This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Wednesday, October 8th, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with
stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Rare Bird Alert for an out of town NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW in
Victoria.

Featured bird is FRANKLIN'S GULL.

Sightings for October 8

A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was located around 3:00PM at Viaduct Flats
in Victoria. For further details call the Victoria Bird Alert at
250-592-3381.

Closer to home the FRANKLIN'S GULL reported yesterday from Chilliwack was
again present today but had wandered further downstream from Island 22. The
bird is moving around quite frequently so could be anywhere in the area.

In the fields north of the dike near 104th were 2 RED KNOTS and 2 AMERICAN
GOLDEN PLOVERS.

October 7

A first winter FRANKLIN'S GULL was seen near the boat launch area at Island
22 in Chilliwack. To get to this location travel north on Yonge St. through
downtown Chilliwack till you pass Brian Minter's Nursery then watch for
Island 22 signs on your left.

A STILT SANDPIPER was reported from Blackie Spits Farm Slough. Nearby at
Mud Bay was a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER and a MARBLED GODWIT.

A TURKEY VULTURE was seen in over flight of the 15000 blk of 20th St. south
Surrey.

Reported from the Reifel Refuge were 4 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS and 2
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS.

In the fields near Hornby Drive and 104th was a SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER and a
RED KNOT.

Seen along the foreshore between 104th & 96th were a RED KNOT, 13 GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and in a large flock of Canada Geese were 6 Canada's of
the "Cackling" race.

October 6

A PALM WARBLER was observed on the Iona North Jetty past the log sort area.

Six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at the Reifel Refuge.

October 5

At Boundary Bay, in the woodlot east of the foot of 112th Street, a
late MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was reported.

At the foot of 104th Street were 3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.

At the "mansion" west of the foot of 96th Street were 3 STILT
SANDPIPERS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS.

At Blackie Spit in Surrey, a STILT SANDPIPER was seen on the afternoon
high tide.

At the "compensation lagoon" on the north side of the Tsawwassen ferry
Jetty, was 1 MARBLED GODWIT.

At Burnaby Lake, a high count of 18 PIED-BILLED GREBES was reported,
as well as one SHORT-EARED OWL.

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen at the Reifel Refuge.

Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert & good birding.

END TRANSCRIPT

For further information on birding in the Vancouver area log onto the
Vancouver Natural History Society's web site at
www.naturalhistory.bc.ca

Larry Cowan
Port Coquitlam, BC
lawrencecowan at shaw.ca