RBA: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW in Revelstoke - Nov 11-Dec 9th

At 8:30 am on November 11-2019, Darlene Cancelliere found an adult Black-throated Sparrow in her yard. This is not the first rarity to visit her yard. She has also had such rarities as a Black-throated Blue Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Brambling, Sage Thrasher, Dickcissel and Blackburnian Warbler just to name a few.

The home is open to the public at 407 Edward St. Please view the bird from the front yard only and do not enter the backyard. Please be respectful of all residences in the area.

**The bird was rediscovered on Nov 23 and Dec 9 at the same location, both following snow storms**

The bird has not been seen since Dec 9th.

This is the 50th record for the province of BC.

Black-throated Sparrow in Revelstoke - Photos: Darlene Cancelliere

RBA: IVORY GULL in Wardner - Nov 10th

At 12:15 pm on November 10-2019, Alan Barnard and Mike Bentley found an Ivory Gull on Lake Koocanusa. The bird was viewed from 50 feet away with binoculars as it flew by them. They were not able to get photos (didn't have cameras) but had clear views. Their description of an adult all white bird with black legs and greenish yellow tipped bill does not fit anything else but an Ivory Gull. A leucistic gull would be ruled out due to the black legs. The bird kept flying south after their observation and they tried to relocate it for 8 km down the lake in vain but increasing snowfall made them stop.

However, there is an area further down the river that birders should check at Koocanusa Crossing that has open water (not iced over) with plenty of spawned out Kokanee Salmon that could attract the gull.

Map to location of where bird was last seen HERE.

This is the 8th record for the province of BC.

*The gull was not relocated on Nov 11th, despite multiple observers looking over a 20km stretch for several hours.*

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Victoria - Nov 8th

At 1:15pm on November 8-2019, Gordon Rowles saw an adult female Brown Booby who tried to land on his sailboat. The bird was HERE about 4 miles south of Victoria and eventually flew off to the SW in the direction of Race Rocks.

This is the same bird that was recently seen in Richmond due to the notch in the same right wing. You can read about that sighting and see the photos of the wing with the damaged secondary feather HERE.

This will be treated as the same record, which is the 18th record for BC.

Brown Booby off Victoria - Photos: Gordon Rowles

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in North Van - Nov 5-15th

At 1 pm on November 5-2019, John Gordon and Carlo Giovanella found and photographed a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in a mixed warbler/kinglet/chickadee flock just east of the bridge at Maplewood Flats. The bird has been mostly seen in a deciduous tree with orange leaves just east of the bridge. Its tail is very short and most likely was taken by a predator.

Map to original location of bird HERE

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

The bird continues in the same location and was also seen HERE on Nov 15th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in North Van - Photo: John Gordon

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in North Van - Photo: Cos van Wermeskerken 

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Burns Lake - Oct 30-Nov 3rd

At 10am on Oct 30-2019, Keith Walker found an Ash-throated Flycatcher perched on the fence of his property on Colleymount Rd just SW of Burns Lake.

The location is open to the public. Please contact the RBA for further details.

This is not the first rarity to be had on his property. He has also had an Oriental Greenfinch and Curve-billed Thrasher before.

The bird was last seen on Nov 3rd and has been viewed by multiple observers.

**The bird was not relocated on Nov 4th.**

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Burns Lake - Photo: Jeff Dyck

Ash-throated Flycatcher near Burns Lake - Photo: Keith Walker

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Delta - Oct 19-22nd

At 12:30 pm on October 19-2019, Laura, Alan and Liz Stewart found and photographed an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Boundary Bay.

The bird was perched near the mansion near 64th St and was actively flycatching.

Map to first location of bird HERE

The bird was relocated HERE on Oct 22nd and was viewed by multiple observers.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Delta - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Delta - Photos: Laura Stewart

RBA: 2 WHITE-FACED IBIS in Deroche - Oct 19th

At 11 am on October 19-2019, Rick Skerry photographed 2 White-faced Ibises flying east over Nicomen Slough in Deroche near Mission.

Map to location HERE

This is the 47th record for BC.

2 White-faced Ibis in Deroche - Photo: Rick Skerry

RBA: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER in Victoria - Oct 18-24th

At 12pm on Oct 18-2019, a bird was found that was thought to be a Tennessee Warbler. At 4:15 pm Geoffrey Newell and Jeff Gaskin joined up to twitch the bird. Newell immediately realized the bird was actually an old world warbler. The bird turned out to be a Yellow-browed Warbler (ABA Code 4).

The bird was along the SE dyke at Panama Flats, south of the metal building off Carey Rd.

Map to location of bird HERE

*Parking is on Baker Street off Carey Rd. Please do not block driveways. Police have been ticketing offenders who do so and park too close to street corners.

The entrance is on Carey Rd near Baker Rd - walk around the gray metal gates with the No Parking signs to access Panama Flats and the trail to the bird.*

This is the first record for Canada and the 1st for BC.

The bird was last seen in the same location on Oct 24th and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

***The bird was not relocated on Oct 25th.***

You can watch a video of the news story about this bird HERE

Yellow-browed Warbler in Victoria - Photo: Meghin Spencer

Yellow-browed Warbler in Victoria - Photo: John Gordon

Yellow-browed Warbler in Victoria - Photo: Geoffrey Newell

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Nanaimo - Oct 10th

At 12:10 pm on October 10-2019, Blair Dudeck found and photographed a Red-throated Pipit at Nanaimo River Estuary.

As of 3 pm the bird was still present and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Directions to bird: Drive down to the end of Raines Rd. Park in the lot at the very end of the road (map HERE) and walk down the trail that starts at the yellow gate. Go past the big oak tree and keep walking straight. You will come to a wooden fence. The bird was seen near the NE corner of this fence and sat on this fence, which is close to the newly built viewing mound of dirt. It was also seen in the grasses on the other side of the pond.

The bird was not relocated on Oct 11th despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 59th record for the province of BC.

RBA: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in Metchosin - Oct 6th

At 12:45pm on Oct 6-2019, David Bell found an immature Red-shouldered Hawk in a kettle of Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks over Rocky Point Bird Observatory.  Unfortunately he was unable to photograph the bird adequately due to distance.

There are no confirmed photographed records of Red-shouldered Hawks to date in BC but one was observed by other experienced observers in Metchosin and Sooke in 2009.

*There is no public access at this location*