RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS off Tofino - Aug 29th

At 10:45 am on Aug 29- 2021 during a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters, Mike Toochin spotted an immature Short-tailed Albatross at Clayoquot Canyon off the “Miss B Haven” boat. The bird was banded and all observers got on the bird. The band info from Japan follows:

The researcher Mr. Fumio Sato said the bird was banded on 7th March 2021 at Hatsunezaki colony of Torishima, Japan.  When this bird was banded, it was a chick in the nest.

Colour ring No. X10, and the small ring of the Ministry of the Environment No. 13E9019. Sex was unknown.

Map to location of bird HERE

Banded Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photos: Melissa Hafting

4 MANX SHEARWATERS near Port McNeill - Aug 17-Sept 2nd

On August 17-2021, John Cooper et al. found a single Manx Shearwater in Cormorant Channel HERE. On August 18-2021, Jared Towers found 3 Manx Shearwaters and photographed 2 at Bold Head in Blackfish Sound. At 2:40pm on August 20-2021, Gord Curry refound 2 Manx Shearwaters at Bold Head in Blackfish Sound and at 3:45pm Susan Knoerr had 3 Manx Shearwaters in the same area in nearby Cormorant Channel (5km to the SW).  On Aug 21st Jared Towers saw 2 birds in the same area at Bold Head near Swanson Island. These are likely the same birds first found by Jared Towers at Bold Head on August 18th.

Gord Curry was able to photograph one of the birds. They were travelling in a flock of approximately 2000 Short-tailed Shearwaters an unheard of number on our BC coast in August.

Map to location of Gord Curry’s August 20th sighting HERE

At 1pm on August 23-2021, Gord Curry found 4 Manx Shearwaters in Blackfish Sound NW of Bold Head HERE

On Aug 26-2021 Jared Towers saw 1 bird also at Bold Head.

On Aug 28-2021, Gord Curry relocated one bird in the same area.

All of these sightings will be treated as 1 record as they are most certainly the same birds hanging around the area.

On Sept 2-2021, Guy Monty et al. saw 2 Manx Shearwaters HERE near Nigei Island.

This the 66th and 67th record for BC.

Manx Shearwaters near Alert Bay - Photos: Jared Towers

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Rosedale - August 7-10th

At 2:10pm on August 7-2021, Marc Sole and Catherine Denny found and photographed a Black Phoebe at Cheam Lake Wetlands. The bird was actively flycatching from the nearby vegetation and logs. They viewed the bird for 15 mins from the floating bridge as they looked west over the lake.

Map to location HERE

This is the 33rd record for BC.

On August 10th, the bird was seen west of the viewing platform near the picnic area. The bird has also been seen north of here near the creek outflow.

**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.**

Black Phoebe in Rosedale - Photo: Marc Sole

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER near Port Hardy - July 28th

At 9am on July 28-2021, Evan Larson found and photographed a Manx Shearwater as it flew by the fishing charter he was on. He viewed the bird for twenty seconds as it quickly disappeared west.

Map to location of where he saw the bird HERE

Proper photos to come.

This is the 65th record for BC.

Manx Shearwater near Port Hardy - Photo: Evan Larson

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Coquitlam - July 21-30th

At 10:30 am on July 21-2021, Graham Sunderland found a male Indigo Bunting by the yellow gate and works yard at Colony Farm.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location on July 30th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

**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.**

Indigo Bunting in Coquitlam - Photos: Melissa Hafting

RBA: COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD in Delta - June 12th (late report)

At 1pm on June 12-2021, Mark Rubensohn photographed a female Costa’s Hummingbird that stopped briefly at the feeder near the house pond at Reifel Bird Sanctuary. The bird was initially misidentified as an Anna’s. The bird was confirmed as well by hummingbird expert Sheri Williamson.  

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been photographed or reported at the location since June 12th.

This is the 32nd record for BC.

Female Costa’s Hummingbird in Delta - Photos: Mark Rubensohn

RBA: TRICOLORED HERON in Cowichan Bay - July 12th

At 7am on July 12-2021, Ken Thorne and Len Van Driel found and photographed a Tricolored Heron at the Cowichan Bay Estuary. 

Ken asked me not to post the exact location as he does not want the bird inundated with people and the rural area inundated with traffic. The bird was found on public property and birders should search the three trails into Cowichan Bay Estuary. If the bird is refound by others a location will be posted.

This is a 1st record for BC.

The bird has not been refound, despite multiple observers looking all around the area.

**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.**

Tricolored Heron in Cowichan Bay - Photos: Ken Thorne

RBA: WOOD SANDPIPER in Victoria - July 5-9th

At 9:30 am on July 5-2021, Geoffrey Newell found an adult Wood Sandpiper in the SW quadrant of Panama Flats in Victoria. The bird can disappear for length periods of time in the vegetation.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same spot in the SW quadrant but has also seen in the NE quadrant on July 9th and was viewed by multiple observers.

*The last photographed confirmed sighting was on July 9th.*

This is the 3rd record for BC.

A news story on the bird can be found 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.**

Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Liam Singh

Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Mike Tabak

Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Emma Reader-Lee

Wood Sandpiper in Victoria - Photo: Geoffrey Newell

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