RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Tofino - July 26-28th

On July 26-2020, Eileen Floody found a White-winged Dove coming to a feeder in her backyard at her home on First Street between Neill St. and Arnett Rd.

The homeowner is allowing local Tofino birders to come visit but not outsiders due to COVID-19. If you live locally please contact the RBA and I will put you and the homeowner in touch. Outside travel to Tofino to attempt to view this dove is discouraged.

The bird was last seen in the same location on July 28th. It was not relocated on July 29th.

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

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when attempting to view this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

White-winged Dove in Tofino - Photos: Eileen Floody

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK in Kelowna - July 25th

At 11:30am on July 25-2020, Nick Swan found and photographed a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk soaring over the entrance road to Johns Family Regional Park in Kelowna. The bird also perched on a tree for many observers and has been present in the area for over 45 mins as it actively hunts.

Map to location of perched bird HERE

The bird was still present in this location as of 12:45pm. The bird flew south at 1 pm and has not been relocated.

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Ferruginous Hawk in Kelowna - Photos: Nick Swan

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Darfield - July 21-23rd

At 7:30 am on July 21-2020, Jacob Bailey and Valentina Sorrento found a male Indigo Bunting singing from a grassy area off Hwy 5 in Darfield.

The bird was last present on July 23-2020 and viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since despite multiple observers looking.

Map to location HERE

**Please be mindful of pipeline construction in the area and do not approach work areas. Please bird well off the road and be mindful of large trucks and vehicles.**

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Indigo Bunting in Darfield - Photo: Jacob Bailey

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER near Cape Scott - July 6th

At 12:30pm on July 6-2020, while fishing of a friend's boat Liam Singh found and photographed a Manx Sheawater. The bird was spotted 2 miles off of San Josef Bay near Cape Scott on Vancouver Island. It was flying north in a flock of Sooty Shearwaters.

Exact location HERE

This is the 63rd record for BC.

Manx Shearwater off Cape Scott on Vancouver Island - Photo: Liam Singh

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Kamloops - June 29-July 20th

At 8pm on June 29-2020, Isaac Nelson found a male Tufted Duck at Mitchell Lake.

Map to location HERE

The bird is best viewed by scope from Deleeuw Rd.

The bird was last seen at Mitchell Lake on July 1st and has been viewed by multiple observers.

On July 4-2020, the Tufted Duck was relocated on a nearby lake on Scott Rd (scope is recommended).

Map to last location HERE

The bird continues at Mitchell Lake on July 20th.

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Tufted Duck in Kamloops - Photo: Chris Charlesworth

Tufted Duck in Kamloops - Photo: Suzy Wright

RBA: GRAY-TAILED TATTLER in Kitimat - June 23-26th

At 6:15pm on June 23-2020, Joachim Bertrands and Christian Kelly found a Gray-tailed Tattler in the NW section of Minette Bay. Walter Thorne took photos of the bird with his camera and a recording was obtained by Joachim. They watched the bird in the same spot up until 9pm.

Directions: When coming from Terrace, turn left on Kitimat Village Rd. Follow the signs to Minette Bay Lodge, then go past it (do not turn onto private construction roads) to the parking area on the water at the end of the road. Walk to the end of the spit in front of the log booms.

Map to exact location of bird HERE

The bird works the log boom at high tide. At low tide it is on the mudflats. A scope is helpful.

Recording is HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location on June 26th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not relocated on June 27 or 28th, despite multiple observers looking.***

This is the first record for BC and Canada.

A CBC news story on the bird can be found HERE a radio interview on CBC  news can be found HERE (scroll to 1 hour and 41 mins)

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Gray-tailed Tattler in Kitimat - Photos: Jeff Dyck

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Trail - June 21st

At 3:30 pm on June 21-2020, Mindy Smith found an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Trail. The bird was in a tree in a field on the south side of the road near the end of Waneta-Nelway Rd (before it becomes gravel).

Map to location HERE

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Trail - Photos: Mindy Smith

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Saanich - May 31st

At 8:45am on May 31-2020, Carl Hughes found a male Chestnut-sided Warbler halfway down Lohbrunner Rd. here where the Easteen Phoebe had been sighted.

The warbler eventually moved to some oak trees at 4368 Lochside Drive where it was singing until 10:45am.

Map to last location HERE

Multiple observers got to see the bird.

The bird was not relocated thus far on June 1st.

This is the 77th record for BC.

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing or looking for this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.*

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Saanich - Photo: Carl Hughes

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Tofino - May 26th

On May 26-2020, Adrian Dorst and Ian Cruickshank both found the same Snowy Plover independently on Comber's Beach in Tofino.

This is the 28th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Tofino - Photo: Adrian Dorst

RBA: 3 WHITE-FACED IBIS in Surrey - May 18-26th

At 3:30 pm on May 18-2020, young birder Katya Kondratyuk found 3 White-faced Ibis feeding in the ponds at Serpentine Fen. She went back at 6:30pm on May 24th with her camera and found them feeding in the same location across from the second viewing tower. The birds are best viewed from the viewing tower.

The birds continued in the same location as of May 26th.

Map to exact location HERE

This is the 56th record for BC.

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing or looking for this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.*

White-faced Ibis in Surrey - Photos: Katya Kondratyuk