RBA: LAUGHING GULL in Sidney - July 7th-15th

At 12:30pm on July 7th - 2016, Kerry Finley found a second cycle Laughing Gull on the outer mudflats at Roberts Bay at The Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Sidney. The bird was actively feeding in a large flock of Glaucous-winged Gulls and a few Mew Gulls and the flock was frequently being flushed by a Bald Eagle. 

At 3pm, Kerry had the bird with some Glaucous-winged Gulls in the SW area of Roberts Bay near the Mermaid Creek Delta off the end of Fifth Street in Sidney.

At 6:20pm, the bird was relocated by Ann Nightingale on the beach at the end of Amherst Ave. Just after 7pm it was seen by multiple observers flying towards Sidney Island but is most likely still in the area.

On July 8th at 12:15pm the bird was relocated by Kerry Finley and observed by multiple observers sitting on the mudflats at the base of 5th Street in Sidney. At 1:15pm the bird was seen flying towards Amherst Ave in Sidney and has not been seen since.

The bird was not seen on July 9th.

On July 10th at 12:30pm, the bird was relocated by David Allison in flight as it flew towards Sidney Island from Roberts Point.

On July 10th at 3:05pm, the bird was last seen by David Fraser in a large feeding frenzy offshore with other gulls and it was visible from Amherst Ave.

On July 11th at 4:30pm, the bird was seen from Amherst Avenue by Geoffrey and David Newell as it flew SE towards Sidney Island. It landed briefly offshore in a gull feeding frenzy.

The bird was not see on July 12th, 13th or 14th.

On July 15th at 7:30pm Daniele Mitchell had the bird in flight as it flew SE past the light beacon at the tip of the Beaufort Street Peninsula, in a flock of California Gulla as he stood on the beach North of the Goddard Rd access in Sidney.

The bird was not seen on July 16th.

This is the first photo documented record for the province of British Columbia! 

Photo: Keith Taylor

Photo: Kerry Finley

XANTUS'S HUMMINGBIRD record from Gibsons now accepted in BC!

Usually the main page is not used for discussing The BC Birds Record Committee decisions, as we have a separate link for that but this 19 year old sighting has been a very controversial and intriguing topic for many. Birders have been awaiting a ruling one way or the other on the Xantus's Hummingbird that showed up in Gibsons On Nov 16, 1997 and now many can be happy that the bird has been ruled on and ACCEPTED to the Provincial List.


For more info and a full account of the original sighting please see HERE

RBA: NORTHERN PARULA in Vancouver - June 21st

At 10:45am on June 21st - 2016, Jaryd Turner found a Male Northern Parula at Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver. The bird was singing just west of the pond along the flooded trail in a Red Alder. It was photographed and last seen flying NW along the flooded trail.

The park is located at 3941 Point Grey Rd in Vancouver.

Map to Location HERE

The bird has not been relocated since.

Photo: Jaryd Turner

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER near Ucluelet - June 18th

At 11:45am on June 18th - 2016, Ian Cruickshank (who has now found 3 Provinical rarities in a week!) found a Snowy Plover at the beach at Florencia Bay near Ucluelet. Florencia Bay is located within Pacific Rim National Park.

Multiple observers got to see the bird and the bird is still present as of 8:25pm on June 18th.

There was no sign of the Snowy Plover on June 19th.

A video of the bird can be viewed HERE

Map to location is HERE

Directions:

Park in the gravel pullout which is on the left hand side of Tofino-Ucluelet Hwy and walk down the Gold Mine Trail through the woods (about 2km) to the beach. Bird was feeding along the shore, on the beach to the left of the path entrance and 150 m East of the Lost Shoe Creek mouth.

If you get to Wick Rd you have gone too far.

This 2 km hike is NOT for those with mobility issues.

This is the 20th record for the province of BC.

Photos: Melissa Hafting

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Ucluelet - June 17th

At noon on June 17th - 2016, Ian Cruickshank found a White-winged Dove at 1276 Helen Rd in Ucluelet. The bird is coming to a feeder in the front yard and can be viewed from the road. Please do not go onto the private property when viewing this bird. Please be respectful of Homeowners.

The bird continues as of 8:45pm on June 17th.

There was no sighting of the bird on June 18th.

A video of the bird can be viewed HERE

Photos: Ian Cruickshank

RBA: Northern Parula near Ucluelet - June 15th

On the evening of June 15th-2016, Ian Cruickshank found a male Northern Parula. This location is only accessible by boat. The bird was singing on an island in an oxbow in the river, which is west of a logging road bridge, over the lower Kennedy River. The island is part of Kennedy River Bog Provincial Park and this is where you would access the water from land. The Provincial Park is accessed by land via a logging from Highway #4. It is about a 30 minute paddle from the bridge if one had a non-motorized boat. The bird was found at these coordinates:

49.102929, -125.626606

Map HERE

Ian was able to obtain a recording of the bird. You can listen to the recording HERE

After a dedicated search the bird was not relocated on June 16th.

RBA: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Tofino - June 11th

At 8 am on June 11th, 2016, Mike Wesbrook found a Male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perched on driftwood and hawking insects at Chesterman Beach in Tofino. The bird was observed for 15 minutes as it repeatedly got mobbed by crows as it moved north down the beach.  

The bird has not been relocated since.


Chesterman Beach is located at 1377 Chesterman Beach Rd in Tofino.

RBA: Ash-throated Flycatcher in Victoria, June 10th

On June 10th at 8am Mike McGrenere found an Ash-throated Flycatcher. He took photos and a recording. The bird was in the low Garry Oaks below the concrete viewing platform by the upper parking lot at Mount Douglas Park in Victoria.

The bird has not been relocated since this initial sighting.

You can listen to a recording of the bird HERE.

Mount Douglas Park is located at 4500 Cedar Hill Rd in Victoria.

Photo: Mike McGrenere

A Stork visits Kelowna - June 9th

Well it may not be a rare bird but it is a special celebration tonight for one of our regional coordinators from The Okanagan. On June 9th, 2016 Chris Charlesworth welcomed his first child into the world in Kelowna. He had a baby boy named Carsen James Charlesworth.

Little Carsen James Charlesworth

Congratulations Chris from all of us at the BC Rare Bird Alert. Thank you to you and all the regional coordinators for all the volunteer work you do here to share sightings to so many in the province.

All the best to you, Cindy and your beautiful new addition to your family.
Melissa

RBA: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Richmond - June 9th

On June 9th - 2016, Stuart Mackenzie found a Loggerhead Shrike at 2pm in Richmond.  The bird was found on the airport fence on the North side of Ferguson Rd  across from Shannon Rd en route to Iona Regional Park. It flew North and has not been relocated since 3pm.

Record Cell Photo by Stuart Mackenzie