Monday, May 23, 2022

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Elkford - May 23rd

This morning (May 23-2022), Mona Walsh found a male Indigo Bunting at her private residence in the East Kootenay town of Elkford. The bird was in her garden for much of the morning and remained until early afternoon, at which point it was not seen again.

Indigo Bunting. Elkford, BC. May 23, 2022. Photo: Mona Walsh.

Friday, May 20, 2022

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER IN Chilanko Forks - May 20th

At 3pm on May 20-2022, Jim Sims, Lubna Khan and Sean and Betty Donahue found an adult Snowy Plover at Chilanko Marsh in Chilanko Forks (near Tatla Lake).

Map to location HERE

This is the 39th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on May 21st despite multiple observers looking.

Snowy Plover in Chilanko Forks - Photos: Jim Sims

Friday, May 13, 2022

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Richmond - May 13-14th

At 9:15am on May 13-2022, Craig Huish found a Snowy Plover sitting on the south jetty and then it flew to the mudflats off the north side of the south jetty (near marker 207) at Iona Regional Park.

Map to location of bird HERE

**The bird was last seen 2:15pm in the same location on May 14th and was viewed by multiple observers. It flew north and has not been relocated as of 2:45pm**

***The bird has not been relocated on May 15th.**

This is the 38th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Richmond - Photo: Craig Huish

RBA: MANX SHEARWATER in Ucluelet - May 13th

At 6:15 am on May 13-2022, Ian Cruickshank viewed a Manx Shearwater by scope from Amphitrite Point. The bird was one km out and landed on the water several times. You can view the description from this experienced observer here.

Map to location HERE

This is the 70th record for BC.

Saturday, April 30, 2022

RBA: 3 SNOWY PLOVERS in Tofino - April 29-May 15th

On April 29-2022, David Caudwell found a Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach. He was able to photograph the bird before it was flushed by a dog.

At 12pm on April 30-2022, Bob Hansen relocated the bird HERE on Chesterman Beach near Frank Island. The bird was in a flock of Semipalmated Plovers. 

A second bird was also seen at 1:40pm alone at Comber’s Beach by Michelle Hamilton. The bird was near the Comber's Beach Trailhead.

At 8:30am on May 1-2022, Ian Cruickshank saw 3 birds together on Comber’s Beach near the sandhill creek mouth HERE

2 birds continue HERE on Wickaninnish Beach on May 2-12th.

On May 14-15th - 1 bird continues on Comber’s Beach at the sandhill creek mouth HERE

This is the 35th, 36th and 37th record for BC.

Snowy Plover on Chesterman Beach in Tofino - Photos: Harry Sedin
3 Snowy Plovers on Comber's Beach, Tofino - Photo: Michelle Hamilton

Sunday, April 24, 2022

RBA: KING EIDER in Comox - April 23-24th

At 7:10 am on April 24-2022, Krista Kaptein spotted a female King Eider at Singing Sands Beach in Comox. The bird was with 2000 Surf Scoters, some Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Greater Scaup. She was able to get photographs of the bird.

Multiple observers saw the bird until it flew off towards the SE at 8:50am.

Map to location it was first seen HERE

**After reviewing photos today, Iwan van Veen noticed that he had photographed the female King Eider HERE in a mixed scoter flock from the Comox to Powell River ferry at 9:25am on April 23rd.**

This is the 39th record for BC.

The bird was not relocated on April 25th.

King Eider in Comox - Photos: Krista Kaptein

Sunday, April 10, 2022

RBA: PARAKEET AUKLETS and MANX SHEARWATER off Tofino - April 10th

At 10:00am on April 10-2022 on a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters on the Miss B Haven, Mike Toochin et al. spotted 5 Parakeet Auklets near Clayoquot Canyon. One bird was photographed and viewed well by all on board.

The birds were seen HERE

This is the 47th record for BC.

At 1 pm on April 10-2022, Ilya Povalyaev and Yousif Attia spotted a Manx Shearwater off the same boat. It was viewed by half on board as the bird did one quick flyby and didn’t allow for photos.

The bird was seen HERE

This is the 69th record for BC.

1 of 5 Parakeet Auklets off Tofino - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

RBA: PARAKEET AUKLETS off Tofino - April 2

On April 2-2022, Joachim Bertrands et al found 6 Parakeet Auklets during a pelagic out of Tofino to the Clayoquot Canyon. 

Three of the birds were seen HERE

This is the 46th record of Parakeet Auklet for BC. 

Parakeet Auklet off Tofino - Photo: Joachim Bertrands

Sunday, March 27, 2022

RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS and PARAKEET AUKLET off Tofino - March 27

On March 27-2022, Blair Dudeck, Joachim Bertrands, et al found a Short-tailed Albatross and Parakeet Auklet during a pelagic with Ocean Outfitters out of Tofino. The Short-tailed Albatross was with a small group of Black-footed Albatrosses but not at a fishing boat. The Parakeet Auklet was seen by only a few on board.

The Short-tailed Albatross was observed HERE and the Parakeet Auklet was observed HERE.

This is the 45th record of Parakeet Auklet for BC. 

Short-tailed Albatross off Tofino - Photo: Joachim Bertrands
Parakeet Auklet off Tofino - Photo: Blair Dudeck

Saturday, March 26, 2022

RBA: FERRUGINOUS HAWK near Spider Lake, Vancouver Island - March 26

At around 2:15pm on March 26-2022, Derek Isbister found a light morph adult Ferruginous Hawk along Blacktail Rd near Spider Lake. This road is accessed by exiting the Inland Island Highway (Hwy 19) at Horne Lake Rd. The bird was observed on a large snag.

Map to location HERE

The bird has not been located since, despite multiple observers looking. 

Ferruginous Hawk near Spider Lake on Vancouver Island - Photo: Derek Isbister