RBA: BRAMBLING in Kitimat - Dec 10/23- Feb 25/24

At 10:30am on Dec 10-2023, April MacLeod found a Brambling at her home in Kitimat. 

The home is open to the public and is located at 72 Skeena Street. 

Map to location HERE

On Dec 11th, the bird continued at the same location at dawn and was also seen HERE by multiple observers at 11:15 am behind Skeena Street in a tall Cottonwood tree along the Creek with some Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins.

On Feb 25th, the bird continued at April’s home.

Please be respectful of private residences in the area and do not block driveways.

Brambling in Kitimat - Photos: April MacLeod

RBA: GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL in Penticton, Vernon, and Kelowna - Dec 6/23-April 15/24

At 11:40 am on Dec 6- 2023, Chris Charlesworth and Ryan Tomlinson found a first year Great Black-backed Gull on the beach of Okanagan Lake in Penticton. The bird was sitting on the beach with 1 second-year Lesser Black-backed Gull directly across from the Spanish Villa Resort.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in Penticton on Dec 12th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

On Dec 14/23-Jan 1/24 and January 4, 7, 9-10/24 the bird continued at the mouth of Vernon Creek on Okanagan Lake HERE. On Dec 20th it was seen at MacKay Reservoir in Vernon. On January 2 & 3/24 it was seen on the dock at Maude-Roxby Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna, and on January 6 it was seen at Bredin Pond at the Kelowna Landfill.

On January 18-24, the bird was seen on the dock at Maude-Roxby Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna.

On Jan 25-April 15th, the bird was seen back at the mouth of Vernon Creek and Kin Beach in Vernon on Okanagan Lake in Vernon.

This is the 4th confirmed photographed record for BC.

Great Black-backed Gull in Penticton - Photos: Chris Charlesworth

RBA: COOK'S PETREL in Port Coquitlam - Dec 28/2022 (LATE REPORT)

On Dec 28, 2022 a female Cook's Petrel was found alive (but grounded) at 2110 Rowland Street, Port Coquitlam. The bird was discovered by a member of the public and taken to the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC. Upon receipt of the bird, they immediately observed that it was severely emaciated. Despite their best efforts, the bird's condition failed to improve and the bird was humanely euthanized on Dec 31st.

After the bird was euthanized, it was transported to the Canadian Wildlife Service office in Delta. At a later point, it was necropsied by a Veterinarian from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Animal Health Centre at the Beatty Museum. The necropsy determined the sex (female) and that there was no evidence of trauma. It is believed that the bird's grounding was due to its extreme emaciation/weakened condition. After the Veterinarian finished the necropsy, the bird was sent to the Collections Curator, Cowan Tetrapod Collection, UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum.

The measurements of the bird are as follows:

Weight: 120 g

Wingspan: 69.9 cm

Wing chord: 22.3 cm

Tail Length: 8.6 cm

Total body length: 30.8 cm

Tarsus length: 3.347 cm

Culmen length: 2.581 cm

The bird was sent to several seabird experts including Steve Howell and Michael Force who confirmed the ID and ruled out Pycroft's Petrel.

This is the second confirmed photographed record for BC. The other bird hit a window in Lillooet on Dec 4, 2007.

Cook’s Petrel in Burnaby - Photos: Wildlife Rescue Association of BC

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Duncan - Dec 1/23-March 19/24

On Dec 1-2023, Jeremy Gatten found the returning male Tufted Duck at the Duncan Sewage Lagoons. This is likely the same bird that he first found 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 on March 19, 2024 and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

Tufted Duck in Duncan - Photo: Heather Tocher

Tufted Duck in Duncan - Photo: Jeremy Gatten

RBA: BAIKAL TEAL in Sarita - Nov 28th

At 3pm on Nov 28-2023, Andrew Westerhof found a probable immature male Baikal Teal at the mouth of Carnation Creek. The bird was with 7 Green-winged Teals. The bird is in eclipse plumage moulting into alternate. 

Distinguishing a hybrid in this plumage would be very hard until the bird acquired its proper adult plumage. However, the general shape, face pattern including dark behind, below and in front of the eye, leg colour and apparent colouration are seemingly to be coming in correctly. The under-tail coverts look good for Baikal Teal and the white on the trailing edge of the wing is broad and conspicuous, as it should be in this species and the speculum is also consistent with Baikal Teal.

Map to location HERE

This bird is located on private gated land at a Coho Research station that is not accessible to the public. The locked gate is several kms from where the bird was seen so birders cannot even view it through the gate.

The only way to get near to the area is by boat but please note the estuary is very shallow so even a boat would likely not get close enough in order to see the bird. Note also no boat rentals are available near to the area at this time of year.

Birders may want to check Sarita Estuary HERE (about 10 kms away) in case the bird moves there but they must seek permission from the Huu-hay-aht First Nations to walk on the land. 

Multiple experts in Asia have confirmed this to be a bird pure in their opinions. 

If confirmed and accepted by the BRC, this would be the 3rd accepted record for BC.

The bird has was not relocated on Nov 29th or Nov 30th.

Probable Baikal Teal in Bamfield - Photos: Andrew Westerhof 

RBA: DICKCISSEL in Prince Rupert - Nov 27/23-April 6/24

At 1:30pm on November 27-2023, Teresa Weismiller found a male Dickcissel in a flock of House Sparrows coming to a feeder on a lawn at 516th 5th Ave E. in Prince Rupert.

Map to location HERE

Please be respectful of private residences and view from the public road.

This is the 33rd record for BC.

The bird was last seen in the same location on April 6, 2024 and has been viewed by multiple observers. 

Dickcissel in Prince Rupert - Photos: Teresa Weismiller 

RBA: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE in Jordan River - Nov 18-22nd

At 10:25 am on Nov 18-2023, Carl Hughes found a Green-tailed Towhee in an empty lot in Jordan River. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 15th record for BC.

On Nov 22nd, the bird continued in the same location and has been viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 23rd, despite multiple observers looking.

Green-tailed Towhee in Jordan River - Photos: Randy Dzenkiw

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