RBA: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE on Denman Island - Nov 15-19th

At 9:50 am on Nov 15th-2023, Teresa Bouchard found a Green-tailed Towhee on Gladstone Beach on Denman Island. The bird is spending time on the grasses above the shoreline.

Map to location HERE

Birders should park at the end of Gladstone Way Rd and walk the small trail down to the beach.

*Note birders with mobility issues may find it hard to access the beach as it’s a muddy downhill trail that has a rope only to help you descend to the beach.*

This is the 14th record for BC.

The bird continued on Nov 19th and was viewed by multiple observers. It was not relocated today.

Green-tailed Towhee on Denman Island - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Green-tailed Towhee on Denman Island - Photo: James MacKenzie

RBA: SUMMER TANAGER in North Saanich - Nov 11/23-April 18/24

At 1 pm on Nov 11-2023, Max and Gib Maxwell found a male Summer Tanager at their suet feeder in their front yard.  It also has been seen in the Arbutus trees along the driveway.

The home is open to the public at 2449 Tyron Road in North Saanich. 

Please be respectful of private residences and do not block driveways. If construction is occurring in the area birders will need to park further afield and walk to the site. The homeowners are fine with birders standing on the driveway to view the bird. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 9th record for BC.

The bird continues on April 18, 2024 and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Summer Tanager in North Saanich - Photo: Ann Nightingale

Summer Tanager in North Saanich - Photo: Liam Singh

Summer Tanager in North Saanich - Photo: Gib Maxwell

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Victoria - Nov 8th

At 3pm on Nov 8-2023, a Brown Booby was photographed by Walter Thorne while riding the M.V. COHO Ferry. The bird was seen in Canadian Waters on the return trip from Port Angeles.

Map to approximate location HERE

This is the 22nd record for BC.

Brown Booby in Victoria - Photos: Walter Thorne

RBA: ORCHARD ORIOLE in Victoria - Nov 5-28th

At 8:30am on Nov 5-2023, Geoffrey Newell found a female Orchard Oriole in Victoria.  The bird is frequenting Blackberry and Ivy bushes along Radcliffe Lane near McMicking Park. It was also seen on Radcliffe Lane near Hood Lane.

Map to locations the bird has been seen at HERE and HERE

Birders should opt to park on Beach Drive near Hood Lane as there are only 3 parking spots on Radcliffe Lane. Please do not block driveways and be respectful of private residences. 

The bird is being viewed by multiple observers HERE and at the original location near the park and small parking lot on Radcliffe Lane on Nov 6th.

On Nov 7-28, the bird continued at the original location HERE.

The bird has not been relocated since Nov 28th, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 12th record for BC.

Orchard Oriole in Victoria - Photos: Les Peterson

RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS in Haida Gwaii - Nov 3rd

At 12:34pm on Nov 3-2023, while working on the FV Ocean Pearl, Lindsay Dealy found and photographed an immature Short-tailed albatross.

Map to location HERE

Short-tailed Albatross in Haida Gwaii - Photos: Lindsay Dealy

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Haida Gwaii - Oct 26th and BC’s 1st record of MASKED BOOBY!

At 5pm on Oct 26-2023, William Woodbury photographed a Brown Booby that landed on and rode his fishing vessel “The Hannio Lio.”The Booby was trying to escape gulls that had been harassing it at sea. The bird was first seen 4 miles west of Tian Head and took off from the vessel shortly after.

Map to location HERE

Brown Booby in Haida Gwaii - Photo: William Woodbury

This is the 21st record of Brown Booby for BC.

Additionally, an astounding record of an adult Masked Booby from Sept 21, 2021, from the same observer on the same vessel, also came to light. This historical record took place 5-10 nautical miles offshore between Frederick and Langara Islands.

Approximate location of bird HERE

This late report constitutes the 1st confirmed record of Masked Booby in BC.

Adult Masked Booby in waters off Haida Gwaii - Photo: William Woodbury

RBA: NAZCA BOOBY in Haida Gwaii - Oct 23rd

At 3:34pm on Oct 23-2023, Josef Vavra found a Nazca Booby that flew aboard and landed on the FV Ocean Pearl fishing vessel, that he was working on in Haida Gwaii.

Map to location HERE

This is the 4th record for BC.

Adult Nazca Booby in Haida Gwaii - Photos: Josef Vavra

RBA: LARK BUNTING in Vancouver - Oct 13-19th

At 5:40pm on Oct 13-2023, Nick Park found and photographed a Lark Bunting on a fence of a private residence on Discovery St across from Jericho Park.

Map to first location HERE

Please be respectful of private residences and do not point bins or cameras at homes, when searching in the residential neighbourhood.

At 6:20pm he relocated the bird across the street at Jericho Park.

Map to last seen location HERE

On Oct 14th, the bird continues as of 1 pm at the last seen location as stated above and has been viewed by multiple observers.

On Oct 15th, the bird was relocated on a lane near West 3rd Ave (please be respectful of private residences in the area)

Map to location HERE

At 12 pm on Oct 15th, the bird was relocated on West 2nd Ave and continued at that spot until dark and was viewed by multiple observers.

Please be respectful of private residences when searching for and viewing the bird.

Map to location HERE

On Oct 16-19th, the bird continues in the same location HERE near 4378 West 2nd Ave. Please do not trespass and view from the public road and please be respectful of private residences in the area.

The bird was not relocated on Oct 20th, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 41st record for BC.

Lark Bunting in Vancouver - Photos: Nick Park

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Victoria - Oct 9-Dec 6th

At 4:50pm on Oct 9-2023, Geoffrey Newell found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Uplands Park in Victoria.The bird was travelling in a small flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and was in the meadow next to Dorset Rd.

Map to location HERE

This is the 28th record for BC.

The bird continued HERE on Oct 10th.

On Nov 5th, the bird continued near Dorset Rd and Lincoln Rd HERE and was viewed by multiple observers.

On Nov 12-Dec 6th, the bird continued at the Midland Rd park entrance just off Landsdowne Rd.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Victoria - Photos: Geoffrey Newell

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