Subject: [Tweeters] BALTIMORE ORIOLE still at Pitt Meadows, BC on June 16
Date: Jun 17 07:09:58 2005
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


Birders,

The BALTIMORE ORIOLE found on the morning of June 15 by Peter Candido,
at the Grant Narrows nature dyke at the south end of Pitt Lake, was still
there on June 16. It was seen about 11:30 AM by Rick Toochin, Walter
Ammann, and me, and was seen earlier in the morning by Lloyd Esralson
and at least one or two other birders.

The weather was not promising, with overcast skies and a strong
northeasterly wind (at least 30 km/hr) blowing through the trees on the
nature dyke, which decreased only a little by the time I left. There was
less bird song than normal, and the birds that were singing were hard
to hear above the swishing of leaves and branches. However, the
Baltimore Oriole-- an adult male-- sang loudly although sporadically,
and this is probably the best way of locating it.

Just prior to 11:30 AM, when I was about 500 metres down the nature dyke
(just before you get to the small bridge), the bird sang loudly several
times directly above my head, but I couldn't see it! Rick and Walter were
within earshot, and came running. Shortly, the oriole flew a short distance
toward the start of the trail and landed in the top of a willow, where it
stayed for about 2 minutes in plain view, singing all the while. We were
able to see all the field marks, including the black head, throat, and back,
bright orange underparts, black tail with orange corners, and white
wing-bars. Finally, the bird flew farther back toward the start of the dyke.
I heard it sing only once more, about 15 minutes later, but I suspect that
it is still in the area.

This appears to be the first record of Baltimore Oriole for the Vancouver
area, although there are a very few records for Victoria and other southern
BC localities. Congratulations to Peter for finding this bird!

Also present along the Grant Narrows nature dyke was a first-year male
AMERICAN REDSTART, which was singing loudly, and posed for us briefly
close to the trail. I believe Walter got a couple of photos of the Redstart.

Other birds of interest that I saw along the Grant Narrows dyke or elsewhere
in Pitt Meadows were as follows:

Ring-necked Duck 5 males (in Katzie Marsh)
Turkey Vulture 2 (Rannie Road near Swan-e-set Golf Course)
Eastern Kingbird 4
Gray Catbird 2 singing
Cedar Waxwing 40 (all over the place)
Bullock's Oriole 3


Good luck and good birding,

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