This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Wednesday May 15th, May 16th morning
update, sponsored in part by the Wild Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver
and North Vancouver.

Rare bird alert for LITTLE GULL

Sightings for Tuesday, May 15th

From the Iona south jetty comes the report of a first year LITTLE GULL.
Also
from the jetty were a POMARINE JAEGER, 4 REDHEADS and a LONG-BILLED CURLEW.
At the ponds were 2 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS, 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and 10
SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS.

Spring migration is well underway with sightings from various locations in
the lower mainland of WESTERN TANAGERS, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, WARBLING
VIREOS and the usual warbler species.

Of note from Cecil Green, UBC were a NASHVILLE WARBLER and 10 PARASITIC
JAEGERS.

At Montrose Park in Burnaby was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. At Grant Narrows
Regional Park in Pitt Meadows was a WESTERN KINGBIRD and a LAZULI BUNTING.

There were no notable sightings for May 14th. Of interest to birders at
Reifel Bird Sanctuary are this year's SANDHILL CRANE young, which are being
vigorously protected by their parents.

Monday, May 13th

Seen from the Iona south jetty, among thousands of COMMON TERNS near the
second shelter was an ARCTIC TERN. Also seen from the jetty were 6 female
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and 12 PARASITIC JAEGERS. At the Iona Ponds were a
SOLITARY SANDPIPER, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and 4 REDHEADS.

At Cecil Green was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Another OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER was at Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver as well as a WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE.

At the pond at Ambleside Park, West Vancouver was a GREEN HERON.

Sunday, May 12th

At the Iona South Jetty were 3 PARASITIC JAEGERS and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. At
the ponds were several PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER.

Seen at Reifel Bird Sanctuary were a GREAT EGRET, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, a
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 2 BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAKS.

At the foot of 112th, Boundary Bay were 4 RED KNOTS, 4 WHIMBRELS, 4 BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS and 3 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. Another 18 WHIMBRELS were in a
field off the Westminster Connector.

A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was seen near 64th and 132nd in Surrey. At Beach
Grove in Tsawwassen were 15 WESTERN TANAGERS, 2 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and 2
RED-EYED VIREOS.

Seen at a feeder in the Ryder Lake area of Abbotsford were a female
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD and a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD. Nearby was a
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.

The following are late reports from May 11th: At Iona there were 5
PARASITIC
JAEGERS, a HERRING GULL and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR on the south jetty. 2
SANDHILL CRANES were seen flying over the Iona causeway. The HUDSONIAN
GODWIT was seen at the foot of 112th, Boundary Bay and at Cecil Green, UBC
was a NASHVILLE WARBLER. 100 PACIFIC LOONS were at Point Roberts. At the
foot of 96th, Boundary Bay were a SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER and a SEMI-PALMATED
SANDPIPER. Another SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER was seen off Highway 17. An
AMERICAN KESTREL was seen near the mouth of the Serpentine River.

Out of town in Whistler at the plane launch near Nicholas North Golf Course
is the location of the area's second ever report of VESPER SPARROW.

Saturday, May 11th

In the late afternoon at 112th Street, Boundary Bay, a breeding plumaged
HUDSONIAN GODWIT was found. It was seen flying to a field near Highway 10.
In the same area were 100 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a WILSONS PHALAROPE and 10
WHIMBRELS. A further 10 WHIMBRELS were at 104th Street.

A report from Grant Narrows Regional Park in Pitt Meadows included 2
WARLING
VIREOS, a CASSIN'S VIREO, a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, 4 BLUE-WINGED TEALS and a
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.

At Lighthouse Park in North Vancouver was a BARRED OWL, while at 1st Avenue
in Point Roberts, a COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen.


Thank you and good birding.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Calvin Gehlen" <birding at shaw.ca>

For more information on Birding in the Vancouver Area log on to the
Vancouver Natural History Society's web site at: www.naturalhistory.bc.ca