Oct 20/01

This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Saturday, October 20th, evening update

The featured birds are: SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER & HUDSONIAN GODWIT

Of interest from the Seattle area is a report of a NORTHERN HOBBY found in
the morning and viewed for several hours from the South Beach Trail at
Discovery Park. The bird's origins may well be questionable at this time
however, for further updates contact the Washington BirdBox at (206)281-9172

Also out-of-town,there was a late report from Vancouver Island concerning a
RED-THROATED PIPIT found with AMERICAN PIPITS on October 17, at the Saanich
bulb fields on Vancouver Island, a fifth record for this site. For further
information please call the Victoria Bird Alert at (250)592-3381.

* * * *

Sightings for SATURDAY, October 20:

A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was observed at the foot of 112 St during a falling tide
and a SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was discovered in a flooded field on the west
side of Highway 17, just north of the turn-off to Roberts Bank.

Another SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER were still at the NE
Pond at Iona however, a PEREGRINE FALCON in hot pursuit later drove the
birds across to the SE Pond.

The GREAT EGRET was again seen on Westham Island. To look for this bird,
after crossing the Westham Island Bridge find the large slough just before
the first bend in the road.

Two HERMIT THRUSHES were seen along the Cleveland Trail at Pacific Spirit
RP, near UBC and
5 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were on the south side of the Tsawwassen Causeway.

7 MARBLED GODWITS remained just south of the border at Blaine, Washington.
Also seen in the area was a late YELLOW WARBLER.


FRIDAY, October 19:

There was a late report of 2 SNOW BUNTINGS visiting a yard in the 3800 block
of Cambridge St, Burnaby.

In other sightings, it was godwits galore at Blaine, Washington with a grand
total of 10 birds representing
3 species. A BAR-TAILED GODWIT, 8 MARBLEDS and a HUDSONIAN were seen around
11AM in the bay just south of the Border. The birds were viewed through a
telescope from the Canadian side of Peace Arch Park. However, anyone
wishing to copy this procedure is cautioned to have plenty of i.d. ready as
the birder filing this report was interrogated by no less than four
different agencies there within a 20-minute period.

A GREAT EGRET was spotted shortly after 10AM standing in a slough on Westham
Island Road on the way to Reifel and a single SNOW GOOSE was with CANADA
GEESE at Blackie Spit.

THURSDAY, October 18:

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, described as being most cooperative, was again at
Reifel along the East dyke trail.

Two BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were along the Tsawwassen causeway and an AMERICAN
BLACK DUCK was in the Compensation Lagoon.

Fourteen SANDHILL CRANES were in a cornfield at the north end of Westham
Island Road and
a MUTE SWAN was near the Westham Island Bridge.

WEDNESDAY, October 17:

There was a late report of an AMERICAN KESTREL seen hovering over the
parking lot at Iona.

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen at Reifel near the red feeder towards the
far end of the East dyke trail. Also present at Reifel were 2
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 14 SANDHILL CRANES in overflight and 3
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS.

A late SPOTTED SANDPIPER was feeding in a ditch along 36 Ave, West of 72 St,
Delta.

A waterbird survey at Blackie Spit turned up an unusual sighting of 2 SNOW
GEESE grazing on the north side of the Nicomekl River. Also at Blackie, a
MARBLED GODWIT was noted in a large southbound flight of BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS and DUNLIN.

* * * * *

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

END TRANSCRIPT

----- Original Transcript -----
From: Prue or Bernie <hawkowl2000 at yahoo.ca>

Larry Cowan
Port Coquitlam, BC
lawrencecowan at shaw.ca