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


RARE BIRD ALERT for 3 BROWN PELICANS at the Tsawwassen
ferry terminal in Delta, and a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW at
Colony Farm Regional Park in Coquitlam.


Sightings for Saturday, June 10, 2006

A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW was found this morning on the
west side of Colony Farm Regional Park in Coquitlam, accessed from
the Lougheed Highway. The bird was seen at close range along the
railway tracks near the abandoned pig barns. A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE
and several LAZULI BUNTINGS were in the same general area.


Sightings for Friday, June 9

At the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Delta, one observer reported 3
BROWN PELICANS, while another saw only one. Also there were
6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS.

A male AMERICAN REDSTART, the first of the year for this rare
species, was seen along the Grant Narrows nature dyke in Pitt
Meadows. Also seen there were 18 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS
and 3 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS.

At Jericho Park in Vancouver, 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS were seen
on the island in the "west pond".


Sightings for Thursday, June 8

In Vancouver's Stanley Park, an out-of-season HORNED LARK was
seen about 4 PM near the cricket pitch.

Sightings for Wednesday, June 7

At Surrey Lake Park off 152nd Street in Surrey were a GREEN HERON
on the log in the pond and 3 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS.

At Blaney Bog on 224th Street in Maple Ridge, birds seen included a
drake CINNAMON TEAL, an AMERICAN BITTERN, and an
EASTERN KINGBIRD.

One BROWN PELICAN was still present at the Tsawwassen ferry
terminal in Delta.


Sightings for Tuesday, June 6

At the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Delta, there were 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.

At Elgin Heritage Park, off Crescent Road in Surrey, were a SORA,
2 MOURNING DOVES, and 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS.


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.


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/