18th record for the province of BC.

RBA: ROSS'S GOOSE in Victoria - October 24th

At 8:30am on October 24th-2016, Geoffrey Newell found a Ross's Goose. The bird was in a flock of 54 Snow Geese flying SE over Cattle Point in a V formation. The bird was the last bird in the formation and was noticeably smaller than the other Snow Geese with a short stocky head and neck. He was unable to get any photos.

RBA: LARK BUNTING in Port Renfrew - September 5th

At 11:30am on September 5th-2016, Thomas Barbin found and photographed a female Lark Bunting at Botanical Beach in Port Renfrew.  The bird was feeding on the seaweed above the sandy part of the beach at the north end of the sandstone tide pools.

He did not know what the bird was at the time, until photos were reviewed, hence the late report.

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

Female Lark Bunting - Photo: Thomas Barbin

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT near Tofino - October 18th

At 10:15 am on October 18th-2016, Chris Charlesworth found a Red-throated Pipit at the north end of the Tofino Airport runway. The bird was alone and called several times but was then flushed from the grass by a Peregrine Falcon. The bird flew south to the other end of the airport and has not been relocated as of posting time.

RBA: LUCY'S WARBLER in Kelowna - Sept 25th

At 2:40pm on September 25th-2016 Michelle Lamberson photographed a female/immature Lucy's Warbler. She did not know what the bird was at the time hence the late report.

The bird was found in the bushes along the creek at Sunset Drive Park, which is just north of Rotary Marsh Park. The address is 1055 Sunset Drive, Kelowna.

This is the second record for the province of British Columbia.

Photos: Michelle Lamberson

RBA: SUMMER TANAGER in Kelowna - Sept 29th-Oct 1st

At 10:30am on September 29th-2016, Nick Swan found and photographed a male Summer Tanager at Okanagan Mountain Park, which is south of Kelowna. He observed the bird  for 5 mins in trees by the wooden bridge at Deeper Creek which is accessed off the CN trail. The bird then flew off in the direction of the parking lot at Lakeshore Rd. Nick relocated the bird in a nearby tree on the CN trail not far from the original location.

Directions to where the bird was found:

Take Lakeshore Road south from Kelowna into Okanagan Mountain Park. Park in the North parking lot which is off Lakeshore Rd for the Boulder Trail. Take the Boulder Trail which will turn into the CN Trail further up the mountain, it is a 10-15 min long hike. As you hike you will come to a bridge marked "Deeper Creek." The bird was seen in the trees here at Deeper Creek.

Map to location first seen HERE

Map to Parking lot HERE

This hike is not suitable for those with mobility issues. To read a description of the hike and its difficulty level, please click HERE.

This is the first documented record of Summer Tanager for the Okanagan Valley and the 5th record for the province of BC.

The bird was not relocated on Sept 30th.

The bird was relocated and photographed by Roxy Tripp on Oct 1st. The bird was with bluebirds, yellow-rumped warblers and house finches, 2.5 km up the Boulder Trail perched in a tree.

A map to where she saw it is HERE

*Multiple observers looked on Oct 2nd but the bird was not relocated.*

Male Summer Tanager - Photo: Nick Swan