Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for June 6, 2006
Date: Jun 7 18:47:37 2006
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society's
Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, June 6, 2006, sponsored in part by
the Wild Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
This update was recorded at 10 AM on June 7. The RBA phone number
is 604-737-3074.


RARE BIRD ALERT for two BROWN PELICANS at the Tsawwassen
ferry terminal in Delta, and a ROCK WREN near the start of the dyke
at the south end of Pitt Lake.



Sightings for Tuesday, June 6

At the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Delta, there are now two BROWN
PELICANS present on a dolphin on the south side of the terminal,
near the end of the long rock breakwater. Also here were 9 BRANDT'S
CORMORANTS, unusual for June, 20 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and a
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER.


Sightings for Monday, June 5

In Boundary Bay Regional Park, Delta, a bird believed to be an
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was seen south of the pumphouse
at the foot of 12th Avenue.

The immature BROWN PELICAN was seen again on a dolphin on the
south side of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

A bird reported as a possible ALDER FLYCATCHER along the Grant
Narrows nature dyke at Pitt Lake was more likely a WILLOW
FLYCATCHER singing an abbreviated song. Also seen at Grant Narrows
and vicinity were 10 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, 4 GRAY CATBIRDS,
4 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, 2 CINNAMON TEAL, and 3 EASTERN
KINGBIRDS.

A GREEN HERON was seen along DeBoville Slough in Port
Coquitlam.

In North Vancouver, a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD near
the intersection of Mahon Avenue and West Fourth Street was
out-of-place.

In Langley, a COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen along 208th Street near
Yorkson Creek.

A PEREGRINE FALCON, unusual in June, was seen near the Surrey end
of the Port Mann bridge.


Sightings for Sunday, June 4

A BROWN PELICAN was reported in the morning sitting on a dolphin on the
south side of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Delta.

At Grant Narrows Regional Park in Pitt Meadows, a ROCK WREN was seen
near the start of the riprap dyke which separates Pitt Lake from the Katzie
Marsh. Also at Grant Narrows, mostly along the nature dyke, birds seen
included 2 GRAY CATBIRDS, 4 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, 2 BULLOCK'S
ORIOLES, 60 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, 80 VAUX'S SWIFTS, 8 BLACK
SWIFTS, 3 TURKEY VULTURES, and many late migrants including
numerous WILSON'S WARBLERS and WESTERN TANAGERS.
Father south in Pitt Meadows along Rannie Road were 2 SANDHILL
CRANES and 12 more TURKEY VULTURES.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, sightings included an out-of-season
immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, a female MANDARIN
DUCK, 2 SANDHILL CRANES, and a GREAT HORNED OWL along
the north dyke.

Another GREAT HORNED OWL was seen in Delta's Deas Island Park.


Sightings for Saturday, June 3

A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was reported from the Lower
Lonsdale area of North Vancouver.

Two EASTERN KINGBIRDS were seen in the 900 block of
Ioco Road in Port Moody, an unusual location for this species.

At Pitt Lake, two EASTERN KINGBIRDS, a late NASHVILLE
WARBLER, and 3 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were seen along the
Grant Narrows nature dyke, and two GRAY CATBIRDS and another
EASTERN KINGBIRD were seen along Rannie Road in the Pitt
Wildlife Area. An AMERICAN BITTERN was also heard
"pumping" at Grant Narrows.

Eight PURPLE MARTINS were present at the nest boxes on the
east side of Blackie Spit in Surrey.

At Colony Farm Park in Coquitlam were 2 male and one female
LAZULI BUNTING.


Sightings for Friday, June 2

Out of town, a male LARK BUNTING was reported to be visiting
feeders on Seaview Drive at Miracle Beach, north of Courtenay
on Vancouver Island. It has not been reported since then.

A BROWN PELICAN, possibly the same bird seen a few days earlier
at Sandheads, was seen just off the marina at Point Roberts, Washington.

An amazingly late SNOWY OWL was reported on top of a house
at Nanaimo Street and 27th Avenue in Vancouver. This may be the
first-ever June sighting for the area.

A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen at Blackie Spit Park in
Surrey, but could not be found there the next day.

The first COMMON NIGHTHAWK of the year was reported near
the Peace Arch Hospital in South Surrey.

At Iona Island Regional Park in Richmond were 30 CASPIAN TERNS
and 10 BONAPARTE'S GULLS between the north and south jetties.


Sightings for Thursday, June 1

At Ferguson Point in Vancouver's Stanley Park were a late WHIMBREL,
5 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, and 2 COMMON TERNS.


No sightings reported for Wednesday, May 31


Sightings for Tuesday, May 30

Out of town, a DICKCISSEL and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE were
both reported from Jordan River on Vancouver Island. No update
has since been received on either of these birds.

Two GREEN HERONS were present at the pond in Ambleside Park,
West Vancouver, where they have nested in previous years.

At Pitt Meadows, a RED-EYED VIREO, 3 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES,
an EASTERN KINGBIRD, a TURKEY VULTURE, and a
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER were seen along the Grant
Narrows nature dyke. Elsewhere in the Pitt Meadows area
were 3 different GRAY CATBIRDS.

In Vancouver's Stanley Park, 2 BARRED OWLS were seen.

In Colony Farm Regional Park, on the Port Coquitlam side accessed
from Shaughnessy Ave. were an EASTERN KINGBIRD and an
AMERICAN BITTERN.

Two late SANDERLINGS were seen at Boundary Bay Regional
Park in Delta.


Sightings for Monday, May 29

At Colony Farm Regional Park, 7 male LAZULI BUNTINGS were
reported on the west, or Coquitlam side of the park.

In Vancouver, a singing CHIPPING SPARROW was reported
near the intersection of 16th Avenue and Camosun Street.



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
www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/