RBA: PIPING PLOVER in Delta - August 24-25th

At 8 pm on August 24-2017, Doug Martin found a Piping Plover at the foot of 96th St at Boundary Bay in Delta. He showed the bird to Michael Klotz who was present on the dyke and he also got good looks at the bird. He immediately thought it looked like a Piping Plover. Doug noted that the bird was pale sandy brown in colour, had orange legs and what appeared to be a complete neckband and looked different in shape and colour to the Semipalmated Plovers it was associating with. The light was poor and he was only able to get a digiscoped shot through his scope, that he admitted was poor. He reported the bird to me but although suggestive of a Piping Plover due to shape, posture, neckband and leg colour;  I could not rule out a Leucistic Semipalmated Plover based on the photographs I was presented. Not to mention John Gordon had photographed a Leucistic Semipalmated Plover in the same area a few days prior. I did in fact show John's photograph of the Leucistic Semipalmated Plover (which you can see HERE) to Doug Martin and Michael Klotz but they both were adamant that this was not the same bird. I decided, therefore to post it last night as a "Possible Piping Plover."

On the evening of August 25th, out-of-town birder Jennifer Wu was out looking for the reported Plover, Hudsonian and Bar-tailed Godwits. As she was walking back from 88th St to the parking lot at 72nd St, she noted a small bird with bright orange legs running along the edge of the water. She walked off the dyke onto the mudflats to get a closer look but at a safe distance, as to not spook the bird. She noted it was different than the Semipalmated Plovers she had seen before. The bird was foraging completely alone. She checked field guides and realized she had actually seen a Piping Plover, she reported the bird to me when she got home and sent in her photos.

This photo confirms that the bird Doug Martin found was indeed a Piping Plover.

This is the first confirmed record for the Province of British Columbia. All 2 previous records have been sight records only.  

**As per the BC Bird Records Committee a first provincial record must be documented with physical proof (ie. a photo). ***

*Despite multiple observers looking the bird has not been seen since.*

On August 27th Jennifer sent in new photos after taking time to go through them all upon her return home. I have posted the best of the lot which shows the identification features more clearly further confirming the ID.

Peter Pyle author of "Identification Guide to North American Birds", David Sibley author of "The Sibley Guides"  and Kevin Karlson and Michael O'Brien authors of "The Shorebird Guide" have also confirmed the ID of Piping Plover.

If you are going to look for this bird please note that parking on the dyke at 96th St is illegal and the Park Patrol is enforcing this by handing out tickets. There are two public parking lots, one at the end of 72nd St and one at the end of 104th St.

Maps to both parking lots below:

72nd St

104th St

Map to where the bird was seen the first day HERE

Map to where the bird was seen the second day HERE

Piping Plover in Delta- Photo: Jennifer Wu

The first confirmed Piping Plover in BC at Boundary Bay, Delta - Photo: Jennifer Wu

Piping Plover in Delta - Photo: Jennifer Wu

A Piping Plover in Delta - Photo: Doug Martin

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK in Sechelt - Aug 8-19th

At 10:30am on August 8-2017, Mike Steele and Lynne Dunham found and photographed a light morph Ferruginous Hawk. The bird was first found on the beach to the west of the marina at Wilson Creek Estuary in Sechelt. They originally thought it was a Red-tailed Hawk but Rand Rudland notified them that they actually had a Ferruginous Hawk on their hands. Multiple observers got to look at the bird when it was relocated on August 10th on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary. It was quickly mobbed by crows and flew to the trees to the left of the estuary as you look towards the ocean.

The word only got out to the general public on August 10th.

The bird continues as of 9:30am on August 11th in the trees to the left (east) of the estuary. The bird moves around and has been seen by Mission Point as well as on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary where he prefers to sit, patience is key with this bird.

The bird continues on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary as of Aug 14th.

The bird was not seen on August 15th or 16th, despite multiple observers looking.

The bird was relocated on August 19th on the breakwater at Wilson Creek Estuary but has not been seen since.

Map to the location of where the bird was last seen on the breakwater HERE

Ferruginous Hawk in Sechelt - Photos: Lynne Dunham

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Okanagan Falls - Aug 4th

At 5pm on August 4-2017, Dr. Rodger Titman et al. found a Black Phoebe at 328 Eastside Rd. It was flycatching near Skaha Lake from a Ponderosa tree and would occasionally perch on the ground. He did not obtain a photograph.The bird was located on private property and it is not open to the public. The bird has not been seen since despite Rodger looking for it.

Map to the exact location HERE.

This is the 22nd record for the province of BC.

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Richmond - July 25-28th

At 7:15pm on July 25-2017, Doug Martin found and photographed a Black Phoebe at Iona Regional Park. The bird was flycatching at the west side of the SW pond and is still present as of posting time, as viewed by multiple observers.

A gate code is required to enter the sewage ponds. To gain access please email Jude Grass at judegrass(at)shaw(dot)ca

Iona Regional Park is located at 943 Ferguson Rd.

The bird continues at the SW inner pond and it is also being seen between the banding station and the SE corner of the North outer pond as of July 27th.


The bird was seen by a single observer on July 28th near the banding station between the outer north and south ponds.

The bird was not relocated on July 29th.


This is the 21st record for the province of BC.

Black Phoebe in Richmond Photo: Mike Fung

RBA: CURVE-BILLED THRASHER near BURNS LAKE - July 7th

At 10 am on July 7-2017, Keith Walker found and photographed a Curve-billed Thrasher in his yard, close to the west of Francois Lake which is south west of Burns Lake. He watched the bird for 30mins as it was dive bombed by swallows.

The bird was not relocated on July 8th. If it is seen again, it will be open to the public and I will post his address here.

This is not the first rare bird on his property, he has also had an Oriental Greenfinch before.

This is the first record of a Curve-billed Thrasher for the province of British Columbia.

The first Curve-billed Trasher in BC near Burns Lake - Photos: Keith Walker

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Abbotsford July 3-6th

At 7:50pm on July 3-2017, Gabriele Cuff found and photographed a Male Indigo Bunting east of Whatcom Rd at the end of Florence Drive in Lower Sumas Mtn.

Directions to where she saw the bird (about a 5 min walk from the end of Florence Dr.):

At the end of Florence Dr, the formal road ends, and there is a metal gate. Beyond the gate there is an area that is being developed. You follow the crushed rock roadway which goes up a hill, and then down again. You will see large mounds of dirt to the right and then there are small alder trees that are along the right side of the roadway. This is just before a roadway that forks off to the right. This is the spot where she saw the bird in an Alder tree. She saw the bird for 20 seconds, before it flew west.

A map to the exact location, she saw the bird is HERE

She looked for it on the evening of July 5th but did not relocate it.

On July 6th, the bird continues in the same location as of 8:30pm.

On July 7th, multiple observers looked for the bird but it was not relocated.

*Since the area is under development, anyone going to look for this bird should do so after working hours or on weekends. Please follow the directions of all construction signs in the area.*

 

Male Indigo Bunting in Abbotsford - Photos: Gabriele Cuff

RBA: Ash-throated Flycatcher in Port Alberni - July 1st

At 1:10pm on July 1-2017, Penny Hall found an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Port Alberni. She had good looks at the bird through her bins for 3 mins. The bird was sitting on a fence and when she approached it, the bird flew from the fence into the trees. She tried to relocate the bird into the evening but could not relocate the bird.

Directions to where the bird was last seen: Enter the trail at the bottom of Mozart Road and follow the trail along the farmer's fence line to where the big boulders are and the bird was last seen in the stand of trees right next to the cleared field.

Map to the exact location of where the bird was seen HERE

The bird has not been relocated since the initial sighting.

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Victoria - June 17-Aug 26th

At 4:30pm on June 17-2017, Ted Ardley found a female Acorn Woodpecker at a feeder at his home near Aldersmith Park off Burnside Rd W and Meadow Park Lane near the Eagle View Elementary school.

The bird was viewed by multiple observers as of 6:05pm.

Directions: Park along Meadow Park Lane and walk to the end where you see a small round about and communal mail box. This is one of the entrances to Aldersmith Park. Go to the right on the trail along a chain link fence and just a few yards in look over the fence at some feeders there in a stand of Garry oaks behind the trailer.

Map to where to park HERE

Please be respectful of private residences and do not walk on private driveways.

The bird continues in the same location as of August 26th but was not relocated on August 27th.

This is the 10th record for BC.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Victoria - Photos: Ted Ardley

RBA: CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR north of Golden - June 8-9th

At 6:15am on June 8-2017, Emily Williams and Emily Smith found a male Chestnut-collared Longspur, 2.5 hours north of Golden. The bird was on the east side of the Bush Arm causeway off the Bush River FSR near the south end of Kinbasket Lake. The bird was calling and foraging in the grassy area near black peat moss and driftwood. It flew across to the west side of the causeway but returned back to the east side. They observed the bird or over 20 minutes. Emily Williams relocated it and photographed it there at 9:15 am, the following day (June 9th).

The bird was not seen on June 10th.

Male Chestnut-collared Longspur - Photo: Emily Williams

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Richmond - June 11th

At 8:30 am on June 11-2017, Hugh Griffith, Margaret Butschler and Steffany Walker found a male Chestnut-sided Warbler at Terra Nova Park in Richmond during the monthly bird survey for the Parks Department for the City of Richmond. The bird was singing his "pleased pleased pleased to meet you" song and moving 10 m up through the line of Douglas Fir Trees between the playground with the climbing tower and the slough which is east of the playground. The bird later landed 10 metres away at eye level on a conspicuous perch allowing for great clear views for about 10 seconds. Hugh described the bird as having a bright white underside, bright yellow cap and a black moustache. He said it also had a bold chestnut stripe along both sides of its body. He nor anyone else was carrying a camera with them and therefore did not photograph the bird. The Terra Nova Adventure Playground is located at the end of River Rd before the dyke.

The bird was relocated by Cole Gaerber in the conifers in the south east corner of the big pond at 7:15pm. It was last heard singing in the deciduous trees at the SW corner of the big pond.

The bird was not relocated on June 12th, despite multiple observers looking.


Map to location HERE

This is the 66th record for the province of BC. 

Male Chestnut-sided Warbler in Richmond - Photo: Cole Gaerber

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Sechelt - June 10-11th

On June 10th, 2017, Marie Revoy found and photographed an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Wilson Creek Estuary off Field Rd in Sechelt.

On the morning of June 11th, Arnold Skei relocated the bird at the same location. The bird was seen in small alders near the boat trailers. There are 2 man made ponds on the west side inside of a gated area. It was later seen in alder trees on the right side of the first pond with the most water.  It was silent the whole time he was present.

The bird was last seen in the same location as of 2:35pm on June 11th. It has not been relocated since.

Map to location HERE

Photo: Marie Revoy

RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS off Tofino - June 1st

At 12:30pm on June 1-2017, Lev Frid spotted an immature Short-tailed Albatross during a pelagic run from the Whale Centre out of Tofino. The bird was 35 nautical miles SSW of Tofino in a flock of Black-footed Alabatrosses. Captain John Forde was able to obtain a photo of the bird, as it sat on the water. Multiple observers, who were part of an Eagle-Eye birding tour, were able to observe the bird until 1:15pm when it flew by the boat and disappeared.

Immature Short-tailed Albatross - Photo: Lev Frid

Short-tailed Albatross - Photo: John Forde

The FIRST record of a HOUSE SWIFT in the Americas was found in Delta, BC!

First House Swift in the Americas & First for the ABA, found in Delta, BC.
  Photo: Derek Tan

"UBC zoologists have documented the first record of a House Swift in the Americas—and begun to unravel the mystery of how the tiny bird got from its south-east Asia breeding grounds to Ladner, BC.“These birds are amazing fliers and can stay airborne for months at a time, but there wouldn’t have been enough insect prey to sustain him properly over the mid-Pacific. The mystery is what sent him so far off course.”

The bird’s well preserved but near-emaciated carcass was discovered in May 2012 near the Deltaport container terminal, just 40 metres from the Pacific Ocean.“Like some marathon runners, I think this fellow finally saw land and just crashed, exhausted, at the finish line,” says Ildiko Szabo, a curator at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum and forensic ornithologist who led the identification of the specimen.
“These birds are amazing fliers and can stay airborne for months at a time, but there wouldn’t have been enough insect prey to sustain him properly over the mid-Pacific. The mystery is what sent him so far off course.”

In a paper published today in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, Szabo and co-authors, including UBC researcher Darren Irwin, propose that either a storm set the bird off course, or even more likely, his internal navigation ’compass’ malfunctioned.“Our initial reaction was skepticism that this would be such an unusual species,” says Irwin, who studies how new bird species arise. “But by combining a review of the bird’s characteristics with DNA testing, we were able to confirm that this was indeed a House Swift from Asia, making this an exceptional case of vagrancy.”

The prospect of the bird hitching a ride by ship or plane is unlikely, say the authors. Swifts don’t typically roost on ships, and the bird would have needed to be airborne to feed over at least portions of the journey. The near perfect condition of the swift’s feathers also indicates it wasn’t trapped in a plane’s wheel well.There were no indications of trauma, parasites, disease or oiling. But the 13-centimetre swift was very underweight, and had entirely depleted its fat stores.

House swifts (Apus nipalensis) range west to Bhutan, and as far east as Honshu Island, Japan. And until now, this species had never been found in the Americas. Other swift species from Asia have reached the Alaskan islands, and European swifts have occasionally successfully completed Atlantic crossings.The discovery is likely to excite birdwatchers and cause a cascade of bird list updates—the species needs to be added to the Greater Vancouver Area, British Columbia, Canadian and American Birders Association Area bird lists.

The specimen is currently on display at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Vancouver’s natural history museum.

 - Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia

Not only is this the first record of this species in the Americas, it is also of course, the first ABA and BC record.

You can watch a video below of Beaty Biodiversity Museum curator and forensic ornithologist Ildiko Szabo as she discusses the House Swift that ranged across the Pacific from Asia to Ladner, BC.

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Victoria - May 26th

At 7:30am on May 26-2017, while conducting a seawatch at the Victoria Golf Course, Geoffrey Newell heard a Red-throated Pipit call 6 times as it flew North past Gonzales Point in Victoria.

The bird has not been relocated as of posting time.

RBA: 2 SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSSES off Tofino - MAY 13th

At 4:20pm on May 13-2017, while working on the FV Nordic Pearl, Lindsay Dealy found and photographed two immature Short-tailed albatross. She had the birds in view for 15 mins.

An exact GPS location of where the birds were was 48°50'22.0"N 126°18'56.6"W and is pinned on a map HERE. The birds were in a flock of Black-footed Albatrosses that were following the vessel.

One of 2 immature Short-tailed Albatrosses seen off Tofino - Photo: Lindsay Dealy

2 immature Short-tailed Albatrosses off Tofino: Photo - Lindsay Dealy

RBA: HERMIT WARBLER in Victoria - May 15-16th

At 10:15 am on May 15-2017, Daniel Donnecke found and photographed an adult male Hermit Warbler at Mount Douglas Park. The bird was singing and was seen on Glendenning Trail. This is a steep trail that heads straight down into the oaks from the parking lot at the summit, which is located at the end of Churchill Dr.

Daniele saw the bird in the area of the trail where the oaks first hit the conifers. The bird was in an oak tree near the first large douglas fir tree, which is located halfway down the trail. It was in a mixed warbler flock consisting of Orange-crowned, Wilson's, Townsend's and Yellow-rumpeds Warblers.

Ann Nightingale, David Allinson and Mike McGrenere relocated the bird at 1:10pm on May 15th. It was between the 2 douglas firs between the tower and the power lines.

The bird was last seen on May 16th at 8:45pm by the cell tower at the top of the summit on the power line side. It was also seen earlier in the day on the SW slope (48.491307, -123345836) and in the conifer across from the sandy spot on the same trail and on the upper part of Glendenning Trail.

Despite multiple observers looking there was no sign of the bird on May 17th.

This trail is very steep and not for those who have mobility issues. The gate to the summit parking lot opens at 12pm.

Map to Parking Lot HERE

Map to Glendenning Trail where bird is being seen HERE

A video of the bird singing made by Geoffrey Newell can be seen HERE

**Upon review of new photos (see HERE), the amount of green on the back of the bird concerned me, along with the dark streaks on the bib corner (the area on the side of the chest where the wing tucks in, which is often hidden by the wing) and lower flanks. I have sent all available photos of this bird along with my concerns to a few experts. They were made aware that the photos that concerned me initially were taken in evening light. All information will be sent to the Victoria and BC Bird Records Committee. I will also update the blog with any major developments.

I believe that it is important to be completely transparent and wanted the public to be aware that Silu Wang gave her opinion. She is a Ph.D. candidate in the D.Irwin Lab at UBC and studies Hermit Warblers in the hybrid zone, in the Cascades Region of Washington State. She explained that the bird has a predominantly Hermit Warbler plumage background, but with Townsend's Warbler plumage introgression.  She used the hybrid index based on the eight plumage landmarks as specified by Rohwer and Wood (1998). She was presented with all available photos of this bird and viewed them carefully. She estimated the hybrid index (ranging from 0 to 1, with 0 being pure Hermit Warbler and 1 being pure Townsend's Warbler) and for this bird she felt he should have a hybrid index of 0.12, which is smaller than 0.25 (the cutoff value for Rohwer & Wood 1998 classification). Therefore, based on Rohwer and Wood 1998 classification, it should be a Hermit Warbler. 

However, the fact that it has a hybrid index of 0.12 instead of 0 means that it does not have a pure Hermit Warbler plumage, and that there are some traces of Townsend's Warbler introgression.

She noted that on another photo by Liam Singh, showed a greenish wash close to the tail covert see HERE She said that some hybrids only show a greenish upper back, and the fact that the green goes quite far down for this bird, further supported TOWA introgression. 

She also looked at the video I linked to above by Geoffrey Newell. In that video she noted that when the bird was preening his crown was light grey, but the grey went quite forward, see screenshot HERE. 

She explains that she views this bird as a Hybrid, despite Rohwer and Wood (1998), as stated below:

Rohwer and Wood 1998:  Hermit Warbler (because Hybrid index =0.12 <0.25).

Wang et al in prep:            hybrid (because Hybrid index =0.12, not 0). 

Hermit Warbler in Victoria - Photos above: Liam Singh

Hermit Warbler in Victoria - Photos above: Daniel Donnecke

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Victoria - May 14th

At 8:15am on May 14-2017, Ann Nightingale, Kim Beardmore and Jannaca Chick found an Ash-throated Flycatcher. The bird was in a large bush on Lohbrunner Rd East between Blenkinsop Rd and Lochside Trail. The bird was originally misidentified as an Olive-sided Flycatcher, due to poor lighting and brief views but was photographed. Upon review of photos, many hours later, it was discovered to be an Ash-throated Flycatcher.

Word was put out at 4:40pm and a few people searched for it but it was not seen again. It was last seen flying towards Little Mount Doug at 8:15am, after being chased away by an Anna's Hummingbird.

Map to where bird was last seen HERE

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Victoria - Photo: Kim Beardmore

RBA: MURPHY'S PETRELS off the north end of Vancouver Island - May 10th

On May 10-2017, while aboard the "Grand Princess" cruise ship, Paul Lehman and Bruce Rideout found 4 Murphy's Petrels in BC waters near the Brooks Peninsula. One of the birds was photographed by Bruce Rideout and this bird was the furthest north that Paul had ever seen the species in BC.

The locations for the four birds were:

48.009, 129.720  (ca. 280 km SSW of Brooks Peninsula, V. I.)

48.435, 129.993  (ca. 248 km SW of Brooks Peninsula)

49.106, 130.428  (ca. 216 km SW of Brooks Peninsula)

50.517, 131.361  (ca. 209 km W of north end Vancouver Island; photographed)

Murphy's Petrel, 209 km W of the N end of Vancouver Island. - Photos: Bruce Rideout

RBA: LESSER NIGHTHAWK in Victoria - May 7th

At 10 am on May 7-2017, James Paterson photographed and reported a bird identified as a Common Nighthawk to eBird. Upon review of photos this morning, it was discovered that the bird is actually a Lesser Nighthawk. The white wing bar that appears in line with the end of the tertials, the blunt wing tips, the pale buff spotting on the wing coverts and the fact that there is no dark tones in the mantle or scapular that Common Nighthawks typically have, along with the early arrival date, all helped to confirm the bird as a Lesser Nighthawk.

The bird was found perched in a tree near 3491 Camcrest Place at Mount Tolmie Park.

Map to exact location HERE

Multiple observers have been looking for the bird on May 8th but as of yet, it has not been relocated.

This is the third record of Lesser Nighthawk for Vancouver Island and 4th for BC.

Lesser Nighthawk in Victoria - Photos: James Paterson

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER off Ucluelet - May 7th

At 1:15pm on May 7-2017, while aboard the MV Frances Barkley, young birder Liam Singh (13 yrs of age) spotted a Manx Shearwater during the WildResearch Pelagic and BCFO Young Birder Field Trip. The bird was located 6 Km SW off of Amphitrite Point. It was viewed by multiple observers and photographed.

GPS coordinates were N 48.89931° W 125.62473° 

This is the 57th record for the province of BC.

Manx Shearwater off Ucluelet (note the white undertail coverts) - Photos: Liam Singh

RBA: BLACK-TAILED GULL in Gingolx - May 4th

At 7 am on May 4th-2017,  Jeremy Gatten was working along the Gingolx (Kincolith) waterfront in the Nisga'a Nation, when he found an adult Black-tailed Gull. He was scanning through hundreds of Mew Gulls just south of the Kincolith River off the north end of Waterfront St, when he spotted a dark gray-backed gull. The yellow bill with black subterminal band and red tip was immediately noticeable to him and he was able to see the bird in flight. Seeing the tail with white base and thick black band surrounded by a thin margin of white, allowed him to confirm that it was in fact an adult Black-tailed Gull. He was able to photograph the bird as well. The Eulachon run ended last month and the decaying fish has brought in thousands of gulls to the Nass River Valley.  He will be in the area for another 4 days and will be monitoring the gull's presence.

Map to location HERE

This has been an incredible year for provincial rarities for Jeremy. In addition to the Black-tailed Gull, he has found a Purple Sandpiper, Redwing and a Black Phoebe.

The Black-tailed Gull has not been seen since May 4th but very well could still be in the area.

This is the 2nd photo-documented record of Black-tailed Gull in the province of BC.

Adult Black-tailed Gull in the Nass River Valley - Photo: Jeremy Gatten

RBA: DICKCISSEL in Revelstoke - May 3-7th

At 7:30am on May 3rd-2017, Darlene Cancelliere found and photographed a female Dickcissel in her front yard. The bird was feeding on the ground under her feeders, alongside Red-winged Blackbirds and White-crowned Sparrows. It also perched in her tree for several minutes.

Darlene has been fortunate enough to have many rare birds in her yard in the past, including a Brambling, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Hooded Warbler.

The home is open to the public at 407 Edward St. Please view the bird from the front yard only and do not enter the backyard. Please be respectful of all residences in the area.

The bird was last seen on May 7th.

This is the 26th record for the province of BC.

Female Dickcissel in Revelstoke - Photo: Darlene Cancelliere