Sunday, May 28, 2023

RBA: BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW in Haida Gwaii - May 28th

At 4:35pm on May 28-2023, Lorrie Joron found and photographed a Bristle-thighed Curlew at Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary in Massett in Haida Gwaii. She noted the buff rump of the bird when in flight. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 4th record for BC.

She could not relocate the bird on May 29th.

Bristle-thighed Curlew (R) in Haida Gwaii (note the long bristles at the base of the legs and paler flanks) Photos: Lorrie Joron

Saturday, May 27, 2023

RBA: FIELD SPARROW in Fairmont Hot Springs - May 27th

At 10:44am on May 27-2023, Kalin Ocana found a Field Sparrow at Columbia Lake Provincial Park.

The bird was singing from the trees HERE

This is the 4th record for BC. The bird was not relocated on May 28th.

Kalin was able to obtain video of the bird singing below:




RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Gibsons - May 27-June 6th

At 8:45 am on May 27-2023, Karen Holland found a male Indigo Bunting at Gospel Rock in Gibsons. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen on June 6th and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on June 7th.

Indigo Bunting in Gibsons - Photos: Karen Holland


Monday, May 22, 2023

RBA: BLACK-THROATED SPARROW near Kaslo - May 19th (late report)

At 5:30pm on May 19-2023, Jakob Dulisse found and photographed a Black-throated Sparrow at the Lost Ledge Campground in Kootenay Lake Provincial Park, north of Kaslo. The bird was feeding with Chipping Sparrows. 

Map to location HERE

This is the 52nd record for BC. 

Saturday, May 20, 2023

RBA: INDIGO BUNTING in Saanich - May 20th

At 9:23am on May 20-2023, Sean McElaney found a male Indigo Bunting at Panama Hill Park at Panama Flats in Saanich. The bird was viewed by multiple observers throughout the morning. 

Map to location HERE

The bird was not relocated later in the afternoon of May 20th or on May 21st, despite multiple observers looking. 

Indigo Bunting in Saanich - Photo: Joachim Bertrands

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

RBA: SNOWY PLOVER in Tofino - May 17th

At 2pm on May 17-2023, Sarah Tyne found and photographed a Snowy Plover in Tofino. The bird was on Comber’s Beach on the SE side of the Sandhill Creek mouth.

Map to location HERE

This is the 40th record for BC.

Snowy Plover in Tofino - Photo: Sarah Tyne

Monday, May 8, 2023

RBA: SNOWY EGRET in Kamloops - May 8-9th

At 4 pm on May 8th-2023 Andrew Klassen found a Snowy Egret in the Thompson River at Overlanders Park in Kamloops. He watched it for 15 mins and left it there.

Map to location HERE

The bird was last seen in the same location on May 9th and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird was not relocated on May 10th, despite multiple observers looking.

Snowy Egret in Kamloops - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Sunday, May 7, 2023

RBA: WHITE-TAIlLED KITE in Langley - May 7-8th

At 5 pm on May 7-2023, Phil Henderson found a second year White-tailed Kite on 264th St in Langley.

Map to location HERE

This appears to be the same bird seen in the Skagit area near Edison, WA on May 6th.

The bird continued in a field HERE on 84 Ave near 264th St as of 6:30pm and was viewed by multiple observers.

The bird flew off high and to the southwest at 7pm on May 7th.

On May 8th - Steve Lambert relocated and photographed the bird HERE off of the Nathan Creek Dyke.

The bird continued at 5pm HERE and was also seen HERE at 4:30pm. 

The bird continued perched in a tree HERE as of 7:30pm and was viewed by multiple observers before it was chased off by crows to the SW.

**The bird has not been relocated on May 9th, despite multiple observers looking.**

White-tailed Kite in Langley - Photo: Andrew Boycott

White-tailed Kite in Langley - Photo: John Gordon

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

RBA: BLACK-TAILED GULL near Victoria - May 2-7th

At 4:30pm on May 2-2023, Les Peterson found an adult Black-tailed Gull at Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood near Victoria. The bird was resting on the lagoon side on the low tide sandbar that is opposite to the anchor/cairn near the bridge at Esquimalt Lagoon. He did not see it fly away.

Map to exact location HERE

The bird was refound by Eric Tull at 3:20pm at the same location on May 3rd and was viewed by multiple observers.

It was flushed by a Bald Eagle and it flew high and west and then south out into the strait just after 4:20pm. 

On May 4th the bird continued at the same spot until 1:15 pm when it was chased off by a dog walker. It was relocated again at 5:30pm.

The bird continued in the same location at Esquimalt Lagoon during the day on May 5th.

It was also seen in the evening from the end of Stewart Ave looking across to the Navy base HERE on the opposite shore by scope as it roosted on the construction pillings. Map to location of where to stand to view bird is HERE

***On May 6-7th, the bird continued in the same location as the evening before as viewed from the Stewart Ave access and in the late afternoon it was seen at the original location at Esquimalt Lagoon.***

**The bird has not been relocated on May 8 or 9th at either location.**

This is the 4th photo-documented record for BC.

Black-tailed Gull in Colwood - Photos: Nick Park

RBA: COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in Sidney - April 30th

On April 30-2023, Lori Smith found the carcass of a male Costa's Hummingbird in her yard in Sidney. 

This is the 31st record for BC.

Male Costa's Hummingbird carcass in Sidney, BC - Photo: Lori Smith