Subject: Vancouver RBA 11/22
Date: Nov 23 02:15:53 1997
From: Larry Cowan - LarryCowan at compuserve.com


This is the Vancouver, B.C. Bird Alert for Saturday, November 22nd, 11:00
P.M. update.

The Rare Bird Alert continues for the XANTUS HUMMINGBIRD.

Featured birds this evening are XANTUS HUMMINGBIRD and AMERICAN
AVOCET.

Sightings for Saturday, November 22nd

The XANTUS HUMMINGBIRD was again at 221 - 2nd St. in Gibsons. The bird
continues to give excellent views to visiting birders. It is visiting the
feeders
every 15 minutes or so and is also visible at its nearby roost. The home
owners
are allowing birders to observe the bird from the fence at the end of their

driveway. The feeder is only a meter or so from the fence at the end of the

driveway affording excellent looks and photo opps. The very accommodating
home owners would appreciate visiting birders sign the provided guest book.

The alert would appreciate updates from birders on this bird.

It appears we now have a group of 5 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the mouth of the
Serpentine River. Nearby at Blackie Spitt were a LONG-BILLED CURLEW and
an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. The ROCK SANDPIPER was at its usual
location at Crescent Beach.

The WILLET was again reported from the foot of the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty.

At Iona were 6 REDHEADS and 80 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. A SNOW
BUNTING was seen on the Iona South Jetty.

Friday, November 21st

The WHITE-WINGED DOVE was still being reported in Tofino on Vancouver
Island's west coast. For further details call the Victoria Bird Alert at
250-592-
3381.

In a late report the 5 AMERICAN AVOCETS were reported from Serpentine
Fenn.

In West Vancouver, 2 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were reported from a
townhouse complex near the entrance to Lighthouse Park. Also in West
Vancouver at the mouth of Cypress Creek were 9 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS.

At Ambleside Park in West Van were 2 EURASIAN WIGEON.

The adult breeding plummage COMMON EIDER has been observed feeding
with a raft of 1500 to 2000 SURF SCOTERS off the north shore of Stanley
Park.
This flock is generally within a 1/2 km of either side of the Lion's Gate
Bridge.
Over the last year we have been fortunate enough to watch this bird moult
into
his adult plummage.

A PEREGRINE FALCON was observed on the downtown Vancouver Hyatt
Regency Hotel.

Thursday, November 20th

The XANTUS HUMMINGBIRD was confirmed in Gibsons.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE, and a SHORT EARED OWL were reported from the
foot of 72nd at Boundary Bay. In a field along 72nd were 30 TRUMPETER
SWANS.

Wednesday, November 19

This was the first report of the then unidentified XANTUS HUMMINGBIRD.

A BLUE JAY was seen on Bowen Island. This bird has been seen for the last 3

weeks.

Both species of Crossbills were seen on Mount Seymour with sightings of 5
WHITE-WINGED and 30 RED CROSSBILLS.

If you have a query about Vancouver birds or birding, please call

Jo Ann or Hue 538-1676 Mark & Eleni 438-6529
John 274-8777 Larry 942-0931