RBA: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW in Coquitlam - May 27-28th

At 7:30 pm on May 27-2021, David Schutz found an adult Black-throated Sparrow in one of the farthest east garden plots at the community gardens at Colony Farm. The bird was present for a minute and then flew west into the bushes and he couldn't relocate it as of 8:30pm.

Map to first location HERE

The bird was last seen HERE and HERE as of 9:30pm on May 28th and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on May 29th despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 51st record for the province of BC.

***There is a public health order now in effect until at least June 15th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

Black-throated Sparrow in Coquitlam - Photo: Mike Farnworth

Black-throated Sparrow in Coquitlam - Photo: David Schutz

RBA: CURLEW SANDPIPER in Delta - May 23rd

At 4:05pm on May 23-2021, Ilya Povalyaev found a Curlew Sandpiper in front of the second benches in a Dunlin and Western Sandpiper flock at Brunswick Point. A Scope is needed to view the bird. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location at 6pm on May 23rd and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on May 24th, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 16th record for BC. 

***There is a public health order now in effect until at least June 15th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

Curlew Sandpiper in Delta - Photos: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: DICKCISSEL near Nelson - May 23-26th

At 11:45 am on May 23-2021, Eliza Hicks found a male Dickcissel at her bird feeder at her private home in Blewett near Nelson.

The bird was last seen in the same location on May 26th but not on May 27th.

*The home is not open to the public*

This is the 29th record for BC.

***There is a public health order now in effect until at least June 15th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

Male Dickcissel in Nelson - Photo: Paul Prappas 

RBA: 7 BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEWS in Haida Gwaii - May 4-19th (Late Report)

Between May 4-19 2021, Margo Hearne and Peter Hamel found 7 Bristle-thighed Curlews at Sandspit Airport. They photographed 2 together and saw 7 all at once on May 13th. Birds were present in various numbers between May 4th and 19th. 

Haida Gwaii was not open to visitors at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photos can be viewed at E-Fauna HERE.

This is the 3rd record for BC

RBA: WHITE-FACED IBIS in Wardner - May 18th

At 12:30pm on May 18-2021, Alan Barnard and Mike Bentley found a single White-faced Ibis in a slough near Ha Ha Creek in Wardner.

Map to location HERE

This is the 63rd record for BC.

This will be the last White-faced Ibis sighting posted on the main page. They will be posted on regional pages from now on due to the increased number of annual sightings.

***There is a public health order now in effect until May 25th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

White-faced Ibis in Wardner - Photo: Alan Barnard

RBA: WHITE-FACED IBIS in Castlegar - May 18th

 At 11 am on May 18th Craig Sandvig found a single White-faced Ibis foraging in the oxbow of Selkirk College Trails in Castlegar.

Map to exact location HERE

This is the 62nd record for BC.

The bird continues in the same location as of 7pm and was viewed by multiple observers.

***There is a public health order now in effect until May 25th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

White-faced Ibis in Castlegar - Photo: Craig Sandvig

RBA: 3 WHITE-FACED IBIS in Invermere - May 17th

At 11 am on May 17th-2021, Greg Scott found 3 White-faced Ibis at Athalmer Sloughs in Invermere. The birds were foraging in the slough for only a matter of minutes before they flew east. No photos were obtained but the birds described well.

Map to location HERE

This is the 61st record for BC.

***There is a public health order now in effect until May 25th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

RBA: COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD in Maple Ridge - May 13-30th

On May 13th-2021, Freda du Plessis found a male Costa’s Hummingbird at her friend's private home in Maple Ridge. The homeowners believe the bird may have been present for a week.

The home was open to the public on FRIDAY May 14th and SATURDAY May 15th ONLY by appointment. Please contact me at the RBA by email to set up an appointment time. 

All people visiting present must wear masks, must social distance and not linger in the yard after viewing the bird.  There will only be a small number of people in the yard at a time.

*As of May 16th the home is now closed to the public. Please do not contact the RBA for entry. *

*The bird was last seen in the same location on May 30th but has not been relocated since. *

This is the 31st record for BC.

**Please wear a mask when viewing this bird it is required by the request of the homeowner**

***There is a public health order now in effect until May 25th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

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

Costa’s Hummingbird in Maple Ridge - Photo: Jo-Anne MacDougall

Costa’s Hummingbird in Maple Ridge - Photo: Sabine Decamp

RBA: WHITE-FACED IBIS near Prince Rupert - May 12-14th

At 5pm on May 12-2021, Teresa Weismiller found a single White-faced Ibis in the pond beside the Pembina Propane Terminal on Watson Island (the site of the old pulp mill) in Port Edward. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 60th record for BC.

The bird was last seen in the same location on May 14th. It was not seen on May 16th.

***There is a public health order now in effect until May 25th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

White-faced Ibis in Port Edward - Photo: Teresa Weismiller

RBA: 22 WHITE-FACED IBIS in Creston - May 12-19th

At 5:10 am on May 12-2021, Chris Drysdale found 3 White-faced Ibis off Channel Rd at Duck Lake in Creston. He watched them standing on the mud for 10 min before watching them take flight towards Leach Lake at 5:20pm.

Map to location HERE

This is the 59th record for BC.

22 of the birds continue in the same location on May 19th and were viewed by multiple observers.

***There is a public health order now in effect until May 25th banning non-essential travel from your local health region to anywhere in the province or elsewhere in Canada. The fine for breaking this order is 575$. You can read it HERE***

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**Please wear a mask when viewing rare birds when social distancing is not possible or hard to maintain**

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

White-faced Ibis in Creston - Photo: Chris Drysdale