Another vagrant to watch for on the Olympic Peninsula. Today, Sept. 22,
a bright, breeding-plumaged adult Red-throated Pipit, just the second
record
for s. Vancouver Island, was at Esquimalt Lagoon near Victoria, seen and
"confirmed" by a number of good birders. (It still must be accepted by
the
Victoria Bird Records Committee, but there appears to be little doubt).
Watch for it along the grassy and weedy fringes of beaches or fallow
fields,
and listen for its very high-pitched "Tseeep" or "Tseeep Tseeep Tseeep"
call given occasionally as it flys...louder and sharper than the
"pi-pit"
call of American Pipits. It was secretive but approachable, and did not
flush far when disturbed. It was not associating with other species.

Watch for a Broad-winged Hawk and many Turkey Vultures on the Olympic
Peninsula, as well. Today was a perfect day for these birds to cross
Juan de
Fuca Strait from the s. tip of Vancouver Island. Up to 400 TUVUs,
possibly 2 Broad-wings, etc. were assembled at Rocky Point on Sept. 21.
Good
numbers were seen to soar extremely high today, on thermals over East
Sooke
Park, and head out over the water. They may have made it. I would
appreciate any reports if more-than-usual numbers of Turkey Vultures are
noted along the peninsula in the next day or so.

Finally, a good, single-observer description of a possible winter
plumaged adult Black-headed Gull, seen Sept. 21 in Oak Bay, near
Victoria,
associating with Bonaparte's Gulls. Look for red at the base of the
bill,
merging to blackish at the tip, a lighter mantle, slightly larger body
and
larger bill than the "bonies".

Good luck.

Bryan Gates, Victoria bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca
Victoria Rare Bird Alert (604) 592-3381
Note that the Area Code will change from (604) to (250) on October 19,
1996.