- RBA
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* October 16, 2006
* BCVI0610016
- Transcript
This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Monday,
October 16, 2006, midnight 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.
Rare Bird Alert for
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
Featured Birds
---------------------------
GOOSE MIGRATION
Monday, October 16
The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was seen again at Viaduct Flats. The bird has
been at the Flats since Saturday. Also at Viaduct today were 3 PEREGRINE
FALCONS and a MERLIN.
Several callers reported seeing flocks of SNOW GEESE and GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying over Victoria, today.
Two AMERICAN BITTERNS and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were seen at Swan Lake
this morning.
Sunday, October 15
The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER reported yesterday at Viaduct Flats was seen by
several birders, today. Also in the area was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
Two WHIMBREL, a WESTERN MEADOWLARK and two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at Cattle
Point.
Three SANDHILL CRANES continue at Martindale Flats, north of Martindale
Road.
Saturday, October 14
A SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was reported at Viaduct Flats at around 5 pm on
Saturday. It was foraging with DOWITCHERS in the mud on the Interurban
side of the flats. Further reports on this bird would be appreciated.
Three SANDHILL CRANES continue at Martindale Flats, north of Martindale Rd.
They have been in the area for a week. Also in the area were WESTERN
MEADOWLARKS, a NORTHERN HARRIER, and a MERLIN.
The Saturday Morning Birding Group managed to find 40 species in the fog at
Blenkinsop Lake this morning. The highlight was a PEREGRINE FALCON.
Birders could not relocate the SLATY-BACKED GULL seen yesterday at Cattle
Point, but reported a WESTERN MEADOWLARK, 2 WHIMBRELS and 3 LAPLAND
LONGSPURS at Cattle Point and several shorebirds, including GREATER and
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES at
the foot of Bowker Ave.
Friday, October 13
An adult SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen between the boat ramp and the historic
marker at Cattle Point at 8:00 am this morning. It flew off shortly after 8,
but could still be in the area.
Today, we received a late report of two groups of RED-THROATED PIPITS
observed at close range on the coast at Jordan River and China Beach on
October 3rd. The observer is very familiar with AMERICAN PIPITS, and has
ruled out that species. The birds were seen foraging through the seaweed on
the beach, a behaviour consistent with RED-THROATED PIPITS. The observer
appreciates that this is an unprecedented number of these birds, and would
like other birders to check out PIPIT flocks carefully.
On Thursday, October 12, a rare bird report was received for a possible RUFF
at Viaduct Flats. A shorebird with many features of a RUFF was seen along
the Interurban Rd. edge of the flats. The bird was not relocated later in
the day, but could still be in the area.
Further reports on any of these rare birds would be appreciated.
Three SANDHILL CRANES and a SHORT-EARED OWL continued on Friday October 13th
at Martindale Flats, north of Martindale Rd. The CRANES have been seen every
day since last Saturday. Also in the same area, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, at
least 22 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and a NORTHERN HARRIER.
A very late COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen over Mount Doug, this evening.
Written reports of out-of-season birds such as this are greatly appreciated.
Birders may now complete their rare bird reports online on the Victoria
Natural History Society's website: http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/rbaonline.html
Also reported today, 3 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at Cattle Point, and two more
flew over Clover Point.
Thursday, October 12
A NORTHERN HARRIER was reported from the University Woods area, as seen from
Henderson Rd.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on the grassy edge at Clover Point, off Dallas Rd. in
Victoria.
There are reports of STELLER'S JAYS appearing in unusual locations
throughout the city. One caller reports two in a yard where there have been
none in the past 20 years. Similar reports are coming from other
communities, including Gabriola Island.
David Allinson
passerine@shaw.ca
Victoria, BC
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* October 16, 2006
* BCVI0610016
- Transcript
This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Monday,
October 16, 2006, midnight 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.
Rare Bird Alert for
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
Featured Birds
---------------------------
GOOSE MIGRATION
Monday, October 16
The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was seen again at Viaduct Flats. The bird has
been at the Flats since Saturday. Also at Viaduct today were 3 PEREGRINE
FALCONS and a MERLIN.
Several callers reported seeing flocks of SNOW GEESE and GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying over Victoria, today.
Two AMERICAN BITTERNS and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were seen at Swan Lake
this morning.
Sunday, October 15
The SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER reported yesterday at Viaduct Flats was seen by
several birders, today. Also in the area was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
Two WHIMBREL, a WESTERN MEADOWLARK and two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at Cattle
Point.
Three SANDHILL CRANES continue at Martindale Flats, north of Martindale
Road.
Saturday, October 14
A SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was reported at Viaduct Flats at around 5 pm on
Saturday. It was foraging with DOWITCHERS in the mud on the Interurban
side of the flats. Further reports on this bird would be appreciated.
Three SANDHILL CRANES continue at Martindale Flats, north of Martindale Rd.
They have been in the area for a week. Also in the area were WESTERN
MEADOWLARKS, a NORTHERN HARRIER, and a MERLIN.
The Saturday Morning Birding Group managed to find 40 species in the fog at
Blenkinsop Lake this morning. The highlight was a PEREGRINE FALCON.
Birders could not relocate the SLATY-BACKED GULL seen yesterday at Cattle
Point, but reported a WESTERN MEADOWLARK, 2 WHIMBRELS and 3 LAPLAND
LONGSPURS at Cattle Point and several shorebirds, including GREATER and
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES at
the foot of Bowker Ave.
Friday, October 13
An adult SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen between the boat ramp and the historic
marker at Cattle Point at 8:00 am this morning. It flew off shortly after 8,
but could still be in the area.
Today, we received a late report of two groups of RED-THROATED PIPITS
observed at close range on the coast at Jordan River and China Beach on
October 3rd. The observer is very familiar with AMERICAN PIPITS, and has
ruled out that species. The birds were seen foraging through the seaweed on
the beach, a behaviour consistent with RED-THROATED PIPITS. The observer
appreciates that this is an unprecedented number of these birds, and would
like other birders to check out PIPIT flocks carefully.
On Thursday, October 12, a rare bird report was received for a possible RUFF
at Viaduct Flats. A shorebird with many features of a RUFF was seen along
the Interurban Rd. edge of the flats. The bird was not relocated later in
the day, but could still be in the area.
Further reports on any of these rare birds would be appreciated.
Three SANDHILL CRANES and a SHORT-EARED OWL continued on Friday October 13th
at Martindale Flats, north of Martindale Rd. The CRANES have been seen every
day since last Saturday. Also in the same area, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, at
least 22 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and a NORTHERN HARRIER.
A very late COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen over Mount Doug, this evening.
Written reports of out-of-season birds such as this are greatly appreciated.
Birders may now complete their rare bird reports online on the Victoria
Natural History Society's website: http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/rbaonline.html
Also reported today, 3 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at Cattle Point, and two more
flew over Clover Point.
Thursday, October 12
A NORTHERN HARRIER was reported from the University Woods area, as seen from
Henderson Rd.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was on the grassy edge at Clover Point, off Dallas Rd. in
Victoria.
There are reports of STELLER'S JAYS appearing in unusual locations
throughout the city. One caller reports two in a yard where there have been
none in the past 20 years. Similar reports are coming from other
communities, including Gabriola Island.
David Allinson
passerine@shaw.ca
Victoria, BC