This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Friday, May 21, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with
stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA phone number is
(604) 737-3074.


Sightings for Friday, May 21st

Out-of-town Rare Bird Alert! A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW
briefly visited a backyard pond at 397 Herbert Heights Road on
Poplar Point in Kelowna. For further information please call the
Okanagan Bird Alert at 1-250-491-7738.

At Colony Farm, on the Port Coquitlam side, there were 2 WESTERN
KINGBIRDS and a LAZULI BUNTING near the north power pylon.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were a CHIPPING SPARROW
and 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES.


Sightings for Thursday, May 20th

The HUDSONIAN GODWIT was again reported on the evening high
tide from the West Field at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta. Also
seen here were an AMERICAN BITTERN and 4 WILSON'S
PHALAROPES.

At Colony Farm there are now 9 LAZULI BUNTINGS present, with
7 males and 2 females being reported.

Another LAZULI BUNTING was reported from MacKay Creek Trail,
which is accessed off of Atkins Road in Abbotsford.

At Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, Washington, a PURPLE
MARTIN and 2 PACIFIC LOONS were reported.


Sightings for Wednesday, May 19th

The HUDSONIAN GODWIT was again seen on the evening high tide
in the West Field at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta.

At the foot of 104th Street in Delta, the singing male HOUSE WREN
continues to stay on territory in the fruit trees across from the Air
Park parking lot.

An AMERICAN KESTREL was still present along Deltaport Way in Delta.

The following birds were reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary,
Delta: a BANK SWALLOW, 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 8 SNOW
GEESE, and 2 TURKEY VULTURES. From the Westham Island
bridge, there were 8 MUTE SWANS visible along the river bank.

The following birds were reported from Maplewood Conservation area in
North Vancouver: 5 PURPLE MARTINS, 2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS
and 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL.


Sightings for Tuesday, May 18th

RARE BIRD ALERT! A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen on the
evening high tide in the West Field of the Reifel Bird Sanctuary,
Delta. Also reported from the refuge were 5 WILSON'S
PHALAROPES, 5 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and still 12 late
lingering SNOW GEESE.

At Beach Grove Lagoon in Delta, a group of 3 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS and 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER were reported.

At Colony Farm, Port Coquitlam, the number of LAZULI BUNTINGS
increased to 5 birds, with 4 males and 1 female.


No sightings reported for Monday, May 17th


Sightings for Sunday, May 16th

The strange "short billed" WHIMBREL, first reported Saturday, was
again seen in a ploughed field directly across from the Mayfair Golf
Course along Highway 91 in Richmond.

The following shorebirds were reported from Iona Island, Richmond:
a WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS,
and 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER.


Sightings for Saturday, May 15th

A strange "short billed" WHIMBREL was reported in a ploughed field
directly across from the Mayfair Golf Course along Highway 91 in
Richmond.

The following birds were reported from Iona Island in Richmond:
a BANK SWALLOW, 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, over 50 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, 5 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 60 WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, an AMERICAN PIPIT, and 4 SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta, a CHIPPING SPARROW was
found in the parking lot area.

In a flooded field along Highway 17 just north of the Deltaport Way
exit, a flock of 30 WILSON'S PHALAROPES was observed.

At Colony Farm in Port Coquitlam, 2 male and a female LAZULI
BUNTINGS were again reported.


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