I wanted to send this alonng, since someone inquired about skylarks a bit
ago.

Valerie Elliott
Olympia, WA
VElliott at msn.com

>
>
>RBA
>
>* British Columbia
>* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
>* October 25, 2005
>* BCVI051025
>- Transcript
>
>Howdy birders. This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird
>Alert for Tuesday, October 25. 8:45 pm update. Compiled and transcribed
>by
>David Allinson.
>
>Feature Birds
>---------------------------
>CLARK'S GREBE
>ROCK SANDPIPER
>
>EVENT REMINDER: VNHS BIRDERS' NIGHT on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26th
>"Birds and Critters of Florida"
>Suzanne Huot lived and photographed in Florida, but has recently moved
>to
>North Saanich where she continues her career as a photographer. Suzanne
>will
>present a selection of her excellent slides that will entice us to visit
>Florida and help us to identify some of the birds and other animals of
>that
>state. Everyone welcome. Meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Fraser Bldg.
>Room 159 at University of Victoria. Bring a friend and your coffee cup.
>
>Tuesday, October 25
>RARE BIRD ALERT (OUT-OF-TOWN): Since Sunday a CLARK'S GREBE has been
>present
>up-island on the log booms about 1 km north of Union Bay (or about 13
>kilometers south of Courtenay).
>At Cattle Point was the first ROCK SANDPIPER report of the fall-winter.
>At Maber Flats off Wallace Drive in Central Saanich were 9 CACKLING
>GEESE, 2
>GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and an AMERICAN KESTREL.
>An apparent male AMERICAN BLACK DUCK continues to be reported from
>Esquimalt
>Lagoon in Colwood. Please note that the origin of such a bird is always
>in
>question, especially at this locale. In addition, for the "purists"
>among
>us, there is the possibility that some Mallard genes may be present
>(note
>its head pattern and colour, which in photos I've viewed just seems
>wrong).
>
>Monday, October 24
>This has definitely been a good fall for SWAMP SPARROW and
>WHITE-THROATED
>SPARROW. One of each was reported together at Witty's Lagoon Regional
>Park
>in Metchosin near the beach washrooms.
>
>Sunday, October 23
>There has been no relocation for the NORTHERN WHEATEAR at Columbia
>Beach-French Creek since Thursday the 20th. Any updates would be
>appreciated.
>A SHORT-EARED OWL was again at Swan Lake in Saanich near "Tuesday Pond"
>on
>the northeast side of the sanctuary.
>A NORTHERN SHRIKE was off Puckle Road in the Martindale Valley in
>Central
>Saanich.
>
>Saturday, October 22
>An adult YELLOW-BILLED LOON was seen by boat between Sidney and James
>Islands.
>An AMERICAN BITTERN remained at Swan Lake and was observed in the
>northeast
>corner of the lake.
>Individual SWAMP SPARROWS were reported from Swan Lake and Blenkinsop
>Lake,
>both in Saanich.
>In Central Saanich just north of the Martindale Valley, a tally of 110
>MOURNING DOVES along Puckle Road (which is off Island View Road) near
>the
>entrance to 'Saanich Seed Orchards' is perhaps a new local record high.
>A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was again observed at Panama Flats off Carey
>Road
>in Saanich.
>
>Friday, October 21
>A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was over the southwest side of Blenkinsop Lake.
>There were 20 CACKLING GEESE at Panama Flats.
>A sick or malnourished SHORT-EARED OWL which was originally picked up in
>the
>James Bay area was successfully rehabilitated and released by WILDARC.
>
>Thursday, October 20
>RARE BIRD ALERT (OUT-OF-TOWN): The NORTHERN WHEATEAR was last reported
>today
>at Columbia Beach. The bird had been present here since October 7th.
>A SHORT-EARED OWL was on the southeast side of Swan Lake Nature
>Sanctuary.
>10 BRANT flew past 10 Mile Point in Saanich (recommended viewing areas
>are
>the public beach accesses either via White Rock Street or Baynes Road
>off
>Tudor Ave).
>A high tally of 70 SKY LARKS in the Vantreight bulb fields in Central
>Saanich is a significant number. A reminder to respect private property
>as
>our access to the Vantreight site is a privilege -- keep vehicle access
>points clear and park well off the road, and when walking around stay in
>the
>farm vehicle rut paths and away from the plants and flowers.
>
>End transcript
>
>David Allinson
>Victoria, BC
>passerine at shaw.ca
>
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