Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for November 23, 2010
Date: Nov 24 23:18:11 2010
From: Wayne Weber - contopus at telus.net


This is Wayne Weber with Nature Vancouver's Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday,
November 23rd, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.



If you wish to leave a rare bird report, please phone the main number again
at (604) 737-3074, press "2" for the rare bird reporting line, and follow
the instructions given there.





RARE BIRD ALERT for WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS in Maple Ridge and (2 birds) near
Strathcona Park in Vancouver; a PALM WARBLER at the Maplewood Conservation
Area in North Vancouver; a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at Island 22 Park in
Chilliwack (last reported Nov. 16); and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO there as well
(last reported Nov. 12)



OUT-OF-TOWN RARE BIRD ALERT for a LITTLE BLUE HERON near Kelowna and a
NORTHERN PARULA at Inkaneep Provincial Park, both in the Okanagan Valley.
The heron was last reported on Nov. 20, and the warbler on Nov. 21, but the
latter at least may still be there.







Sightings for Tuesday, November 23rd



The WILLET and a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER were along the south side of the
Tsawwassen ferry jetty in Delta. Not far away, 20 CACKLING GEESE and a
GREATER WHITE-FRIONTED GOOSE were in a field east of 56th Street and south
of Highway 17, and 3 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were along 28th Avenue west of
52nd Street.





Sightings for Monday, November 22nd



The PALM WARBLER at the Maplewood Conservation Area (North Vancouver) was
seen by several observers. Also there was a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER.



Ambleside Park in West Vancouver produced an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, a
WESTERN GULL, and 5 HERMIT THRUSHES.



In Vancouver, 2 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES were with a flock of 25 EVENING
GROSBEAKS near the intersection of 28th Avenue and John Street.



One BARN SWALLOW was still hanging on at Iona Island in Richmond.





Sightings for Sunday, November 21st



The COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD which first showed up in June in the Dunbar area of
Vancouver is still being seen. However, the property owner would prefer no
visitors, so the exact location is not being publicized.



The PALM WARBLER was seen again at the Maplewood Conservation Area, along
with a SWAMP SPARROW.



The GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH was still on the Iona Island south jetty. On the
island itself, 2 BARN SWALLOWS, an AMERICAN KESTREL, and 6 RING-NECKED DUCKS
were seen.



A PRAIRIE FALCON, very rare in the Vancouver area, was reported near the
foot of 88th Street on Boundary Bay in Delta. Also seen nearby were a
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (near 72nd Street), 3 SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and 2
SHORT-EARED OWLS.



The wintering WILLET was still on the south side of the Tsawwassen jetty in
Delta, and a surprising 600 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were still at the Reifel
Bird Sanctuary in Delta.



In the Okanagan Valley, the NORTHERN PARULA in the campground at Inkaneep
Provincial Park near Oliver, present since November 7th, was seen again.





Sightings for Saturday, November 20th



A GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH was seen more than halfway out the Iona Island
south jetty.



Three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at Jericho Park in Vancouver, and an
ANCIENT MURRELET was briefly seen far offshore from the park. Also in
Vancouver, the WESTERN SCRUB-JAY in the Strathcona Park area, present there
since October, was joined by a second one.



The PALM WARBLER was observed again at the Maplewood Conservation Area in
North Vancouver.



Still another SNOW BUNTING was seen along the Boundary Bay dyke near 104th
Street in Delta.



In the Okanagan Valley, the LITTLE BLUE HERON was last seen on this date at
Whitworth Road in West Kelowna, and was looking cold and weak.





Sightings for Friday, November 19th



The PALM WARBLER was rediscovered at the Maplewood Conservation Area in
North Vancouver in the same area as reported previously, in shrubbery and
small trees south of the duck pond. Also here was a SNOW BUNTING at Otter
Point (the southwesternmost extremity with a viewing platform).



Five more SNOW BUNTINGS and 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen in Harrison
Hot Springs, on the Harrison Lake beach near the enclosed pond.



The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY in Maple Ridge was seen for the first time in a month,
in the 21900 block of Cliff Drive. Nearby, an AMERICAN DIPPER was seen along
Blaney Creek near where it crosses 224th Street.



Sightings from Iona Island in Richmond included 4 BARN SWALLOWS, a NORTHERN
SHRIKE, and 7 RING-NECKED DUCKS in the "outer pond".





Sightings for Thursday, November 18th



Birds reported from Iona Island in Richmond included 4 BARN SWALLOWS, 2
WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and 7 RING-NECKED DUCKS.



Seven BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were seen along the west side of Stanley Park in
Vancouver, as well as a DIPPER and a SLATE-COLOURED (DARK-EYED) JUNCO near
the Vancouver Aquarium in the park.



A WHITE PELICAN, very rare at any time of year, was reported flying over the
Lions Gate Bridge between Vancouver and North Vancouver.





There were no sightings for Wednesday, November 17th





Sightings for Tuesday, November 16th



Out of town in the Okanagan Valley, the NORTHERN PARULA at Inkaneep
Provincial Park and immature LITTLE BLUE HERON at Pritchard Park in West
Kelowna were still being seen.



Also out of the Vancouver area, the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was still present
and easily seen at the boat launch parking area at Island 22 Park in
Chilliwack.



The two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen again on the Tsawwassen ferry jetty in
Delta.





There were no sightings for Monday, November 15th





Sightings for Sunday, November 14th



Two late BARN SWALLOWS were seen at Iona Island in Richmond.



Birds seen at Brunswick Point in Delta, near the west end of River Road,
included a SWAMP SPARROW, 2 BARN OWLS, and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK. Nearby, an
AMERICAN KESTREL was at the base of the Roberts Bank jetty.



A SNOW BUNTING appeared in a schoolyard at Brackendale, north of Squamish,
quite an unusual locality for this species.





Sightings for Saturday, November 13th



Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along the south side of the Tsawwassen ferry
jetty in Delta.





Sightings for Friday, November 12th



At Terra Nova Park, at the NW corner of Lulu Island in Richmond, the WESTERN
SCRUB-JAY was still being seen.



In Bellingham, WA, the TROPICAL KINGBIRD was still being seen along Whatcom
Creek just downstream from State Street, for the 13th consecutive day. This
bird is very sedentary.



The PHILADELPHIA VIREO in Chilliwack was seen again, in a cottonwood stand
just west of Island 22 Park.





Sightings for Thursday, November 11th



Outside our area, in the Okanagan Valley, an immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was
found and photographed at the mouth of Powers Creek in West Kelowna. Also in
the Okanagan, the male NORTHERN PARULA was present in the campground at
Inkaneep Provincial Park for the 5th day in a row.



Also outside our area but nearby, A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reportedly found
at Island 22 Park in Chilliwack, and the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was still
there.



In Delta, the wintering WILLET and two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along the
Tsawwassen ferry jetty.





Sightings for Wednesday, November 10th



The White Rock WILLET was seen again on the breakwater just off the end of
the White Rock pier, and many BRANT were seen offshore in Semiahmoo Bay.





Sightings for Tuesday, November 9th



Two GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES, very rare in the lowlands, were seen along
the Stanley Park seawall in Vancouver, west of Prospect Point.





Sightings for Monday, November 8th



The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY at Terra Nova Park in Richmond was seen again.



In Delta, 14 SANDHILL CRANES were feeding along Westham Island Road, and a
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen along 28TH Avenue west of Arthur Drive.



An AMERICAN DIPPER was found at the mouth of McCartney Creek in North
Vancouver, just east of the Maplewood Conservation Area.



Two RED CROSSBILLS, which have been rare in the area lately, were heard in
flight in the Walnut Grove area of Langley.





Sightings for Sunday, November 7th



Far outside our area but of interest to B.C. birders, a NORTHERN PARULA was
seen with chickadees at Inkaneep Provincial Park just north of Oliver in the
Okanagan Valley.





Sightings for Saturday, November 6th



A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, rare anywhere in BC, was found at Island 22 Regional
Park on the Fraser River in Chilliwack, next to the boat launch parking lot.



Twenty RING-NECKED DUCKS at Surrey Lake Park in Surrey was a high number.





Sightings for Friday, November 5th



The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY near Strathcona Park in Vancouver, first reported on
October 28th, was seen again today.





Sightings for Wednesday, November 3rd



The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY at Terra Nova Park and the PALM WARBLER at the
Maplewood Conservation Area, both first seen on November 2, were seen again
today.



East of our area, a SNOW BUNTING and an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW were both seen
along the beach at Harrison Hot Springs, and another (gasp!) WESTERN
SCRUB-JAY was found in the 9800 block of Chapman Road in Rosedale.





Sightings for Tuesday, November 2nd



The immature FRANKLIN'S GULL was still being seen at Garry Point Park in
Richmond.



A PALM WARBLER was found near the large pond at the Maplewood Conservation
Area in North Vancouver.



Still another WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was found, this one in Terra Nova Park near
the NW corner of Lulu Island, Richmond. A HARLAN'S HAWK (distinct subspecies
of RED-TAILED HAWK) was reported from the same area.



East of our area, 2 late GREEN HERONS were noted at Sardis Pond in
Chilliwack.



A WILLET was seen roosting at high tide on the breakwater at the White Rock
pier in White Rock.







Sightings for Monday, November 1st



Another WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was reported, this one near 15th Avenue and 168th
Street in Surrey.



A flock of 28 BRANT at Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta were the first
seen this fall, not counting the few summering birds.





Sightings for Sunday, October 31st



A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was found just to the south of us in Bellingham, WA,
along Whatcom Creek just west of State Street. It may be the same bird seen
from October 8-12 at Brunswick Point; photos show that both birds are
missing the very tip of the upper mandible.



A CLARK'S GREBE was well seen on the north side of the Tsawwassen ferry
jetty in Delta. Also in Delta, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, a MARBLED GODWIT,
and a very late SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen at the foot of 104th Street
on Boundary Bay.



The immature FRANKLIN'S GULL was still with RING-BILLED GULLS on the lawn at
Garry Point Park in Richmond. Nearby at London's Landing was a late LESSER
YELLOWLEGS. Also in Richmond, the first HARRIS'S SPARROW of the fall was
seen and photographed at Terra Nova Park. The Iona Island south jetty in
Richmond produced a HEERMANN'S GULL and several SNOW BUNTINGS.



A TURKEY VULTURE in the 6900 block of Bradner Road in Langley was quite
late.









A brief account of 31 of the best birding locations in the Vancouver area
can be found on the Nature Vancouver website at
http://www.naturevancouver.ca/Birding_Birding_Sites





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