CRESTED AUKLET IN VICTORIA

On Sept 8, Mike Sheehan photographed a CRESTED AUKLET 100m south of Discovery Island in Victoria.

Photo by Mike Sheehan

Sep 11--*3* Laysan Albatross seen off Tofino

Artie Ahier captured this image of a LAYSAN ALBATROSS approximately 25
miles off Tofino while fishing for tuna. There were apparently 3 in the area.
Hopefully this bodes well for the big WildResearch Pelagic happening Sunday!

Great Shearwater(s), Crested Auklet, and more cool birds in BC waters

This GREAT SHEARWATER was photographed by Jared Towers on Sep 5 in the Hecate Strait. Jared says he saw *2 more Great Shearwaters* the following day but was unable to attain photos. He also mentioned that a colleague of his doing cetacean surveys, has recorded no less than 4 in BC waters since June!

Jared also captured this COOL BIRD! A leucistic Rhinoceros Auklet

 

Sep 4--BROWN BOOBY near Nootka Island

Near the end of the day (~7:30pm) Mike & Sharon Toochin and Meg Brown observed this apparent adult female fishing alongside their cruise ship. This was approximately 20 nautical miles west of the southern tip of Nootka Island. It was present for around 30 minutes and Sharon managed a few great shots including this one.

The other highlight of the trip was a pair of FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS near the mouth of the Juan de Fuca Strait on September 5th.

Aug 23-24: BROWN BOOBY in Hecate Strait

This Brown Booby rested on a commercial fishing vessel in the Hecate Strait (NW BC coast) from Aug 23 to 24 and was photographed by Steve Fitzpatrick. Thanks Steven Roais for passing along the sighting!

Aug 23--PRAIRIE WARBLER in Revelstoke!

After a rainy southerly front pushed through the Columbia Valley in Revelstoke, this PRAIRIE WARBLER was found in a mixed flock of warblers by Devon Anderson on Aug 23. Four other people were able to see it on the same day including James Bradley who took this photograph. This was near the Revelstoke Airport; the bird has not been seen since. At this stage, age/sex is unconfirmed (adult female or hatch-year male seem most likely). Please leave a comment if you have any opinions on the age/sex of this bird.

Aug 18--REEVE near Quesnel

Pantage Lake is at it again!!! After last year's flocks of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, not to mention the plethora of other highlights from this hidden gem in recent years, Rod Sargent and Adrian Leather scored again--this time with a REEVE! To make matters even more interesting, they believe there were two reeves present, as 2 identical-looking shorebirds flew in with some Baird's Sandpipers but only one stay long enough for distant record-shots.

A "Reeve" is the female version of "Ruff." Typically we see juvenile birds in BC (if at all) but this bird appears much duller overall with black mottling on the flanks (which points to adult female). Summer/fall males (Ruffs) typically show much whiter chests, throats, and lores.

Pantage Lake is located up the Nazko Hwy, NW of Quesnel, and unfortunately is only accessible via private land and canoes/kayaks are required. Still---we can all marvel at the great birds these guys have turned up in only 3 fall seasons! Both golden plovers, White-rumped Sandpiper, 20+ Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Red Phalarope, Arctic Tern....and so on!

Aug 11--Ferruginous Hawk near Golden

On Aug 11, Carleen Irmen photographed this FERRUGINOUS HAWK along Hwy 95 "about 10 or 15 minutes south of Golden." Will try and get more info and post here. 

August 6--Indigo Bunting (W of Kamloops)

On the morning of August 6, Ryan Cathers observed a male INDIGO BUNTING at the following site:

"When you arrive in Tunkwa Provincial Park head down to Leighton Lake Campground (not Leighton north). When you enter the campground follow the road until it forks left and right. On the right side of the fork is that wetland space. The bird was in there and followed back a bit onto some fences that are between Leighton and Leighton North campground."

*There was also a female bunting present but whether it was a Lazuli or Indigo was not confirmed.

GREAT SHEARWATER and SCRIPPS'S MURRELET in BC

Yet again, Paul Lehman and Co. have observed some great birds off BC by taking advantage of some California--Alaska cruises.

On July 31, they observed a "Scipps's-type" Murrelet (i.e. Xantus's complex) approximately 120 miles SW of Vancouver Island--apparently still in Canadian waters.

On the way back south, they ran into some large concentrations of seabirds near Triangle Island, including a mass of FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS numbering close to 10,000 individuals. The species highlight in that area however was a GREAT SHEARWATER that was photographed 111km NNW of Triangle Island on August 5th. This is the second photographed record for BC, and probably the 3rd record all-time (first being one with good supporting fieldnotes).

Great Shearwater (Owen Schmidt)

Aug 4--RED-NECKED STINT at Boundary Bay

Photo: Mike Tabak

Found by John Chandler on Aug 4.

*AUG 5 UPDATE: Most recently seen at 5:45pm near the pilings west of 104th St, Boundary Bay (Ryan Johnson et al.)

RBA: CRESTED AUKLET photographed near Tofino!!! (July 30+Aug 1)

July 30th--Jay Feaver photographed this CRESTED AUKLET near Cleland Island (Tofino area). Thanks to Adrian Dorst for getting the word out.

*UPDATE: The bird was NOT seen on the Friday search-mission. Stay tuned for more updates...

Back-Story: (From Adrian Dorst)--"The auklet, an adult, was found by another whale-watching boat driver, Orin Lawson. While he is not a birder, he noticed it was different from any other
water bird he had ever seen. It was subsequently photographed by Jason Feaver. I got permission to post it so check it out in my photo section. The bird was a bit far away but fortunately the photo was very high resolution so that it could be blown up, leaving no doubt about the bird's identity. I'm told it was right in the gap at Cleland. It has not been spotted today, which is not surprising, as whalers don't spend a lot of time looking at birds."

HAWAIIAN PETREL in BC waters

Courtesy of Barbara L. Carlson:

"Paul E. Lehman, Steve Ritt, and group were aboard a non-stop cruise ship from San Francisco to SW Alaska. This was the same route Paul was on late May/early June when he saw several rare birds off BC.

The clear highlight off BC on this northbound leg was HAWAIIAN (dark-rumped) PETREL! It was seen on Thursday, July 11, 220 km SW of the tip of the Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver island.

They started at dawn 240 km SW of Vancouver Island. By dusk they were 45 km west of Haida Gwaii. Other birds of interest during that day included 4 South Polar Skua, 10 Long-tailed Jaeger, 5 Parasitic Jaeger, 4 Sabine's Gull and 1 Arctic Tern."

--There are less than 5 records for Canada. It's all about coverage!

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Princeton)

From Rhys Harrison:

"On Tuesday July 9 around noon I saw a male Black-throated Blue Warbler on the
TransCanada Trail pathway in Princeton town centre. The bird was in a small
stand of deciduous trees alongside the asphalt path on the main road, north,
side and alongside a new development of 4 or 5 town houses. It would be approx
600m east of the tunnel." (No photograph obtained)

Stay tuned for updates.

Possible SUMMER TANAGER in Prince George

July 4--Heather Sapergia & Suzanne Bahr were birding in "Forests for the World" near UNBC in Prince George, and saw an unfamiliar bird. They suspect it to be a female SUMMER TANAGER. Here are some of their comments:

Suzanne:

"We were about half way  from Shane Lake and the parking lot, on the lower trail..  This bird's bill was large and yellow color and it's wings blended more into the body unlike the female Western which has the white barring on the median & greater coverts. Also somewhat larger that the Western."

Heather:

"The colour was yellow to olive and not much variation between body and wing.  We both got a good look at it but no pics and no sound that we could hear."

Stay tuned for updates...

June 21--Another Lark Bunting!

Getting kind of "old news" now, but I still desperately need one at least!

This morning Mike Bentley had a male LARK BUNTING in his backyard in Fernie, BC.

*No subsequent reports. Stay tuned...

June 13-15: Brown Thrasher--North Coast

"1 individual at the Hakai Beach Institute site [CALVERT ISLAND, NE of Port Hardy].  Feeds around grass clippings and compost pile during periods when few people around (when relatively easy to observe; shy when many people around).  Has been present since at least 13/06/2013" ---Brian Starzomski (photos)
*First found by Keith Jordan.

June 8--WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER

Isn't June supposed to be the worst month for shorebirds? Well today Daniele Mitchell photographed this
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Robert Lake in Kelowna. It was present from 4:30pm to around 8:30pm when it disappeared.  It has not been seen since. This is the first photographed WR for the Okanagan and
is probably the second all time for the area. 

LEAST AUKLET and more off BC!

From Barbara Carlson:

[Reporting for Paul Lehman]

Yesterday, 6 June, Paul Lehman and Larry Peavler were cruising south in BC waters on their way back to San Francisco. They saw an adult LEAST AUKLET paralleling the boat for three minutes! It was flying with Cassin's Auklets. This was 97 km northwest of the northwest tip of Vancouver Island.

They also saw an adult Thick-billed Murre approximately 55 km east of the south end of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Late in the day, they had a MANX SHEARWATER behind a trawler approximately 50 km west off central Vancouver Island.

Earlier in the day, traveling through Hecate Strait, they saw a mass of dark shearwaters, some 80,000 Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwaters. A large number of these were molting Short-tailed, which is unusual for BC waters at this time of year.

Throughout the day, large numbers of Leach's Storm-Petrels (2,600) were seen. Also were some 700 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, 700 Ancient Murrelets, and 11,000 Cassin Auklets. There were 180 total number of Black-footed Albatross, with 125 of these being behind the same trawler where they beheld the Manx Shearwater.

June 6--Another Lark Bunting!

Well, here's the third male LARK BUNTING of the spring for the Kootenays! Cam Gillies photographed one in Brisco (North of Invermere) today while conducting is annual Breeding Bird Survey (See MAP).

PARAKEET AUKLETS AND MURPHY'S PETREL - Vancouver Island June 1st

June 1---Just heard from Paul Lehman, who just passed through BC waters on a cruise bound for Alaska. Among the regulars he reports a single MURPHY'S PETREL off Vancouver Island (Heck Seamount), as well as 7 PARAKEET AUKLETS and 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA off the west coast of Haida Gwaii.

White-faced Ibis on Mandarte Island

On May 31, Ryan Germain saw and photographed a White-faced Ibis on Mandarte Island, off of Sidney.  See the Vancouver Island page for more details, and updates if the bird is relocated.

Black-throated Sparrow at Osoyoos (May 30)

Photo: Dick Cannings

I discovered a singing Black-throated Sparrow  on the west bench of Osoyoos this morning (30 May 2013) at 7 a.m.; it was still present as of 9:45 a.m.  To reach the site, drive south on Hwy. 97 from the Hwy. 3 intersection on the west side of Osoyoos, then turn right (west) following signs for the Osoyoos golf course.  As you reach the golf course, watch for Fairwinds Drive on your left.  Turn on to Fairwinds and drive up the hill until it ends and turns into a gravel road and you cross a cattle-guard.  There are a myriad of rough gravel roads from here on, but one way to reach the site is to take the road on the left side and follow it over the hill until you see a a flat grassy clearinh with a couple of pieces of wood and a plastic pop bottle on the right. Vehicles with low clearance should probably park here. Continue up the hill on the main track past those two pieces of wood. You'll eventually come to an open meadow with several Russian Olives, and some couches, chairs and an obvious firepit--where someone has had a bush party.  The bird was on the large rocky hill directly to the west (the one behind the central Russian olive tree as you approach the grassy flat for the first time). I've placed some pink flagging-tape at the base of the hill. Continue to the south slope of the hill (instead of going right, past the couches). The bird was moving around a little but in general stayed on the south side of that rocky hill, singing sporadically.  GPS coordinates approximately 317917E 5430686N.

**PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING PLAYBACK.** If the bird is still present, it should be findable with patience, as it was exhibiting all the characters of a territorial bird. After several years of sightings at this location, it is possible that they may one day be confirmed as breeders. Birders should do their best to avoid harassing it/them. Obviously morning is best! Tip: In addition to learning this sparrow's song, familiarize yourself with the songs/calls of Vesper, Brewer's, and Lark Sparrow, as well as Lazuli Bunting and Rock Wren, as all are present and common in this area, and can sound similar.

Good luck!

Revelstoke Lark Bunting

Well this hurts me as much (or more) as it does most of you. While I was turning up a few nice birds south of Revelstoke, my good friend Jennifer Greenwood caught this beauty up by the Revelstoke Dam! (May 26). This was an incidental catch, as the intended target(s) were Savannah Sparrows (Which Jen is studying for her PhD). Could it be the same bird seen by Jeremy G further south a week ago, or are there several in the Columbias this spring?

Photo Credit: Becca Ferguson

White-headed Woodpecker near Osoyoos

From Doug Brown:

"I just got a report of a White-headed Woodpecker that was seen yesterday on Deerfoot Road on Anarchist Mountain east of Osoyoos. Caroline, who runs the Villa Blanca Bed and Breakfast there, is a very competent observer familiar with all the local species so I have no doubt the sighting is genuine. The bird was last seen flying east towards Long Joe Road, an area where the species has been seen in the past."

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Agassiz

Kevin Jones saw and photographed an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Agassiz around 5:00pm on May 23rd. It was seen on Whorely Rd. This is the third sighting for Kevin at this location in the last few years so it makes one wonder if this is the same individual?

RBA: Male Lark Bunting in Edgewood, BC

This male Lark Bunting was found and photographed by Jeremy Gatten on May 21.  It was possibly associating with nearby Bobolinks along Ferret S Rd just north of Edgewood (Arrow Lakes area south of Nakusp).
Click HERE for a map of the area.

***May 26---Male LARK BUNTING caught in a mist-net in Revelstoke!***
Could this be the same bird? On the morning of the 26th, some sparrow biologist accidentally caught a male Lark Bunting while studying Savannah Sparrows near the Revelstoke Dam!

WHITE-FACED IBIS near Cranbrook!

May 10--Dean Nicholson reports finding a White-faced Ibis at Wasa Lake while leading a field trip for the WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES festival. Wasa Lake is located between Cranbrook and Invermere (signed off the highway).

[Photo credit: Brent Wellander]

Help Support the Spoon-billed Sandpiper!

Do you ever feel frustrated that you weren't birding in Vancouver in 1978, thus blowing your chance to see...

 THE COOLEST SHOREBIRD IN THE WORLD?

Well here's an opportunity to make a difference!

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper project Birds Korea is doing with Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology is the making of a science-driven mini-documentary on the Spoon-billed Sandpiper aimed at a national audience.  Filming is set to begin this year and is to be concluded in May 2014.  The documentary will focus on the birds and key sites in the Republic of Korea, such as the Geum Estuary, Saemangeum reclamation area, Gomso Bay and the Nakdong Estuary in Busan, as well as leading figures in society. This project is happening at the same time as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force works on its captive breeding project in Eastern Russia and other smaller projects at South Korean schools aim to raise public awareness of the plight of this enigmatic shorebird and about what actions are needed to save this species from extinction.

So in summary: Enhanced Public Awareness->Habitat Conservation-->More Spoonies-->Possibly leading to one popping up on our fair shores one day!

How can you help?

On May 7th, Geoff Styles and Russell Cannings will be conducting a high-paced 24-hour birdathon near their homes in the Okanagan/Shuswap. They will be collecting pledges with all proceeds going to this important Spoon-billed Sandpiper project. You can pledge a flat rate, or make it interesting and pledge "per species." Although it's still early in the spring we plan to get over 100 species!

To make a pledge or inquire more about the project, contact Geoff 

(gem_styles@yahoo.ca)

OR, you can challenge us and try your own birdathon in the coast and/or interior!

*(Reported) BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER in Kelowna

Apr 29--A male BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER has been reported from the Kelowna area where it was apparently visiting a suet feeder in the riparian wooded area near the intersection of Cook St and Lakeshore Drive.

Several birders scoured the area this morning but were unable to find the bird. The landowner was contacted around 8am and she said that she had a brief glimpse at the bird around 7:15am. Unfortunately no photographs have been obtained yet, but this seems to be a credible report. If the bird returns I will post more details on the blog and inquire with the landowner about visitors. "Keeners" can contact me privately if they want to have a go themselves but at this point it seems the bird may have left the area once the sun came out. My email is provided at the top of the main page.

RBA: Black Phoebe - Tofino April 24th

April 24th--[Comber's Beach, Pacific Rim National Park] From Adrian Dorst:
"At Comber's Beach we had a big surprise with the appearance of a Black Phoebe. At first we had only glimpses, but eventually we had long, thorough looks at it through our spotting scopes and we were both thrilled to add it to our respective BC lists. I had only see this bird before in Mexico. As far as I know, this is the first record for the west coast of the island. With this weather, it could still be there tomorrow. It was hanging out between the fallen Sitka spruce on thebeach and the broken down bridge."

RBA - Tufted Duck in Kootenays -April 23-28th

A male TUFTED DUCK was found by Dianne Cooper & Greg Ross on Reade Lk between Kimberley and Cranbrook in the Kootenays on April 23. The pond itself is on the private Pine Butte Ranch. The pond can be seen, although at a distance and with a scope, from a public easement road. For more details email Dianne Cooper at kestrel374@yahoo.ca

                                           Male Tufted Duck with Lesser Scaup.

Dickcissel in Ladner - Apr 20-Apr 26

A Dickcissel was seen and photographed at a Ladner feeder this afternoon. On the north corner of Elliott St. and Chisholm (Douglas Bamford). The bird was relocated in the afternoon of April 21st and 22nd at Chisholm and Georgia around two blocks away at a feeder on the West side of the street and in the trees surrounding the feeder and across the street from the feeder as well. It is still associating with House Sparrows. 

April 25/26--Apparently the bird has moved some distance away from the original sighting, where it is frequenting a private residence, not accessible to the public. Will update if any more info arises.

This is the 20th record for BC.

Photo: Douglas Bamford

April 13--HOODED ORIOLE in Powell River

April 13--Make HOODED ORIOLE seen at a private residence in Powell River. At this time we are not aware of any subsequent sightings. Will update if more info arises.

[Photo: Bob & Rita Valine]

31 March -- Burrowing Owl in Williams Lake

Phil Ranson has found an unbanded Burrowing Owl on the Sugarcane First Nations Reserve at the east end of Williams Lake. The bird is still present as of today (1 Apr) and anyone wanting to chase it should contact Phil (ranson1@telus.net) for specific directions.

Burrowing Owl at Williams Lake, 1 Apr 2013 (photo: Evan Nicholson)

Red-flanked Bluetail still present March 23rd

Check Vancouver page for more details or scroll down to see old posts on main page. This bird is still being seen in New Westminster.

Over 300,000 visits to the Bird Alert!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to thank all the great people who contribute to this site, both directly as moderators (names listed to my right), and all of you who submit bird reports and photographs from every corner of the province. Since I started the blog in November, 2010, we've had over 310,000 hits on the site---a clear sign that people use it and enjoy checking on bird news from around the province.

I also want to apologize for not updating the twitter feed over the fall/winter since I've been traveling around Australia/Malaysia. It will be up n' smoking come mid-April--just in time for the main migrant push!

Have a great spring one and all, and get outside!

Russ Cannings
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Citrine Wagtail Still Present Mar 25

The Courtenay Citrine Wagtail was observed briefly at 3:30pm on Mar 25 ("L Dea").  The bird is now showing a yellowish wash to its underparts and cheeks.

[PHOTO: JUKKA JANTUNEN (March 11)]

BC Brambling #5

Brambling Mania has reached the Sunshine Coast with a confirmed sighting in the Gibsons area. Gibsons resident Peter Feichtner spotted the bird roughly a month ago, and local birders John Hodges and Marcia Mason confirmed the sighting February 3rd. This is the second Brambling record on the Sunshine Coast in 40 years of record keeping and the fifth current Brambling record in BC!

Photo Courtesy Marcia Mason

RBA - Brown Thrasher continues in Cranbrook, March 24..

                                         Photo by Greg Ross
Bird appeared at a suet feeder at a private residence in the Hilands neighborhood of Cranbrook, just after Christmas, 2012. Bird was identified by local birders and photographed on Jan 27 and remains to at least March 24. Property owner, and finder of the bird, Jack Loeppky can be reached at (250) 489-4597. Call him for viewing information! Jack says the best time to see the bird is between 8:30 and 10 AM.

Red-flanked Bluetail photos from Peter Candido

Here are two views of the Red-flanked Bluetail taken by Peter Candido today at Queens Park, New Westminster, BC.

13 Jan - 8 Feb -- RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL in Vancouver!

Found on the 13th by Colin McKenzie and confirmed on the 14th by Mike Toochin and George Clulow, a first-winter Red-flanked Bluetail is still showing well in Queens Park, New Westminster, Vancouver (https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209184547269960571857.0004d346cbbf81bb15d10&msa=0&ll=49.216111,-122.907829&spn=0.014997,0.042272).
From the main parking lot, walk 1 minute north towards the playground where the bird was seen feeding around the picnic tables and the base of the conifers on Feb 7.

BRAMBLING MANIA IN BC!!

With SIX different BRAMBLINGS being reported in BC this winter, keep your eyes peeled at feeders for this rare Russian vagrant. Check out the Southern Interior & Okanagan, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland pages for details...

                                   

28 Dec -- Red-throated Pipits in Haida Gwaii

Continuing the streak of rarities in Haida Gwaii, Peter Hamel, Margo Hearne and Martin Williams located no fewer than five RED-THROATED PIPITS at the Massett Bird Sanctuary on 28 Dec.

27 Dec -- SMEW in Haida Gwaii

The Massett Christmas Bird Count in Haida Gwaii was held today and a drake Smew has been reported. The bird was found with a flock of Mallards in Massett by Martin Williams. The bird was not relocated on 28 Dec.

Lesser Black-backed Gull in Kelowna

An adult winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary at the foot of Francis Ave in Kelowna the afternoon of Dec 26 (Chris Charlesworth & Ryan Tomlinson). While very rare throughout the province, this species is now annual in the Okanagan Valley. This represents the first record of Lesser Black-backed Gull in the valley so far this winter. In a late report, we've learned that what appears to be this same bird was photographed on the ice with other gulls at Robert Lk in Kelowna, on Dec 23 (Stu Weir).

                                                      Photo by Chris Charlesworth

RBA: TUFTED DUCK IN OSOYOOS

A female or immature TUFTED DUCK was found today along Lakeshore Dr. in S.E. Osoyoos. Bird was seen between Osoyoos Lk Regional Park and the Oasis RV Park. Found by Doug Brown on Dec 24.

LITTLE GULL--Ambleside Park, West Vancouver.

On the evening of Dec 21st, around 4:00pm Jeremiah Kennedy, Jess Findlay, and Ian Thomas located an adult winter plumage Little Gull feeding with a flock of around 60 Bonaparte's just off the rock jetties and wharfs at Ambleside  Park in West Vancouver. The bird was seen well for approximately 20 minutes before it got too dark to view. The bird was relocated again on the 22nd and 23rd spending time with Bonaparte's along the seawall and Capilano River mouth as well. If people are going to look for it, I would suggest a scope for optimum viewing. For those unfamiliar with the species, look for a small gull with dark underwings and white primaries hanging out with the Bonaparte's.

SCARLET TANAGER in Williams Lake

Phil Ranson has reported a Scarlet Tanager in Williams Lake.  The bird was reported as a "mystery bird" on the Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 16th; Phil confirmed the sighting today and obtained a couple of good photos.  The home-owner is fine with birders coming to see the bird, but Phil has offered to regulate things for the time being by being the source of details about where to find the bird.  So, if you'd like to look for the tanager, you can call or email Phil (250-398-7110, ranson1@telus.net).

Scarlet Tanager, Williams Lake, 19 Dec 2012.  photo Phil Ranson

Revelstoke BRAMBLING still present to at least April 4!!

RBA: BRAMBLING continues in Revelstoke. Dec 17 to April 2 (Darlene Cancelliere). The bird is visiting a feeder in apple tree in front yard at 407 Edward St. Visitors welcome.

                                          Photo by Darlene Cancelliere