Tuesday, July 7, 2020

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER near Cape Scott - July 6th

At 12:30pm on July 6-2020, while fishing of a friend's boat Liam Singh found and photographed a Manx Sheawater. The bird was spotted 2 miles off of San Josef Bay near Cape Scott on Vancouver Island. It was flying north in a flock of Sooty Shearwaters.

Exact location HERE

This is the 63rd record for BC.

Manx Shearwater off Cape Scott on Vancouver Island - Photo: Liam Singh

Monday, June 29, 2020

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Kamloops - June 29-July 20th

At 8pm on June 29-2020, Isaac Nelson found a male Tufted Duck at Mitchell Lake.

Map to location HERE

The bird is best viewed by scope from Deleeuw Rd.

The bird was last seen at Mitchell Lake on July 1st and has been viewed by multiple observers.

On July 4-2020, the Tufted Duck was relocated on a nearby lake on Scott Rd (scope is recommended).

Map to last location HERE

The bird continues at Mitchell Lake on July 20th.

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Tufted Duck in Kamloops - Photo: Chris Charlesworth
Tufted Duck in Kamloops - Photo: Suzy Wright

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

RBA: GRAY-TAILED TATTLER in Kitimat - June 23-26th

At 6:15pm on June 23-2020, Joachim Bertrands and Christian Kelly found a Gray-tailed Tattler in the NW section of Minette Bay. Walter Thorne took photos of the bird with his camera and a recording was obtained by Joachim. They watched the bird in the same spot up until 9pm.

Directions: When coming from Terrace, turn left on Kitimat Village Rd. Follow the signs to Minette Bay Lodge, then go past it (do not turn onto private construction roads) to the parking area on the water at the end of the road. Walk to the end of the spit in front of the log booms.

Map to exact location of bird HERE

The bird works the log boom at high tide. At low tide it is on the mudflats. A scope is helpful.

Recording is HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location on June 26th and has been viewed by multiple observers.

***The bird was not relocated on June 27 or 28th, despite multiple observers looking.***

This is the first record for BC and Canada.

A CBC news story on the bird can be found HERE a radio interview on CBC  news can be found HERE (scroll to 1 hour and 41 mins)

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Gray-tailed Tattler in Kitimat - Photos: Jeff Dyck

Monday, June 22, 2020

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Trail - June 21st

At 3:30 pm on June 21-2020, Mindy Smith found an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Trail. The bird was in a tree in a field on the south side of the road near the end of Waneta-Nelway Rd (before it becomes gravel).

Map to location HERE

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Trail - Photos: Mindy Smith

Sunday, May 31, 2020

RBA: CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in Saanich - May 31st

At 8:45am on May 31-2020, Carl Hughes found a male Chestnut-sided Warbler halfway down Lohbrunner Rd. here where the Easteen Phoebe had been sighted.

The warbler eventually moved to some oak trees at 4368 Lochside Drive where it was singing until 10:45am.

Map to last location HERE

Multiple observers got to see the bird.

The bird was not relocated thus far on June 1st.

This is the 77th record for BC.

*As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing or looking for this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.*


Chestnut-sided Warbler in Saanich - Photo: Carl Hughes

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Tofino - May 26th

On May 26-2020, Adrian Dorst and Ian Cruickshank both found the same Snowy Plover independently on Comber's Beach in Tofino.

This is the 28th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Tofino - Photo: Adrian Dorst

Sunday, May 24, 2020

RBA: 3 WHITE-FACED IBIS in Surrey - May 18-26th

At 3:30 pm on May 18-2020, young birder Katya Kondratyuk found 3 White-faced Ibis feeding in the ponds at Serpentine Fen. She went back at 6:30pm on May 24th with her camera and found them feeding in the same location across from the second viewing tower. The birds are best viewed from the viewing tower.

The birds continued in the same location as of May 26th.

Map to exact location HERE

This is the 56th record for BC.

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing or looking for this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.*

White-faced Ibis in Surrey - Photos: Katya Kondratyuk

Saturday, May 23, 2020

RBA: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Osoyoos - May 23-24th

At 5:20 pm on May 23-2020, Lucie Parker found an Ash-throated Flycatcher in Osoyoos. The bird was flycatching from saskatoon and sagebrush bushes. She watched it for 5 mins before it flew off in a westerly direction and she could not relocate it. It likely could still be in the area since they can be skulky.

*The bird was relocated by Nathan Earley in the same location (see map link) at 7am on May 24th but has not been seen since, despite multiple observers looking.*

Map to location HERE

Directions: Look for the "Important Habitat" enclosure and there are cliffs just south of that enclosure where the bird was.

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing or looking for this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.*

Ash-throated Flycatcher in Osoyoos - Photos: Lucie Parker

Friday, May 22, 2020

RBA: WHITE-FACED IBIS in Chilliwack - May 22

At 4:30pm on May 22-2020, Dave Beeke found a single White-faced Ibis in a field near the railway tracks near Prest Rd in Chilliwack.

Map to location HERE

Please do not trespass on any private farm land.

This is the 55th record for the province of BC.

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing or looking for this bird. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**

White-faced Ibis in Chilliwack - Photo: Dave Beeke

RBA: 7 WHITE-FACED IBIS in Creston - May 22nd

At 10:15 am on May 22-2020 Steve Ogle saw 7 White-faced Ibis flying south over him HERE on Swan Rd near the Kootenay River in Creston. He did not see them land.

The birds may land near the area or across the border in the US but as of yet have not been relocated.

This is the 54th record for the province of BC.

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 metres apart when viewing or looking for these birds. Please follow all public health directives (including not birding in groups) during this pandemic. The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

**eBird's statement on how to bird mindfully during the pandemic can be viewed HERE.**