Birders,

At about 11:30 this morning, a HOODED WARBLER was discovered near
Sechelt, B.C., a short distance northwest of Vancouver. I am reporting
on behalf of Doug Brown, who discovered the bird, but is not on-line.
When I arrived home this evening, I found an E-mail from Rick Toochin
informing me about the bird, and shortly afterward, Doug himself
phoned long-distance to give me the details first-hand. (Briefer
details will also be included on this evening's Vancouver Rare Bird
Alert update.) Thanks, guys-- the old grapevine works when it's really
needed!
The warbler was found along a dirt road near the Sechelt airport.
Birders coming from Vancouver to look for this bird will have to take
the ferry from Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) to Langdale (near
Gibsons), and then proceed northwest on Highway 101 toward Sechelt.
Before reaching Sechelt, you will pass Roberts Creek Provincial Park.
Continuing about 2 km further on Highway 101, watch for the junction
with Field Road on the right (at the Wilson Creek Plaza), Turn right
(north) on Field Road toward the airport. At about 1 km from Highway
101, Field Road takes a sharp left turn toward the airport. Park your
car near this sharp bend.
Where the main road turns left, a narrow dirt road continues
straight ahead. Walk down this road about 0.3 km through dense,
second-growth alder woods. You will see a pile of discarded lumber and
plywood on the left. This is the area where the Hooded Warbler was
seen.
The bird was discovered about 11:30 A.M. by Doug Brown and Rand
Rudland. It was first heard giving the typical sharp "chink" note of
the species, although Doug was not familiar with this call. The
warbler was accompanying a flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS (20-30),
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES (6), RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (3-4), and one
HUTTON'S VIREO. Doug reported that the warbler was a "skulker", but
after "spishing" for a short time, the bird popped into view for
several seconds. I will leave the detailed description to Doug, except
to say that the bird was a male, and the dark hood was clearly seen.
(Doug wrote some detailed field notes, and plans to submit them both
to the BCFO Records Committee and to Wayne Campbell.)
The Hooded Warbler was still present in the area at 3:30 P.M.,
when local birder Arnold Skei managed to find it. Barring any
extremely cold weather, I would say there is a good chance of it
staying in the area for at least a week or two.
For long-time Washington birders, this Hooded Warbler may bring to
mind another Hooded Warbler which apparently spent most of the winter
of 1975-1976 in Seattle. For B.C., this is the first winter record
and-- I believe-- only the second record ever for Hooded Warbler. The
first was a male found at Point Grey in Vancouver on June 4, 1997 by
Rick Toochin (Field Notes 51(5): 1043, 1997).
To others looking for the Hooded Warbler: I would recommend
looking for the kinglet-chickadee flock first, and then try to find
the warbler. The sharp "chink" call, which I know quite well, is a
giveaway; the hard thing may be to get a good look at the bird.

For updates on the Hooded Warbler-- or if you have trouble finding
the locality from my directions-- please phone Doug Brown in Gibsons
at (604) 886-1650.
Great stuff, Doug-- you've done it again!!

Wayne C. Weber
114-525 Dalgleish Drive
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6E4
Phone: (250) 377-8865
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca