NORTHERN WHEATEAR at Iona Island!

[Photo: Mike Tabak]
This afternoon, a Northern Wheatear was found at Iona Island by Roger Foxall. The bird was located at the intersection of all four ponds, and was still present at dusk. Also nearby was a VESPER SPARROW (locally rare), and a STILT SANDPIPER (first of the season).

Iona Island is located just north of the Vancouver International Airport.

SEPT 1 UPDATE: Many birders turned out to try to re-locate the wheatear today but unfortunately they were unsuccessful. With all the habitat out there though, the bird could easily be foraging happy somewhere among the brambles to the north.

RED-NECKED STINT *and* RUFF near Victoria!

On August 26, a RED-NECKED STINT and a RUFF were found at the east corner of Witty's Lagoon in Metchosin by Nathan Hentze, Jamie Fenneman, Pierre-Paul Bitton, and Jeremy Gatten. The Ruff was present into the evening and seen by many observers, but the peep flock containing the Red-necked Stint was flushed out of the area by a Merlin before most observers arrived.

The Ruff was still present in the early afternoon on August 27 (Aziza Cooper).

---Follow the Vancouver Island Page for updates!

Indigo Bunting at Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory

First assumed to be a hybrid, this bird may in fact be a pure Indigo Bunting.

More details--
http://tatlayokobirds.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/17-aug-a-rare-return/

Aug 11--RUFF (French Creek, Vancouver Island)

From Guy Monty:

"There was a Ruff at the pond between the SE end of Admiral Tryon Blvd and French Creek this afternoon. It was there until at least about 2:45pm. I went back to try and get photos an hour later, and could not relocate it. I was on bike though, so did not have the range to check everywhere. It could certainly still be in the area, as there is lots of habitat to check in that area."

Aug 12 update-- still present in the AM (fide Guy Monty)

Short-tailed Albatross off Haida Gwaii

[Photo by Levy Boitor of the International Halibut Commission]
--Report via Tracee Geernaert and Dave Fraser

DATE/LOCATION: July 28 near Frederick Island off the west coast of Graham Island (Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlottes)

LITTLE STINT in Sandspit, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)

[Report--July 21]
Report on the "Central BC and North Coast" page. Also in the same flock was an adult SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER and over 300 RUDDY TURNSTONES.

July 16--*Black Phoebe (Richmond)

At the West end of Westminster Highway in Richmond in the Community Gardens which is just North of the road at 3:45 P.M. today, Saturday, July 16, I saw a Black Phoebe perched and actively chipping and fly catching. This is quite near the site where one was seen 2 years ago. With extreme drought conditions in Arizona and Texas you wonder if that is not part of the reason for the number of southern birds being seen this year in the lower mainland.

---Wayne Diakow

RBA: COMMON CRANE on Haida Gwaii!

Today Martin Williams found a COMMON CRANE at the Delkatla Estuary near Masset on the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii). Initially it was by itself but then it joined some Sandhill Cranes.

Rick Toochin: "The latest word, as of July 5, from Peter and Margo is the Common Crane and the Sandhill Cranes are gone despite a major search the past 2 days. It came in on bad weather and seems to have left on the bad weather. If I hear any update with good news I will pass it along."

CRESTED CARACARA seen over Revelstoke!!!

(No photos)
Around 11am this morning I spotted a CRESTED CARACARA flying north over the Revelstoke Airport. It didn't stop and continued a steady flight up the Illecillawaet Valley toward Rogers Pass. It was about 200m up and although I only saw it as it flew away, the flight style, overall shape, and wing-pattern were unmistakable. I doubt we'll be seeing this bird again but I'll certainly keep my eyes open! While trying to locate it later on I noted a good variety of soaring birds in the area including Bald Eagles, Osprey, many Turkey Vultures, 2 Merlin, and strangely-- a single American White-Pelican (flying west/north up the Columbia toward the Mica Dam).

The word "escapee" may come to mind although given its behavior and location (well away from any known captive-raptor collections) I would lean toward a wild bird. It has certainly been a strange spring both in BC and in the southern US.. definitely worth keeping an eye out throughout the summer and fall!

Russ Cannings
Revelstoke, BC

June 29-30: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER

Location: MAPLEWOOD FLATS (Northshore)--"on the west trail, south of the main pond. The flycatcher was by the bench being repaired and then flew west behind the bench into alders. The bird was still present late in the evening June 29th.
--Found by Quentin Brown

Still present as of June 30 (morning)--fide Nathan Hentze