21, Oct/01

This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Sunday, October
21st, evening update

The featured birds are: SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, RED
KNOT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER & PECTORAL SANDPIPER

* * * *

Sightings for SUNDAY, October 21:

The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was seen again at Iona in
the NE Pond and later at the NW Pond. Also in the NW
Pond were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. In a wet field on
Highway 17, near the Deltaport Way turn-off were 4 RED
KNOTS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 200 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS
and good numbers of DUNLIN as well as WESTERN and
LEAST SANDPIPERS. Close by in another field seen from
the Highway 17 on-ramp from Deltaport Way were a
further 2 RED KNOTS and 30 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.
Seen along Hornby Drive,between 104 St & the
railtracks to the east, were over 800 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS, a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER and 2 RED KNOTS.

3 HEERMANN's GULLS and 12 COMMON MURRES were in a
large group of PACIFIC LOONS close to shore at Point
Roberts. There was a report from Blackie Spit of a
TOWNSEND's SOLITAIRE and a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH;
however, exact details of their location were not
provided. A HORNED LARK was at Boundary Bay RP.

SATURDAY, October 20:

Of interest from the Seattle area was the sighting of
a NORTHERN HOBBY found in the morning and viewed for
several hours from the South Beach Trail at Discovery
Park. For further updates contact the Washington
BirdBox at (206)281-9172.


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. 2 HERMIT THRUSHES were seen along
the Cleveland Trail at Pacific Spirit RP and a single
bird was at the Friendship Garden Park, New
Westminster. 5 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were on the south
side of the Tsawwassen Causeway.

A VIRGINIA RAIL and a BARN OWL were at Colony Farm.
The MUTE SWAN could still be found at Richmond's Terra
Nova Nature Area; nearby were 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS.
There were 7 MARBLED GODWITS remaining just south of
the border at Blaine, Washington. Also seen in the
area was a late YELLOW WARBLER.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Boundary Bay RP and at
Point Roberts were another NORTHERN SHRIKE and an
OSPREY. At the foot of 34 St in the Brunswick Pt
area, there was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and 4 RED
KNOTS, of which one was still in full breeding
plumage.


FRIDAY, October 19:

2 SNOW BUNTINGS visited a yard in the 3800 block of
Cambridge St, Burnaby. A PARASITIC JAEGER and a
HEERMANN's GULL were seen from the Tsawwassen ferry
and the WILLET was in its usual position at the base
of the jetty.

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

* * * * *

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

Larry Cowan
Port Coquitlam, BC
lawrencecowan at shaw.ca