** Reply to note from Jon A.

> Hi folks,
>
> Just saw this following note on BirdChat. I can't help the gentleman; =
> can some of y'all from up north do so? (and, please share with Tweeters? =
> - I didn't know that there was a "Blue Rock Thrush" Monticola solitarius =
> in the area.... though I *did* get to see the Dusky Thrush, Turdus =
> naumanni)
>
> Jon. Anderson
> Olympia, Washington
> festuca at olywa.net
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Jeff Price=20
> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 12:41:40 -0700
> =20
> I am checking on the status of the following rare birds (possible 1st =
> North
> American records) seen in British Columbia in the last few years.
> =20
> 1) Have they been voted on and, if so, what was the vote.
> =20
> 2) If they haven't been voted on what is your best guess on the =
> validity of
> the sighting, and why.
> =20
> Blue Rock Thrush
> =20
> any others?
> =20
> Thank you for your assistance. Please email me directly (or in =
> addition to
> the list).
> =20
> Jeff Price
> Boulder, CO
> jprice at mho.net
> ------------------------------

I am including here a cut of the S.A. (stands for Special Attnetion)
which I wrote up for this sighting and included in the summer 1997
seasonal report to ABA's "Field Notes".

------
*S.A.* A stop at Goldpan Park near Spences Bridge in the dry sagebrush country
of B.C.'s Thompson R. Plateau June 6 (1997) turned out to be momentous for Ian
Macdonald. There to greet him in the surrounding rocks was a male *Blue Rock
Thrush* of the chestnut-bellied migratory race _Monticola solitarius
phillipensis_, a denizen of rocks and cliffs of southeast Asia and recorded
only once from Alaska. Photographs were obtained and forwarded to authorities,
leaving no doubt as to the identification. However, as with all such strays,
the question of origin must be considered before the species can be added to
the provincial and national lists. To date, avian distributors have reported
no knowledge of outlets which carry this species for retail or captive
breeding programs (fide Wayne Campbell). Ultimate determination awaits further
information.
------

To my knowledge, there has been no information forthcoming which would mitigate
against this being a wild bird. Note that Alaska is still part of N. America so
this would be our continent's 2nd Blue Rock Thrush. There have been no other
birds which would fit the "continental 1st" bill in BC the past year that I can
think of (national firsts, yes).

- Jack


Jack Bowling
RR1-S14-C41
Prince George, BC
Canada
V2N 2H8
phone: (250) 963-7837
fax: (250) 963-7801
jbowling at direct.ca

cc: jprice at mho.net