Thursday, June 29, 2023

RBA: 2 DICKCISSELS in Kispiox - June 29-July 11th

At 11:50am on June 29-2023, Larry Joseph found 2 Dickcissels (a male and female) on a fence post in a field off Kispiox Rd in Kispiox.

He was able to obtain photographs of both birds.

Map to location HERE

This is the 32nd record for BC.

Both birds continues in the same location on July 11th and have been viewed by multiple observers.

Female and male Dickcissels in Kispiox - Photos: Larry Joseph 

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Coquitlam - June 28-July 30th

On June 28-2023, Debbie Wheeler banded a male Indigo Bunting at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park 

The site is restricted access and is not open to the public.

**On June 30th the bird was relocated HERE on the Wilson Farm Dyke Trail in willows and birds trees by Lise Owens in a publicly accessible area.**

The bird continued in the same area on July 13th and was viewed by multiple observers.

On July 30th, the bird was relocated by the TMX work yard HERE

Indigo Bunting at Colony Farm - Photo: Frank Lin

Indigo Bunting in Coquitlam - Photo: Debbie Wheeler

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Cranbrook - June 21-22nd

At 11:45 am on June 21-2023, Blaire Smith and Katrin Powell found a male Chestnut-sided Warbler singing HERE near the SW corner of Elizabeth Lake in Cranbrook.

On June 22nd, the bird continued HERE on and has been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 87th record for BC.

Chestnut-sided Warbler in Cranbrook - Photos: Bob Whethem

Friday, June 9, 2023

RBA: CAVE SWALLOW in Port Alberni - June 9th

At 8:30pm on June 9-2023, Blair Dudeck found and photographed a Cave Swallow flying over and sitting on power lines at the settling ponds at Somass Estuary in Port Alberni. 

Map to exact location HERE

This is the second record for BC.

The bird was not relocated in June 10th.

Cave Swallow in Port Alberni - Photos: Blair Dudeck

Sunday, June 4, 2023

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Delta - June 4th

At 5:40pm on June 4-2023, Melissa Hafting and Ilya Povalyaev found an adult Snowy Plover at the foot of 96th St at Boundary Bay in Delta. 

Map to location HERE

The bird flew north at 7:40pm and was not relocated.

This is the 41st record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Delta - Photos: Andrew Boycott



Saturday, June 3, 2023

RBA: WHITE-EYED VIREO in Ucluelet - June 3-13th

At 6:30am on June 3-2023, Joachim Bertrands found a White-eyed Vireo in Ucluelet. The bird was singing from alders.

Map to original location HERE

This is the second record for BC.

On June 4th, the bird continued HERE and HERE and was viewed by multiple observers.

On June 5, Mike Bentley heard the bird at Helen Rd and Marine Dr, which is several kms from the original location. 

At 4:30pm on June 5th, Ian Cruickshank viewed the bird singing from the trees by the fuel dock at the east end of Eber Rd HERE (1.4 Km from the original location).

At 7:10am on June 6th, the bird continued across from 1241 Eber Rd and was last seen at Alder Park on Eber Rd before moving north.

**On June 13- Ian Cruickshank relocated the bird on the NW side of Rainforest Drive, 200 m NW of Marine Drive.**

White-eyed Vireo in Ucluelet - Photo: Joachim Bertrands 

White-eyed Vireo in Ucluelet - Photo: Sabine Decamp

Friday, June 2, 2023

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Gang Ranch - June 1st

On June 1-2023, Iris McNabb found an Indigo Bunting at her feeder in Gang Ranch which is 45 mins north of Clinton.

The bird was not relocated on June 2nd or 3rd.

Indigo Bunting in Gang Ranch - Photos: Iris McNabb

Thursday, June 1, 2023

RBA: RED-FACED CORMORANT in Hecate Strait - May 24th (Late Report)

At 6:55pm on May 24th-2023, Cam Nikkel, Ray Methot and Bonnie Chartier found a Red-faced Cormorant in Hecate Strait near Stephens Island, while aboard The Ruby Princess Cruise ship. They were on their way back from Alaska and had just left Prince Rupert.

Map to location HERE

This is the first confirmed photo documented record for BC!

Red-faced Cormorant in Hecate Strait - Photos: Cam Nikkel

RBA: BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER in Nelson - June 1st

At 6:40am on June 1-2023, Janice Arndt found a male Blackburnian Warbler at her private home in Nelson. The bird only stayed for a few mins. If it returns the homeowner will generously allow people to visit by appt. I will place the contact info here, if it returns.

Blackburnian Warbler in Nelson - Photos: Janice Arndt


Monday, May 29, 2023

RBA: ORCHARD ORIOLE in Edgewood - May 29-30th

At 8:20am on May 29-2023, Catherine McLean and Gary Davidson found an immature male Orchard Oriole in Edgewood.

The bird was on the Ferret Rd Loop HERE

This is the 11th record for BC.

The bird was last seen at 10:30am in the same location onMay 30th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since despite multiple observers looking.

Orchard Oriole in Edgewood - Photo: Julia Flesaker

Orchard Oriole in Edgewood - Photos: Catherine McLean

Sunday, May 28, 2023

RBA: BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW in Haida Gwaii - May 28th

At 4:35pm on May 28-2023, Lorrie Joron found and photographed a Bristle-thighed Curlew at Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary in Massett in Haida Gwaii. She noted the buff rump of the bird when in flight. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 4th record for BC.

She could not relocate the bird on May 29th.

Bristle-thighed Curlew (R) in Haida Gwaii (note the long bristles at the base of the legs and paler flanks) Photos: Lorrie Joron

Saturday, May 27, 2023

RBA: FIELD SPARROW in Fairmont Hot Springs - May 27th

At 10:44am on May 27-2023, Kalin Ocana found a Field Sparrow at Columbia Lake Provincial Park.

The bird was singing from the trees HERE

This is the 4th record for BC. The bird was not relocated on May 28th.

Kalin was able to obtain video of the bird singing below:




RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Gibsons - May 27-June 6th

At 8:45 am on May 27-2023, Karen Holland found a male Indigo Bunting at Gospel Rock in Gibsons. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen on June 6th and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on June 7th.

Indigo Bunting in Gibsons - Photos: Karen Holland


Monday, May 22, 2023

RBA: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW near Kaslo - May 19th (late report)

At 5:30pm on May 19-2023, Jakob Dulisse found and photographed a Black-throated Sparrow at the Lost Ledge Campground in Kootenay Lake Provincial Park, north of Kaslo. The bird was feeding with Chipping Sparrows. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 52nd record for BC. 

Saturday, May 20, 2023

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Saanich - May 20th

At 9:23am on May 20-2023, Sean McElaney found a male Indigo Bunting at Panama Hill Park at Panama Flats in Saanich. The bird was viewed by multiple observers throughout the morning. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated later in the afternoon of May 20th or on May 21st, despite multiple observers looking. 

Indigo Bunting in Saanich - Photo: Joachim Bertrands

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Tofino - May 17th

At 2pm on May 17-2023, Sarah Tyne found and photographed a Snowy Plover in Tofino. The bird was on Comber’s Beach on the SE side of the Sandhill Creek mouth.

Map to location HERE

This is the 40th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Tofino - Photo: Sarah Tyne

Monday, May 8, 2023

RBA: SNOWY EGRET in Kamloops - May 8-9th

At 4 pm on May 8th-2023 Andrew Klassen found a Snowy Egret in the Thompson River at Overlanders Park in Kamloops. He watched it for 15 mins and left it there.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location on May 9th and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on May 10th, despite multiple observers looking.

Snowy Egret in Kamloops - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Sunday, May 7, 2023

RBA: WHITE-TAIlLED KITE in Langley - May 7-8th

At 5 pm on May 7-2023, Phil Henderson found a second year White-tailed Kite on 264th St in Langley.

Map to location HERE

This appears to be the same bird seen in the Skagit area near Edison, WA on May 6th.

The bird continued in a field HERE on 84 Ave near 264th St as of 6:30pm and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird flew off high and to the southwest at 7pm on May 7th.

On May 8th - Steve Lambert relocated and photographed the bird HERE off of the Nathan Creek Dyke.

The bird continued at 5pm HERE and was also seen HERE at 4:30pm. 

The bird continued perched in a tree HERE as of 7:30pm and was viewed by multiple observers before it was chased off by crows to the SW.

**The bird has not been relocated on May 9th, despite multiple observers looking.**

White-tailed Kite in Langley - Photo: Andrew Boycott

White-tailed Kite in Langley - Photo: John Gordon

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

RBA: BLACK-TAILED GULL near Victoria - May 2-7th

At 4:30pm on May 2-2023, Les Peterson found an adult Black-tailed Gull at Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood near Victoria. The bird was resting on the lagoon side on the low tide sandbar that is opposite to the anchor/cairn near the bridge at Esquimalt Lagoon. He did not see it fly away.

Map to exact location HERE

The bird was refound by Eric Tull at 3:20pm at the same location on May 3rd and was viewed by multiple observers.

It was flushed by a Bald Eagle and it flew high and west and then south out into the strait just after 4:20pm. 

On May 4th the bird continued at the same spot until 1:15 pm when it was chased off by a dog walker. It was relocated again at 5:30pm.

The bird continued in the same location at Esquimalt Lagoon during the day on May 5th.

It was also seen in the evening from the end of Stewart Ave looking across to the Navy base HERE on the opposite shore by scope as it roosted on the construction pillings. Map to location of where to stand to view bird is HERE

***On May 6-7th, the bird continued in the same location as the evening before as viewed from the Stewart Ave access and in the late afternoon it was seen at the original location at Esquimalt Lagoon.***

**The bird has not been relocated on May 8 or 9th at either location.**

This is the 4th photo-documented record for BC.

Black-tailed Gull in Colwood - Photos: Nick Park

RBA: COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in Sidney - April 30th

On April 30-2023, Lori Smith found the carcass of a male Costa's Hummingbird in her yard in Sidney. 

This is the 31st record for BC.

Male Costa's Hummingbird carcass in Sidney, BC - Photo: Lori Smith

Saturday, April 29, 2023

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Sooke - April 25-29th

On April 25-2023, Miriam Lambert found a female Acorn Woodpecker feeding on her suet feeder at her private home.

The bird was last seen on April 29th and hasn’t returned since.

The home is not open to the public.

This is the 15th record for BC.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Sooke - Photo: Miriam Lambert


Saturday, April 15, 2023

RBA: KING EIDER near Price Island - April 15th

At 12:47 pm on April 15-2023, Liam Ragan and Kaiden Bosch found a female King Eider in a mixed flock of Scoters in Kitasu Bay near Price Island north of Bella Bella.

Map to location HERE

This is the 40th record for BC

Female King Eider in Kitasu Bay - Photos: Liam Ragan

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

RBA: FIELDFARE in Kelowna - Jan 10-13th

At 3:10pm on Jan 10-2022, Jasmine Korcok found a Fieldfare at the viewing platform at the NE corner of Munson Pond.

The bird is being viewed by multiple observers at the same location in the company of several robins and a Rusty Blackbird as of 3:45pm. The bird flew west at 4pm.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues in a flock of robins in the same location on Jan 11th.

At 11:50 am, Chris Charlesworth relocated the bird at the corner of Morrison Ave and Rhondda Cres with robins. Keep an eye on a large Mountain Ash tree at the corner with lots of berries.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen at the corner of Morrison Ave and Rhondda Cres on Jan 13th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not relocated on Jan 14-16th, despite multiple observers looking.***

This is the third record for BC and the first for the Okanagan.

A news story on the bird can be read HERE

Fieldfare in Kelowna - Photo: David Bell
Fieldfare in Kelowna - Photo: Chris Charlesworth 

Saturday, December 17, 2022

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Chilliwack - Dec 17-18th

At 9 am on Dec 17-2022, Benjamin Pap found a Black Phoebe flycatching and calling from the exhaust output at the west end of the barn on Jess Rd near Carey Rd.

Map to location HERE

The bird is actively flycatching and also flew across the dyke to this tree HERE

The bird was last seen in the first location on Dec 18th and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 38th record for BC.

Black Phoebe in Chilliwack - Photo: Krissi Martin

Monday, December 12, 2022

RBA: BRAMBLING in Powell River - Dec 12th

At 10:30 am on Dec 12-2022, Teresa Bouchard found a Brambling in a flock of juncos in the yard of her private home in Powell River.

The home is not open to the general public and please do not go searching in the neighbourhood as it is on Tla'amin First Nations Land and is not open to the public except for invited guests. 

Please be respectful of this request and do not trespass.

The bird was not relocated on subsequent days.

Sunday, December 11, 2022

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Duncan - Dec 11/22-March 29/23

At 9:10 am on December 11-2022, Jeremy Gatten found a male Tufted Duck at the sewage lagoons in Duncan. This is most likely the same bird that first showed up 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 in the same location on March 29th, 2023 and has been viewed by multiple observers.

Tufted Duck in Duncan - Photo: Jeremy Gatten

Friday, December 2, 2022

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Sechelt - Dec 2nd

At 3:40pm on Dec 2-2022, Marc Sole found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at a sawmill on Field Rd in Sechelt.  He was able to photograph and videotape the bird (video below) with his cell phone.

Map to location HERE

He viewed the bird for a few mins before it flew across the street to the treed lot HERE 

This is the 25th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 3rd, despite multiple observers looking.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Sechelt - Photo: Marc Sole

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

RBA: PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in Vancouver - Nov 30-Dec 6th

**UPDATE: In May 2023 the bird was banded and released successfully into the wild.****


*This bird has been captured by Wildlife Rescue Association and is currently in their care. It will be released in Vancouver in the spring. Please see the Press Release HERE **

At 2:30pm on Nov 30-2022, Peggy Mersereau photographed a Prothonotary Warbler at a private home in Vancouver.

On Dec 1-3rd, the bird was relocated at a public park (Riverfront Park) at the end of Jellicoe St and has beeen viewed by multiple observers.

Please be respectful of private residences in the area. Please do not point cameras at private homes. 

Map to location seen HERE and HERE

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

The bird was seen Dec 6th in the underground parking area of a nearby apartment complex. This area is off limits to birders.

**The bird was captured by Wildlife Rescue Association on Dec 6th and is currently in their care.***

This is the 11th record for BC and 2nd record for Metro Vancouver. It is also the first winter record for Canada.

Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Melissa Hafting
Prothonotary Warbler in Vancouver - Photo: Peter Candido


Wednesday, November 23, 2022

RBA: ARCTIC LOON in Victoria - Nov 23rd

At 9:30 am on Nov 23-2022, Geoffrey Newell found and photographed an Arctic Loon off McMicking Point. He observed the bird through a scope for 10 mins at a distance of 1 km. The bird then took off after a few minutes and flew west. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated despite multiple observers looking. 

The bird was accepted by the BC Records Committee.

Arctic Loon in Victoria - Photo: Geoffrey Newell

Monday, November 21, 2022

RBA: PRAIRIE WARBLER in Victoria - Nov 21st

At 3pm on Nov 21-2022, Danielle Geller found and photographed a Prairie Warbler at Glencoe-cove Kwatsech Park in Victoria. She watched it for 15 seconds before she lost it.

Map to location HERE

This is the 6th photographed record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 22nd, despite multiple observers looking. 

Prairie Warbler in Victoria - Photos: Danielle Geller

RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Kamloops - Nov 21-26th

At 10:30am on Nov 21-2022, Tana Coetzer found a Slaty-backed Gull in a mixed gull flock on a sandy bank off the Kamloops Airport River Trail at the end of Aviation Way.

The bird was still present when she left at 2pm.

Map to location of where she stood HERE and where the bird was HERE

The bird also has been seen HERE and HERE at Mission Flats and at the dump.

This is the 86th record for BC.

On Nov 24-26th, the bird was last seen HERE at Mission Flats and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird has not been relocated since.

Slaty-backed Gull in Kamloops - Photos: Tom Beeke