Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for November 5, 2005
Date: Nov 5 10:48:00 2005
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society's
Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, November 5, 2005, sponsored in part by
the Wild Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
This update was recorded at 10 AM on November 5. The RBA phone
number is 604-737-3074.

RARE BIRD ALERT for KING EIDER


Sightings for Saturday, November 5

The KING EIDER, present earlier in the week in West Vancouver and at Stanley
Park in Vancouver, was rediscovered this morning in a flock of about 3000
SURF SCOTERS off Kitsilano Point on the Vancouver shoreline of English Bay.
The eider was not reported on Thursday or Friday despite searches of the
shoreline in West Vancouver and in Stanley Park where it had been
seen previously. This bird seems to move frequently with the scoters,
so please report all sightings of the eider promptly to the RBA.


Sightings for Friday, November 4

At Blackie Spit in the Crescent Beach area of Surrey, a very late
BAR-TAILED GODWIT was present along with 4 MARBLED GODWITS.
Also here were 6 EURASIAN WIGEON and 2 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.

A CACKLING GOOSE was present for the second day with CANADA
GEESE near the Second Beach pool on the west side of Stanley Park
in Vancouver.


Sightings for Thursday, November 3

A CATTLE EGRET, the first of the fall, was seen in Richmond on
the north side of Highway 91, the East-West Connector, between
No. 6 Road and No. 7 Road. The bird was in a field with a large
flock of MEW GULLS.

In Vancouver's Stanley Park, the KING EIDER could not be found at
Ferguson Point, although there were still about 2000 SURF SCOTERS
there. However, a CACKLING GOOSE was found with CANADA
GEESE near the pool at Second Beach in Stanley Park.


Sightings for Wednesday, November 2

The second-winter male KING EIDER, present in West Vancouver from
October 30 to November 1, has moved to the Ferguson Point area of
Stanley Park in Vancouver, between Second Beach and Third Beach.
It was seen there by several observers in early afternoon. Please note
that pay parking is in effect throughout Stanley Park. Look for the eider
in a large flock of SURF SCOTERS.

At Klootchman Park in West Vancouver, 120 SURFBIRDS and 2
MARBLED MURRELETS were seen.

At the tip of the Iona Island south jetty in Richmond were two adult
light-phase PARASITIC JAEGERS, plus a third dark-phase jaeger of
undetermined species. Two SNOW BUNTINGS were also seen on
the jetty.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, 14 SANDHILL CRANES were reported,
as were 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS.


Sightings for Tuesday, November 1

The KING EIDER was still present off Dundarave Pier at the foot of 25th
Street in West Vancouver with about 300 SURF SCOTERS.

A tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen in the 14900 block
of 24th Avenue in South Surrey.


Sightings for Monday, October 31

The KING EIDER was seen by many observers just east of the Dundarave
Pier, at the foot of 25th Street in West Vancouver, with at least 1500 SURF
SCOTERS.

At Cecil Green Park, near the Museum of Anthropology at the University of
BC in Vancouver, there was no sign of the SEDGE WREN, but a late
YELLOW WARBLER was seen.


Sightings for Sunday, October 30

A male KING EIDER was found today just east of the Dundarave Pier at
the foot of 25th St in West Vancouver. The bird was in a large flock
of SURF SCOTERS.

The SEDGE WREN was reported early this morning just south of the
location it was seen yesterday behind the Museum of Anthropology.
In front of the Museum a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was present and a
SHORT-EARED OWL flew high overhead. A late OSPREY was seen flying
over the intersection of Wesbrook Mall and Marine Drive.

The ROCK WREN continues on the Iona South Jetty in Richmond. A BROWN
PELICAN was also observed near the tip as well as a PARASITIC JAEGER.
5 SNOW BUNTINGS were also present here. On the outer pond were 32
RING-NECKED DUCKS.


Sightings for Saturday, October 29

A SEDGE WREN was discovered this afternoon at the end of Cecil Green
Park Road just north of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC in
Vancouver. This is first record of this species for the province of British
Columbia.

To reach this site, going east on SW Marine Dr. at UBC, turn left
past the museum at the road leading to Cecil Green Park, and go to
the parking lot at the end. Start listening and looking along the
gravel path that flanks the cliff west of the mansion, just west of a
bench overlooking Georgia Strait. The bird skulks along the edge of
the blackberry and broom and goes into the adjacent patches of grass.
Look for it on or near the ground.

The ROCK WREN continues on the Iona South Jetty in Richmond. A BROWN
PELICAN was also observed near the tip as well as a PARASITIC JAEGER.
3 SNOW BUNTINGS were also present here.


Sightings for Friday, October 28

The ROCK WREN was present near the second shelter on the Iona South
Jetty. Also present were 3 SNOW BUNTINGS and off the tip were 3
PARASITIC JAEGERS in among a flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLS.


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

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


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