RBA: WHITE-FACED IBIS in Victoria - May 28th

At 8:30am on May 28-2018, David Fraser saw 13 White-faced Ibises flying southwest over the corner of Blanshard St and Tolmie Ave. in Victoria. He was unable to get a photo but did sketch the birds. 

This is the 46th record for the province of BC.

RBA: NORTHERN PARULA in Nakusp - May 27th

At 8:30am on May 27-2018, Gary Davidson et al. found a singing Northern Parula at the east end of the Nakusp and Slocan Railway Trail (accessed from Hwy 6) that leads to Summit Lake in Nakusp.

Map to exact location HERE.

They viewed the bird for 10 mins and left it singing there.

Directions: Hwy 6 crosses Bonanza Creek at the spot where Summit Rd meets the highway. There is a parking area on the south side of the highway here. Then walk along the marked Nakusp and Slocan Railway Trail. 

Note that the trail is flooded in places at the moment, wear boots. 

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

Northern Parula in Nakusp - Photo: Gary Davidson

RBA: WHITE-FACED IBIS in Creston - May 26-27th

At 7:30am Paul Prappas et al. found a single breeding plumaged White-faced Ibis at the Speers Rd Pond in Creston. They were able to obtain a record shot in the harsh light. For anyone visiting please be aware this pond is shrinking in size and may be dry by the end of the week.

The bird continues in the same location as of May 27th.

Map to exact location HERE

This is the 45th record for the province of BC.

White-faced Ibis in Creston - Photo: Paul Prappas

RBA: COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in Powell River - May 23-25th

On May 23-2018, Sara Brown found a male Costa's Hummingbird at her home on Skeena St. It came back each day including May 25th. The home may be open to the public if the bird returns at which time I will post the address.

From Sept 7, 2017-March 16, 2018 a male Costa's Hummingbird was visiting the home of Ken and Kathleen Pritchard just 20 mins away. You can read about that sighting HERE. In all probability this is the same bird but there is no way to tell for sure.

The bird has not returned since May 25th.

This is the 29th record for BC.

Male Costa's Hummingbird in Powell River - Photo: Sara Brown

RBA: WOOD THRUSH in Nanaimo - May 23rd

At 5:45am on May 23-2018, Nick Smith found a Wood Thrush foraging on the ground on the trail that runs west to east at Planta Park in Nanaimo. The bird sang for 15 mins and he made a recording of the bird, which you can listen to HERE. He was not carrying a camera and therefore was unable to get a photo.

To access the west side of Planta Park (off Planta Rd), park by the Planta Park sign. The bird was singing 100m east along the trail and before the boardwalk. The park trail can also be accessed from the east side of Planta Park, where there is a small parking lot on Stephenson Point Rd.

Multiple observers looked for the bird on May 24th but it has not been relocated as of posting.

Map to exact location of bird HERE

This is the second record for the province of BC.

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in Vancouver - May 22nd

A male Hooded Oriole was photographed at Jericho Beach Park near the duck pond at 3pm on May 22nd. It was first misidentified as a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Several birders looked for it on the evening of May 23rd but it was not relocated. The observer chooses to remain anonymous.

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

Male Hooded Oriole in Vancouver - Photo: SS So/Macaulay Library

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Delta - May 21st

At 9:45am on May 21st-2018, Cole Gaerber found an adult male Snowy Plover, 200m west of the mansion at 96th St at Boundary Bay. It was loosely associating with 5 Western Sandpipers.

Map to location HERE

The bird was flushed by Bald Eagles at 10:25am and has not been relocated as of 7pm.

This is the 21st record for the province of BC.

Adult male Snowy Plover in Delta - Photos: Cole Gaerber

RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Delta - May 20th

At 10:45am on May 20th-2018, Rob Lyske found a Loggerhead Shrike sitting on a telephone poll wire on 34th St near the intersection of 34th St and 33A Ave in Delta.

Map to location HERE

The bird is being viewed by multiple observers as of 11am.

At 11:45am the bird disappeared and has not been relocated. It was last seen along the cottonwoods perpendicular to the road. 

The bird was not relocated on May 21st. 

This is the 91st record for the province of BC.

Loggerhead Shrike in Delta - Photo: Rob Lyske

RBA: PROTHONOTORY WARBLER in Princeton - May 19th

At 11:30am on May 19-2018, Edward Lahaie found a male Prothonotary Warbler at his home at 460 Auburn Crescent in Princeton. The bird was foraging in the Hawthorne bushes in his yard but was not relocated after looking for it all day and a photo could not be taken. 

He gave a detailed description of the bird as he viewed it from 12 feet away: "Deep yellow coloured, gray blue wings, white under tail with larger dark bill."

The home is open to the public and the address is 460 Auburn Crescent, Princeton. Please do not knock on the front door before proceeding to the backyard. Please be respectful of the homeowner's property and residences in the area and do not block driveways.

This is the 9th record for the province of BC.

The bird was not relocated on May 20th.

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Victoria - May 19-21st

At 3:30 pm on May 19th-2018, Geoffrey Newell found and photographed a Red-throated Pipit on the central dyke at Panama Flats. This is the second Red-throated Pipit he has found at this location. The previous being in May 2016.

Panama Flats is located between Roy Rd and Carey Rd. The best access to view the bird is off Carey Rd and Baker St and to walk down the middle (central) dyke looking at both the NE and NW quadrants.

Map to Location HERE

As of 6:30pm the bird is being viewed by multiple observers at the north end of Panama Flats.

This is the 54th record for the province of BC.

The bird was not seen on May 20th.

The bird was relocated at the N end of Panama Flats at 2pm and continued until dark on Monday May 21st.

Red-throated Pipit in Victoria - Photos: Geoffrey Newell