Tweeters,

I'd like to pass on a sighting from my brother, Robin Weber, who
lives in Prince Rupert, B.C. While eating lunch today at a waterfront
restaurant, Robin saw a group of at least 30 FORK-TAILED STORM-
PETRELS flying about over the Prince Rupert harbour. He speculated
that they had been blown in by gale-force winds which pounded the
Queen Charlotte Islands and Prince Rupert area in the previous 24
hours. In my experience, it is very unusual to see Storm-Petrels from
land in B.C., and this is the first time Robin has seen them in the
harbour in the 8 years he has been in Prince Rupert.
This reminds me of a big influx of Fork-tails into Puget Sound-- I
think it was in October 1997 (correct me if I'm wrong)-- also after
some gale-force winds.
The fall storm season is beginning, even if it hasn't quite hit
the heart of Tweeterland (i.e., Puget Sound) yet, so keep an eye open
for oddball birds on or over the water!

Wayne Weber
Kamloops, B.C.
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca