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

**URGENT REQUEST**A high-powered scope of 60 + power is urgently needed to
read bands on PURPLE MARTINS. There are only about 100 PURPLE MARTINS in
BC and researchers are attempting to determine the dispersement patterns of
these birds. The scope is needed on a loan basis for just a few days. If
you can assist call Cam Finlay at 479-9833.

Feature Birds
-------------
SANDERLINGS
BROWN PELICANS
SANDHILL CRANES
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE

Saturday, July 11
-----------------
Several SANDERLINGS, most of them in breeding plumage, were early
south-bound migrants in a flock of Western Sandpipers at Esquimalt Lagoon.

Also at Esquimalt Lagoon in the early morning was a Semipalmated Sandpiper
with about 100 Western Sandpipers and 2 Greater Yellowlegs.

A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was singing on Christmas Hill and is a probable nester
there.

A late report was received of 2 BROWN PELICANS seen on July 9th flying
through Enterprise Channel which is between McMicking Point and Trial
Island. These 2 birds were also seen by a whale watching boat near the
Chain Islands.


Friday, July 10
---------------
2 Ospreys were around Ogden Point on the 9th and 10th.

1 Caspian Tern, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper and about 100 Western Sandpipers
were at Esquimalt Lagoon at low tide.

2 RED-EYED VIREOS were singing at the base of the Cowichan Bay Dock Road.
Another 2 were at Bright Angel Park in Duncan.

2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were on Mount Provost where they might be nesting.

Large numbers of Peeps or small shorebirds are starting to appear at
Cowichan Bay. The best time is about 10 a.m. when the tide is receding.
Scope any flock of shorebirds carefully for possible Red-necked Stint,
Little Stint or any other rarity, as from now until the end of July is
prime time for vagrant shorebirds to make an appearance.

Thursday, July 9
----------------
3 Long-billed Dowitchers were at Whitty's Lagoon.

A group of more than 30 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen feeding over Brentwood
Bay.

2 SANDHILL CRANES remain at Martindale Flats and 2 others were seen soaring
high over Playfair Park before disappearing in a southerly direction.

At Cordova Spit were Least and Western Sandpipers and 1 SemipalmatedSandpiper.

Wednesday, July 8
-----------------
3 Semipalmated Sandpipers were with a mixed flock of Peeps at CowichanBay.

A Green Heron was at the Duncan Forest Museum pond.

A Bullock's Oriole was singing quite loudly at the Doman Dyke, also near
Cowichan Bay.

Bullock's Orioles were still present at Cresswell Road in North Saanich.
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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!

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.'