Friday, September 7, 2018

RBA: LARK BUNTING in Sechelt - Sept 7th

At 8:20 am on Sept 7-2018, John Hodges found a juvenile Lark Bunting at Wilson Creek Estuary in Sechelt. The bird was foraging on the ground between an abandoned building and a derelict boat on the water. The bird was viewed by multiple observers throughout the afternoon and was very tame.

Map to exact location of bird HERE

This is the 38th record for the province of BC.

There was one brief single observer sighting on Sept 8 but no one present could see or relocate the bird at this time or up to six hours later.

Lark Bunting in Sechelt - Photo: Arnold Skei/Macaulay Library

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Port Renfrew - Aug 22nd (Late Report)

A White-winged Dove was photographed at the Port Renfrew Marina at 11:57 am on August 22-2018 but was misidentified as a Band-tailed Pigeon. She saw the bird in a scrubby area beside the boat trailer parking area but has not returned to the place since.

Map to exact location of where the bird last seen HERE

Port Renfrew Marina and RV Park is located at 7505 Gordon River Rd, Port Renfrew.

Thanks to Blair Dudeck for catching this rarity and notifying the RBA.

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

White-winged Dove in Port Renfrew - Photo: Ruth Vanderbor/Macaulay Library
White-winged Dove in Port Renfrew - Photo: Ruth Vanderbor/Macaulay Library

Saturday, September 1, 2018

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Delta - Sept 1st

At 12:30 pm on Sept 1-2018 Randy Dzenkiw spotted an adult Snowy Plover (that was not associating with any flock of birds) on the mudflats off 96th St at Boundary Bay. Photos were obtained and good looks were had by all present. A scope is required.

Map to location HERE

The bird flew off after 3 minutes and has not been relocated as of posting.

This is the 23rd record for the province of BC and the second Snowy Plover currently in the province right now. You can read about the other bird HERE

Please park in legal parking spaces only as not to disturb residents. The most accessible parking is at the foot of 104th St at the Delta Air Park at Boundary Bay.

Snowy Plover in Delta - Photo: Sharon Toochin


Friday, August 31, 2018

RBA: LITTLE STINT in Delta - Aug 31-Sept 3rd

At 1 pm on August 31-2018, Kevin Louth found 1 juvenile Little Stint with Western Sandpipers between the mansion and 96th St at Boundary Bay. Earlier in the day he found 13 Buff-breasted Sandpipers in the dirt field west of 88th St.

Map to initial location HERE

At 11:40 am on Sept 1-2018, Kevin Louth, Mike and Sharon Toochin and Melissa Hafting relocated the Little Stint between the pilings and 104th St at Boundary Bay.

The bird continues on the mudflats off 104th St on Sept 3-2018 and photos were obtained on Sept 2nd and 3rd.

Map to last location of Little Stint HERE

The bird was not seen on Sept 4th, despite multiple observers looking.

Please park in legal parking spaces only as not to disturb residents. The most accessible parking is at the foot of 104th St at the Delta Air Park at Boundary Bay.

This is the 12th record for the province of BC.

Juvenile Little Stint in Delta - Photos: Dave Beeke
Little Stint on left beside Western Sandpiper - Photo: Dave Beeke

Thursday, August 23, 2018

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Revelstoke - Aug 23-Sept 4th

At 10:00 am on August 23-2018, Don Manson found a moulting adult Snowy Plover foraging along the shore of Upper Arrow Lake at the end of "Nine Mile Point" which is accessed off Airport Way. He was able to get many good photographs.

The bird was discovered to be injured on August 25th. It is still able to fly and eat but is limping, it was seen falling over once.

The map to the location of the bird is HERE

This is the 22nd record for the province of BC and the 3rd Snowy Plover in this province this year.

The bird has not been seen since Sept 4th.

Injured Snowy Plover in Revelstoke - Photo: Chris Charlesworth
Snowy Plover in Revelstoke - Photos: Don Manson










Wednesday, August 22, 2018

RBA: BROWN BOOBY near Malcolm Island - August 22nd

At 2pm on August 22, 2018 - Gord Curry and Ted Down found an adult Brown Booby sitting on a log in Queen Charlotte Strait, NW of Pultney Point Lighthouse on Malcolm Island, while they were fishing. This made it easy for them to get beautiful pictures of the bird. The bird was viewed for 16 minutes before it was seen flying away in a northerly direction.

The map to the exact location is HERE

This is the 16th record for the province of BC.

Adult Brown Booby in Queen Charlotte Strait - Photos: Gord Curry



Tuesday, July 24, 2018

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Victoria - July 24th

At 10 am on July 24-2018, Ann Nightingale found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Victoria. The bird was not banded but was viewed foraging near the shoreline and vocalizing for 5 mins before it flew off.

This location is not open to the public.

This is the 21st record for the province of BC.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher in Victoria - Photo: Ann Nightingale

Monday, July 23, 2018

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Tofino - July 23rd

At 8:20am on July 23-2018, Arthur Ahier found a Manx Shearwater. He viewed the bird at the SE corner of Cleland Island off Tofino from a boston whaler from The Whale Centre. He was not able to get photos but noted the white undertail coverts to differentiate it from a Black-vented. He has experience with this species on the East Coast. Multiple observers saw the bird.

This is the 59th record for the province of BC.


Sunday, July 22, 2018

RBA: NORTHERN PARULA in Victoria - July 22-Aug 22nd

At 5:45 am on July 22-2018, an adult female Northern Parula was banded by Siobhan Darlington at Rocky Point Bird Observatory.

The bird was captured and banded on Aug 6th and again seen on Aug 22nd.

This location is not open to the public.


Female Northern Parula in Victoria - Photo: Donna Talluto

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




Sunday, July 15, 2018

RBA: 15 LESSER GOLDFINCHES in Osoyoos - July 15/18-Sept 24/19

At 10:37 am on July 15-2018, a male Lesser Goldfinch was found by David M. Bell on Kruger Mtn Road. The bird was loosely associating with a flock of Pine Siskins near 19610 Kruger Mtn Road.

Map to location of first bird HERE

At 12:30pm he found 2 males and 1 female and was was able to photograph the birds. The 2 males were flying around the female. The female was frequenting a rosebush across from 19610 Kruger Mtn Rd.

A 4th bird was found and photographed by Daniel Bastaja and it was juvenile male. This does not prove local breeding as they are molt migrants. Both age groups leave breeding territories shortly after the young fledge and can travel thousands of kilometres.

Map to location of the four birds HERE

Directions: At the end of the pavement there's a turnaround where it turns to gravel. Park there and the birds are 20m back down the road. They are moving around the yards and roadside there.

On Dec 12-2018, Chris Charlesworth found 15 Lesser Goldfinches in the same area. There is a high probability as first suspected that these birds bred in BC which would be the first record of breeding in BC. Unfortunately this was never confirmed.

15 birds continue at the corner of Alkali Rd and Old Richter Pass Rd as of January 14th, 2019.

On Feb 6th-2019, 10 birds were seen at 15523 Old Richter Pass Rd in Osoyoos.

***On July 5th-2019 David Bell photographed an adult female feeding a barely fledged bird that cannot fly. This finally confirms breeding at this site and the first breeding record for the province.***
Lesser Goldfinch fledgling with adult in Osoyoos - Photos: David Bell

***The birds continue along Kruger Mtn Rd as of Sept 24th.***

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


Male Lesser Goldfinch in Osoyoos - Photo: David M. Bell
Adult Female Lesser Goldfinch in Osoyoos - Photo: David M. Bell
Juvenile Male Lesser Goldfinch in Osoyoos - Photo: Daniel Bastaja