This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
May 24th, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver. This message was updated at 9:30 PM
on May 24th. The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.


RARE BIRD ALERT for BLACK-THROATED SPARROW,
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and WHITE-FACED IBIS.


Sightings for Thursday, May 24th

The BLACK-THROATED SPARROW was not seen today; it was last
seen on May 23rd and each day since its discovery on May 18th. A
GRAY CATBIRD was seen at the bend in the road before reaching Grant
Narrows and 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were along the Nature Dike Trail,
Pitt Lake. Also seen in the area were 3 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES,
2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, an AMERICAN BITTERN, 2 RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS, and 2 MUTE SWANS and 2 TRUMPETER SWANS
in the Pitt Lake marsh.


A HARRIS'S SPARROW in alternate plumage was seen at the Alaksen
NWA next to Reifel. The sparrow was feeding on the track between
the `new wing' and the `boathouse' which is to the right as you walk
to the main building from the visitor parking lot. Please check in
at the reception area first. Alaksen is only open weekdays and
closes at 4:30 pm.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen just south of Vancouver near
Ferndale, WA. The bird was seen along Slater Road in
small flooded area in a field 500 meters west of the Silver Reef Casino.


No sightings for Wednesday, May 23rd


Sightings for Tuesday, May 22nd

6 male and 1 female LAZULI BUNTINGS were at Colony Farm as well as 1
GREEN HERON and 1 EASTERN KINGBIRD.


Sightings for Monday, May 21st

A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was found today at the Maplewood
Conservation Area. The warbler was along the Centre Trail about 150
metres north of where this trail intersects the large west pond and
the small pond to the east.

A HOUSE WREN was found singing and checking out the Tree Swallow
boxes along the fence west of the NW Inner Pond, and a BANK SWALLOW
was also observed at Iona Island, Richmond. Other birds seen at Iona
included a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 6 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, a WILSON'S PHALAROPE, and 8 BLUE-WINGED
TEAL and 12 CINNAMON TEAL.


Sightings for Sunday, May 20th

2 CHIPPING SPARROWS were observed along the Fire Break Trail along
the north side of Everett Crowley Park, Vancouver


Sightings for Saturday, May 19th

A GREAT EGRET was found on the Squamish Estuary mudflats. Go
through downtown Squamish and take the road to the Squamish
Terminals Deep Sea Port, the bird was in the narrow channel on the left.


Sightings for Friday, May 18th

A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW was found along the Nature Dike
Trail at Grant Narrows in Pitt Meadows.

4 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were observed in the water off the
Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver


Sightings for Thursday, May 17th

A pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES are visiting the bird feeders at
4126 River Rd, Ladner. Visitors are welcome, please enter carefully
along the driveway so as not to flush the doves.


Sightings for Wednesday, May 16th

5 WESTERN KINGBIRDS were present just north of the Forensic
Institute at Colony Farm, Coquitlam


Sightings for Tuesday, May 15th

An EASTERN KINGBIRD, the first of the spring, and 3 male BULLOCK'S
ORIOLES were observed along the Nature Dike Trail at Grant Narrows,
Pitt Lake.


Sightings for Monday, May 14th

A male LAZULI BUNTING was observed near the old pig farm at Colony
Farm in Coquitlam for the first report this spring.

100 COMMON TERNS were observed over Drayton Harbour seen from
Blaine, Washington. Nearby were 6 CEDAR WAXWINGS.


2 BLACK SWIFTS, the first reported this spring, were at Grant
Narrows and nearby just west of Swan-e-set Golf Course in Pitt
Meadows was 1 WESTERN KINGBIRD


Sightings for Sunday, May 13th

A small goose, possibly a CACKLING GOOSE, was in a flock of CANADA
GEESE on the fields west of Burnaby Lake.

3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were on the SE Pond at Iona Island,
Richmond.


As a public service announcement a Cherry-headed Conure went missing
at the 26800 block 27th Ave in Aldergrove-If anyone sees this parrot
please contact Lori at 604-856-9405 or 778-878-4873

If you have any questions about birds or birding in the Vancouver
area, please call Peter at 604-736-0991, Viveka at 604-531-3401,
or Larry at 604-465-1402. 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/

This message was recorded and transcribed by Mark Wynja and
forwarded by Wayne Weber.


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