This is the Victoria Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, July 1 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature Bird
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INDIGO BUNTING

RARE BIRD ALERT
On Tuesday, June 30, a male INDIGO BUNTING, a vagrant from the south, was
identified within the Department of National Defense property on Mary Hill
near William Head on the South Coast of Vancouver Island. This bird was
seen and identified by researchers working in the area. Being D.N.D. land,
it is not open to the general public. Attempts to relocate the bird on
July 1 failed and the bird may have moved on. Birders should search any
open rock bluff or shrub communities for this bird, including Mt. Tolmie
where the only other local record of the INDIGO BUNTING occurred on May 30,
1992, or on Mt. Douglas, Observatory Hill, Christmas Hill or any of the
other open dry communities. Updates and photographic or written
descriptions will be required by the Victoria bird records committee.

Wednesday, July 1
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A Lesser Yellowlegs returned to Cowichan Bay from its northern nesting
grounds.

2 Sandhill Cranes remain on Martindale Flats just north of Martindale Road.
This would be the first record of this species here in July for this
checklist area.

A female Blue Grouse with 3 young as weell as Ruffed Grouse and singing
Hermit Thrushes were on Mt. Brenton west of Chemainus off the Copper Canyon
Road.

A pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks appeared at Lombardy Poplar trees in
Cordova Bay. First sighting of this species by a resident birder in that
area. Perhaps the nesting range of this bird is expanding.

5 - 6 Turkey Vultures appeared frequently in the Mt. Douglas and Cordova
Bay area. Again, local nesting could be occurring.

Tuesday, June 30
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8 Brant were at Cattle Point in Oak Bay. Brant are rare here in the summer.

Monday, June 29
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5 Western Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs were at Rocky Point, the
Department of National Defence property in Metchosin.

2 Red-eyed Vireos were again reported on Lochside Road just south of
Martindale Road in Central Saanich.

An American Bittern was on Beverley St. at the golf driving range north of
Duncan.

Sunday, June 28
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A Green Heron was in the vicinity of Chan Place in Langford.

OUT OF TOWN
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2 or more Purple Martins were reported on the Somass River Estuary in Port
Alberni on Vancouver Island, suggesting a continued recovery of the species
here in southwestern British Columbia, thanks to a great extent to a nest
box program.
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To report sightings of Interest, call the Victoria RBA Hotline at (250)
592-3381 and leave you NAME & TELEPHONE NUMBER plus a brief message
discribing the birds you saw. Or you may email: boom at islandnet.com and
submit your report.

To summon those who can confirm a rare species, call Brian Gates at (250)
598-7899 or the Goodwills' at (250) 382-9652.

Latest Victoria RBA reports are available on the web at:
Birding in British Columbia:
http://www.islandnet.com/~boom/birding/bc-home.htm

[Original Taped Message by Brian Gates. Transcribed by Virginia Jessop.]

Good Birding!

Kevin Slagboom, Web Manager -- Tel: 1-250-658-0940
Birding in British Columbia
http://www.islandnet.com/~boom/birding/bc-home.htm
'Drop by and Contribute your Trip Reports! -- We'd love to read them.'