- RBA
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* October 11, 2006
* BCVI0610011
- Transcript
This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Wednesday, October 11, 2006. 9:00 pm update. For current information, please
call 250-592-3381 or check the Victoria Natural History Society website at
www.vicnhs.bc.ca. Compiled and transcribed by Ann Nightingale.
Featured Birds
---------------------------
SANDHILL CRANES
GOLDEN EAGLES
NORTHERN SHRIKE
Wednesday, October 11
Three SANDHILL CRANES have been in the farm fields north of Martindale Road
since last Saturday. They are quite difficult to see as they are a distance
from the road, so bring your scopes!
Tuesday, October 10
There were two reports of GOLDEN EAGLES in the Victoria area, on Tuesday.
One was seen by the Tuesday morning birding group, over the Vancouver Island
Technical Park near Viaduct Flats. The second was a juvenile seen flying
south over the Cedar Hill Golf Course. The Tuesday Morning Birders saw 59
species of birds on their outing this week. If you would like to join in,
meet at the foot of Bowker Ave, near Willows Beach, at 9:00 am on Tuesday
mornings.
Monday, October 9
A NORTHERN SHRIKE, WESTERN SANDPIPER and DOWITCHER were on Whiffen Spit in
Sooke.
Sunday, October 8
A BLUE JAY was seen at a feeder at #57 1255 Wain Road in North Saanich.
This is a gated community, but you may gain access during daylight hours
from Monday to Friday.
A MARBLED GODWIT was observed on Gonzales Beach. This bird has been in the
area for several days.
An albino or leucistic HOUSE FINCH was at a feeder at 1564 Pear St. in
Saanich.
An Empidonax Flycatcher was reported on Dunn Rd. There are still a few of
these around. Birders are asked to make notes on the last day that they
see these birds for the Annual Bird Report.
Saturday, October 7
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continues at a feeder at 555 Normandy Drive, which
is off Elk Lake Drive near Beaver Lake Park. If you are going to try to
relocate this bird please park on the street, go down the right hand side of
the house. The bird has been seen most often to the left of the feeder.
Please do not go past the back of the house, otherwise you will flush the
bird.
The first expedition of the Saturday Morning Birding Group had a great day
at Viaduct Flats, seeing 50 species of birds including WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW, 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3 WILSON'S SNIPE, and COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen by other birders in the area. If you
are interested in Saturday morning birding, please meet across from the
entrance to Beaver Lake Park on Elk Lake Drive at 8:00 am.
Friday, October 6
A Western-race PALM WARBLER was observed amid a large number of
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS in the brambles at the south end of the ocean beach
at Esquimalt Lagoon, just north of the gravel pit.
7 VIRGINIA RAILS were at Swan Lake around dusk.
2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were on the grassy area in the center of the loop at
Clover Point around 10 am.
Thursday, October 5
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the feeder at 555 Normandy Dr.
At Swan Lake, 4 VIRGINIA RAILS, a MERLIN, one NORTHERN HARRIER and one
AMERICAN BITTERN were seen.
Wednesday, October 4
Both the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and the NORTHERN PARULA were seen again.
The NORTHERN PARULA which has been seen by many birders could not be
relocated after 8:00 am, however, and may have moved on. Any further
reports on this bird, previously observed near the main parking lot at Swan
Lake, would be appreciated. This is also a good time to remind the
photographers out there that we always appreciate photos of any of the rare
birds reported on this tape. They don't have to be high quality. Even cell
phone photos are fine, but they should be good enough to help identify the
species. Digital photos can be emailed to feedback@vicnhs.bc.ca.
Tuesday, October 3
A NORTHERN PARULA was seen at the north end and to the east of the main
parking lot at Swan Lake. Also at Swan Lake, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a SORA,
and a VIRGINIA RAIL.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen again at a feeder at 555 Normandy Drive.
350 TURKEY VULTURES, 6 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 4 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2 COOPER'S
HAWKS and a GOLDEN EAGLE were seen migrating through the area around Aylard
Farm at East Sooke Park.
A WHIMBREL was observed at Gyro Park in Cadboro Bay.
Monday, October 2
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at a feeder at 555 Normandy Drive.
Also today at Swan Lake a NORTHERN PARULA was seen around the north end of
the main parking lot in the late afternoon. In the early afternoon, a female
CANADA WARBLER was seen in the same area.
In the Sooke area a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen, but because this
was on private property people will be unable to relocate this bird.
OUT OF TOWN
A LONG-BILLED MURRELET was reported from the Tofino area, two miles west of
Tofino at the head of Father Charles Channel. Further updates on this bird
would be appreciated.
Sunday, October 1
2 AMERICAN BITTERNS were seen at Swan Lake. Also there was a female RUDDY
DUCK and a male REDHEAD.
3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen over Panama Flats.
Saturday, September 30
Highlights of a VNHS field trip out to Whiffen Spit were a PEREGRINE FALCON
and a 2 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. A MERLIN was at Ayum Creek.
Friday, September 29
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen at King's Pond in
Saanich.
Thursday, September 28
3 LAPLAND LONGSPUR were seen on Saanichton Spit.
David Allinson
passerine@shaw.ca
Victoria, BC
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* October 11, 2006
* BCVI0610011
- Transcript
This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Wednesday, October 11, 2006. 9:00 pm update. For current information, please
call 250-592-3381 or check the Victoria Natural History Society website at
www.vicnhs.bc.ca. Compiled and transcribed by Ann Nightingale.
Featured Birds
---------------------------
SANDHILL CRANES
GOLDEN EAGLES
NORTHERN SHRIKE
Wednesday, October 11
Three SANDHILL CRANES have been in the farm fields north of Martindale Road
since last Saturday. They are quite difficult to see as they are a distance
from the road, so bring your scopes!
Tuesday, October 10
There were two reports of GOLDEN EAGLES in the Victoria area, on Tuesday.
One was seen by the Tuesday morning birding group, over the Vancouver Island
Technical Park near Viaduct Flats. The second was a juvenile seen flying
south over the Cedar Hill Golf Course. The Tuesday Morning Birders saw 59
species of birds on their outing this week. If you would like to join in,
meet at the foot of Bowker Ave, near Willows Beach, at 9:00 am on Tuesday
mornings.
Monday, October 9
A NORTHERN SHRIKE, WESTERN SANDPIPER and DOWITCHER were on Whiffen Spit in
Sooke.
Sunday, October 8
A BLUE JAY was seen at a feeder at #57 1255 Wain Road in North Saanich.
This is a gated community, but you may gain access during daylight hours
from Monday to Friday.
A MARBLED GODWIT was observed on Gonzales Beach. This bird has been in the
area for several days.
An albino or leucistic HOUSE FINCH was at a feeder at 1564 Pear St. in
Saanich.
An Empidonax Flycatcher was reported on Dunn Rd. There are still a few of
these around. Birders are asked to make notes on the last day that they
see these birds for the Annual Bird Report.
Saturday, October 7
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continues at a feeder at 555 Normandy Drive, which
is off Elk Lake Drive near Beaver Lake Park. If you are going to try to
relocate this bird please park on the street, go down the right hand side of
the house. The bird has been seen most often to the left of the feeder.
Please do not go past the back of the house, otherwise you will flush the
bird.
The first expedition of the Saturday Morning Birding Group had a great day
at Viaduct Flats, seeing 50 species of birds including WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW, 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3 WILSON'S SNIPE, and COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen by other birders in the area. If you
are interested in Saturday morning birding, please meet across from the
entrance to Beaver Lake Park on Elk Lake Drive at 8:00 am.
Friday, October 6
A Western-race PALM WARBLER was observed amid a large number of
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS in the brambles at the south end of the ocean beach
at Esquimalt Lagoon, just north of the gravel pit.
7 VIRGINIA RAILS were at Swan Lake around dusk.
2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were on the grassy area in the center of the loop at
Clover Point around 10 am.
Thursday, October 5
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the feeder at 555 Normandy Dr.
At Swan Lake, 4 VIRGINIA RAILS, a MERLIN, one NORTHERN HARRIER and one
AMERICAN BITTERN were seen.
Wednesday, October 4
Both the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and the NORTHERN PARULA were seen again.
The NORTHERN PARULA which has been seen by many birders could not be
relocated after 8:00 am, however, and may have moved on. Any further
reports on this bird, previously observed near the main parking lot at Swan
Lake, would be appreciated. This is also a good time to remind the
photographers out there that we always appreciate photos of any of the rare
birds reported on this tape. They don't have to be high quality. Even cell
phone photos are fine, but they should be good enough to help identify the
species. Digital photos can be emailed to feedback@vicnhs.bc.ca.
Tuesday, October 3
A NORTHERN PARULA was seen at the north end and to the east of the main
parking lot at Swan Lake. Also at Swan Lake, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a SORA,
and a VIRGINIA RAIL.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen again at a feeder at 555 Normandy Drive.
350 TURKEY VULTURES, 6 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 4 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2 COOPER'S
HAWKS and a GOLDEN EAGLE were seen migrating through the area around Aylard
Farm at East Sooke Park.
A WHIMBREL was observed at Gyro Park in Cadboro Bay.
Monday, October 2
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at a feeder at 555 Normandy Drive.
Also today at Swan Lake a NORTHERN PARULA was seen around the north end of
the main parking lot in the late afternoon. In the early afternoon, a female
CANADA WARBLER was seen in the same area.
In the Sooke area a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen, but because this
was on private property people will be unable to relocate this bird.
OUT OF TOWN
A LONG-BILLED MURRELET was reported from the Tofino area, two miles west of
Tofino at the head of Father Charles Channel. Further updates on this bird
would be appreciated.
Sunday, October 1
2 AMERICAN BITTERNS were seen at Swan Lake. Also there was a female RUDDY
DUCK and a male REDHEAD.
3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen over Panama Flats.
Saturday, September 30
Highlights of a VNHS field trip out to Whiffen Spit were a PEREGRINE FALCON
and a 2 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. A MERLIN was at Ayum Creek.
Friday, September 29
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen at King's Pond in
Saanich.
Thursday, September 28
3 LAPLAND LONGSPUR were seen on Saanichton Spit.
David Allinson
passerine@shaw.ca
Victoria, BC