Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for April 15, 2008
Date: Apr 16 12:53:26 2008
From: Wayne Weber - contopus at telus.net


This is Wayne Weber with Nature Vancouver's Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday
April 15th, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver. This message was updated at noon on
April 16th. The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.

If you wish to leave a rare bird report, please press the star button
at the end of this message to go back to the menu, press "2" for the
rare bird reporting line, and follow the instructions given there.


RARE BIRD ALERT for a PALM WARBLER on April 15th, a RUFF from April
11th to 14th, and a LARK SPARROW on April 12th.


Sightings for Tuesday, April 15th

A PALM WARBLER, a very rare spring migrant, was seen along McDonald Road
on Sea Island in Richmond, with a large flock of YELLOW-RUMPED and
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS.

At Blaine, Washington, the arrival CASPIAN TERN and a horde of 1500
BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen on the flats north of Marine Drive. Nearby,
4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, the first of the spring, were seen at the south end of
Drayton Harbor, and a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER was on the breakwater at
the Semiahmoo Resort.

At Deer Lake in Burnaby, the first CINNAMON TEAL of the spring was reported.
Also here were a BARRED OWL, an OSPREY, 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and
2 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS.

A female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was still at Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta.
However, there was no report of the RUFF there.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen in the 15500 block of Thrift
Avenue in White Rock.

At the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver, a BLACK-THROATED
GRAY WARBLER, a HERMIT THRUSH, and many RED CROSSBILLS were
Reported.


Sightings for Monday, April 14th

The RUFF was still present east of the pumphouse at Boundary Bay Regional
Park, near the E foot of 12th Avenue on Boundary Bay. It was accompanied by
2 MARBLED GODWITS and 25 GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, 2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, and at least 30
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were at the Maplewood Conservation Area.


Sightings for Sunday, April 13th

The RUFF was seen by many and was photographed at Boundary Bay Regional
Park. Also there were a MARBLED GODWIT, 8 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS,
2 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS, and a VIRGINIA RAIL.
A late NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen near the base of the Roberts Bank
coal port jetty in Delta.

The Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver produced 2 TOWNSEND'S
SOLITAIRES.

A BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, the first of the year, was seen in the
Eagleridge area of West Vancouver.

Two COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS were seen at
Colony Farm Park in Coquitlam.


Sightings for Saturday, April 12th

A LARK SPARROW, one of very few Vancouver records, was found just southwest
of Deer Lake in Burnaby, but could not be relocated buy other observers.

The RUFF remained near the pumphouse at Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta.
Also seen in the park were the first SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER of the year, 2
MARBLED GODWITS, a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, 2 AMERICAN PIPITS, a SORA,
and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK.

A single YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at Iona Island in Richmond.

The first-of-year HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS were reported from Queen
Elizabeth Park in Vancouver and Crescent Park in Surrey.

A LONG-BILLED CURLEW at the Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver was
mobbed by gulls. Nearby, 6 RED CROSSBILLS were at Mount Seymour.

At Point Roberts, Washington, a HORNED LARK was in a grassy field near
Ocean View Court. Also at Point Roberts were 2 BARRED OWLS, a N.
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, and 6 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.


Sightings for Friday, April 11th

A male RUFF in partial breeding plumage was spotted in Boundary Bay
Regional Park, Delta, just east of the pumphouse near the east foot of
12th Avenue. Nearby was a MARBLED GODWIT.

Eight MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were still present at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby.

Four BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were seen near the marina at Point
Roberts, Washington.


Sightings for Thursday, April 10th

An OSPREY and 10 BLACK TURNSTONES were seen just east of the marina
in Point Roberts, Washington.

About 2100 BRANT and 2 MARBLED GODWITS were seen from the Tsawwassen
ferry terminal in Delta.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, one BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
remained, and a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was observed.


Sightings for Wednesday, April 9th

Six MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS and a male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD were seen
on the west side of Deer Lake Park in Burnaby.

A late AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was near the foot of 72nd Street in Delta,
and a late TRUMPETER SWAN was at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

At Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, an AMERICAN KESTREL and a COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT were noted.


Sightings for Tuesday, April 8th

At Iona Island in Richmond, a single male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD,
a VIRGINIA RAIL, and 4 RING-NECKED DUCKS were all seen in the marsh outside
the sewage ponds. Also in the area were 8 CLIFF SWALLOWS, 2 BARN SWALLOWS,
and 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.


Sightings for Monday, April 7th

Five MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS (3 males and 2 females) were at the Maplewood
Conservation Area in North Vancouver.

In Delta, 2 WESTERN GULLS were along Highway 10 near 88th Street, and
one EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was nearby at 4650 96th Street.

Also in Delta, a MARBLED GODWIT and a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
were at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a EURASIAN WIGEON were at the Iona Island
sewage ponds in Richmond.

At Porteau Cove Provincial Park, between Horseshoe Bay and Squamish on
Highway 99, were 5 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, 4 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS,
a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, 3 RED CROSSBILLS, and 6 YELLOW-
RUMPED WARBLERS.


Sightings for Sunday, April 6th

An adult SLATY-BACKED GULL, a late spring record, was seen with other gulls
in
a field at 88th Street and Burns Dive (the frontage road north of Highway
99).


Sightings for Saturday, April 5th

The first CASSIN'S VIREO of the spring was reported at Crescent Park in
Surrey.
Also here were 6 RED CROSSBILLS and 2 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS.

The HARRIS'S SPARROW, present since January, was still along 188th Street
in Surrey, just south of 8th Avenue. An AMERICAN KESTREL and 3 SAVANNAH
SPARROWS were nearby.

The BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was still in the sewage ponds at Iona Island in
Richmond, along with 10 WILSON'S SNIPE and 29 GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
Also in the area were an OSPREY, 8 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, 2 CLIFF SWALLOWS, a NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, and a late NORTHERN SHRIKE.

5 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and at least 10 newly-arrived SAVANNAH
SPARROWS were near the foot of 72nd Street on Boundary Bay in Delta.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and a TURKEY VULTURE were seen in North
Delta near 116th Street and 95th Avenue.

Two SURFBIRDS were seen with BLACK TURNSTONES at the Tsawwassen
ferry terminal in Delta.


Sightings for Friday, April 4th

A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and 2 CLIFF SWALLOWS, both of
which were the first of the spring, were seen at Iona Island in Richmond.

An OSPREY at the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver
was the first of the year.


Sightings for Thursday, April 3rd

The NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, present since January on the west side of
St. John's College on the University of BC campus near Vancouver, was
seen again.

The immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK at Jericho Park in Vancouver, present
for weeks, was seen again. Also there were 6 RING-NECKED DUCKS and
4 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were visiting a feeder at 4126 River Road
in Delta.

A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, an extremely early arrival, was reported from the
Iona Island sewage ponds in Richmond.


If you have any questions about birds or birding in the Vancouver area,
please call Wayne at 604-597-7201, Viveka at 604-531-3401, or Larry at
604-465-1402. Thank you for calling the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert, and good
birding.



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