This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society's
Rare Bird Alert for Monday, June 12, 2006, sponsored in part by
the Wild Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
This update was recorded at 1 PM on June 13. The RBA phone number
is 604-737-3074.

We regret the delay in posting this message, which resulted from
E-mail server problems.


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 Monday, June 12, 2006

In Squamish, a RINGED TURTLE DOVE was reported in the downtown
area. It has been there since at least June 9. This is certainly an escapee
from captivity, as there are no known wild populations of this species
in North America.

On the Grant Narrows nature dyke at Pitt Lake, 2 male AMERICAN
REDSTARTS, one adult and one immature, were still present, as were
2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS.

In North Vancouver, 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen overhead.

In North Burnaby, 9 CASPIAN TERNS were flying cross-country, some
distance from water.

A singing CHIPPING SPARROW was still present near 16th Avenue at
Discovery in Vancouver, where it has been seen daily for about 2
weeks. This is a very rare bird in the breeding season in this area.


Sightings for Sunday, June 11

Up to 3 BROWN PELICANS were seen again at the Tsawwassen ferry
terminal in Delta, although other observers reported only one or none.
Two BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were also seen along the Tsawwassen
Jetty.

At the Grant Narrows nature dyke at Pitt Lake, 2 AMERICAN
REDSTARTS were seen again, as were 2 YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS, a rare bird locally in June. Also seen in Pitt Meadows,
mostly along Rannie Road, were at least 7 EASTERN KINGBIRDS,
one GRAY CATBIRD, 15 TURKEY VULTURES, and 2 SANDHILL
CRANES.

At Colony Farm Regional Park in Coquitlam, the BLACK-THROATED
SPARROW could not be relocated, but sightings included 3 WESTERN
KINGBIRDS, at least 5 LAZULI BUNTINGS, and 2 EASTERN
KINGBIRDS.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, birds seen included 3 GREAT
HORNED OWLS, 4 AMERICAN BITTERNS, 2 BULLOCK'S
ORIOLES, 2 CINNAMON and 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 2 SANDHILL
CRANES, and a RED-EYED VIREO.


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.

One AMERICAN REDSTART and one EASTERN KINGBIRD were
seen along the Grant Narrows nature dyke at Pitt Lake.

One BROWN PELICAN was still at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

Six PURPLE MARTINS were seen at the nest boxes on Iona Island,
Richmond. On nearby Sea Island, a WESTERN KINGBIRD was
present near the west end of Ferguson Road, where the road turns
toward Iona.


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". Two more EASTERN KINGBIRDS
were seen at McDonald Beach on Sea Island, Richmond.

One COMMON NIGHTHAWK was reported along 28th Avenue in
South Surrey, and another near 94th Avenue in North Delta. Two
BLACK SWIFTS were also seen over North Delta.


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 in the Brockton Point area.


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.


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/