This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's
Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, April 17, sponsored in part by the Wild
Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. This
update was recorded at 10 AM, April 18. The RBA phone number
is (604) 737-3074.

RARE BIRD ALERT: In Washington, a BAIKAL TEAL, an accidental
visitor from Asia, has been present since mid-December. For the last 2
weeks, from March 31 through April 16, it has been seen
on 277th Street near the West Valley Highway in Kent, just SE of
Seattle. For further details, please phone the Washington State RBA at
(206) 281-9172, or check the TWEETERS E-mail group.


Sightings for Sunday, April 17

A flood of reports was received today as birders emerged from
hibernation, and spring migration swung into high gear.

At the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver, the first-of-year
PURPLE MARTIN was seen. Other first-of-year reports included a
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver,
and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS at QE Park, at Beach
Grove Park and near the Boundary Bay Airport in Delta, and on Elkview
Road near Ryder Lake in Chilliwack. CASPIAN TERNS were also
reported from 4 localities, including 9 over Clark Drive and East
Hastings in Vancouver, and singles at Iona I., at the Tsawwassen
ferry jetty in Delta, and near the Port Mann bridge in Surrey.

In Pitt Meadows, 18 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were still
on Neaves Road south of the North Alouette River, with 3 or 4 CACKLING
GEESE. Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen near the Swan-e-set
Golf Course, and at least 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS were seen
around Pitt Meadows, as were two TURKEY VULTURES.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, highlights included 2
AMERICAN BITTERNS, 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE,
and 1500 remaining SNOW GEESE.

At Iona Island in Richmond were 4 CINNAMON TEAL and 3
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.

Three TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were still at the University
of BC Botanical Gardens, as was a migrant HERMIT THRUSH.

20 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, a high number, were seen from
the Tsawwassen ferry jetty in Delta.

In Chilliwack, a surprising BRANT was seen at Sardis Park; a
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and MOUNTAIN
CHICKADEE were seen in the 48100 block of Elkview Road; and
3 early LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen with other shorebirds
and ducks, including 2 CINNAMON TEAL, along Chilliwack Central
Road near Prest Road.


Sightings for Saturday, April 16

A late SNOWY OWL was seen briefly in North Delta near 116th
Street and 94A Avenue.

At the Maplewood Conservation Area, a female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
was in the west salt marsh.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was heard "pumping" near the high tower in
Boundary Bay Regional Park, Delta.

At Iona Island, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was reported on the flats
by one observer, and 6 CASPIAN TERNS, a YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD, and a CINNAMON TEAL were reported by another.

In Vancouver, 3 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were still at the UBC
Botanical Garden, and a first-of-year HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER
was near Boundary Road and 49th Street.


Sightings for Friday, April 15

At Blackie Spit in Surrey, the wintering LONG-BILLED CURLEW was
still present, and one WESTERN MEADOWLARK was heard singing.


Sightings for Thursday, April 14

At Colony Farm, on the Port Coquitlam side, an early WILSON'S
WARBLER was seen. Also here were a late NORTHERN SHRIKE and
6 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS.

A BARRED OWL was seen in Campbell Valley Regional Park,
Langley.

The LONG-BILLED CURLEW was still at Blackie Spit in Surrey,
near the mouth of the Nicomekl River.

In Delta, two MARBLED GODWITS and 15 SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS were seen on the Boundary Bay mudflats off
the foot of 72nd Street, along with many other shorebirds.

At Jericho Park in Vancouver were 6 BONAPARTE'S GULLS.

Along 6th Avenue near Stevens Drive, in the Tsawwassen area of
Delta, a HUTTON'S VIREO was singing.


Sightings for Wednesday, April 13

A ROCK SANDPIPER was seen again at Lighthouse Marine Park in
Point Roberts, Washington, along with a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER
and up to 69 BLACK TURNSTONES.

At Ambleside Park in West Vancouver, a pair of GREEN HERONS
were seen on the small island in the duck pond.

At the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver were 4
OSPREYS, and 15 RING-NECKED DUCKS in the west pond.

In Pitt Meadows, 18 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were
still present in a field east of Neaves Road and south of the
North Alouette River.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen in the town centre of Whistler.


Sightings for Tuesday, April 12

Near the foot of 96th Street on Boundary Bay in Delta, 30 SHORT-
BILLED DOWITCHERS and 400 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, the
first reported this spring, were seen. Also there were 50 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, 1000 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, and thousands
of DUNLIN.

At the Tsawwassen jetty in Delta, 4 MARBLED GODWITS and a
WILLET were seen.
At Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta were 600 BRANT and 31
GREATER YELLOWLEGS. An EARED GREBE was present in the
marina at Point Roberts, Washington.

At the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver were a
female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD on the west side, and a TOWNSEND'S
SOLITAIRE.

A HERMIT THRUSH was seen in a garden near 41st and Dunbar, Vancouver.

Two late COMMON REDPOLLS were seen near 202nd Street and 47A
Avenue in Langley.


Sightings for Monday, April 11

Two pairs of CINNAMON TEAL, the first reported this spring, were in
ditches on Sea Island, Richmond. At nearby Iona I. Were several
AMERICAN PIPITS.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was at Grant Narrows Regional Park at
the south end of Pitt Lake, and an AMERICAN KESTREL was still along
Thompson Road in Pitt Meadows.




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