RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Colwood - July 4-19th

At 1:30pm on July 4-2021, Denis Shumeyko found and photographed a female Great-tailed Grackle at Esquimalt Lagoon. The bird was foraging along the water on the ocean side and also on the freshwater lagoon side but flies back and forth to both sides.

Map to location HERE

The bird was seen in the same location across from the food trucks as of 5pm.

The bird was last seen on July 19th by the bridge HERE on the lagoon side and and was viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 7th record for BC.

**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.**

Great-tailed Grackle in Colwood - Photo: Warren Lee

Great-tailed Grackle in Colwood - Photo: Geoffrey Newell

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Wardner - July 4-30th

At 9 am on July 4-2021, Alan Barnard found a male Indigo Bunting in bushes around an old barn at the corner of Ha Ha Creek Rd and Howell Rd.

The bird was last seen on July 30th and was viewed by several observers.

Map to location 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.**

Male Indigo Bunting in Wardner - Photo: Bobby Dailey

Male Indigo Bunting in Wardner - Photo: Alan Barnard

Video of Indigo Bunting in Wardner by Bobby Dailey

RBA: 2 DICKCISSELS in Nakusp - June 26-30th

At 6:10am on June 26th-2021, Julia Flesaker found 2 different Dickcissels sitting on a wire on Brouse Loup Rd near the road entrance to Brouse Creek B &B in Brouse (near Nakusp).

Map to location HERE

This is the 31st record for BC.

*One of the birds continue HERE near the previous location on June 30th.*

**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.**

2 different Dickcissels in Nakusp - Photos: Julia Flesaker

RBA: DICKCISSEL in Edgewood - June 21st

At 7:30 am on June 21-2021, Gary Davidson and Catherine McLean found a male Dickcissel on Ferret Rd in Edgewood.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues in the same location as of 4pm and has been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 30th record for BC.

**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.**

Dickcissel in Edgewood - Photo: Gary Davidson

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Vancouver - June 17th

At 6:05 am on June 17-2021, Evan Larson found a male Chestnut-sided Warbler singing at Jericho Park.

Map to location HERE

*The bird was last seen at 7:15am before it disappeared. It has not been relocated since, despite multiple observers looking.*

This is the 82nd record for BC.

**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.**

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Vancouver - Photos: Evan Larson

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Kelowna - June 15-17th

At 9:30 am on June 15-2021, Ryan Tomlinson found a Snowy Plover at the mouth of Mission Creek in Kelowna.

Map to location HERE

Directions: Go to the end of Capozzi Road. There is limited parking. Water levels on the creek are high so be extremely careful walking along the edge of the creek. You then have to cross over a small dock and you will see the sandbars where the plover is through the willow trees. This is not for anyone with mobility issues.

This is the 33rd record for BC and 1st record for the Okanagan.

The bird was last seen on June 17th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

 *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.**

Snowy Plover in Kelowna - Photo: Kalin Ocaña

Snowy Plover in Kelowna - Photo: Wayne Diakow

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Bralorne - June 10-16th

At 12pm on June 10-2021, Daryl Thompson found a female Acorn Woodpecker at the bird feeder at his home in Bralorne. The bird was present for 1.5 hours before flying off. Bralorne is located 118 km west of Lillooet and 75 km north of Pemberton via a rough 4X4 dirt road.

**The home is OPEN to the public.**

***The bird was last seen at the same location on June 16th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.***

Please contact the RBA as there are specific directions to follow for visitors and accessing the location is a bit complicated.

This is the 12th record for BC.

*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.**

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Bralorne - Photo: Ken Willis

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Bralorne - Photo: Daryl Thompson

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in West Vancouver - June 8th

At 11:30 am on June 8-2021, Judith McBride photographed an adult male Hooded Oriole at her friend Sylvia’s house (who first found the bird) on Bowen Island. The homeowner's last name won't be shared, as per request, to prevent birders attempting to visit her home.

The home is NOT open to the public and the bird was not relocated on June 9th or 10th.

This is the 26th record for BC.

Hooded Oriole on Bowen Island - Photos: Judith McBride

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE near Cache Creek - May 27-28th

On May 27-2021, Gail Frith found a female Hooded Oriole at her hummingbird feeder at her private home in Loon Lake near Cache Creek. The bird was present on May 28th but she did not observe the bird on the 29th or 30th.

The home is not open to the public and therefore the address won’t be disclosed.

This is the 25th record for BC.

Female Hooded Oriole in Loon Lake - Photos: Gail Frith

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