This is the Victoria Rare Bird Alert for sunday, July 5th at 11 p.m.

Feature Birds
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BLUE JAY
RED-NECKED STINT

Great numbers of shorebirds are starting to appear at local mudflats and
lagoons. The RED-NECKED STINT reported from the Iona Island Beach Park
mudflats has not been relocated since it was first seen July 2nd. July is
an excellent month to search for rare or vagrant shorebirds, so scope any
shorebird flock you see to pick out that rarity.

Sunday, July 5th
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10 Western Sandpipers and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper were at Esquimalt Lagoon,
and a big group of shorebirds, mostly Least Sandpipers but including 12
Western Sandpipers and 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper were at Cowichan Bay.

Also at Cowichan Bay were an adult and juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON, with
numbers of Black Swifts overhead.

Black Swifts were also over Somenos marsh.

A family of VIRGINIA RAILS is easily observable at Somenos marsh at the end
of York Road. They are always in the ditch at the right side.

On Mt. Provost near Duncan were an adult BLUE GROUSE with 3 young.

2 SANDHILL CRANES remain at Martindale flats north of Martindale Road.

A family of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES are still around Cresswell Road in North
Saanich.

5 Black Swifts were over Norris Road in North Saanich.

The BLUE JAY which has been in the Norris Road - Madrona Drive area of
North Saanich for the past 3 or 4 years was seen there again today.

Saturday, July 4th
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A summering Golden-crowned Sparrow was at 4655 Kerryview Road.

Witty's Lagoon produced approximately 150 shorebirds, mostly the Least
Sandpipers with some Western Sandpipers between.

A Semipalmated Sandpiper was with 12 Western Sandpipers at Esquimalt Lagoon.

An albino Common Raven has been at the Morningstar Golf Course near
Parksville for about 4 years, and can seen mostly around the 8th and 9th
holes.
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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 Hank Vanderpol. Transcribed by Virginia Jessop.]

Good Birding!