This is the Victoria Rare Bird Alert for Monday, June 08 at 10:45 p.m.

RARE BIRD ALERT
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There has been no updates received on June 8, but on the afternoon of June
6 and on the morning of June 7 a LEAST TERN, a vagrant from coastal
Southern California, Mexico or perhaps the east coast of North America, and
what appears to be the first record of the species in British Columbia, has
been photographed and now pretty well confirmed by a number of birders on
the oxbows of the Okanagan River just north of Osoyoos, BC. Take Highway
97 between Oliver and Osoyoos to Road 22. Road 22 is approximately 10 km
south of Oliver and 6 km north of Osoyoos. Drive east on Road 22 to the
Okanagan River channel. Cross the bridge there and immediately turn right
or south along the east dyke of the river channel. Drive for about 1 km on
this rough dyke road, past a very tall communications tower to the large,
shallow flooded marsh on the east side of the dyke. The bird has been
flying over and plunge feeding into this shallow flooded lake, and often
flying close to the dyke and to the observers there. Further updates would
be appreciated.

Monday, June 8
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2 CASPIAN TERNS were on the shoreline of Esquimalt Lagoon near the bridge
there.

4 Common Nighthawks were over the power line right-of-way east of
Millstream Road near Finlayson Arm Road in the Highland district. Also
there were 2 young GREAT HORNED OWLS.

Saturday, June 6
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A TUFTED PUFFIN was seen from Clover Point in Victoria. June and July are
the best months to see this species here in Victoria. It may take a long
patient watch from the shoreline before one will pass by or land off the
tip of Clover Point.

2 Herrmann's Gulls were at Clover Point in Victoria as well.

There has been no update on the CRESTED CARACARA present for a month or so
at a logging camp in Caviar Cove in Drury Inlet on the mainland of British
Columbia. Access is difficult and somewhat restricted by the logging
company. The origin of this bird, probably the same individual seen earlier
in Washington State, still remains in question. More information will be
provided as it is received.

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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 & Vancouver 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!