RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Delta - Sept 20th

At 6:15 pm on Sep 20-2025, Ilya Povalyaev found an adult Slaty-backed Gull at Boundary Bay, between the foot of 88th St and the 80th St pumphouse. 

Map to location HERE

The bird flew west toward 72nd St while he was photographing it. 

Birders looking for this bird should also check in front of the Mansion (between 96th and 88th St) where gulls typically gather on the rising tide.  

This is the 87th record for BC.

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

Slaty-backed Gull in Delta - Photos: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Ladysmith - Sept 15th

At 5:53pm on Sept 15-2025, Randy Varga found an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Yellow Point Lodge in Ladysmith.

The bird was foraging in trees along the ocean shore. The lodge grounds are open to the public who aren't staying at the hotel but who are eating lunch or dinner at the restaurant.

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been relocated.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Nanaimo - Photo: Randy Varga

RBA: MASKED BOOBY in Queen Charlotte Sound - Aug 20th (LATE REPORT)

At 4:43pm on August 20-2025, Chelsea Stanley photographed a Masked Booby while aboard the CCGS Sir John Franklin research vessel in Queen Charlotte Sound.

Map to location HERE

This is the 4th record for BC.

Masked Booby in Queen Charlotte Sound - Photos: Chelsea Stanley

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Okanagan Falls

A hatch year male Chestnut-sided Warbler was banded by David Bell at Vaseux Lake bird observatory’s banding station at 7:30am on Sept 13-2025.

This is the 92nd record for BC

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Okanagan Falls - Photo: David Bell

RBA: LITTLE BLUE HERON in Wardner - Sept 10-13th

At 12pm on Sept 10-2025, Daryl Calder found a juvenile Little Blue Heron along the shoreline of the Kootenay River in Wardner. The bird was first identified as a Great and Cattle Egret due to long distance views but photos obtained on Sept 11th by Helen Diakow et al. show it to be a Little Blue Heron.

Map to location of bird HERE and HERE

The bird is best viewed by scope from the pullout HERE or HERE on Laurier St.

This is the 5th record for BC.

The bird continues as of 7pm on Sept 11th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

At 7:30 pm on Sept 11th, the bird flew high and south down the river.

The bird continued in the same location on Sept 13th.

**The bird has not been relocated on Sept 14th or 15th, despite multiple observers looking.**

Little Blue Heron in Wardner - Photos: Helen Diakow

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Haida Gwaii - Sept 10th

At 9:40 am on Sept 10-2025, Kaiden Bosch found and photographed a Red-throated Pipit on the beach near the Sandspit Airport in Sandspit, Haida Gwaii. The bird was in a flock of American Pipits. Kaiden watched it for 30 mins and left it there.

Map to location HERE

This is the 63rd record for BC.

Red-throated Pipit in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Kaiden Bosch 

RBA: WHITE WAGTAIL in Richmond - Sept 8-Oct 30th

At ten am on September 8-2025, Yvette Munson found an adult female White Wagtail of the lugens subspecies, in a parking lot on Bayview Street in Richmond.

Map to location HERE

Note the parking lot is a pay parking lot.

It also goes up on to the nearby roof of the Lavash Seaside Grill restaurant and nearby buildings HERE

The bird continues in the original location on Oct 30th.

The bird was not found in Richmond on Oct 31st, despite multiple observers looking.

The bird was refound in Powell River by Kathie and Ken Pritchard. You can read about that HERE

This is the 18th record for BC.

White Wagtail in Richmond - Photo: Nick Park

White Wagtail in Richmond - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Delta - Aug 31st

At 2:15pm on Aug 31-2025, Ilya Povalyaev found a Black Phoebe at the foot of 104th St at Boundary Bay. The bird was flycatching from birch trees in the private yard off the dyke entrance. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 62nd record for BC.

The bird flew after ten mins and has not been relocated.

Black Phoebe in Delta - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Victoria - August 30-Sept 1st

At 8:30am on August 30-2025, Nathan Hentze found an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Cuthbert Holmes Park in Victoria.

Map to location HERE and HERE

The bird continues in the same locations on Sept 1st and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Victoria - Photos: Les Peterson

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in North Vancouver - August 26th

At 10 am on August 26-2025, Sue Flecker found a Black Phoebe at the east salt marsh at Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen at 11 am and was viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 61st record for BC.

Black Phoebe in North Vancouver - Photos: Sue Flecker

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Metchosin - Aug 22nd

At 8:08 am on August 22-2025, Gaelin Armstrong spotted a Black Phoebe on a boat dock at Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Metchosin.

There is no public access to this site.

This is the 60th record for BC.

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Pitt Meadows - August 18th

At 7:30 am on August 18th, Neill Vanhinsberg found a Black Phoebe at Sturgeon Slough. The bird stayed briefly until 8:15 am, before disappearing.

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been relocated.

This is the 59th record for BC.

Black Phoebe in Pitt Meadows - Photos: Neill Vanhinsberg 

RBA: PROBABLE ARCTIC LOON in Sooke - July 29th

At 7 am on July 29-2025, Geoffrey Newell found a probable Arctic Loon, 500m off of Otter Point in Sooke. He viewed the bird by scope and was able to get some digiscoped photos as it moved east. He watched the bird for 30 mins before he lost it when heavy fog rolled in. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated, despite multiple observers looking.

If accepted by the BC Bird Records Committee this would be the 5th confirmed photographed record for BC.

If accepted by the BC BRC, this would also be the second accepted record of Geoffrey’s of this species. He last found an Arctic Loon in Victoria in 2022, which you can read about HERE.

Probable Arctic Loon in Sooke - Photos: Geoffrey Newell 

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Vancouver - July 29th

At 7:10 am on July 29-2025, Laura Moth found a Black Phoebe calling at the west pond at Jericho Park in Vancouver.

Map to location HERE

This is the 58th record for BC.

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

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Vancouver - July 28th

At 7:10 am on July 28-2025, Sabine Jessen found a Black Phoebe calling at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver. The bird was by the pond off Ontario St near the disc golf course.

Map to location HERE

This is the 57th record for BC.

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

RBA: MASKED BOOBY near Winter Harbour - July 27th

At 12:15 pm on July 27-2025, a Masked Booby was photographed from the cruise ship the Norwegian Bliss. The bird was flying NW along the cruise ship for a couple minutes before flying off. It was seen offshore by a couple on board between Winter Harbour and Raft Cove Provincial Park on the NW coast of Vancouver Island.

Map pin to approximate location HERE

This is the 3rd record for BC.

Masked Booby near Winter Harbour - Photo: fide. G. Harrington

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Abbotsford - July 6-8th

On July 6-2025, Ankur Khurana and Kyle Horner found a Black Phoebe at Willband Creek Park in Abbotsford. The bird was seen at the main pond and at the slough by the parking lot off Bateman Rd.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues as of July 8th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 56th record for BC.

Black Phoebe in Abbotsford - Photo: Lucas Meestra

RBA: KING EIDER in Port Hardy - July 5-26th

At 10:17 am on July 5-2025, Arden Powell found a male King Eider at Hardy Bay in Port Hardy. The bird was photographed while on a Coastal Rainforest Safaris boat tour, but the bird is likely viewable from land by scope.

Map to location HERE. 

Shore viewing is possible at DJ Point HERE.

The bird was relocated on July 7th just north of the original point.

The bird continues on July 10th at the original spot.

On July 11-26th, the bird was seen closer to the Quatse River Estuary HERE.

This is the 43rd record for BC.

King Eider in Port Hardy - Photo: Nick Park

King Eider in Port Hardy (Photo: Andrew Jones)

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Coquitlam - July 3rd

At 9:50 am on July 3-2025, Sam Ferguson found a Black Phoebe near the Millennium Bridge at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park in Coquitlam. The bird was vocalizing and last seen flying south along the bank away from the observer.

Map to location HERE.

An audio recording of the bird can be heard HERE. 

This is the 55th record for BC.

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Vancouver - July 3rd

At 1:45pm on July 3-2025, Nick Park found an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Jericho Park in Vancouver.

The bird continues as of 3:30pm and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Map to location HERE.

The bird was not relocated on July 4th despite multiple observers looking.

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Vancouver - Photo: Nick Park

RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Prince George - June 27-29th

At 6:45pm on June 27-2025, Liz Hewison found a male Great-tailed Grackle by the bridge at the canoe launch parking area at Cottonwood Island Park in Prince George. 

Map to location HERE

The bird continued in the same spot on June 29th and has been viewed by multiple observers. It was not relocated on June 30th.

This is the 10th record for BC.

Great-tailed Grackle in Prince George - Photo: Jeff Dyck

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Terrace - June 26-July 1st

At 1:25pm on June 26-2025, Anna Linton found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher along Hampton Rd in Terrace. The bird is flycatching from fences on private property but viewable when standing on Hampton Rd.

Map to location HERE.

Please do not trespass onto private property to view this bird.

This is the 41st record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on June 27 despite multiple observers looking. 

At 8:25pm on July 1 it was relocated in the same location. 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Terrace - Photos: Brennan T. Bantle

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Victoria - June 26th-Aug 21st

On June 26-2025, Jeff Gaskin found a female Acorn Woodpecker visiting a feeder at 443 Hector Rd in Victoria. When not at the feeder the bird is in the large oak tree between the road and the house. Best viewing is had from the grassy area opposite the driveway.

The bird has been viewed by multiple observers. According to homeowners it has been present for almost a week.

Map to location HERE.

This is the 17th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on June 27th. 

On July 5th it was relocated in the same area.

It continues as of Aug 21st and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Victoria - Photos: Les Peterson

RBA: GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Delta - June 19th

At 8:30am on June 19-2025, Lise Owens found a Great-tailed Grackle on the pier at Wellington Point Park in Delta. 

Map to location HERE. 

This is the 9th record for BC.

The bird has not been seen since.

Great-tailed Grackle in Delta - Photos: Lise Owens

RBA: DICKCISSEL in Fort St. John - June 17-30th

At 2:10pm on June 17-2025, Mark Phinney found a Dickcissel along 259 Rd north of Airport Rd. near Fort St. John while leading a BCFO tour. The bird was singing and has a deformed bill.

Map to location HERE.

This is the 34th record for BC.

The bird continued in the same location on June 30th.

Dickcissel in Fort St. John - Photo: Ian Burgess

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Delta - June 12-13th

At 6:48pm on June 12-2025, Yousif Attia found an adult Snowy Plover alone in front of the mansion near 96th St at Boundary Bay. The bird was viewed by him and Roger Foxall briefly before it disappeared with the incoming tide at 7:05 pm.

Map to location HERE

Snowy Plover in Delta - Photos: Rob Lyske

This is the 50th record for BC.

At 11 am on June 13th, the bird was relocated near 88th St HERE and then refound back at the mansion HERE. 

The bird was last seen at 7pm, at the outflow at the mansion before disappearing with the incoming tide.

**The bird has not been relocated thus far on June 14th.**

Video of the bird below by Yousif Attia:

RBA: MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD in Victoria - May 31st

At 7:30pm on May 31-2025, Lightkeeper John Gillevet found and photographed a juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird flying near the lighthouse at Staines Point by the south and east end of Greater Trial Island off Victoria. 

The bird has not been seen since.

Map to approximate location HERE

Magnificent Frigatebird off Victoria - Photo: John Gillevet

RBA: HOODED ORIOLE in Tofino - June 3-7th

At 12:30 pm on June 3-2025, Graeme Morgan and Raffaella Bernar found a Hooded Oriole in his yard. After work at 6:30 pm, he relocated the bird in nearby Anchor Park at Main St and Third St.

The bird tends to disappear into the shrub on the ocean side of the park beneath the large totem pole at Anchor Park.

Map to public location HERE

The bird has also been seen in the conifer directly across the street from the park.

Graeme reports that friends believe they have seen the bird a few days prior to this sighting.

This is the 29th record for BC.

The bird continued in the same spot on June 7th and has been viewed by multiple observers. It was not relocated on June 8th.

Hooded Oriole in Tofino - Photos: Ian Cruickshank

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Saanich - May 31st-July 24th

At 10:40 am on May 31-2025, Geoffrey Newell found a Black Phoebe in Saanich. The bird was flycatching from a fence and was on Lochside Dr, south of Lohbrunner Rd. The bird was with an Eastern Phoebe.

Map to location HERE

The bird was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on June 1st. On June 20th the bird was relocated by Carl Hughes and continues as of July 24th.

The bird successfully bred with an Eastern Phoebe and 3 out of 5 young survived. This is the first record of a Black Phoebe breeding in Canada and first of it breeding with an Eastern Phoebe. There is no public access to the nest site discovered by Les Peterson but birders should look for the hybrids when they fledge in the Blenkinsop Valley area.

This is the 54th record for BC.

Black Phoebe and Eastern Phoebe in Saanich - Photos: Geoffrey Newell 

Black Phoebe with hybrid Eastern Phoebe offspring in Saanich (Photos: Jody Wells)