This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare
Bird Alert for Saturday, April 9, 2005, sponsored
in part by the Wild Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver
and North Vancouver. This update was recorded at 9 AM,
April 10. The RBA phone number is (604) 737-3074.


RARE BIRD ALERT: In Washington, a BAIKAL TEAL, an accidental
visitor from Asia, has been present from March 31 through April 9,
on 277th Street near the West Valley Highway in Kent, just SE of
Seattle. It was seen yesterday by at least 40 observers including yours
Truly. For further details, please phone the Washington State RBA at
(206) 281-9172, or check the TWEETERS E-mail group.

Local RARE BIRD ALERT for a BREWER'S SPARROW, only
about the 7th Vancouver record, at the Iona Island sewage ponds.


Sightings for Saturday, April 9

A BREWER'S SPARROW, subspecies undetermined, was seen
well about 11 AM on a dyke within the Iona Island sewage ponds,
Richmond. It was on the dyke between the NE and SE sewage
ponds, just east of where the two cross-dykes intersect. It
apparently could not be found during the afternoon, but may
still be in the area.

Two more TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were reported, this time
from the northern side of Beach Grove Park, along 12th Avenue
near Boundary Bay in Delta

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, a GREATER WHITE-
FRONTED GOOSE, a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and 3
GREAT HORNED OWLS were reported.


Sightings for Friday, April 8

A GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH was seen on the south
side of the jetty at Garry Point, near Steveston in the SW
corner of Lulu Island, Richmond.

TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were reported from several
localities, with 3, possibly 4 at the University of BC Botanical
Gardens, 2 or possibly 3 at and near Old Orchard Park in
Port Moody, one near the Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver's
Queen Elizabeth Park, and one seen for a second day in the
4600 block of Bellevue in Vancouver.

At the Tsawwassen ferry jetty in Delta, the WILLET was
still present near the base on the south side, and a SNOW
BUNTING was seen about halfway out the jetty on the
south side.

At Colony Farm, on the Port Coquitlam side, a female
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was seen near the second
transmission tower. Nearby were a female AMERICAN
KESTREL and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.

In Coquitlam, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE was seen in
the 3000 block of Sperling.

At Grant Narrows Regional Park at the south end of Pitt
Lake were 5 TURKEY VULTURES. Another TURKEY
VULTURE was seen in North Langley near 208th Street
and 96th Avenue.

Two WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were seen in Boundary
Bay Regional Park, Delta, SE of the tower. At nearby Beach
Grove Park were two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a
probable YELLOW WARBLER, and a bizarre-looking
warbler which may have been a hybrid.


Sightings for Thursday, April 7

The first TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE reported this spring
was in the 4600 block of Bellevue Drive in Vancouver.

A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was seen on the eastern
mudflats at the Maplewood Conservation Area, North
Vancouver.

Two SANDHILL CRANES were at the foot of Piper
Road on the north side of Burnaby Lake, Burnaby.

A count of 421 BRANT was made at Boundary Bay
Regional Park, Delta.

Single ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were
reported from Port Moody and from the Maplewood
Conservation Area in North Vancouver.


Sightings for Wednesday, April 6

About 3600 BRANT were counted in the vicinity of the Tsawwassen
ferry jetty in Delta. Also in Delta, a WESTERN MEADOWLARK
was seen in Boundary Bay Regional Park, and an AMERICAN
KESTREL was present near the intersection of 28th Avenue and
56th Street


Sightings for Tuesday, April 5

In Pitt Meadows, 18 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
were still present in a field east of Neaves Road and just
south of the North Alouette River, where they have been for
a couple of weeks. However, yesterday's LONG-BILLED
CURLEW could not be relocated. 6 CACKLING GEESE
and 2 EURASIAN WIGEON were in the same field. Farther
north on Neaves Road, a TURKEY VULTURE was seen.
At Grant Narrows Regional Park at the south end of Pitt Lake,
a pair of OSPREYS were seen, and 10 RING-NECKED DUCKS
were in ditches along Rannie Road near Grant Narrows.


Sightings for Monday, April 4

A LONG-BILLED CURLEW was seen near the GREATER WHITE-
FRONTED GEESE east of Neaves Road and just south of the
North Alouette River in Pitt Meadows. Farther north, 4
SANDHILL CRANES were seen along Rannie Road, and
an AMERICAN KESTREL was present along Thompson Road.

At Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta, a female MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRD was seen just west of the high tower. On the
shoreline at the foot of 12th Avenue near the pumphouse were
2 MARBLED GODWITS, 15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 5
EURASIAN WIGEON.

Near the Boundary Bay Airport in Delta, a singing COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT was the first reported for the year.

At Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, a ROCK SANDPIPER
was seen with 35 BLACK TURNSTONES. Nearby were 2 BLACK
OYSTERCATCHERS. At Lily Point cemetery, an ORANGE-
CROWNED WARBLER was singing and at Tyee Drive, a
HUTTON'S VIREO was heard singing.


Sightings for Sunday, April 3:

At Stanley Park in Vancouver, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE was
seen near the "Hollow Tree".

On Westham Island in Delta, along Westham Island Road
and Robertson Road, a MARBLED GODWIT was seen with
a flock of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. Also here was 1 CLIFF
SWALLOW.

At Colony Farm, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on the Port
Coquitlam side in a field across from the foot bridge.

At Iona Island in Richmond, 3 CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen
over the southwest sewage lagoon.

In Maple Ridge, a RED CROSSBILL was seen at a feeder.


If you have any questions about birds or birding in the
Vancouver area, please call Wayne at (604) 597-7201,
Viveka at 531-3401, or Larry at 465-1402. Thank you for
calling the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert, and good birding.


For further information about birding in the Vancouver area,
log onto the Vancouver Natural History Society's website at
http://www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/


This message was recorded, transcribed and distributed
by Wayne Weber.

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