Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for May 22, 2006
Date: May 23 11:44:03 2006
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society's
Rare Bird Alert for Monday, May 22, 2006, sponsored in part by
the Wild Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
This update was recorded at 10 AM on May 23. The RBA phone number
is 604-737-3074.


Sightings for Monday, May 22

At Grant Narrows Regional Park in Pitt Meadows, birds seen included
2 MUTE SWANS and a pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS in the marsh,
a TURKEY VULTURE, 12 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 3 BULLOCK'S
ORIOLES, and 6 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. An EASTERN
KINGBIRD, the first of the year, was seen on Rannie Road just
past the big bend to the east. Father south on Rannie Road near the
southern boundary of the Pitt WMA were 25 BLACK SWIFTS, also
the first reported this year, and 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS. A pair of SANDHILL
CRANES were on the lawn at the entrance to the Swan-e-set Golf Course.
Also in the Pitt Lake and Pitt Meadows area were an AMERICAN BITTERN,
3 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, and a total of at least 14 OSPREYS,
including 5 active nests.


Sightings for Sunday, May 21

At Colony Farm Regional Park on the Coquitlam side were a WESTERN
KINGBIRDS and at least 4 LAZULI BUNTINGS.

A COMMON MURRE at Jericho Park in Vancouver was late and at an
unusual locality.


Sightings for Saturday, May 20

At the Iona Island sewage ponds in Richmond were 2 CINNAMON TEAL
and 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Both species have been scarce this year.
In the north outer pond at Iona were 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS
and 2 VIRGINIA RAILS. On the beach areas at Iona were a few shorebirds
including 4 WHIMBRELS and 30 SANDERLINGS, plus 25 CASPIAN
TERNS. Five PURPLE MARTINS were at the nestboxes at Iona.

At Colony Farm Park, a male LAZULI BUNTING was seen on the
Coquitlam side and a CHIPPING SPARROW on the Port Coquitlam side.


Sightings for Friday, May 19

An ARCTIC TERN was reported along the Iona Island south jetty in
Richmond, as was an out-of-season adult WESTERN GULL. Five
PURPLE MARTINS were also seen near the nest boxes along
the North Arm of the Fraser River on Iona I.

Breeding of SANDHILL CRANES on Lulu Island in Richmond was confirmed
when a young bird was seen with a pair of adults near the 14th hole on the
Country Meadows Golf Course on No. 6 Road.

At Blackie Spit in Surrey were 19 WHIMBRELS.

Two RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were at Shoreline Park in Port Moody.

Two CINNAMON TEAL and two BLUE-WINGED TEAL were at the
Iona I. sewage ponds.


Sightings for Thursday, May 18

A BLUE GROUSE at the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver
was at an unusual locality.

At Blackie Spit in Surrey, noteworthy sightings included 5 CEDAR
WAXWINGS, the first reported this spring, plus a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE,
a WHIMBREL, and 10 PURPLE MARTINS.


Sightings for Wednesday, May 17

A MOURNING DOVE at the Maplewood Conservation Area was noteworthy.
Also seen there were several migrants including a SWAINSON'S THRUSH, a
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and 2 WARBLING VIREOS.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen on Sea Island in Richmond. At nearby
Iona Island were several BLUE-WINGED and CINNAMON TEAL in the
sewage ponds, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in the north
outer pond.


Sightings for Tuesday, May 16

The first LAZULI BUNTINGS of the year were a male at Burnaby Mountain
Park in Burnaby, and a pair on the Coquitlam side of Colony Farm
Regional Park.

A WESTERN KINGBIRD at the downhill ski area in Cypress Provincial
Park, West Vancouver, was both rare and at a surprising location.

A GREEN HERON was photographed at Jericho Park in Vancouver.

A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was seen on 208th Street in Langley.

Seven TURKEY VULTURES were seen in the Eagleridge area of
West Vancouver.

Five BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS along the Roberts Bank Jetty in Delta,
plus 3 more along the Tsawwassen ferry jetty, were a high number.


Sightings for Monday, May 15

At Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, Washington were at least 300
PACIFIC LOONS, 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, 3 COMMON MURRES,
and several SANDERLINGS.

At the Beach Grove Lagoon at the east foot of 12th Avenue in Delta were
2 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS.
49 BALD EAGLES seen in the same area was a high count for mid-May.

A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was at Derby Reach Park in Langley.


Sightings for Sunday, May 14

At Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver, birds seen included a
TURKEY VULTURE, 10 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, 3 MACGILLIVRAY'S
WARBLERS, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and 5 BAND-TAILED
PIGEONS.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, 2 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, 2
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE were seen. In the wooded area north of the Boundary Bay
Airport, also in Delta, an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD and 2 SWAINSON'S
THRUSHES were reported.

A single PECTORAL SANDPIPER was noted at the Iona I. sewage ponds
in Richmond. Also at Iona were a WESTERN KINGBIRD near the park
washrooms, and a PURPLE MARTIN at the nestboxes on the North
Arm of the Fraser River.

Two OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS and a HERMIT THRUSH were at
Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park.

Outside the Vancouver checklist area, the monthly bird count at the
Squamish Estuary in Squamish produced 77 species, including a
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL,
3 TURKEY VULTURES, a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD,
and a CHIPPING SPARROW.



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/