Hi Tweets,

Surfbirds (SURF), though sometimes numerous, are very local in the Greater
Vancouver (BC) Checklist Area, the best place being the Grebe Islets, just
off to the W of Lighthouse and Klootchman Parks in West Vancouver (not to be
confused with Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts WA). Migrants (adults
first, then juvs) sometimes show up on the rocks at the far end of the Iona
S Jetty in late summer, the rocks of the Roberts Bank Coalport and
Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Jetties in South Delta, and the breakwaters of
Point Roberts Marina and the pebble beaches of the Point itself.

Best way to see them (though still at 'scope distance) on the Grebe Islets
is from the top of the bluffs at water's edge in Klootchman Park about .5 km
W of Lighthouse, a better vantage point than Lighthouse Pk. Go W on Marine
Drive about 400-500 meters (apprx 1/4-1/3 mi.) *past* the entrance to
Lighthouse Pk. to Howe Sound Lane, turn L onto Howe Sound Lane, drive to the
first fork about 100 meters in, stay on Howe Sound Lane, look on the right
for a wooden 'Klootchman Park' sign under a large cedar, park there, and
take the trail that slithers off between the houses. Wheelchair
inaccessible, there are several fairly steep parts including at least one
quite long stairway (take care here: the stairs are of cedar and can be
slippery even in dry weather). When the trail comes to a 'T' junction more
or less near the water's edge, tend right and up. Pick your vantage point.
Best time is during any tidal state in which the intertidal is exposed: this
is when they pile onto the rocks to feed, or roost.

As said earlier, SURF can be numerous, especially at the Islets. Average
winter resident flock runs from 150-300, occasionally higher, while their
average southbound arrival in the GVCA is late July (Alternate-plumaged
adults beginning Pre-Basic Molt first, then juvs about two weeks later;
since effectively no local birders here bother to age their observed birds,
it's difficult to establish adult and juv southbound arrivals, so I'm basing
that on my own observations, incomplete as they are), the winter resident
flock doesn't show up until mid-October and are almost entirely
Basic-plumaged --and I'd guess mostly Basic 1 at that; last northbound
departure is usually Week 4 March.

Other birds on the Islets between southbound and northbound migrations are
Black Oystercatcher BLOY), usually one breeding and resident pair (sometimes
two) with young; a small southbound BLOY migration in Sep/Oct increases them
to sometimes as many as 20-30; Black Turnstone (BLTU; Sept-Mar, sometimes in
good numbers 20-60); and sometimes Rock Sandpiper (ROSA; Oct-Mar), 1-3
usually when they're there, but sometimes up to 7, sometimes none at all.

The BLOY tend to be on the nearer of the two large islets (if roosting and
not showing that bright bill, at that distance, look for a stationary crow
with long pink legs), the large SURF flocks roost on the seaward-facing side
of the same islet, while everyone chows down on the intertidal on a couple
of small mussel- and weed-encrusted points on the near landward side of
islet. They also feed on two small reefs just to the N which are exposed at
low tide only. Between October and April, the Islets are a good place to see
all three mid-North American cormorant species. From February on, the adults
are in alternate plumage, and are astoundingly beautiful at close range in
good light, from that ancient-jade eye to the rich sheens of electric
midnight green-blues and green-violets and green-purples on these critters
according to their species. The white whiskers and plumes and the red,
yellow, or blue gular/facial stuff are just overdressing, IMHO ;-)

If the rock-hopping shorebirds are not on the Islets, sometimes they might
be on Jackpine Point within Lighthouse Pk. Or, at low tide, try the mouth of
Cypress Creek, about 1 km *E* of Lighthouse Pk. Turn off Marine Drive onto
Stearman to the end, turn R and take the treet that parallels the shoreline
to a public parking area at the beach. The creek is about 200 meters to the
E, but there's mussel-beds immediately in front and to the W. Often overrun
with dogs: go early and/or on weekdays. Oh yeah, however good the birding,
Vancouver BC's still a big city; don't leave anything valuable in your car.

Good luck!

Michael Price
iSTAR/MIND LINK! Customer Services

(604) 668-5073 vx When I found out that seven of my years
(604) 668-5028 fx was only one of theirs,
mprice at mindlink.net I started biting absolutely everything.
michael.price at istar.ca -Max Carlson (Ron Carlson's dog)