This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Wednesday, August 17, 2005. 10:00 pm update. Compiled by Rick
Schortinghuis and transcribed by Cheryl Mackie.
Feature Birds
---------------------------
BANK SWALLOW
HORNED LARK
Wednesday, August 17
A BANK SWALLOW was seen at Viaduct Flats in Saanich this evening.
A HORNED LARK was seen on Moss Rock in Victoria.
3 DOWITCHERS (species?) were seen at Esquimalt Lagoon.
Tuesday, August 16
11 species of shorebirds were seen at Rithet's Bog. Highlights were
a STILT SANDPIPER, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 4 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS,
3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 WILSON'S SNIPE and a juvenile
VIRGINIA RAIL.
Monday, August 15
At Bowker Avenue in Oak Bay, there were 35 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS
and 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
Sunday, August 14
8 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were seen on Saanichton Spit in Central Saanich
along with a few WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS. Please note that this
is First Nations Land. We should respect their land and ask permission
to go there. So, check with the Band office if you are planning to go there.
There was one SPOTTED SANDPIPER and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
at Clover Point in Victoria.
There were 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS at McMicking Point in Oak Bay.
At the foot of Bowker Avenue in Oak Bay were 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS
and 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.
In the Parksville area were 4 STILT SANDPIPERS seen in the
Englishman River Estuary, and 6 seen at Hamilton Marsh.
Saturday, August 13
Off Sandy Island, near Comox, there were 16 species of shorebird seen.
Highlights are 150 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 2 WANDERING TATTLERS,
6 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 1 RED KNOT, 100 SANDERLINGS, 4
SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS and 10 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.
At Holden Creek fields, which is part of the Nanaimo River estuary, 12
species of shorebirds were seen. Highlights of these are 42 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 18 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 15 BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS, 18 STILT SANDPIPERS and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
One needs permission to go to this area, which is owned by the Nature
Trust of BC.
Friday, August 12
2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER were seen
at Clover Point about 7 AM.
At Viaduct Flats in Saanich, there was one PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 3
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 7 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, 14 LEAST SANDPIPERS, a PEREGRINE FALCON,
and an OSPREY.
Thursday, August 11
A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen in a tree near the Crystal Pool, near
Quadra and Pembroke in Victoria. It was seen by an eastern birder familiar
with this species.
Further updates of this bird would be appreciated.
A TUFTED PUFFIN was seen at Clover Point along with 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.
At Viaduct Flats there were 11 species of shorebirds seen. These included 3
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 2 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 14 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 6
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 1
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and KILLDEER.
Also there were a SORA & a NORTHERN HARRIER.
2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were seen again at King's Pond.
Another 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were seen at McIntyre Reservoir in
Central Saanich.
An OSPREY and 6 CASPIAN TERNS were seen at Esquimalt Lagoon
in Colwood.
Out of town, at Saratoga Beach, which is near the mouth of the Oyster River,
there was one RUDDY TURNSTONE, 68 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS,
and 20 BLACK TURNSTONES.
This message was forwarded by Cheryl Mackie and Wayne Weber.
Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus@telus.net
Wednesday, August 17, 2005. 10:00 pm update. Compiled by Rick
Schortinghuis and transcribed by Cheryl Mackie.
Feature Birds
---------------------------
BANK SWALLOW
HORNED LARK
Wednesday, August 17
A BANK SWALLOW was seen at Viaduct Flats in Saanich this evening.
A HORNED LARK was seen on Moss Rock in Victoria.
3 DOWITCHERS (species?) were seen at Esquimalt Lagoon.
Tuesday, August 16
11 species of shorebirds were seen at Rithet's Bog. Highlights were
a STILT SANDPIPER, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 4 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS,
3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 WILSON'S SNIPE and a juvenile
VIRGINIA RAIL.
Monday, August 15
At Bowker Avenue in Oak Bay, there were 35 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS
and 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
Sunday, August 14
8 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were seen on Saanichton Spit in Central Saanich
along with a few WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS. Please note that this
is First Nations Land. We should respect their land and ask permission
to go there. So, check with the Band office if you are planning to go there.
There was one SPOTTED SANDPIPER and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
at Clover Point in Victoria.
There were 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS at McMicking Point in Oak Bay.
At the foot of Bowker Avenue in Oak Bay were 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS
and 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.
In the Parksville area were 4 STILT SANDPIPERS seen in the
Englishman River Estuary, and 6 seen at Hamilton Marsh.
Saturday, August 13
Off Sandy Island, near Comox, there were 16 species of shorebird seen.
Highlights are 150 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 2 WANDERING TATTLERS,
6 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 1 RED KNOT, 100 SANDERLINGS, 4
SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS and 10 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.
At Holden Creek fields, which is part of the Nanaimo River estuary, 12
species of shorebirds were seen. Highlights of these are 42 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 18 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 15 BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS, 18 STILT SANDPIPERS and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
One needs permission to go to this area, which is owned by the Nature
Trust of BC.
Friday, August 12
2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER were seen
at Clover Point about 7 AM.
At Viaduct Flats in Saanich, there was one PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 3
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 7 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, 14 LEAST SANDPIPERS, a PEREGRINE FALCON,
and an OSPREY.
Thursday, August 11
A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen in a tree near the Crystal Pool, near
Quadra and Pembroke in Victoria. It was seen by an eastern birder familiar
with this species.
Further updates of this bird would be appreciated.
A TUFTED PUFFIN was seen at Clover Point along with 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.
At Viaduct Flats there were 11 species of shorebirds seen. These included 3
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 2 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 14 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 6
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 1
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and KILLDEER.
Also there were a SORA & a NORTHERN HARRIER.
2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were seen again at King's Pond.
Another 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were seen at McIntyre Reservoir in
Central Saanich.
An OSPREY and 6 CASPIAN TERNS were seen at Esquimalt Lagoon
in Colwood.
Out of town, at Saratoga Beach, which is near the mouth of the Oyster River,
there was one RUDDY TURNSTONE, 68 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS,
and 20 BLACK TURNSTONES.
This message was forwarded by Cheryl Mackie and Wayne Weber.
Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus@telus.net