RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Richmond - May 13-14th

At 9:15am on May 13-2022, Craig Huish found a Snowy Plover sitting on the south jetty and then it flew to the mudflats off the north side of the south jetty (near marker 207) at Iona Regional Park.

Map to location of bird HERE

**The bird was last seen 2:15pm in the same location on May 14th and was viewed by multiple observers. It flew north and has not been relocated as of 2:45pm**

***The bird has not been relocated on May 15th.**

This is the 38th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Richmond - Photo: Craig Huish

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Ucluelet - May 13th

At 6:15 am on May 13-2022, Ian Cruickshank viewed a Manx Shearwater by scope from Amphitrite Point. The bird was one km out and landed on the water several times. You can view the description from this experienced observer here.

Map to location HERE

This is the 70th record for BC.

RBA: 3 SNOWY PLOVERS in Tofino - April 29-May 15th

On April 29-2022, David Caudwell found a Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach. He was able to photograph the bird before it was flushed by a dog.

At 12pm on April 30-2022, Bob Hansen relocated the bird HERE on Chesterman Beach near Frank Island. The bird was in a flock of Semipalmated Plovers. 

A second bird was also seen at 1:40pm alone at Comber’s Beach by Michelle Hamilton. The bird was near the Comber's Beach Trailhead.

At 8:30am on May 1-2022, Ian Cruickshank saw 3 birds together on Comber’s Beach near the sandhill creek mouth HERE. 

2 birds continue HERE on Wickaninnish Beach on May 2-12th.

On May 14-15th - 1 bird continues on Comber’s Beach at the sandhill creek mouth HERE. 

This is the 35th, 36th and 37th record for BC.

Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach in Tofino - Photos: Harry Sedin

3 Snowy Plovers on Comber's Beach, Tofino - Photo: Michelle Hamilton

RBA: KING EIDER in Comox - April 23-24th

At 7:10 am on April 24-2022, Krista Kaptein spotted a female King Eider at Singing Sands Beach in Comox. The bird was with 2000 Surf Scoters, some Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Greater Scaup. She was able to get photographs of the bird.

Multiple observers saw the bird until it flew off towards the SE at 8:50am.

Map to location it was first seen HERE

**After reviewing photos today, Iwan van Veen noticed that he had photographed the female King Eider HERE in a mixed scoter flock from the Comox to Powell River ferry at 9:25am on April 23rd.**

This is the 39th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on April 25th.

King Eider in Comox - Photos: Krista Kaptein

RBA: PARAKEET AUKLETS and MANX SHEARWATER off Tofino - April 10th

At 10:00am on April 10-2022 on a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters on the Miss B Haven, Mike Toochin et al. spotted 5 Parakeet Auklets near Clayoquot Canyon. One bird was photographed and viewed well by all on board.

The birds were seen HERE

This is the 47th record for BC.

At 1 pm on April 10-2022, Ilya Povalyaev and Yousif Attia spotted a Manx Shearwater off the same boat. It was viewed by half on board as the bird did one quick flyby and didn’t allow for photos.

The bird was seen HERE

This is the 69th record for BC.

1 of 5 Parakeet Auklets off Tofino - Photo: Melissa Hafting

RBA: PARAKEET AUKLETS off Tofino - April 2

On April 2-2022, Joachim Bertrands et al found 6 Parakeet Auklets during a pelagic out of Tofino to the Clayoquot Canyon. 

Three of the birds were seen HERE. 

This is the 46th record of Parakeet Auklet for BC. 

Parakeet Auklet off Tofino - Photo: Joachim Bertrands

RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS and PARAKEET AUKLET off Tofino - March 27

On March 27-2022, Blair Dudeck, Joachim Bertrands, et al found a Short-tailed Albatross and Parakeet Auklet during a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters out of Tofino. The Short-tailed Albatross was with a small group of Black-footed Albatrosses but not at a fishing boat. The Parakeet Auklet was seen by only a few on board.

The Short-tailed Albatross was observed HERE and the Parakeet Auklet was observed HERE.

This is the 45th record of Parakeet Auklet for BC. 

Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Joachim Bertrands

Parakeet Auklet off Tofino - Photo: Blair Dudeck

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK near Spider Lake, Vancouver Island - March 26

At around 2:15pm on March 26-2022, Derek Isbister found a light morph adult Ferruginous Hawk along Blacktail Rd near Spider Lake. This road is accessed by exiting the Inland Island Highway (Hwy 19) at Horne Lake Rd. The bird was observed on a large snag.

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been located since, despite multiple observers looking. 

Ferruginous Hawk near Spider Lake on Vancouver Island - Photo: Derek Isbister

RBA: WHOOPER SWAN in Vancouver and Richmond - March 17-18th

At 5:30pm on March 17-2022, Edward Nygren found an adult Whooper Swan at the NE corner of Trout Lake. Both legs were able to be fully visualized and they are unbanded. The bird is also not wing clipped as it flew in there this evening with 28 Trumpeter Swans.

This could be the same bird seen recently (March 16th) in Monroe, WA.

If accepted by the BC Bird Records Committee as a wild vagrant, this would be the 1st confirmed record for BC.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen at Trout Lake just after 12pm on March 18th and was viewed by multiple observers. 

The Whooper Swan and the flock of Trumpeter Swans took off and flew high and away heading NW at 12:15pm and have not returned to Trout Lake.

The bird was relocated in a field HERE in Richmond at 3:30pm with a flock of Trumpeter Swans near Number 7 Rd off the East-West Connector (Hwy 91) but has since picked up and flown north.

***The bird has not been relocated in either location on March 19th.***

Whooper Swan in Vancouver - Photos: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: BROWN BOOBY off Vancouver Island - March 12-13th

At 2 pm on March 12-2022, a Brown Booby was spotted by the crew as it landed on the research vessel the Canadian Coast Guard ship John P. Tully.

Map to location of where the bird flew on the ship HERE

The vessel is now heading towards Triangle Island. Marie Robert was able to get photos on March 13th. The bird is being fed sardines on board and heaters placed by it since it didn’t appear to be doing well. 

At 2:30pm on March 13th-2022, the bird flew off the ship which was positioned HERE.

This is the 19th record for BC.

Brown Booby on CCGS J P. Tully - Photo: Marie Robert