Subject: RBA Vancouver, BC -- May 17/99
Date: May 18 08:04:45 1999
From: Libor Michalak - pieris at sprint.ca


This is the Vancouver, B.C. Bird Alert for Sunday May 17th, 10:00 pm
update.

Yesterday the WHISKERED AUKLET near Cootsville Washington was not relocated
today.

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Sightings for May 17th

The one year old WHISKERED AUKLET found yesterday at Kennedy's Corner on
Penn Cove, near Cootsville on Whidby Island Washington was not relocated
despite an intensive search. This species is extremely rare south of the
Aleutian Islands. Pen Cove is not actually a cove but a very large bay and
the auklet is only the size of a cowbird, hard to see at all except at close
range. Today's rain and wind made viewing difficult.

There were no reports on the SNOWY EGRET seen for two days at the mouth of
Moray Channel, Richmond nor
the BLACK-NECKED STILT which had returned to the north and southwest pond at
the Iona Island sewage treatment plant.

One AMERICAN KESTREL was seen hovering north of the Serpentine River bridge.

Sixteen TURKEY VULTURES were in trees near the Fraser River and Matha Creek
Langley this evening.

Sightings for Sunday May 16th;

The SNOWY EGRET spent its second day at the mouth or Moray Channel south of
the Vancouver International Airport and was seen at the end of the second
parking lot at the end of River Road in North Richmond. The GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was also present.

The female BLACK-NECKED STILT spent the day in the north west and south west
ponds of the Iona Island sewage treatment plant.

Out of town at Whidby Island Washington a WHISKERED AUKLET was discovered on
Penn Cove. Directions are as follows: Take the main road to the middle of
Whidby Island. Penn Cove is on the left. After the end of Penn Cove turn
left on Madrona. Go 100 yards, stop and look out over the cove. For more
information please call the Washington Ornithological Society's Bird Box at
425-454-2662.

Locally 5 PARASITIC JEAGERS were seen from the end of the Iona south Jetty.
A SURFBIRD was on the tip of the Jetty.

Several species of shorebirds were on the Iona ponds including LONG-BILLED
CURLEW, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, BAIRDS SANDPIPER, BLACK-BELLIED and
SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was at Grant Narrows at Pitt Lake. A WILSON'S
PHALAROPE was at Derby Reach Regional Park in Langely. Twelve WHIMBREL were
on the mouth of the Nicklamekel (sp?) River in south Surrey

Sightings for Saturday May 15th;

A SNOWY EGRET was discovered along the Richmond foreshore off the west end
of Westminster Hwy. The bird flew northward and spent the day at the mouth
of Moray Channel which borders the airport on the south. It went to roost
in the cattails this evening. To look for it, go to the west end of River
Road in north Richmond. Proceed to the second parking lot and look to the
north and north west.

The first RED KNOT of the year in breeding plumage was in the same vicinity.

The female BLACK-NECKED STILT has returned to Iona and was at its previous
haunts in the north west and south west ponds.

The LEWIS' WOODPECKER was at Minnekhada Regional Park south of the entrance
road to Minnekhada Lodge.

Spring arrival BLACK SWIFTS were over Pitt Lake nature trail. One
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH was on the Pitt Lake Dike.

An EARED GREBE was on the Serpentine River west of the King George Hwy
bridge.

Seven TURKEY VULTURES were over 264th street and 84th Ave in Langley.


Sighting's for Friday May 14th;

Two GRAY -CROWNED ROSY FINCHES were on the Dike at Pitt Lake. One AMERICAN
KESTREL, one RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, several OSPREY and a TURKEY VULTURE
were also noted. Another AMERICAN KESTREL was along Colbrook Road near
131A st. and south Surrey. WARBLING VIREOS, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and
WESTERN TANAGERS had been widely noted.

Sightings for Thursday May 13th;

A BLACK-NECKED STILT was found at Serpentine Fen. The bird was in a pond
just of the west of the observational tower and believed to be a male which
would make it a different bird from the one that was at Iona Island for
several days. Also at the Fen was one WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 2 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS, 1 EARED GREBE in the river and 2 TURKEY VULTURES overhead.
This was the last day for the SAGE THRASHER at Iona Beach Regional Park.
Seventy-five WHIMBREL were in a field south east of 40th Ave. and 184th
Street in Cloverdale. One GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH was at Queen Elizabeth
Park.


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