Birdwatchers flock to Victoria for rarely seen puffin
If you're a bird nerd, Ogden Point in Victoria has been the centre of your universe after a rare visitor was spotted Wednesday.
A horned puffin, a bird that's rarely, if ever, seen on Vancouver Island, recently arrived.
"This is only the third I've ever heard of," said well-known Victoria birdwatcher Ann Nightingale. "The other two were flybys, so you couldn't chase them."
The paparazzi have flocked to Ogden Point, with excited birdwatchers huffin' and puffin' down to the water.
"I've got three layers on, and hopefully he comes by soon," said Derek Isbister, who came down from Qualicum Beach, B.C., to see the animal.
Puffins are usually only ever seen far off shore and in areas as far north as Alaska.
Some birdwatchers believe the puffin was blown onto the island from open water.
While it doesn't have the most exotic colours, its rarity in the area has drawn plenty of attention.
"This bird does not look spectacular, let's be honest," said Nightingale. "It's a white and black and grey bird."
Despite its drab colouration, word of the wayward puffin quickly spread online, with rare bird alerts being issued in online groups and mobile apps.
Avid birders say if you want to catch a glimpse of the puffin, you'll have to have patience.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Wisconsin school district says active shooter 'neutralized' outside middle school
A Wisconsin school district said an active shooter was 'neutralized' outside a middle school in Mount Horeb on Wednesday, and no one inside the building was injured.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
The remains belonged to three adults, a teenager and a newborn baby, according to a statement from the Latebra Foundation, a historical organization based in the Polish city of Gdansk, published Thursday.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.