RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Prince George - May 2-3rd

On May 2nd-2018, Anne Hogan spotted an adult male Indigo Bunting feeding on millet at her home on Hoferkamp Rd. On May 3rd, the bird continued and Bob Steventon was able to photograph it at their feeder.

The home is not open to the public. 

The bird was not seen on May 4th.

Male Indigo Bunting in Prince George - Photos: Bob Steventon

RBA: Probable REDWING in Vancouver - April 29th

At 8:35am on April 28, 2018 Bridget Spencer found a probable Redwing. The bird was sitting in a white blossom cherry tree in Musqueam Golf Course along the Fraser River. It was singing for 30 mins and she made a recording and took record photos as it flew east towards Point Grey Golf course. The bird was relocated at Point Grey Golf Course at 9:05 am but was only heard and then not seen again when the birder had to leave. It has not been relocated since despite multiple observers looking.

Experienced European birders believe it to be a Redwing. You can listen to it HERE

Bridget made a comparison recording between her bird (Starts at 0:00 and ends at 0:04) and a confirmed Redwing by Michael Bome (starts at 0:05 and ends at 0:15) on Xeno-Cantho. You can listen to it HERE

Map to exact location bird was first seen HERE

Probable Redwing carrying Cherry Blossom in beak - Photo: Bridget Spencer

RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Cawston - April 26th

At 4:15pm on April 26th 2018, Mark McAnally found a Loggerhead Shrike on Nighthawk Rd in Cawston.

The exact location is 250m before the descent to the border customs stop. The bird was in view for over 10 minutes as it flew back and forth across the road, landing in the open.

A map to the exact location is HERE.

Nighthawk Rd is west of Osoyoos and accessed off of Highway 3.

Loggerhead Shrike in Osoyoos - Photo: Mark McAnally

Loggerhead Shrike in Osoyoos - Photo: Mark McAnally

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Coquitlam - April 20th-21st

At 11:30am on April 20th-2018, John Reynolds found a Black Phoebe at Colony farm in a Coquitlam.

Directions to bird: The bird is in the pond in front of the service yard. Coming from Hwy 7, park at the community garden. Walk back and turn left on a newly gravelled road. Just before you reach the fenced-in work area go to the right of the fence and make your way along the fence towards the pond.

The bird was photographed and last seen by multiple observers at 7:30am on April 21st. There were no subsequent sightings later in the day despite multiple observers looking.

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 23rd record for the province of BC.

Black Phoebe in Coquitlam - Photo: John Reynolds

Black Phoebe in Coquitlam - Photo: Melissa Hafting

RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Vancouver, Richmond and Point Roberts - May 11-Sept 1st

On March 11th-2018, Shelley Ide found a bird she did not recognize on the sidewalk of W. 4th Ave in Vancouver. At the time she had identified the bird as a female Boat-tailed Grackle. On the afternoon of April 17th-2018, Aaron Zacharias found the same bird in a vacant lot on W. 4th Ave between Alma St. and Highbury St. Aaron identified it as well as a female Boat-tailed Grackle. After Robert Lee relocated it this evening and provided a photo. I was able to help identify it to species and the bird is actually a female Great-tailed Grackle, which is a great bird nonetheless. Congrats to the finders. The bird has a limp but is doing ok it is eating and flying ok.

Map to exact location HERE. The bird has also been seen on a balcony next to the parking lot off Point Grey Rd for Jericho Park.

This is the 5th record for the province of BC and 1st record for Metro Vancouver.

A news article of the bird can be found HERE

The bird continues in the same vacant lot as of May 7th.

On May 8th and 12th, the Grackle was relocated at Cecil Green Park near UBC.

On July 14th, the bird was seen at the Iona inner ponds before flying towards the Fraser River.

On Aug 3rd-11th, the bird continues near the boardwalk of the outer pond by the parking lot at Iona.

On Sept 1st - Ken Klimo relocated the bird HERE on the rocks at Point Roberts, WA near the marina. The bird sadly now has a broken foot.

Female Great-tailed Grackle in Vancouver - Photos: Melissa Hafting

Female Great-tailed Grackle in Vancouver - Photo: Janice White

RBA: PARAKEET AUKLET off Tofino - March 29th

On March 29, 2018 - a pelagic out of Tofino from The Whale Centre found a single Parakeet Auklet at an ocean depth of 515 ft in pelagic waters, offshore from Tofino. An exact GPS location of the bird was not taken. It sat on the water briefly before taking flight and disappearing out of sight.

The bird was found and photographed by Joachim Bertrands.

Parakeet Auklet off Tofino - Photos: Joachim Bertrands

This is the 43rd record for the province of BC.

RBA: 3 SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSSES off Tofino - March 24th

At 9am on March 24, 2018 on a pelagic trip out of Tofino on Ocean Outfitter's "Miss B. Haven," 13 birders saw three juvenile Short-tailed Albatrosses, one of the birds was banded and after photo review a partial band number was visible. We sent in the band and the researchers said he was banded on April 24, 2017 as a chick at Tori Island, Hachijo, Japan. His full band number is 13D9932.

The first Short-tailed Albatross was spotted by Mike Toochin and all birds were found on Clayquot Canyon with 400 Black-footed Albatross behind a trawler.

The birds stayed with the boat in close proximity (as close as 10 feet away) and allowed for great photos. The birds were present for the full 5 hours the birders were at the canyon.

Exact GPS location of birds HERE

Banded (R) Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Melissa Hafting

2 out of 3 Short-tailed Albatrosses off Tofino - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photos: Melissa Hafting

Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: KING EIDER in Qualicum Beach - March 12-April 2nd

At 2:15pm on March 12, 2018, Neil Robins and John Purves found an adult male King Eider in breeding plumage. The bird was in a large raft of scoters near to Bluffs Drive in the Eaglecrest Area of Qualicum Beach. They viewed the bird for an hour by scope. They were unable to photograph the bird due to distance.

The bird was relocated by Guy Monty et al. on March 13th at the end of Whitmee Rd and is being viewed as of 6:30pm. A scope is required. From March 18th to 22nd, the eider was relocated further north at the Little Qualicum Estuary and could be viewed from the beach access at the east end of Surfside Dr. The bird was seen on March 23rd from the end of Buller Rd, which is just south of the previous location - a map of the location can be viewed HERE.

The bird was seen at the original location at the end of Whitmee Rd on March  26, 2018.

*On April 2nd the bird continued at the end of Seacrest Place in Qualicum Beach.*

This is the 37th record for the province of British Columbia.

King Eider in Qualicum Beach - Photo: Blair Dudeck

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Elko - Jan 2-March 19th

On Jan 2-2018, Brad Eckersley first saw a Brown Thrasher visiting his property on Yarrow Rd. The bird was present for a month and a half but was not identified. On Feb 11-2018, Bob Livsey found the bird at Brad's feeder and identified it as a Brown Thrasher. It was only present at the feeder for about 6 seconds. It was seen again briefly on Feb 12th at the same location and was singing. Appearances have been too brief for any photo opportunities.

The bird can now be viewed from the public location of  Main St and Yarrow Ave. 

This is the 40th record for the province of BC.

This is the second Brown Thrasher in the province at the same time. The other bird is in Cranbrook and details can be found HERE.

The bird has not been seen since March 19th, 2018.

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Victoria - Jan 29th-Feb 3rd

An apparent injured adult Brown Booby was found at 1pm on January 29/2018 at Ogden Point in Victoria. The bird was photographed by Ashley Olender who didn't realize what it was. June Elaine Pigeon found the bird at the same site later in the afternoon and noticed it was immobile and shivering and called the SPCA. The bird was then transported to SPCA's Wild ARC rehab facility.

A photo of the bird can be viewed HERE

Sadly, despite best efforts, this bird died on Feb 3rd at Wild Arc.

Thank you to Wild Arc and especially to June Pigeon for aiding this bird as best as they could.

You can read more about this sad story HERE.

This is the 15th record for the province of BC.