This is Wayne Weber with Nature Vancouver's Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday,
July 22nd, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.
We apologize for the recent gap in coverage, which resulted from computer problems.

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.


Out-of-town RARE BIRD ALERT for a LESSER GOLDFINCH in Abbotsford
from July 18th to 22nd, and an ELEGANT TERN at Ten Mile Point
near Victoria on July 20th.


Sightings for Tuesday, July 22nd

The male LESSER GOLDFINCH which reappeared at 2093 Topaz Street in
Abbotsford, east of Vancouver, was seen daily through today.

At the Iona Island sewage ponds in Richmond, a BANK SWALLOW was reported,
as was a PECTORAL SANDPIPER among many shorebirds.

Four EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were seen along 96th Street in Delta south
of Highway 99, in an area where they have been present for months.

Large numbers of shorebirds were seen along the Boundary Bay shoreline near
the foot of 96th, including thousands of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and hundreds
of SANDERLINGS and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. Noteworthy species
included a RUDDY TURNSTONE, 4 DUNLIN, and 20 SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS.

No sightings reported for Monday, July 21st


Sightings for Sunday, July 20th

Near Victoria, an ELEGANT TERN was seen flying past Ten Mile Point. This
species is seen in BC a few years in each decade, and more sightings can
be expected this summer.


Sightings for Saturday, July 19th

A Nature Vancouver field trip to Hollyburn Mountain in Cypress Provincial
Park found two AMERICAN PIPITS, probably fledged somewhere in the North
Shore mountains, and a flock of about 12 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS.

A BLACK SWIFT and 2 MERLINS, rare in summer, were seen in North
Burnaby.


Sightings for Friday, July 18th

The male LESSER GOLDFINCH which was present at 2093 Topaz Street in
Abbotsford from June 11 to 28, reappeared after an absence of 3 weeks.


A PEREGRINE FALCON on the Port Mann Bridge in Surrey and a MERLIN
at Colony Farm Park in Port Coquitlam, both rather rare in summer, were
reported.

Out of town, a WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN, rare but regular in the area, was
seen atop the First Brother mountain in Manning Provincial Park.


Sightings for Thursday, July 17th

A flock of about 500 peeps at the Iona Island sewage ponds in Richmond
included at least 30 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.


There were no sightings reported for July 15th or 16th.


Sightings for Monday, July 14th

A BRANT, rare in summer, was seen near the marina at Point Roberts,
Washington


Sightings for Sunday, July 13th

Birders at the Squamish estuary, north of Vancouver on Highway 99, reported
2 CASPIAN TERNS, 7 TURKEY VULTURES, and a PEREGRINE FALCON.


Sightings for Saturday, July 12th

In Delta, a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen on 96th Street south of
Highway 99, as were 2 BLACK SWIFTS near Wade Road and 120th Street.
Nearby, on York Crescent in North Delta, 3 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were
reported.

At Blackie Spit in Surrey, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was seen by several
observers.

A TURKEY VULTURE and 4 VAUX?S SWIFTS were seen in the Capilano
Watershed in North Vancouver, an area normally off-limits to birders.


No sightings for Friday, July 11th


Sightings for Thursday, July 10th

Four WHIMBRELS were seen at Blackie Spit Park in Surrey.

The WILLET at the base of the Tsawwassen ferry jetty in Delta, which has
spent 8 or 9 months there each year for over a decade, reappeared for the
fall.


No sightings reported for Wednesday, July 9th

?
Sightings for Tuesday, July 8th

At Brunswick Point, near the west end of River Road in Delta, there were many
shorebirds including 6 WHIMBRELS and an out-of-season DUNLIN, plus about
180 CASPIAN TERNS.


Sightings for Monday, July 7th

An out-of-town report was received of a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE seen and
photographed in Lardeau, near the north end of BC?s Kootenay Lake. This is only about the 6th record for BC. We have heard no reports of it being
seen on subsequent days.

At Brunswick Point in Delta, 7 WHIMBRELS, a MARBLED GODWIT, a DUNLIN,
a COMMON NIGHTHAWK, and many peeps were seen.


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