Recent rare bird sightings have been drawing avid birders, hoping to catch a glimpse of natureB次元官网网址檚 striking surprises, to Uplands Park.

The most significant of these recent sightings was a female pine bunting.

B次元官网网址淚t was an extremely rare event,B次元官网网址� explained Margaret Lidkea, Friends of Uplands Park chair. B次元官网网址淚t was the first time ever that the pine bunting had been seen south of Alaska.B次元官网网址�

Maury Swoveland, whoB次元官网网址檚 a beginner birder, found the bird at the south end of Uplands Park along Beach Drive on Oct. 15. After taking a photo, she posted it on the Victoria National History SocietyB次元官网网址檚 website. The bird was initially thought to be a Lapland longspur, but it was identified as a pine bunting a day later.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 when the experts just went, B次元官网网址榦h my Goodness,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� described Lidkea. B次元官网网址淔irst they thought it was something else, but then they realized that it was the pine bunting.B次元官网网址�

Despite multiple observers looking, the rare bird has not been seen since it was first spotted.

Birders have also been searching for other rare birds at Uplands Park, including the northern mockingbird, which is thought to have been in the park for the past six weeks, and the pileated woodpecker, which was spotted early last week.

Armed with binoculars and cameras, avid birders joined expert Geoffrey Newell with Friends of Uplands Park to search for these birds Friday morning.

B次元官网网址淵ou never know what youB次元官网网址檙e going to see because itB次元官网网址檚 migratory season,B次元官网网址� said Lidkea. B次元官网网址淚 know that there are several people that are coming to Uplands Park [to try to find these birds]. I feel absolutely blessed when I see them.B次元官网网址�

Lidkea encourages birders to report any rare sightings to Friends of Uplands Park. Their information can be found at .