RBA: WHOOPER SWAN in Courtenay - Nov 19-26th

At 4:30pm on Nov 19-2022, James MacKenzie, Nathan and Iain Haigh found a Whooper Swan at a retention pond on private property in Courtenay. The bird was not banded on either leg and toes did not appear to be clipped. It was in a flock of 78 Trumpeter Swans.

These ponds are not accessible to the public. Local birders have an agreement with the property owner. Please do not trespass.

At 4:45pm, the bird flew away to the SW towards Comox Lake.

Map to original location HERE

At 1:30pm on Nov 20-2022, the bird was relocated HERE in a field on Marsden Rd.

The bird later moved to a field HERE on Charter Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers as of 3pm.

The bird was not relocated on Nov 21.

On Nov 22-24th the bird was relocated HERE in a field off Dove Creek Rd and is being viewed by multiple observers.

On Nov 26th  the Whooper Swan was relocated in a field off Piercy Rd HERE and seen by multiple observers.

It has not been relocated since, despite multiple birders looking.

This is the second record for BC of a presumed wild vagrant.

Whooper Swan in Courtenay - Photos: James MacKenzie

Whooper Swan on Dove Creek Rd in Courtenay - Photo: Roger Beardmore

RBA: SCARLET TANAGER in Kaslo - Nov 18th

At 4pm on November 18, 2022 Allison Grant found a female Scarlet Tanager in her yard on A Avenue. The bird appeared sick and listless. It was shivering and having difficulty breathing.

The homeowner took the bird inside and it seemed to recover for a bit. She planned to release it the next morning but sadly it died overnight.

This is the 5th confirmed photographed record for BC and the 1st record for the Central Kootenay.

Female Scarlet Tanager in Kaslo - Photos: Allison Grant

RBA: BROWN BOOBY in Delta - Nov 14th

At 12:30pm on Nov 14-2022, Lochlan Wylie et al. found an adult female Brown Booby while aboard his family’s sailboat. The Booby stayed with the vessel for 11 mins as they were off Westham Island. At 12:41pm it flew off to the NE.

Map to location he first saw it HERE 

The bird was refound 2 hours later at 2:30pm by John Hall. The Brown Booby landed on his sail boat and stayed on the boat for over ten mins and he was able to obtain photos. 

John Hall first saw the bird HERE before it flew off towards Galiano Island.

This is the 20th record for BC.

Brown Booby in Delta - Photos: Lochlan Wylie

Brown Booby on John Hall’s boat off Delta, BC - Photo: John Hall

A video of the bird taken by Lochlan Wylie can be viewed below:

A video of the bird taken by John Hall can be viewed below:

RBA: BELL’S VIREO in Victoria - Nov 6-9th

At 4pm on Nov 6-2022, Steven Roias and Amelie Rousseau found a Bell’s Vireo at the NE end of Panama Flats. The bird was feeding in blackberry bushes.

Map to location HERE

This is the 2nd record for BC.

The bird was last seen HERE near the original location on November 9th and was viewed by multiple observers. 

It has not been seen since despite multiple observers looking.

Bell’s Vireo in Victoria (Photo: Amelie Rousseau)

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Port Moody - Nov 1st (late report)

At 5:15 pm on Nov 1-2022, Gillian McMillan photographed a female Acorn Woodpecker at her private home in Port Moody.

The bird only stayed at her feeder for ten minutes and did not return. If the bird returns the home may be open to the public.

This is the 14th record for BC and 3rd for Metro Vancouver.

Female Acorn Woodpecker in Port Moody - Photos: Gillian McMillan

RBA: BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in Fort St. John - Oct 29-Nov 4th

On October 29-2022, Kenneth Lane photographed a male Black-throated Blue Warbler at his private home on 118a Ave in Fort St. John.

The bird was last seen on Nov 4th and was viewed by multiple observers. It was not seen on Nov 5th.

The home is open to the public. Please contact the RBA for the address and instructions on viewing.

Black-throated Blue Warbler in Fort St. John - Photos: Kenneth Lane

RBA: BLACK PHOEBE in Abbotsford - Oct 25th (late report)

On Oct 25th Elisha Miller found a Black Phoebe that was hawking insects from a fence near a manure pile on private property on Arnold Rd near Vye Rd.

Map to location HERE

This is the 37th record for BC.

Elisha was not able to get a photo but did obtain a recording you can listen to below:

RBA: 2 EURASIAN SKYLARK in Ucluelet - Oct 24-31st

At 4:35pm on Oct 24-2022, Ian Cruickshank found a (presumed due to location) Asian subspecies of Eurasian Skylark (in the pekinensis group) in Ucluelet. 

The bird was flushed at a distance of 30-40m from the grass field at the end of the spit. He recorded the bird calling and got some video of the bird in flight. He watched it circle a few times and then watched it drop down into the grass where he lost it but presumed it was still there.

Map to location HERE

On October 25th-2022, Sam and Craig Cameron saw 2 birds at the site.

On Oct 28th-2022, Ian Cruickshank also confirmed he viewed 2 birds at the same location. Adrian Dorst was able to photograph both birds as well.

**The birds were last seen in the same location on Oct 31st. They were not relocated on Nov 4-2022.**

2 Eurasian Skylarks in Ucluelet - Photos: Adrian Dorst

A recording taken by Ian Cruickshank of one of the birds can be heard below:

RBA: ACORN WOODPECKER in Ladner - October 8-11th

At 2pm on October 8-2022, Anne Murray and Iris Wong found a male Acorn Woodpecker at Ladner Harbour Park near the marina.

Map to location HERE

The bird was present as of 6:20 pm and was  viewed by multiple observers. 

It was last seen across the river HERE on a bare snag. The bird flies back and forth to both locations so best to check both spots.

The bird was last seen frequenting both of the same locations above on Oct 11th and was viewed by multiple observers.

**The bird was not relocated on Oct 12th, despite multiple observers looking.**

This is the 13th record for BC and 2nd record for Metro Vancouver.

Male Acorn Woodpecker in Delta - Photos: Iris Wong

RBA: EURASIAN SKYLARK in Haida Gwaii - Oct 2-3rd

At 10:30 am on Oct 2-2022 James Bradley found a Asian subspecies of Eurasian Skylark (in the pekinensis group) at Sandspit Airport. The bird was foraging in grass at the NW end of the airfield near a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Nathan Hentze and Ian Cruickshank also got to view the bird shortly after. The bird was still present as of 4pm and was viewed by other birders.

At 11:30am on Oct 3-2022,  Paul Levesque relocated the bird in the same spot.  He believes he viewed 2 birds.

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated on Oct 4th, despite multiple observers looking.

Eurasian Skylark in Haida Gwaii - Photos: Ian Cruickshank

Eurasian Skylark in Haida Gwaii - Photo: Carey Bergman