RBA: BLACK-TAILED GULL near Victoria - May 2-7th

At 4:30pm on May 2-2023, Les Peterson found an adult Black-tailed Gull at Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood near Victoria. The bird was resting on the lagoon side on the low tide sandbar that is opposite to the anchor/cairn near the bridge at Esquimalt Lagoon. He did not see it fly away.

Map to exact location HERE

The bird was refound by Eric Tull at 3:20pm at the same location on May 3rd and was viewed by multiple observers.

It was flushed by a Bald Eagle and it flew high and west and then south out into the strait just after 4:20pm. 

On May 4th the bird continued at the same spot until 1:15 pm when it was chased off by a dog walker. It was relocated again at 5:30pm.

The bird continued in the same location at Esquimalt Lagoon during the day on May 5th.

It was also seen in the evening from the end of Stewart Ave looking across to the Navy base HERE on the opposite shore by scope as it roosted on the construction pillings. Map to location of where to stand to view bird is HERE

***On May 6-7th, the bird continued in the same location as the evening before as viewed from the Stewart Ave access and in the late afternoon it was seen at the original location at Esquimalt Lagoon.***

**The bird has not been relocated on May 8 or 9th at either location.**

This is the 4th photo-documented record for BC.

Black-tailed Gull in Colwood - Photos: Nick Park

RBA: COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in Sidney - April 30th

On April 30-2023, Lori Smith found the carcass of a male Costa's Hummingbird in her yard in Sidney. 

This is the 31st record for BC.

Male Costa's Hummingbird carcass in Sidney, BC - Photo: Lori Smith

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Sooke - April 25-29th

On April 25-2023, Miriam Lambert found a female Acorn Woodpecker feeding on her suet feeder at her private home.

The bird was last seen on April 29th and hasn’t returned since.

The home is not open to the public.

This is the 15th record for BC.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Sooke - Photo: Miriam Lambert

RBA: KING EIDER near Price Island - April 15th

At 12:47 pm on April 15-2023, Liam Ragan and Kaiden Bosch found a female King Eider in a mixed flock of Scoters in Kitasu Bay near Price Island north of Bella Bella.

Map to location HERE

This is the 40th record for BC

Female King Eider in Kitasu Bay - Photos: Liam Ragan

RBA: FIELDFARE in Kelowna - Jan 10-13th

At 3:10pm on Jan 10-2022, Jasmine Korcok found a Fieldfare at the viewing platform at the NE corner of Munson Pond.

The bird is being viewed by multiple observers at the same location in the company of several robins and a Rusty Blackbird as of 3:45pm. The bird flew west at 4pm.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues in a flock of robins in the same location on Jan 11th.

At 11:50 am, Chris Charlesworth relocated the bird at the corner of Morrison Ave and Rhondda Cres with robins. Keep an eye on a large Mountain Ash tree at the corner with lots of berries.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen at the corner of Morrison Ave and Rhondda Cres on Jan 13th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not relocated on Jan 14-16th, despite multiple observers looking.***

This is the third record for BC and the first for the Okanagan.

A news story on the bird can be read HERE

Fieldfare in Kelowna - Photo: David Bell

Fieldfare in Kelowna - Photo: Chris Charlesworth 

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Chilliwack - Dec 17-18th

At 9 am on Dec 17-2022, Benjamin Pap found a Black Phoebe flycatching and calling from the exhaust output at the west end of the barn on Jess Rd near Carey Rd.

Map to location HERE

The bird is actively flycatching and also flew across the dyke to this tree HERE

The bird was last seen in the first location on Dec 18th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 38th record for BC.

Black Phoebe in Chilliwack - Photo: Krissi Martin

RBA: BRAMBLING in Powell River - Dec 12th

At 10:30 am on Dec 12-2022, Teresa Bouchard found a Brambling in a flock of juncos in the yard of her private home in Powell River.

The home is not open to the general public and please do not go searching in the neighbourhood as it is on Tla'amin First Nations Land and is not open to the public except for invited guests. 

Please be respectful of this request and do not trespass.

The bird was not relocated on subsequent days.

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Duncan - Dec 11/22-March 29/23

At 9:10 am on December 11-2022, Jeremy Gatten found a male Tufted Duck at the sewage lagoons in Duncan. This is most likely the same bird that first showed up at the site in 2020.

There is no public access inside the lagoons but birders can view the bird through the fence from the elevated trail off Wharncliffe Rd that gives a good view over most of the sewage lagoon.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues in the same location on March 29th, 2023 and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Tufted Duck in Duncan - Photo: Jeremy Gatten

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - Dec 2nd

At 3:40pm on Dec 2-2022, Marc Sole found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at a sawmill on Field Rd in Sechelt.  He was able to photograph and videotape the bird (video below) with his cell phone.

Map to location HERE

He viewed the bird for a few mins before it flew across the street to the treed lot HERE 

This is the 25th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 3rd, despite multiple observers looking.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Sechelt - Photo: Marc Sole

RBA: PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in Vancouver - Nov 30-Dec 6th

**UPDATE: In May 2023 the bird was banded and released successfully into the wild.****

*This bird has been captured by Wildlife Rescue Association and is currently in their care. It will be released in Vancouver in the spring. Please see the Press Release HERE **

At 2:30pm on Nov 30-2022, Peggy Mersereau photographed a Prothonotary Warbler at a private home in Vancouver.

On Dec 1-3rd, the bird was relocated at a public park (Riverfront Park) at the end of Jellicoe St and has beeen viewed by multiple observers.

Please be respectful of private residences in the area. Please do not point cameras at private homes. 

Map to location seen HERE and HERE

The bird was not relocated on Dec 4th, despite multiple observers looking.

The bird was seen Dec 6th in the underground parking area of a nearby apartment complex. This area is off limits to birders.

**The bird was captured by Wildlife Rescue Association on Dec 6th and is currently in their care.***

This is the 11th record for BC and 2nd record for Metro Vancouver. It is also the first winter record for Canada.

Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Peter Candido