Birdwatching

A black-and-white warbler draws attention in Panama Flats in Saanich on May 13. (Geoffrey Newell photo)

Rare black-and-white warbler draws a crowd in Saanich

Panama Flats visitor a first for longtime Oak Bay birder and educator

 

The spotting of a white-tailed kite this far north is rare according to local wild bird enthusiasts. This viewing created a birdwatching frenzy for a few days in North Langley’s Glen Valley neighbourhood. Fort Langley’s Lou Fasullo was among those who stopped in for a peek. (Lou Fasullo/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Birdwatchers flock to Langley to glimpse rare hawk

A white-tailed kite was spotted in Glen Valley Sunday through Tuesday, but has vanished since

 

The barred owl, so named for the “bars” running across their gray and white chest, is one of the most common owls on Vancouver Island. Photo by James MacKenzie The barred owl, so named for the “bars” running across their gray and white chest, is one of the most common owls on Vancouver island. Photo by James MacKenzie

MARS Moment: Vancouver Island boasts seven species of owls

By James Mackenzie Special to the Record Early spring is a fantastic…

  • Apr 11, 2023

 

Avid birder Andrew MacDonald scooped a photo of the puffin while changing the settings on his camera on Wednesday, January 4. (Courtesy Andrew MacDonald)

Rare sighting of puffin in Victoria a positive result of windstorms

Birdwatchers in the area said it was likely the bird was blown into the area by recent high winds

Avid birder Andrew MacDonald scooped a photo of the puffin while changing the settings on his camera on Wednesday, January 4. (Courtesy Andrew MacDonald)
A dark-eyed junco perched on a branch of a budding shrub. A record-setting 1,894 dark-eyed juncos were recorded in this year’s Christmas Bird Count in Sooke. (Alan B. Schroeder – Shutterstock.com)

Christmas Bird Count draws a crowd in Sooke

About 60 come out for annual event sponsored by Rocky Point Bird Observatory

A dark-eyed junco perched on a branch of a budding shrub. A record-setting 1,894 dark-eyed juncos were recorded in this year’s Christmas Bird Count in Sooke. (Alan B. Schroeder – Shutterstock.com)
Bird count coordinator Ann Nightingale says extreme weather is likely to blame for lower than average numbers in 2022. (Courtesy of Ann Nightingale )

Victoria Christmas Bird Count brings out record number of participants

Bird lovers united to tally the number of different birds and species flying around in the area

Bird count coordinator Ann Nightingale says extreme weather is likely to blame for lower than average numbers in 2022. (Courtesy of Ann Nightingale )
A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting

B.C. rescue group captures wrong-way warbler that should be wintering far south

Endangered bird rarely in B.C. and should be in South America the Gulf of Mexico right now

A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting
A Canada goose family enjoys a Monday morning breakfast together at Oak Bay’s Kitty Islet. Bruce Harrison of Ducks Unlimited Canada said the abundance of geese in B.C. causes water contamination, algae blooms and messy sports fields. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Canada goose poop problem in Greater Victoria needs new solutions, experts say

Egg sterilization only goes so far; robotic fox, feces Zamboni tried elsewhere

A Canada goose family enjoys a Monday morning breakfast together at Oak Bay’s Kitty Islet. Bruce Harrison of Ducks Unlimited Canada said the abundance of geese in B.C. causes water contamination, algae blooms and messy sports fields. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
A Nazca booby rests on driftwood approximately four nautical miles south from the Trial Islands Ecological Reserve on July 24. Whale watcher Tasli Shaw sighted the bird, which only breeds as far north as southern California, for the first time on record in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary the day before. (Photo by Matt Stolmeier)

Rare bird sighting off Oak Bay excites whale watchers, leaves birders jealous

First Nazca booby observed in Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 3rd in B.C.

A Nazca booby rests on driftwood approximately four nautical miles south from the Trial Islands Ecological Reserve on July 24. Whale watcher Tasli Shaw sighted the bird, which only breeds as far north as southern California, for the first time on record in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary the day before. (Photo by Matt Stolmeier)
The rare white raven Blizzard has taken centre stage at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (NIWRC photo)

Rare white raven grabs the spotlight at Vancouver Island wildlife centre

Iconic bird Blizzard can now be viewed by the public and is soaking up the attention

The rare white raven Blizzard has taken centre stage at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (NIWRC photo)
A retired professor from the Comox Valley has been fighting for more access for birdwatching in the Fairy Creek area, especially when it comes to being able to identify threatened species. Photo supplied

Birder Royann Petrell fights for more access in Fairy Creek

Supreme Court turned down petition on grounds she had access, other legal option

A retired professor from the Comox Valley has been fighting for more access for birdwatching in the Fairy Creek area, especially when it comes to being able to identify threatened species. Photo supplied
A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Federal report deems dogs the greatest risk to migratory birds

Off-leash dogs, disturbed birds throughout Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Two sandhill cranes are pictured during a summer visit to Panama Flats in Saanich. They cranes are rarely seen on the ground in Greater Victoria due to the region’s lack of wetland habitat. (Courtesy of Geoffrey Newell)

PHOTOS: Sandhill cranes swoop back to Panama Flats

Species returns for summer wetland visit, frog feast

Two sandhill cranes are pictured during a summer visit to Panama Flats in Saanich. They cranes are rarely seen on the ground in Greater Victoria due to the region’s lack of wetland habitat. (Courtesy of Geoffrey Newell)
Siobhan Powlowski and Jeffrey Nicholls watch birds in Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. The couple are avid birders and have become well-versed on the various species and plant life in the area. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Bird-watching couple tout benefit of native plants to biodiversity in Saanich green spaces

Both native and non-native plant eco-systems have a place, biologist points out

Siobhan Powlowski and Jeffrey Nicholls watch birds in Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. The couple are avid birders and have become well-versed on the various species and plant life in the area. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Volunteers braved the cold weather on Dec. 27 to take part in the annual Sooke Christmas Bird Count. (Contributed - Mark Byrne)

Sooke birders spot 111 species in annual Christmas Bird Count

More participants needed for next year

Volunteers braved the cold weather on Dec. 27 to take part in the annual Sooke Christmas Bird Count. (Contributed - Mark Byrne)
Perhaps a chestnut-backed chickadee will show itself during the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday (Dec. 18). (Ann Nightingale photo)

Christmas comes early for Greater Victoria bird watchers

The outdoor activity of birding has really taken off in the last year

Perhaps a chestnut-backed chickadee will show itself during the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday (Dec. 18). (Ann Nightingale photo)
Birder Geoffrey Newell, 25, spots and identifies birds flying overhead in a clearing around Uplands Park early on Saturday, July 31. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Talented birder resumes immersive tours at Oak Bay’s Cattle Point

52 bird species spotted by dozens of attendees during first bird walk in months

Birder Geoffrey Newell, 25, spots and identifies birds flying overhead in a clearing around Uplands Park early on Saturday, July 31. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)

Blue jay, usually found in southeastern Canada, spotted in Sooke

Around 80 birders counted 118 different species within a single day

A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)
A common pochard swims at a pond at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville. (Mike Yip photo)

Nanoose Bay photographer’s rare find causes a stir among birdwatchers

Common pochard, which isn’t common at all, spotted at golf course pond

A common pochard swims at a pond at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville. (Mike Yip photo)
A finch pauses on a branch while foraging for food at Buttertubs Marsh this week. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

A charm of finches lifts Christmas bird count numbers in Nanaimo

14,000 more birds tallied than in last year’s count

A finch pauses on a branch while foraging for food at Buttertubs Marsh this week. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)