Bird of prey spotted on Vancouver Island a rare sight in Canada, 1st for B.C.

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The Mississippi kite breeds in southeastern United States and migrates to South America in winter

Western Canada is not the usual fly path for Mississippi kites.

"This is the first record of its sighting in the province, says bird bander David Bell. "They are known to wander north during the summer months, but not usually this far."

Volunteers at Rocky Point Bird Observatory near Victoria have been hard at work banding birds since July 21 as part of their songbird or passerine migration monitoring, which ends on Oct. 18, and northern saw-whet owl monitoring program, which runs until the end of the month.

On Sept. 6, at 11:57 a.m. Bell and fellow bird bander Katelyn Fryer were doing their rounds in one of the monitoring sites when they spotted the bird of prey circling around the front meadow, heading south to Bentinck before turning around and flying north towards Pedder Bay.

Bell says the Mississippi kite breeds in southeastern United States, spending summers in Kansas, Illinois, Arizona, and even recently as far north as New Hampshire and Connecticut.

In winter, it makes the long journey south, migrating through Central America and South America all the way to Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

"First record for B.C., a new Canada bird for me, and coincidentally my 500th species photographed in Canada. What a day." Bell exclaimed.

The bird banders are hoping the Mississippi kite makes another appearance so more people can see it.

Rare birds are posted to the Rare Bird Alert whenever they are seen in the area.

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