RBA: COMMON CRANE in Peace River - Oct 3-7th

At 11 am on October 3-2019, Jeannie Smith reported a bird to Mark Phinney as a possible Whooping Crane.

At 11:30 am on October 4-2019, Mark Phinney went to look for the bird and when he got to the location he actually found the bird to be a Common Crane (ABA Code 4) instead. The bird was located just north of Doe River and was in a mixed flock of 1400 Sandhill Cranes.

The bird seems to go back and forth across the road where it has been feeding and roosting just west of Hartnell Wetlands.

The flock has been feeding in a harvested wheat field and the best spot to watch it seems to be from HERE (an access road to a new well site on the west side of the Rolla highway, with 3 big black tanks). Please do not go all the way into the pad as it is an active site and there could be safety hazards.

Mark was able to photograph the bird by digiscoping the flock.

The bird was last seen on October 7-2019 and has been viewed by multiple observers.

*There has been no further sightings since Oct 7th. Snow has fallen and the cranes have departed the area*

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 2nd record for BC.

Common Crane in Peace River - Photo: Christopher Coxson

Common Crane in Peace River - Photo: Jeff Dyck

RBA: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE in Lumby - Oct 4-5th

At 9:30am on October 4-2019, Scott Thomson found a Green-tailed Towhee in Lumby. The bird was in the weeds by the side of the road and on the fence line near the corn fields on Horner Rd near the intersection of Whitevale Rd. Scott was able to photograph the bird.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location on Oct 5 and has been viewed by multiple observers. 
*It was not seen on October 6th.*

This is the 12th record for BC

Green-tailed Towhee in Lumby - Photos: Scott Thomson

RBA: BROWN SHRIKE in Metchosin - Oct 1-3rd

At 7:45am on Oct 1-2019, a hatch year Brown Shrike (ABA Code 4) was banded by David Bell at Rocky Point Bird Observatory.

The bird was last seen in the same location on October 3rd.

There is no public access at this site.

***The Rocky Point site is located in a secure area on Department of National Defence Lands. Only registered volunteers who have been cleared by the Department of Defense are permitted to access the site. ***

This is the 1st record for BC and 2nd for Canada.

Brown Shrike in Metchosin - Photos: David BellP

The Brown Shrike has been hanging around since its release - Photo: Joachim Bertrands 

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Richmond - Sept 21-Oct 5th

At 8:30 am on Sept 29-2019 an adult female Brown Booby was photographed by Rick Zapf off the tip of the south jetty at Iona in Richmond.

The bird was first reported by Dan Pontalti and Grant Edwards on Sept 21-2019 but was never photographed. This is most likely the same bird.

Map to location HERE

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

***The bird was last seen off the tip of the south jetty on Oct 5th. ***

*A scope or boat is required for this location. The best time to look for this bird is before 11am*

Brown Booby in Richmond (Oct 1, 2019) - Photos: Melissa Hafting

Brown Booby in Richmond (Oct 2, 2019)  - Photo: Kathryn Taylor

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Metchosin - Sept 27th

At 9am on Sept 27-2019, a hatch year Chestnut-sided Warbler was banded at Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Metchosin.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Metchosin - Photo: David Bell

This location is not open to the public.

This is the 76th record for BC.

RBA: 2 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS in Tofino - Sept 26th

At 1:30pm on Sept 26th-2019, Ian Maton and his wife found 2 Ash-throated Flycatchers between access points 2 and 4 on Long Beach. At least one bird was photographed.

Map to location HERE

1 of 2 Ash-throated Flycatchers in Tofino - Photos: Ian Maton

RBA: SUMMER TANAGER in Fraser Lake - Sept 25-Oct 1st

At 10 am on Sept 25-2019, Tom Davies found a male Summer Tanager eating berries in his yard.

The home is open to the public and the address is 2835 Francois Lake Rd, Fraser Lake

*Please be respectful of private property and other residences in the area.*

The bird continued in the same location as of Oct 1-2019 and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not seen on October 2nd.***

This is the 7th record for the province of BC.

Male Summer Tanager in Fraser Lake - Photos: Ray Ostrander

Summer Tanager in Fraser Lake - Photo: Nancy Krueger

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER on the NW coast of Vancouver Island - Sept 23rd

On Sept 23, 2019, Benjamin Ivany et al. found a juvenile Snowy Plover feeding on bugs on the beach at Raft Cove Provincial Park. This location is 65 km SW of Port Hardy and access is by a gravel logging road out of Holberg.

Map to location HERE

This is the 27th record for BC.

RBA: BROWN BOOBY off Haida Gwaii - Sept 21st

At 5pm on Sept 21-2019, Roger Stone found an adult Brown Booby off Haida Gwaii. The bird was flying beside his boat for 5 mins and was photographed 80 miles SE of Moresby Island.

This is the 17th record for the province of BC.

RBA: GARGANEY in Kelowna - Sept 18-19th

At 1pm on Sept 18-2019, Chris Charlesworth and Ryan Tomlinson found a female Garganey (ABA Code 4) in the SE corner of Alki Lake at the Kelowna (Glenmore) Landfill. It is located at 2710 John Hindle Dr.

Visitors must sign in at the office upon arrival and visiting hours for birders are from 7:30am to 4:00pm - 7 days a week.

Map to location of bird HERE

The bird was last seen at 9 am on Sept 19th and was viewed by multiple observers. The bird was not relocated later in the day.

The bird was not relocated on Sept 20th.

This is the second record for the Okanagan and 14th record for BC.

Garganey in Kelowna - Photo: Don Cecile

Garganey in Kelowna - Photo: Chris Charlesworth