Tweeters,

A couple of "eastern" vagrants have popped up in Burnaby, BC (a suburb
of Vancouver) in the last week. On June 29, an OVENBIRD was found by
George Clulow at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, and was subsequently heard
singing that day (but not seen) by a dozen or more observers. It has
not been heard or seen since. On July 1, a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
was found by Dan Peterson at the lower parking lot on Burnaby Mountain
Park (west of Simon Fraser University), and has been seen and heard by
a number of observers through at least July 5th.

Both of these are extremely rare vagrants at Vancouver-- I'm not
certain just how many records, but fewer than 10 records of each. I
put the "eastern" in quotes because both species are common breeders
in the Peace River region of northeastern B.C., hardly the "east", but
still on the east side of the Rocky Mountains.

Late June and early July is generally a time when few vagrant
songbirds are seen in the Pacific Northwest, but there is a pattern of
"eastern" songbirds, especially warblers, showing up at this time of
year. A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER is currently on territory at Lost Lake
in the central Oregon Cascades. (The warbler is definitely lost, if
not the lake!)

A word to the wise should be sufficient. Keep alert for unfamiliar
songs-- there may well be an OVENBIRD or ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
somewhere in western Washington, too!

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net