This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Monday, October
15th, evening update

The featured birds are: SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER,
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, RED KNOT, PECTORAL SANDPIPER,
WILLET, COMMON MURRE, PALM WARBLER & GREAT EGRET

* * * *

Sightings for MONDAY, October 15:

Shorebirds and waterbirds were the order of the day for local birders and
the 112 St area was only one of the hotspots. The fields east of 112th,
south of Highway 10, produced a juvenile HUDSONIAN GODWIT, a RED KNOT, 50
LEAST SANDPIPERS, a juvenile PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS
in amongst an estimated 800 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.

Seen during the rising tide at the south end of 34 St was a juvenile WILLET
amidst a large flock of over
1000 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. Our long-time resident adult WILLET was again at
the base of the Tsawwassen Jetty. The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL
SANDPIPER were seen again at Iona.

2 NORTHERN SHRIKES were along the dyke at Brunswick Point and 2 LAPLAND
LONGSPURS were in nearby fields. A tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at
Beach Grove Park.

An afternoon waterbird survey turned up a GREAT EGRET on the White Rock
beach, just east of the pier and an EARED GREBE was seen west of the pier.
The PALM WARBLER was again at the foot of 112 St, working trees on the
perimeter of the last house on the east side. 4 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were in
stubble fields on the east side of 112 St, mid-way between Hornby Dr and the
dyke.

Huge rafts of birds were sighted offshore from Point Roberts including over
800 COMMON MURRE, 6 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and a PIGEON GUILLEMOT. Another huge
raft of up to 1,000 birds contained PACIFIC LOONS, WESTERN GREBES and
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Also at Point
Roberts, there were 3 HEERMANN'S GULLS at Lily Pt, 15 more on the west side
of the Marina and at Lighthouse Marine Park there was an unidentified Jaeger
and 35 WESTERN SANDPIPERS.

SUNDAY, October 14:

A SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was found during the mid-afternoon at Iona, in the
NE corner of the NE
Pond. The HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen at 5PM with BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS east
of 112 St, in an area between Highways 10 & 99. The PALM WARBLER was
working the trees on the east side of the foot of 112 St and a
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen further east again at the woodlot.

The ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was again seen at Beach Grove Park. To find this
bird begin at the corner of Beach Grove Rd and 17A Ave, Tsawwassen and
proceed north along the edge of the field. The bird has been seen in brush
anywhere between the second and third power poles.

The GREAT EGRET was again at the mouth of the Nicomekl River and a BARRED
OWL was observed at Jericho Park. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported from Deas
Island RP as well as a dead GREAT HORNED OWL. Arrival ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
are being reported throughout the checklist
area. High tides brought up to 500 SNOW GEESE close to the Iona Causeway
and over 1000 SNOW GEESE were seen in overflight at Mundy Park, Coquitlam.
An unusual visitor to the Terra Nova Nature Reserve was a MUTE SWAN.

Highlights of the Squamish Estuary monthly count included a YELLOW-BILLED
LOON, a YELLOW WARBLER, many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and RED CROSSBILLS;
accidental to the area for the time of year were 2 WOOD DUCKS. Also at
Squamish, near the golf course, are 2 GREEN
HERONS.

SATURDAY, October 13:

There were late reports of 6 SANDHILL CRANES over the Biology building at
UBC and another group of late swallows at Reifel which included 4 CLIFFS, 9
BARNS and an exceptionally delayed BANK SWALLOW. 2 CASPIAN TERNS were at
the base of the Roberts Bank Jetty as was an adult WESTERN GULL.

The ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, first discovered in August, was re-located in
Beach Grove Park associating with a mixed flock of chickadees and kinglets.

In other sightings, a juvenile HUDSONIAN GODWIT was observed in a large
flock of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS east of 112 St. The albino GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULL was again noted at Union & Gore Sts, Vancouver.

The WILLET was in its usual location on the south side of the Tsawwassen
causeway and 2 tardy BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were feeding in seaweed at Boundary
Bay R.P. Up to 20 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS could still be found at Iona and
500 SNOW GEESE were near the Vancouver Airport. A PEREGRINE FALCON and a
LAPLAND LONGSPUR were reported from the South Jetty at Iona.

A visit to Colony Farm, Port Coquitlam side, produced the following
species: a VIRGINIA RAIL, an AMERICAN BITTERN, 6 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and
a NORTHERN SHRIKE.

* * * * *

PLEASE remember to report your sightings to the Vancouver Bird Alert at
(604)737-3074. Thank you and good birding!

Visit the Vancouver Natural History Society's website
at: www.naturalhistory.bc.ca

From: Prue or Bernie <hawkowl2000 at yahoo.ca>
Monday, October 15, 2001 9:50 PM
RBA Vancouver, BC - Mon Oct 15/01

Larry Cowan
Port Coquitlam, BC
lawrencecowan at home.com