RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Nanaimo - Feb 7-21st

At 12:45pm on February 7th-2017, Blair Dudeck found and photographed an adult Slaty-backed Gull at the Nanaimo River Estuary. The bird was in a mixed Gull flock along the river near the parking lot on Raines Rd.

At 12:15pm on Feb 8th, the bird was relocated in the same location by Guy Monty. The bird appeared to fly in from the direction of the landfill. The bird was viewed by multiple observers and then flew at 1:15pm.  The gull was lost in flight and no one was able to see which direction it went.

At 8:25am on Feb 9th, the bird was viewed by Garrett Beisel in the same location.

The gull continues in the same location as of Feb 13-19th

Please be respectful of the First Nations Reserve in the area as Raines Road runs through the Snuneymuxw First Nations Reserve. People should NOT bird along Raines Rd in front of the houses, or stop there. This bird can be viewed from the parking lot at the end of Raines Rd, which is outside of the Reserve, and is public property.

Map to location: HERE

On Feb 18th, Guy Monty relocated the Slaty-backed Gull at the Landfill on Cedar Rd. Located at 1105 Cedar Road.

Map to location: HERE

On Feb 19th, the bird was relocated once again back at the Nanaimo River Estuary. It was viewed by scope off the end of Raines Rd. 

On Feb 20-21st the bird was seen back again at the Landfill on Cedar Rd.

This is the second Slaty-backed Gull in the province, during the 2016/2017 winter season.

The bird has not been seen since Feb 21st. 

This is the 81st record for the province of BC.

Adult Slaty-backed Gull - Photos: Jeremy Gatten

RBA: PINK-FOOTED GEESE in Saanich and Duncan - Jan 18-March 19th

At 1:30pm on January 22-2017, Liron Gerstman, who is 16 years old, found 2 Pink-footed Geese (1 adult and 1 in formative plumage) in a flock of 200 Dusky Canada Geese. The birds were in a grassy field on the east side of the path. Access to the field is on Lochside Dr. north of Dooley Rd. Multiple observers saw and photographed the birds in the same location as of 4:45pm.

It discovered today that on January 18th, John Peetsma photographed 2 Pink-footed Geese in the same location. However, at the time they were identified as Greater-white Fronted Geese.

Map to location on Lochside Dr, north of Dooley Rd is HERE

At 8:10am on January 23rd, the birds were seen in a mixed flock of 500 Canada Geese on the south side of Martindale Rd. The birds were still present as of 5pm.

The birds continue in the same field and in the field off Dooley Rd, as of January 26th.

On Jan 27th the birds continue in the original field (see above map)

Map to location on Martindale Rd is HERE

The birds were not seen on Jan 28-30th.

On the morning of Jan 31st, the bird was refound by Mike McGrenere in a field in a mixed goose flock off the Lochside Trail. The birds were viewed from the Blenkinsop Trestle. They were not present in the afternoon.

Map to location of Geese HERE

At 9:45 am on Feb 1st the geese were relocated back at the field south of Martindale Rd and continued there all day.

The birds continue in the same location as of Feb 2nd.

Map to location on Martindale Rd is HERE

On Feb 4th, the birds were relocated in the field north of St Margaret's School in Victoria. Please do not enter school grounds from Mon-Friday during school hours. At 3:15pm they flew from the school and were last seen iin the north field of Galey Farms at 4:15pm. Galey farm is located at 4150 Blenkinsop Rd in Victoria.

From 3-5:20pm on Feb 9th, the birds were once again relocated in the field north of St Margaret's School in Victoria. The school is located at 1080 Lucas Ave, Victoria. Please do not enter school grounds during school hours (Mon-Fri). The birds can also be viewed off the dead end of Beckwith Ave.

On Feb 10th, the birds were seen in a field on the west side of 4335 Blenkinsop Rd. The birds were 300 metres west of the road and allowed for good scope views.

On Feb 11-14th the birds were relocated in a field off the Lochside Trail south of Lohbrunner Rd where the trail goes from pavement to gravel.

Map to location HERE

On March 3rd, Darryl Johnston reported seeing the birds on Cherry Point Rd in Duncan. On March 4th, Derrick Marven reported seeing the birds this morning in the fields between Koksilah Rd and Wilmot Rd on the east side of the highway. The birds were flushed by a drone around 10:30 am and were later spotted at 11 am in Victoria. This would explain their absence in the Victoria area since Feb 14th.

On March 5th, Jason Kimm et al. relocated the Geese in a field on Cherry Point Rd near Cowichan Bay Rd.

Map to location HERE

The Geese were not relocated on March 6th.

On March 9th, Mike McGrenere relocated the Geese in a field North of and behind St. Margaret's School in Victoria. The school is located at 1080 Lucas Ave, Victoria. Please do not enter school grounds during school hours (Mon-Fri). The birds can be viewed by scope off Valewood Trail Rd at Valewood Park.

On March 10-12th, the Geese continued in a field with 10 Great White-fronted Geese off the east side of the the Lochside Trail. The birds were viewable from the north end of the Blenkinsop Trestle Bridge. They were last seen in a field to the west of Blenkinsop Lake near the northern most high voltage power line mast (where the power line changes direction).

The birds continue on March 18th in the fields north of Lohbrunner Rd at Blenkinsop Lake.

Map HERE

On March 19th, the birds were relocated in a field with Canada Geese off Island View Rd near McHugh Rd in Saanich.

The birds were not seen on March 20-21st.

Please be respectful of private farmland and do not walk in the fields. Please scope or view the birds from the path/road only.

This is a first record for the Province of British Columbia and the record has been accepted by the BC BRC.

Halluces are present on both of these Pink-footed Geese - Photo: Jody Wells

One Formative and One Adult Pink-footed Goose in Saanich - Photo: Liron Gertsman

RBA: LESSER GOLDFINCH in Abbotsford - January 7-16th

At 2:45pm on January 7th-2017, Chris Buis found a male Lesser Goldfinch at his Gazebo feeder at the SW corner of his hotel "The Brookside Inn" located at 2379 Chardonnay Lane in Abbotsford. The property is open to the public but please do not point binoculars or camera lenses at the hotel windows which could disturb hotel guests.  Also, please remember to keep your voices down when visiting the property. The bird is actively feeding at the gazebo feeder near the main door in the parking area. Best viewing is from the parking area.

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been seen since January 16th.

Photo: Nobert Sharp