RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK in Creston - Nov 26 - Dec 9th

At 2:15 pm on November 26th-2016, Paul Prappas, Carolee Colter and Terry O'Gorman found a first year Ferruginous Hawk while driving along Kootenay River Rd, just south of Creston. The bird was hunting in the farming fields on the right side of Kootenay River Road opposite to Speers Road. They were able to watch the bird for ten minutes before it flew out of view.

The bird was seen on December 8th-2016 by Linda Van Damme in a field across from Speers Rd where Paul Prappas had the bird.

At 11:30 am on December 9th-2016, Craig Sandvig et al. relocated the immature Ferruginous Hawk in the exact same location and the bird was photographed.

The bird has not been seen since December 9th.

Immature Ferruginous Hawk - Photo: Paul Prappas

RBA: FIELD SPARROW in Colwood - November 20-21st

At 8am on November 20th-2016, Ellen and Andy Stepniewski from Washington State, found a Field Sparrow at Esquimalt Lagoon. The bird was foraging in the weeds across from trash can #26 on the lagoon side.

Esquimalt Lagoon is located at 2901 Ocean Boulevard in Colwood, BC.

The bird was photographed by multiple observers.

At 7:45 am on Nov 21st, the bird was seen and photographed by Keith Taylor, on the ocean side of the lagoon in front of trash can #27. There were no further sightings of the bird, despite multiple observers looking.

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

Photo: David Marques

Photo: Sharon Toochin

RBA: LUCY'S WARBLER refound in Kelowna! - November 12-19th

At 10:30 am on November 12th - 2016, Chris Charlesworth, Chris Siddle, Ann Gibson and Michael Force refound the Lucy's Warbler at the same location, Sunset Drive Park where it was first found by Michelle Lamberson on September 25th. As they began looking for a reported Green Heron, they pished in a late Least Flycatcher and then the female/immature Lucy's Warbler flew in. The bird was calling and perched in a tree along the south side of Brandt's Creek beside the first viewing platform which is located off Sunset Drive.

Sunset Drive Park is located just north of Rotary Marsh Park. The address is 1055 Sunset Drive, Kelowna

As of Nov 14th, the bird has been moving  between two locations: Sunset Drive Park and Manhattan Drive.

A map for where the bird was seen at Sunset Drive Park is HERE

A map for where the bird was seen at Manhattan Drive is HERE

On Nov 16th the bird was last seen at 12pm at Sunset Drive Park.

On Nov 19th, the bird was briefly seen at 9:30am by Dan Peterson at Sunset Drive Park but not subsequently with multiple observers looking.

The bird was not seen on Nov 20th or 21st, despite multiple observers looking.

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

Lucy's Warbler. Manhattan Drive, Kelowna, BC. Nov 14, 2016. Photo: John Gordon.

Lucy's Warbler. Manhattan Drive, Kelowna, BC. Nov 14, 2016. Photo: John Gordon.

Lucy's Warbler. Sunset Drive Park, Kelowna, BC. Nov 12, 2016. Photo: Michael Force.

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