RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Victoria - Oct 1st

At 6:45pm on Oct 1-2023, Steven Roias found and photographed a Red-throated Pipit on the south perimeter dyke at Panama Flats.

Map to location HERE

This is the 61st record for BC.

Red-throated Pipit in Victoria - Photo: Amelie Rousseau

RBA: NORTHERN PARULA in Jordan River - Oct 1st

At 8:44 am on Oct 1-2023, David Bell, James Kennerley and Mara Hanneson found a hatch-year female Northern Parula in a mixed chickadee/warbler flock in alders near the roadside.

Map to location HERE

This is the 26th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated after 9 am, despite multiple observers looking.

Northern Parula in Jordan River - Photo: David Bell

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Metchosin - Sept 29th

At 10:26 am on Sept 29-2023, David Bell found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Metchosin.

This location is restricted access and is not open to the public.

This is the 27th record for BC.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Metchosin - Photos: David Bell

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Terrace - Sept 26-Oct 11th

At 2pm on Sept 26-2023, Jennifer Smith and Benn Whitwell found an Ash-throated Flycatcher in the pine trees in front of the Terrace Sportsplex on Park Ave in Terrace.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in the same location on Oct 11th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Terrace - Photos: Eileen LeFrancois

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Jordan River - Sept 24th

At 8:30am on Sept 29-2023, David Bell and James Kennerley found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Jordan River. The bird was in a large mixed flock made up of warblers, kinglets and chickadees in roadside alders, 200m west of the main parking area.

Map to location HERE

This is the 26th record for BC.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Jordan River - Photo: David Bell

RBA: REED/PALLAS’S BUNTING in Squamish - Sept 23rd

At 10:35 am on Sept 23-2023, Paul Jacques found a Reed/Pallas’s Bunting in Squamish near the Coho Park Trail. The bird was perched on a tree near a marshy area and was not associating with any other birds.

Unfortunately, the photos obtained do not show the diagnostic lesser coverts to differentiate a Reed Bunting which has rufous lesser coverts from a Pallas’s Bunting, which has grey ones.

The bird has not been relocated thus far on Sept 24th, despite multiple observers looking.

Map to last known location HERE

Either species would be a first record for BC and Canada.

Note the area has lots of black bears and birders should be bear aware. 

Reed/Pallas’s Bunting in Squamish - Photos: Paul Jacques

RBA: CHESTNUT- SIDED WARBLER in Metchosin - Sept 22nd

On Sept 22-2023, a hatch-year male Chestnut-sided Warbler was banded by Emma Radziul at Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Metchosin. 

This site is not open to the public.

This is the 90th record for BC.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Metchosin - Photo: David Bell

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Cedar - Sept 18th

At 6:45pm on Sept 18-2023, Tom Pawloski found an Ash-throated Flycatcher on private property in Cedar.

The location is not open to the public.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Cedar - Photos: Tom Pawloski

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Delta - Sept 15-Dec 7

At 9:40am on Sept 15-2023, Alison Evely found an immature Black Phoebe flycatching at the north end of the centre dyke at Reifel Bird Sanctuary. 

On Sept 17th, the bird was last seen from the inner grassy trail, in the slough between the porta potty and the viewing platform on the north dyke. It has been viewed by multiple observers.

Map to location HERE

On Sept 20th the bird was located in Fuller’s Slough as viewed from the blind at the end of the E Dyke HERE

The bird continued HERE on Sept 24th. 

On Oct 15th-21st, 2023; the bird was last seen on the inner grassy trail in the slough near to the east dyke.

Map to location HERE

On Oct 22nd the bird was relocated on the east dyke HERE

On Nov 12 to 23-2023, the bird continued by the warming hut near the entrance/gift shop HERE.

On Dec 7, 2023, the bird continued near the Reifel washrooms/entrance.

There is an 8$ admission for adults and they are closed on Mondays. Reifel is open 9am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance is by reservation booking only, which can be made at their website HERE.

Reifel Bird Sanctuary is located at 5191 Robertson Rd in Ladner.

This is the 45th record for BC. 

Black Phoebe in Delta - Photo: Jim Martin

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Kelowna - Sept 13th

At 9:45am on September 13-2023, Kalin Ocana found a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Tsinstikeptum Woods in Kelowna. The bird was associating with a Tennessee Warbler.

Map to location HERE

This is the 89th record for BC.

This bird is on private Westbank First Nations Land and permission should be obtained before entering.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Kelowna - Photo: Kalin Ocana