RBA: LUCY'S WARBLER in Castlegar - May 5th

On May 5th at 9:30am Craig Sandvig found and photographed a Lucy's Warbler in Castlegar. The bird was in the orchard at Selkirk College, just off Welsh Rd. The bird was 100m from the trailhead moving between the apple trees and hawthorns. The bird spent most of its time in the trees in the open area of the orchard but it also ventured into the thicker part on the south side. The bird was singing the whole time he was there and was present until 10:45am when he left.  

The bird has not been relocated since after several and thorough searches by multiple birders.  

This is the first record for the province of British Columbia.

Craig filmed the bird and his video can be seen Here

Directions to the bird:

When you get to the airport turn off on Hwy 3A, turn left onto Frank Beinder Way then turn right onto Rosedale Rd, then left on Campus Rd, then right onto Welsh Rd. Park at the end of Welsh Road.

Map Here

The trail starts at the end of Welsh Rd, heading west. The old orchard is on the south side of the trail adjacent to Welsh Rd. *The bird was 100 m from the trailhead as per above*

Photos: Craig Sandvig

RBA: RED-THROATED PIPIT in Victoria - May 4th-8th

On May 4th, 2016 at 4:30pm Geoffrey and David Newell found a Red-throated Pipit at Panama Flats in Victoria. The bird was first seen in the Northeast quadrant of the flats with 40 American Pipits. As it flew to the NW Quadrant birders got to listen to its high "psssss" call.  

The bird was last seen on the East side of Panama Flats just south of the building covered in graffiti at 9:30am on May 8th and has not been relocated since.

Panama Flats is located between Roy Rd and Carey Rd.  The best access to view the bird is off Carey Rd and to walk down the middle dyke looking at both the NE and NW Quadrants.

Photo: Courtney Cameron

Photo: Geoffrey Newell

RBA: White-cheeked Starling in Tofino - April 27-29th

On the morning of April 27th, 2016  at 7:30am Adrian Dorst found and photographed a White-cheeked Starling in Tofino as it fed on the second fairway at the Long Beach Golf Course. This bird could be ship assisted or an escapee. This would be the first ABA record if accepted. There is one other record from 1998 in Homer, Alaska but it was rejected due to provenance. The bird was seen by multiple observers on April 28th and 29th in the same location.

There are specific rules in place to view this bird. Birders are welcome early in the morning before the golfers arrive but must be out by 8:30am. When parking at the Golf Course please do not block any gates. Please stay off the green entirely when looking for or viewing this bird. Patience is key with this bird and it is best for one to stay in one place and wait until the bird appears. Please be respectful of these rules as the Golf Course management is generously opening it up to birders.

Evenings may be a possibility but only with a guide  and Wednesday and Thursday evenings are exempt.

The location for the Long Beach Golf Course is 1850 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino.

There has been no sightings of the bird on April 30th or May 1st.

Photo: Adrian Dorst

RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Creston - April 5th

On the morning of April 5th - 2016, Marc-Andre Beaucher found an adult Loggerhead Shrike as it perched on a Hawthorn bush along the South West Dyke at Duck Lake in Creston. The bird was relocated by Craig Sandvig around 6:30pm on the same day. The bird was last seen in the hawthorns south of the campsite. The campsite is located at the West end of the Duck Lake dyke.

The bird was not relocated on April 6th.

Loggerhead Shrike perched to the left of Northern Shrike below. Photo: Marc-Andre Beaucher

RBA: MCKAY'S BUNTING in Richmond - Feb 23rd (late report)

At 10 am on Feb 23-2016 John Reynolds photographed a female McKay's Bunting on the south jetty at Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond, BC.

Map to location HERE

The bird was photographed and confirmed by Jack Withrow (University of Alaska Museum, Collections Manager, Birds), who noted the mantle streaks were nice and lance shaped and that there was no obvious signs of hybridsm with a Snow Bunting. 

This is the 3rd record for BC.

Female McKay's Bunting in Richmond - Photo: John Reynolds

RBA: BLACK-HEADED GULL relocated in Vancouver, Feb 6-April 2nd

After careful study of the primaries it looks like this is the same bird as the Trout Lake gull seen from Jan 25-31st. See Here for the full explanation and photos.

Jim Palmer found a Black-headed Gull on the afternoon of Feb 6th as he was jogging on the Seawall at Stanley Park. The bird was on the rocks with some Mew Gulls at the base of Cardero Street at Beach Ave. He immediately noticed the blood red bill and legs and as the bird stretched he saw its black underwings. He said the bird seemed to have a different appearance to the Trout Lake bird. This is not out of the question as two different Black-headed Gull individuals recently turned up in Monroe, WA; however careful study of the primaries and facial patterns would need to be done to conclude this.

On Feb 13th he was seen by Mike Boyd in front of the Vancouver Maritime Museum

On Feb 14th, Jay Rourke relocated the Black-headed Gull at the Off-leash dog park at Spanish Banks.

On Feb 22nd the bird is was relocated at the foot of Cardero at Beach Ave.

On Feb 29th the bird is relocated at Spanish Banks Off-Leash Dog Park and continues there as of March 3rd.

On March 4th bird was relocated at the Musqueam Golf Course flying East over the Fraser River in Vancouver. The Golf Course is located at 3904 51st Ave W. in Vancouver.

On March 14th, the bird was relocated and photographed by Bridget Spencer and it was flying East over Deering Island in Vancouver.

On April 2nd the bird was relocated by Peter Candido as it sat on the Fraser River between Iona's North Jetty and Point Grey in Richmond. It has not been relocated since.

The bird has not been seen since April 2nd.

This is the 24th record for the province of BC.

Taken at Cardero at Beach Ave by David Baker

RBA: BLACK-HEADED GULL in Vancouver, Jan 25-Jan 31st

On Jan 25th at 8:40 am, Edward Nygren found an adult Black-headed Gull in non-breeding plumage in the NW corner of Trout Lake. He noticed right away the small size of the gull , the dark ear spot on the white head, the black wing tips and the blood red legs and bill. The bird was foraging on the lawn with Glaucous-winged and California Gulls.

The bird was relocated at 10:00 am in the gravel soccer field in the West side of the park by Daniele Mitchell on Jan 26th and was photographed by multiple observers. It moves between sitting on the lake and the West parking lot and soccer field.

The address for Trout Lake/John Hendry Park is: 3300 Victoria Drive, Vancouver.

This is the 24th record for the province of BC.

Adult Black-headed Gull at Trout Lake in Vancouver - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev