Subject: RBA Vancouver, BC -- May 18/99
Date: May 20 14:56:51 1999
From: Libor Michalak - pieris at sprint.ca


This is the Vancouver, B.C. Bird Alert for Wednesday May 19th, 11:00 pm
update.

Featured birds for today's update include

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH

NB: The WHISKERED AUKLET on Penn Cove near Coupville Washington has not been
seen since Monday May 17th.

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Sightings for Tuesday May 19th

A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was found at low tide this evening on the north side
of the two arms of the Fraser River about 100 meters north of the Dinsmore
bridge. The bird was among the willows that line the river below a muddy
riverside road.

Five WHIMBREL were also along the middle arm of the river near the coast
guard station.

One WILSON'S PHALAROPE was on the Iona north west pond.

Five to six AMERICAN KESTRELS (an unusually large number) were on Sea
Island. Two more AMERICAN KESTRELS were near the foot of 22nd street Delta.

The RUDDY TURNSTONE was still at the tip of the Iona South Jetty.


Sightings for Tuesday May 18th

Two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (tan morphs) have been visiting a feeder at the
100 block of Parkside Drive of Port Moody for several days.

A CHIPPING SPARROW was seen in Queen Elizabeth Park this morning.

Five PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen off Robert's Bank from an early morning
ferry departing Tswwassen.

An AMERICAN KESTREL, 11 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and a family of GREAT HORNED
OWLS were in Deer Lake Park Burnaby. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, WESTERN
TANAGERS and WESTERN-WOOD PEEWEES have been noted in several locations.

Monday May 17th

The one year old WHISKERED AUKLET found Sunday May 16th at Kennedy's Corner
on
Penn Cove, near Coupeville on Whidby Island Washington was relocated in the
afternoon. Pen Cove is not actually a cove but a very large bay and the
tiny auklet is only the size of a cowbird, and was seen a very long way off
shore when the rain stopped and the wind abated. To see this bird take the
main road to the middle of
Whidby Island where the road passes close to Penn Cove on the left. After
the end of Penn Cove turn
left on Madrona Way. Go 100 yards to a rocky beach, stop and look out over
the cove. A telescope is essential. For more information please call the
Washington Ornithological Society's Bird Box at
425-454-2662.

There were no reports on Monday May 17th of the SNOWY EGRET seen for two
days at the mouth of
Moray Channel, Richmond nor the female 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 northeast of the Serpentine River
bridge.

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



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