Thursday, December 23, 2021

RBA: TUFTED DUCK in Duncan - Dec 23/21-March 30/22

At 2 pm on December 23-2021, Jeremy Gatten found a male Tufted Duck at the sewage lagoons in Duncan. 

There is no public access inside the lagoons but birders can view the bird through the fence from the elevated trail off Wharncliffe Rd that gives a good view over most of the sewage lagoon.

Map to location HERE

The bird continues in the same location as of March 30, 2022.

Tufted Duck in Duncan - Photo: Jeremy Gatten

Friday, December 17, 2021

RBA: KING EIDER in Victoria - Dec 17-18th

At 4:15pm on Dec 17-2021, David Caudwell found a female King Eider swimming off Steve Fonyo Beach on Dallas Rd near the foot of Menzies St.

Map to location HERE

The bird was relocated on Dec 18th and was last seen flying west past McMicking Point at 9am. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 38th record for BC.

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

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

King Eider in Victoria - Photo: David Caudwell

Sunday, December 12, 2021

RBA: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in Agassiz - Dec 12/21-Feb 11/22

At 12:50pm on Dec 12-2021, Susan Fennellow found an adult Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a tree on Tuyttens Rd in Agassiz.

Map to location HERE

PLEASE DO NOT TRESPASS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WHILE VIEWING THIS BIRD. PARK WELL OFF THE ROAD AND DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS OR ROADWAYS.

*This is the first photo-documented record for BC.*

It was not relocated on Dec 16th, despite multiple observers looking.

On Dec 19th, the bird was last seen in the same location and was viewed by multiple observers. 

The bird was not relocated on Dec 20-21st, despite multiple observers looking.

At 10:30 am on Dec 22nd the bird was relocated HERE along Whelpton Rd in a tall willow in a yard just west of the junction with Agassiz-Rosedale Hwy and East of the Junction with Tuyttens Rd. 

On Dec 28th the bird was seen at the west end of Cutler Rd.

It was relocated on Jan 14th and 15th on nearby Whorley Rd.

On Jan 18th the hawk was seen on Whelpton Rd.

**On Jan 23rd the hawk continued in the original location and HERE on Caignou Rd. It has also been seen on Bridge Rd just north of Whelpton Rd**

**On Feb 11th the hawk continued at the original location and on Whorley Rd. It has not been seen since.**

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

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

Red-shouldered Hawk in Agassiz - Photos: Marc Sole

Red-shouldered Hawk in Agassiz - Photo: Susan Fennellow

Thursday, December 9, 2021

RBA: WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Osoyoos - Dec 8th

On Dec 8-2021, Dwayne Flexhaug found a White-winged Dove at a feeder at his private home. 

This home is not open to the public. 

This is the 23rd record for BC.

White-winged Dove in Osoyoos - Photo: Jayme Flexhaug

Monday, December 6, 2021

RBA: EMPEROR GOOSE in Haida Gwaii - Dec 6th

At 2pm on Dec 6-2021, Carey Bergman found an adult Emperor Goose within the Skidegate Inlet IBA. The bird was still present 2 hours later when she returned.

The exact location is being kept as private by request.

Emperor Goose in Haida Gwaii - Photos: Carey Bergman

Friday, November 19, 2021

RBA: BRAMBLING in Revelstoke - Nov 19/21-Jan 11/22

At 1:30pm on Nov 19-2021 Darlene Cancelliere found a female Brambling at the feeders in the front yard of her home at 407 Edward St. This is the second she has had in her yard over the years. 

Map to location HERE

Birders are welcome to come view the bird but please view the bird from the public street and do not enter the yard. Please do not block driveways and be respectful of neighbours.

*The bird was relocated at a neighboring home at the corner of 5th St E and Downie St on Nov 28th.

Darlene relocated the bird at her place in her front yard on Nov 29th. It was travelling with house finches and eating Mountain Ash Berries.

On Dec 4th and 8th, the bird continued at the feeders HERE at 5th St E and Downie St.

**On Jan 11/22 the bird continued in the original location in Darlene’s front yard.**

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

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


Brambling in Revelstoke - Photos: Melissa Hafting

RBA: EURASIAN SKYLARK in Haida Gwaii - Nov 18th

At 10am on Nov 18-2021, Margo Hearne et al. photographed an Asian subspecies of Eurasian Skylark in the pekinensis group at Mather’s Bight in Sandspit. 

Map to general location HERE

**As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

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

Thursday, November 4, 2021

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Kelowna - Nov 4-22nd

At 9 am on Nov 4-2021, Huw Williams found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in a Black-capped Chickadee flock at Munson Pond. The bird was seen off the viewing platform near the parking area.

Map to first location HERE

The bird was still present in the SE corner of Munson Pond HERE and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird continues HERE behind the nearby school on Nov 22nd and has been viewed by multiple observers.

This is the 24th record for BC.

 *As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

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

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Kelowna - Photo: Chris Charlesworth

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Kelowna - Photo: Ian Walker

Monday, October 18, 2021

RBA: WHITE WAGTAIL in Haida Gwaii - Oct 18-29th

At 10:35 am on Oct 18-2021, Paul Levesque and Christine Rock found a White Wagtail in Queen Charlotte City. The bird was flycatching from the roof of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans building at 137 Bay St. It was also seen foraging along the beach near the same building. The bird has an injury to its right foot but doesn’t seem too affected by it.

The bird was last seen by them at 11:35am in the same area that day.

The bird was not relocated on Oct 19th.

At 3pm on Oct 22nd Paul Levesque relocated the bird at the same location. The bird was foraging for insects on the roof of the DFO building and on the ground at the adjacent baseball diamond.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location on Oct 29th and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on Oct 30th or 31st.

This is the 17th record for BC.

 *As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). 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 Wagtail in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Carey Bergman

White Wagtail in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Paul Levesque 

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

RBA: SLATY-BACKED GULL in Campbell River - Sept 28-30th

At 10 am on Sept 28-2021, Keith Matthieu found and photographed an adult Slaty-backed Gull as it sat on the beach near the Ken Forde Boat Launch at Willow Point Estuary.

The bird was present in the area as of 12:56pm and was viewed by multiple observers before it flew south. 

Map to location HERE

On Sept 30-2021, the bird was relocated by Jack Bindernagel at Oyster Bay and was viewed by multiple observers. It has not been relocated since.

Map to location HERE

This is the 85th record for BC.

 *As per current Public Health directives due to COVID-19 - Please remain 2 meters apart when viewing any birds on this list during this time. Please follow all public health directives during this pandemic (including not birding in groups, please wear a mask if you are unable to social distance). The BC Public Health directives can be found HERE*

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

Slaty-backed Gull in Campbell River - Photos: Keith Matthieu