Subject: Vancouver, BC RBA for June 1, 2004
Date: Jun 2 08:42:53 2004
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net
This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Tuesday, June 1, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with
stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA phone number is
(604) 737-3074.
Sightings for Tuesday, June 1st
On the outer pond at Iona Island, Richmond, were 3 BANK SWALLOWS
and 8 RUDDY DUCKS. On the early morning high tide, an AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER was briefly seen in the northwest settling pond,
and 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen along the Sea/Iona Island
causeway. These birds later disappeared.
In a weird twist, on the evening high tide, 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS
were seen at Brunswick Point in Delta. These may well have been
the Iona birds.
At the foot of 104th Street in Delta, the HOUSE WREN was still
present, and is now checking out a nest box. There may have been
2 birds present, and confirmation of nesting is requested.
Sightings for Monday, May 31st
Rare Bird Alert! In the late afternoon 2 adult breeding plumaged
SABINE'S GULLS were observed in the middle of Burrard Inlet from
the Sea Bus that runs between downtown Vancouver and North
Vancouver. The birds were flushed by the ferry, and flew westward.
It is suggested to look off Brockton Point in Stanley Park or from
Canada Place in downtown Vancouver, as the birds might still be
present.
Along Ferguson Road on Sea Island, Richmond, there was a WESTERN
KINGBIRD on the Vancouver Airport fence.
At Iona Island, Richmond, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was in
the northwest settling pond, and a BANK SWALLOW was over the
outer pond.
Sightings for Sunday, May 30th
There was a good fallout of migrants reported from the Grant Narrows
Nature Dyke in Pitt Meadows, with the highlights being an EASTERN
KINGBIRD and a GRAY CATBIRD, as well as big numbers of common
species. Along Rannie Road, a flock of 32 TURKEY VULTURES was
seen sitting in a field together.
In an unusual location was a MOURNING DOVE reported from Jericho Park
in Vancouver.
Sightings for Saturday, May 29th
In Pitt Meadows along the Grant Narrows Nature Dyke trail was a
singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
A breeding plumaged male HUDSONIAN GODWIT was found in the
flooded field west of Highway 17 and north of 34B Avenue, Delta.
Also here were 5 WILSON'S PHALAROPES and 6 LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHERS.
At the base of the Tsawwassen Jetty, Delta, was a MARBLED GODWIT.
At Blackie Spit in Surrey, there were 8 BRANT, 8 WHIMBREL and 3
PURPLE MARTINS.
In Burns Bog, Delta, a flock of 8 PURPLE MARTINS was reported.
No sightings reported for Friday, May 28th
Sightings for Thursday, May 27th
In Pitt Meadows, a singing GRAY CATBIRD was still present by the
yellow gate about 1 km south of the parking lot at Grant Narrows. At
the Swan-e-set Golf Course along Rannie Road, there was a GREEN
HERON.
A BANK SWALLOW was seen hunting over the pond at Colony Farm, Port
Coquitlam.
There were dozens of BLACK SWIFTS seen in various parts of Richmond
today, including Iona Island, where they were joined by a BANK SWALLOW
over the outer pond.
Sightings for Wednesday, May 26th
The HUDSONIAN GODWIT was again reported offshore from the Reifel
Bird Sanctuary, Delta. Also seen there were 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES,
2 AMERICAN BITTERNS, a GREEN HERON, a TURKEY VULTURE, 50
BLACK SWIFTS and a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.
The following birds were reported from Colony Farm, Coquitlam and Port
Coquitlam: an AMERICAN BITTERN, 2 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, and 6
male and 1 female LAZULI BUNTINGS.
At the Iona Island sewage ponds, Richmond, were a SOLITARY
SANDPIPER and a BANK SWALLOW.
Sightings for Tuesday, May 25th
There was no relocation of the NORTHERN PARULA today.
In the Grant Narrows area of Pitt Meadows, 3 EASTERN KINGBIRDS
were reported.
Out of town, a female RUFF was found today in Somenos Marsh in the
Duncan area on Vancouver Island. The bird is in the long field down
behind the golf driving range off Beverly Street. It was in the
company of 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert, and good birding.
This transcript was prepared by Rick Toochin and distributed by Wayne
Weber.
End Transcript
For further information on birding in the Vancouver area, log onto the
Vancouver Natural History Society's web site at
http://www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/
Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net