RBA: LITTLE GULL in Penticton - Nov 17-18th

At 9am on November 17-2017, Chris Charlesworth and Jesse Hannebauer found a First-winter Little Gull in Penticton. The bird is actively feeding 150m offshore off of Lakeshore Drive W, between the "Peach" on the beach and the "SS Sicamous" Boat on Okanagan Lake in Penticton. Photographs were obtained.

Map to location HERE

The Gull continues as of 4:30pm on Nov 18th. It is staying mostly off the end of the old Lakeshore Hotel and Casino Pier and has been viewed by multiple observers. The bird is best viewed with a scope.

Map to location of pier and Gull HERE

One observer reported seeing the gull at 8:30am but despite multiple observers looking, it has not been relocated by anyone else on Nov 19th or 20th.

This is the 98th record for the province of BC and the first record for the Okanagan.

Imm. Little Gull. Penticton, BC. Nov 17, 2017. Photo: Don Cecile.

Imm. Little Gull. Penticton, BC. Nov 17, 2017. Photo: Don Cecile.

Imm. Little Gull. Penticton, BC. Nov 17, 2017. Photo: Don Cecile.

RBA: NORTHERN CARDINAL in Cranbrook - Nov 7/17- Feb 27/18

UPDATE: This bird was accepted by the BC Bird Records Committee in December 2017. It is the FIRST confirmed record for the province of British Columbia.

A female Northern Cardinal was found by Katrin Powell and Greg Ross at 9:50am on November 7th-2017. The bird was in the front yard of their home at 213-17th Ave N., as it visited her feeder with black-oil sunflower seeds. It was present for 40 mins.

Provenance was considered, as cardinals are kept as cage birds in some areas. However, they have been reported in Alberta and confirmed by the Alberta Bird Records Committee as vagrants. Northern Cardinals have also bred successfully in Alberta and the first confirmed breeding record there was 2009. BC has a hypothetical record from Prince George in 1994 that was never confirmed and a carcass of one was found in March 2014 in Nanaimo.

The time of year and the part of the province where it showed up bodes well for a vagrant. Also, this is the time of year (late fall/winter) when many eastern vagrants show up out west. The other thing that lent credence for the bird being of wild origin is that it is a female. Most (but not all) caged birds from collectors (not breeders) are male.

The public is allowed to look at the bird as it visits the feeder in the yard from the sidewalk. Please respect other homeowners in the area by not blocking driveways and not pointing binoculars at homes. Please do not trespass on the homeowner's property or yard. 

The bird has been viewed by multiple observers coming to the feeder at their yard. It has also been seen across the street, sitting in the brush adjacent to Joseph Creek.

*On Dec 5th a Hoary Redpoll was found by Danny Tyson in the same yard. The bird is still present as of Dec 7th as well.*

The Northern Cardinal was last seen in the same location on Dec 8th.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 9th or 10th, despite multiple observers looking.

The bird was relocated on Dec 20th in a flock of Common Redpolls, at a feeder at Lorraine Schmidt's home in the 200 block of 13th Ave S.  Please view the feeders from the back lane. The homeowner doesn't want the address published online but contact the RBA for the address, if you plan to go searching for it.

The bird has not been seen since Feb 27/18.

CBC radio did an interview with Katrin Powell (homeowner who found the bird) and you can listen to it HERE (starts at 33:55).

You can also read a newspaper article about this bird from the "Cranbrook Daily Townsman" HERE.

Female Northern Cardinal in Cranbrook - Photo: Michael Klotz

Female Northern Cardinal in Cranbrook - Photo: Ilya Povalyaev

RBA: WHITE WAGTAIL IN COMOX - Oct 24th

At 1:50pm on October 24th-2017, Krista Kaptein found a White Wagtail at Point Holmes in Comox. The bird was with Golden-crowned and Savannah Sparrows on the upper beach, 500m east of the boat launch. It made a few chip notes and short flights but always returned to the same spot. She left the bird actively foraging on the beach at 2:10pm.

Point Holmes is located at 348 Lazo Rd in Comox.

Map to location HERE.

The bird has not been relocated on October 25th, despite multiple observers looking.

This is the 13th record for the province of BC.

White Wagtail in Comox - Photos: Krista Kaptein

RBA: KING EIDER in Delta - Oct 24-Dec 5th

At 9:15 am on October 24th-2017, Michael Klotz found an adult male King Eider at the end of the steel piling at Berth # 5 at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The bird was associating with a flock of Surf Scoters. This area is only open to paid passengers walking on or boarding a ferry by car. It is not open to the unpaid public. A walk on passenger fee is 17.20$ each way. Passengers are asked to board the ferry and not view it from the waiting room and leave. Please be respectful of BC Ferries rules.

PLEASE DO NOT WALK INTO THE TERMINAL WITHOUT PAYING FOR A TICKET. Remember birders want to see the bird after you, so please act in the best interest of all.

A scope is suggested to best view this bird. 

As of Dec 5th, the bird (who is now in almost full breeding plumage) continues frequenting in between Berth 3, 4 and 5.

The bird was not relocated on Dec 6th.

Map to location of bird HERE.

A discount parking lot, priced at 11$ a day with free shuttle, is located nearby HERE. Short and Long-term parking are also available at the ferry terminal.

This is the 35th record for the province of BC.

Male King Eider in Tsawwassen - Photos: Blair Dudeck

Adult Male King Eider in Delta, 11/26/17 - Photos: Liron Gertsman

RBA: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Sechelt - Oct 17-19th

At 2:40pm on October 17th-2017, John Hodges found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Wilson Creek Estuary in Sechelt. The bird was in the bushes between the big sand pile and the estuary. It called briefly and posed on top of a bush that was 4 metres in front of him. John was able to view the bird for brief periods on and off for about 5 minutes but was unable to get a photo. He lost the bird soon after and it was not relocated as of posting time.

A map to where the bird was found at the Estuary is HERE

A map to where to park at Wilson Creek Estuary can be found HERE.

Wilson Creek Estuary is located at 1580 Field Rd, Sechelt.

The bird was last seen in the same location on Oct 19th. It has not been relocated since.

This is the 20th record for the province of BC.