Victoria Rare Bird Alert for Monday, October 11/99, 10:30 pm update
Compiled by Bryan Gates. Transcribed by Ann Nightingale.

Feature Birds
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HORNED LARK
SKYLARK
SANDHILL CRANE

Monday, October 11
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A number of people have reported major fallouts of birds.

A SKYLARK was near the geographical marker at Cattle Point in Oak Bay. This
is possibly a vagrant bird from Asia as opposed to one of our local birds
from Central Saanich. Birders should attempt to get photographs of this
bird in an effort to identify the subspecies.
Also at Cattle Point were four WHIMBRELS.

Seven HORNED LARKS were at Martindale Flats in Central Saanich, while
ninety GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over t he area.

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at 1178 Sunnygrove in the Cordova Bay area. A
major fallout of birds was reported in that area including a WESTERN
TANAGER, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, thirty YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and CEDAR
WAXWINGS.

In the Hunt Rd. area of Central Saanich were more YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS,
and a PILEATED WOODPECKER upside down on a very flimsy branch, eating
elderberries.

A probable WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was on Graham St. in Victoria.

Seven WOOD DUCKS were at King's Pond at the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Saanich.

Sunday, October 10
--------------------------------
Two VIRGINIA RAILS were at Rithet's Bog in Saanich on Chatterton Way.

A MERLIN was at the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich.

Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were with CANADA GEESE at Witty's Lagoon in
Metchosin. Also there was the first EURASIAN WIGEON reported for the fall,
along with three to four-hundred AMERICAN WIGEON.

Saturday, October 9
-------------------------------
An immature SANDHILL CRANE was very approachable on the soccer field at
Windsor Park in Oak Bay in the morning. The bird left later in the morning.

Three WHIMBRELS were at Cattle Point in Oak Bay.

A GREAT HORNED OWL was calling on the University of Victoria campus, in the
woods between the student residences and Cedar Hill X Rd. This owl was also
heard on October 8.

Friday, October 8
----------------------------
On the Lower Mainland, a LITTLE STINT, a European vagrant has been in the
Iona Island area for the past three days. Search the settling ponds at the
Iona Island Treatment Plant. Updates would be appreciated.

Three HORNED LARKS were still at Cattle Point in Oak Bay, near the
geographical marker.

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at Saxe Point in Esquimalt.

Thursday, October 7
-------------------------------
A bird thought to be a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was on the rocks at Cattle Point.
As one or more WHIMBRELS are often on the rocks at Cattle Point, it is
possible that one of these may have been mistaken for the LONG-BILLED CURLEW.

Wednesday, October 6
-----------------------------------
Three HORNED LARKS were at Cattle Point in Oak Bay in the early afternoon.
Also off Cattle Point was a PARASITIC JAEGER.

At Goldstream Park, in the estuary of Goldstream River, were a single
GOLDEN EAGLE and a NORTHERN SHRIKE.

At Cowican Bay were 112 RING-BILLED GULLS and two GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
Nearby, at Cherry Point, were many BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Birders are reminded
to look carefully through BONAPARTE'S GULLS for a possible LITTLE GULL
among them.

Tuesday, October 5
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In the Duncan area, were a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 25 WOOD
DUCKS and a wide variety of other water fowl at the Duncan Sewage Ponds.

Monday, October 4
----------------------------
Twenty-two TURKEY VULTURES were seen passing over the Gorge Rd. Hospital.
Good numbers of TURKEY VULTURES and other raptors still remain on Southern
Vancouver Island waiting for those high thermals which will allow them to
glide south over Juan de Fuca Strait.

HELP WANTED:
------------------------
We are looking for additional volunteers to help transcribe the Victoria
Natural History Society's Victoria Rare Bird Alert and post the transcripts
to this system as well as other RBA systems.

If you willing to help the Victoria Natural History Society and become a
RBA transcriber, please email: rba at birding.bc.ca





Kevin Slagboom
KS Design