RBA: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW in Abbotsford - May 30th

At 12:15 pm on May 30-2025, Jean Bergen found an adult Black-throated Sparrow in Abbotsford. The bird was on a decommissioned road near the end of North Parallel Rd. The decommissioned road is just a little east and below the dyke. The bird was in and out of blackberry bushes on this road.

Map to location HERE

The bird was relocated HERE at 6pm by Justin Flint and viewed by several birders until dark.

The bird has not been relocated on May 31st, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 54th record for BC.

Black-throated Sparrow in Abbotsford - Photos: Jean Bergen

RBA: BROWN THRASHER in Cranbrook - May 29th

At 12:40pm on May 29-2025 Aiva Noringseth found a Brown Thrasher near the viewing platform at the north end of Elizabeth Lake in Cranbrook.

Map to location HERE

This is the 45th record for BC.

Brown Thrasher in Cranbrook - Photos: Aiva Noringseth 

RBA: BLUE GROSBEAK in Peachland - May 25-June 7th

At 6:43 pm on May 25-2025, Markus and Martin Weilmeier found a male Blue Grosbeak perched on shrubs and singing on the south-east side of the road (past the fence) in a weedy field at the north end of Sanderson Ave in Peachland.

Directions: Sanderson Ave becomes a gravel road. Continue along the road to the end of Sanderson, which has tall fences on either side of it. You can see through the fences easily. The bird is on the south-east side of the road, through the fence, in the weedy fields.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed by multiple observers until dark.

The bird continued on June 7th but has not been seen since.

This is the third record for BC.

Blue Grosbeak in Peachland - Photos: Martin Weilmeier

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER near Tofino - May 23-24th

At 5:30pm on May 23-2025, Ian Cruickshank identified and relocated a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on beach logs just west of Box Island on Schooner Cove Beach in Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino. The bird was initially found by Katie Kushneryk, Eleanor Brouard-John and Bob Addley. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 40th record for BC.

The bird continued in the same spot on May 24th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on May 25th or 26th, despite multiple observers looking.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Tofino - Photos: Ian Cruickshank

RBA: BRAMBLING in Burnaby - May 21st

At 6:30pm on May 21-2025, Neil and Andrea MacLeod found a Brambling at their private home.

The home is not open to the public.

The bird has not been seen since.

Brambling in Burnaby - Photo: Andrea MacLeod

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW in Creston - May 18

At 9 am on May 18-2025, Craig Sandvig and Sachi Snively found a Black-throated Sparrow feeding along Channel Rd at Duck Lake in Creston.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in the same location as of 5pm and was viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 53rd record for BC.

Black-throated Sparrow in Creston - Photo: Sachi Snively

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Victoria - March 29th

On March 29-2025, Jeff Gaskin found a Black Phoebe at the north end of the slough at Cuthbert Holmes Park in Victoria.

Map to location HERE

The bird was also seen from the nearby parking lot at Silvercity movie theatre.

Map to location near Silvercity HERE

This is the 53rd record for BC.

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Vancouver - March 22-April 18th

On March 22-2025, Brian and Anne McSkimming found a White-winged Dove at their feeder at their private home. The bird  and feeders are viewable from the public street.

Please stand on the public sidewalk on N. Skeena St to view the bird. Please do not trespass or enter the yard. Please do not block driveways or point cameras at private homes.

Map to location of feeders HERE

The bird was also seen once in a tree on Oxford St HERE

The bird continued at the original feeders on April 18th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been seen since.

This is the 25th record for BC

White-winged Dove in Vancouver - Photo: Ben Lambert

White-winged Dove in Vancouver - Photo: Vanessa Hum

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Vancouver and Richmond - March 1-May 3rd

At 10:50 am on March 1-2025, Christina Balkwill found a immature male Tufted Duck at the main pond at Vanier Park. The bird was not present on March 2nd but was relocated on the afternoon of March 3rd and viewed by multiple observers.

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in the same location, after a seven day absence, on March 10th.

At 1pm on March 16th, Frank Lin relocated the bird at Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park. The bird flew off at 2:45 pm.

On March 24th, the bird continued at Vanier Park pond.

On March 25th and March 30th, the bird continued at Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park

On April 10th Bryan Zandberg refound what appears to be the same bird in the SW inner pond HERE at Iona in Richmond.

The bird continues at the same spot at Iona on April 14th.

On April 17-25th, the bird was seen at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park in Vancouver.

On April 26th, the bird was relocated at main outer pond at Iona by Mike Toochin.

**On April 27-May 3rd, the Tufted Duck was back at Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park.**

Tufted Duck in Vancouver - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev 

Tufted Duck in Vancouver - Photo: Ben Lambert

RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Chemainus - March 1st

At 10:30 am on March 1-2025, Jade Blakney found a female Great-tailed Grackle feeding from her hand near the dumpsters by the Chemainus Health Care Auxilliary Thrift Store at 9867 Maple Street in Chemainus. The bird was present all day up until at least 3pm.

Map to location HERE

This is the 8th record for BC.

The bird has not been relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

Great-tailed Grackle in Chemainus - Photos: Jade Blakney