Subject: [Tweeters] Ladner, BC/WA Christmas Count highlights
Date: Dec 24 10:23:19 2007
From: Wayne Weber - contopus at telus.net


Birders,

I am reporting some highlights from the Ladner, BC/WA Christmas Bird Count
on behalf of Jude Grass, count compiler. This count is mostly in BC, but
also includes Point Roberts, WA and offshore waters. The count took place
yesterday, Dec. 23, under less than ideal weather conditions (rain in the
morning, showers/drizzle in the afternoon, temperature 4 to 8 degrees C,
easterly winds of 18-24 km/hr, gusting to 30).

The preliminary species total was 138-- a few species below the long-term
average, but not bad considering the weather conditions!

Noteworthy birds seen included the Following:

Mute Swan-- 9 along Canoe Pass (W of Ladner)
Sandhill Crane-- 5 (Reifel Bird Sanctuary)
Black Oystercatcher-- 8 (Tsawwassen ferry terminal)
Willet-- 1, again wintering at the base of the ferry jetty
SLATY-BACKED GULL-- 1 at the Burns Bog landfill (usually off
limits to birders)
Glaucous Gull-- 2
Rhinoceros Auklet-- 1 at Point Roberts, WA (rare in winter)
Band-tailed Pigeon-- 3 (rare on this count)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE-- 2 along Highway 10 near 96th Street
(only the second year for this species)
Long-eared Owl-- 2 (one on Lulu I., one at Reifel Bird Sanctuary)
N. Saw-whet Owl-- 2 (Reifel Bird Sanctuary)
Hutton's Vireo-- 3 (Point Roberts, WA)
BOHEMIAN WAXWING-- 21, Reifel Bird Sanctuary (very rare on this count)
Townsend's Warbler-- 2 (always rare on this count)
Snow Bunting-- 3, on and near the ferry jetty


One area had still not been heard from, so the species total could easily
increase by a couple of species.


Count-week birds not reported on count day included a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
seen on Dec. 20 and a Swamp Sparrow, both from the Reifel Bird
Sanctuary.

Bad "misses"-- species usually seen on the count-- included Greater
White-fronted Goose, Northern Goshawk, Gyrfalcon, Long-billed Dowitcher, and
Pileated Woodpecker. Some of these may yet be tallied for the count week
(the dowitchers already have been).


We hope to send out a more complete report in the near future.

Good birding and best of the season to all!


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net