RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Saanich - Aug 11-Sept 6th

At 8:15am on Aug 11-2022, Mike McGrenere found a Brown Thrasher foraging on the ground in the yard to the west of the intersection of Lohbrunner Rd E and Lochside Regional Trail. At 10 am it was observed by several observers further up along the driveway as the homeowner has allowed birders to enter.

Map to location HERE

*The bird was last seen on Sept 6th and has been viewed by multiple observers.*

Please be respectful of private property and do not block the driveway with cars. 

PLEASE DO NOT WALK UP THE DRIVEWAY TO VIEW THE BIRD. VIEW THE BIRD FROM THE PUBLIC ROAD WHERE THE DRIVEWAY MEETS.

This is the 44th record for BC.

Brown Thrasher in Saanich - Photo: Evan Larson

Brown Thrasher in Saanich - Photo: Les Peterson

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Richmond - July 29th

At 10 am on July 29-2022, Craig Huish found a juvenile Black Phoebe sitting on the south jetty (on the north side) at marker 75 at Iona Regional Park in Richmond.

Map to approximate location HERE

The bird has not been relocated since.

This is the 36th record for BC as a Black Phoebe was photographed at Cheam Wetlands on July 24th-2022 in Rosedale.

Black Phoebe in Richmond - Photo: Craig Huish

RBA: NAZCA BOOBY in Victoria - July 23-24th

At 6:22pm on July 23-2022, Tasli Shaw found a Nazca Booby off Victoria while driving a whale watching vessel for Ocean Ecoadventures. The bird seems to be the same bird photographed in Seattle, WA on July 20th due to the distinctive plumage since it is a subadult. Tasli watched the Nazca Booby circling and sitting on the water at the south end of Trial Island for 8 minutes before she saw it fly SE at a rapid pace. She followed it as it flew SE for 5 mins until it was out of sight. She was able to obtain video documentation and photographs of the bird as well.

Map to location of where she saw the Nazca Booby HERE

At 4:12pm the Nazca Booby was relocated by Orion Giles and was photographed sitting on a log HERE off Race Rocks. It is not viewable from land and a boat is required to access this spot.

At 7:06pm the bird was photographed sitting on a log HERE by another whale watching captain Matt Stolmeier. This location is 4 nautical miles from the original observation. 

The bird was not relocated on July 25th, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 3rd confirmed record for BC.

Nazca Booby in Victoria - Photos: Matt Stolmeier

Video by Tasli Shaw:

RBA: LITTLE GULL in Newgate - July 18th

At 12:30 pm pm July 18-2022, Michael Bentley and Neal Hutchinson found a Little Gull in Newgate near the Montana border. The gull was resting on an island on Gold Bay on Lake Koocanusa. They viewed the bird until 1:40pm when they left.

The bird was not relocated on July 20th.

Map to location HERE

This is the 101st record for BC and therefore will no longer will be reported on the main page going forward. It is the 1st record for the East Kootenays.

Little Gull in Newgate - Photos: Neal Hutchinson 

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Lardeau - July 18th

At 9:30am on July 18-2022, Margaret Murphy found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at her home on 5th Ave near Main Street in Lardeau. 

At 11:30am the bird was relocated along Main Street by Marlene Johnston but has not been relocated since posting time despite multiple observers looking. 

Map to location of initial sighting HERE

This is the 38th record for BC.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Lardeau - Photos: Marlene Johnston

RBA: 2 SEDGE WRENS CONFIRMED BREEDING near Fort St. John - July 4-12th

At 4:15 am on July 4-2022, Chris Coxson found 2 Sedge Wrens singing in the marsh across the parking lot from Watson Slough. He viewed both birds at the same time.The birds were present during his entire visit until 7am. He was able to obtain photos and audio. 

1 bird was found at the same location in 2019. Watson Slough is 30 mins from Fort St. John on Highway 29 towards Hudson’s Hope.

If birders travel through the marsh please be careful of trampling the habitat as the birds are nesting there and Yellow Rails do as well. Please do not use playback on these nesting birds.

Map to location HERE

At 2:30pm Christopher Di Corrado reported that he had 3 Sedge Wrens at once. 

On July 7-2022 Bill Beadle got video documentation showing a Sedge Wren carrying food confirming a first breeding record for BC.

Video by Bill Beadle below:

At least 2 adult birds continue in the same location on July 12th and have been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 6th record for BC.

Sedge Wrens near Fort St. John - Photos: Chris Coxson

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER and SCRIPPS'S MURRELET off the Brooks Peninsula (West Coast of Vancouver Island) - July 3rd

At 1:30pm on July 3rd, 2022, Guy Monty and Bernard Schroeder found and photographed a Manx Shearwater while doing bird surveys for the government in the Brooks Peninsula near Ououkinsh Canyon.

Map to location of sighting HERE

This is the 74th record for BC and due to increasing multi annual numbers will no longer be published on the main page. 

At 2pm on July 3rd, 2022 Guy Monty also spotted a single Scripps's Murrelet during the same survey. He was not able to photograph the bird but described it well.

Map to location of sighting HERE

This is the 37th record for BC.

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Pitt Meadows - June 25-July 10th

At 2:30pm on June 25-2022, Mike Klotz and Carli Gilmore found a male Chestnut-sided Warbler singing from the cottonwoods on the dyke at Catbird Slough.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same spot on July 10th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 85th record for BC.

Male Chestnut-sided Warbler in Pitt Meadows - Photo: Carli Gilmore

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Pitt Meadows - Photo: Sue Flecker

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Kelowna - June 23rd-July 7th

At 11:45 am on June 23-2022, Benoit Hilty photographed a male Chestnut-sided Warbler at Bear Creek Provincial Park in Kelowna.

Map to exact location HERE

The bird continues HERE in the parking lot to Canyon Rim Trail at Bear Creek Provincial Park and also flies to the entrance of the campground across the street on July 7th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 84th record for BC.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kelowna - Photo: Kalin Ocana 

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kelowna - Photo: Mike Force

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER near Nakusp - June 12th

At 7:15 am on June 12-2022, Julia Flesaker found a Chestnut-sided Warbler at the ski and snowboard area at Summit Lake which is 18 km SE of Nakusp.

Map to location of bird HERE

This is the 83rd record for BC.

It has not been relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Nakusp - Photo: Julia Flesaker