RBA: PALLAS'S BUNTING in Victoria - Oct 4th

At 8:35am on Oct 4-2023, a Pallas's Bunting was photographed by Les Peterson at Clover Point in Victoria. The bird was seen with Savannah Sparrows in the fenced off area near the main parking lot. He last viewed the bird flying off to the west of the point at 8:45 am. A blurry shot of the spread wing seems to appear to show the lesser coverts being sandy brown and not chestnut, as it would be in a Reed Bunting. Also, it has a pale lower mandible.

Map to location where it was first HERE

Map to location of where it was last seen HERE

The bird was observed in the same area as it was originally spotted at 3 pm on Oct 4th by Val George.

This could be the bird that was seen in Squamish on Sept 23, 2023. Since this can't be proven, it will be treated as a different record.

This is a 1st record for BC and Canada.

**Multiple observers are searching for the bird on Oct 5th but so far it has not been relocated.**

Pallas's Bunting in Victoria - Photos: Les Peterson

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Tofino - Oct 3rd

At 11:40 am on Oct 3-2023, Kaiden Bosch found a Red-throated Pipit with 5 American Pipits on Comber's Beach directly south of the Sandhill Creek Mouth as they foraged within the driftwood. The birds flew off  to the north 10 mins after he saw them.

Map to location HERE

This is the 62nd record for BC.

Red-throated Pipit in Tofino - Photos: Kaiden Bosch

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