RBA: BRAMBLING in Port Alberni - December 3-5th

On December 3-2016, Daryl Henderson and Annette Bailey found a Brambling at their home on 7th Avenue, near China Creek Rd in Port Alberni. Over the days that the bird was present, it would only appear for a few minutes at a time. They have not seen the bird since December 5th, when Daryl took the photos.  The bird was always associating with Dark-eyed Juncos and 3 White-throated Sparrows. If the bird returns, the homeowner will be fine with people coming to look for it, as long as people let him know in advance. However, it has not been seen since December 5th. If the Brambling returns, I will update on how the homeowner will like to arrange visitation.

Photo: Daryl Henderson

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in Surrey - Dec 9th-11th

On December 9th-2016, Andy George observed an adult male Hooded Oriole coming to feed at his backyard hummingbird feeder near 120th St and 96th Ave in Surrey. The bird was present all day and he was able to get some photos through his window.

The bird returned on the morning of December 10th and was present on Dec 11th.

The home is not open for public viewing.

The bird has not been seen since Dec 11th. 

This is the 22nd record for the province of BC.

Photos: Andy George

RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Delta - November 27- Dec 3rd

At 1:40pm on November 27th-2016, Liron Gerstman, who is 16 years old, found a 3rd cycle Slaty-backed Gull in Delta. The bird was in a mixed gull flock in the field on the east side of 72nd St across from the turf farm, which is just north of 36th Ave. The bird is best viewed from the road to the old airport control tower on the north side of the road. The bird was refound by Ilya Povalyaev at 3pm in the same location.

At 9:30am on November 28th, the bird was relocated at the turf farm on 72nd St by multiple observers. At 3:30pm on November 28th, the bird was relocated on the roof of the manure piles, which are located beside the turf farm on 72nd St.

At 12:40pm on November 29th, the bird was relocated by the buildings near the manure piles, which are located beside the turf farm on 72nd St. At 2:45pm on November 29th, the SBGU was present in the field in the middle of the turf farm on 72nd St.

The bird was not seen on November 30th or December 1st, despite multiple observers looking.

At 1:30pm on December 3rd, the bird was relocated by Wayne Weber in a mixed gull flock on the west field of the turf farm at 72nd St.

A video of the bird was taken by Cole Gaerber on Nov. 28th and can be viewed HERE

Map to where bird was last seen on turf farm HERE

Map to original location HERE

The bird has not been seen since December 3rd.

This is the 80th record for the province of BC.

3rd Cycle Slaty-backed Gull - Photo: Mike Tabak

Slaty-backed Gull (note extreme dark mantle in comparison to nearby gulls) - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

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