Victoria, British Columbia RBA
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* October 13, 2005
Howdy birders. This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird
Alert for Thursday, October 13. 10:00 pm update. Compiled and transcribed by
David Allinson.
Feature Birds
---------------------------
NORTHERN WHEATEAR
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
AMERICAN BITTERN
Thursday, October 13
RARE BIRD ALERT: Since Friday October 7th, a NORTHERN WHEATEAR continues at
French Creek north of Parksville and was reported to at least 2:00 pm today.
Note that the bird appears to have shifted from Columbia Beach to the
northwest, and now prefers the rocky breakwater at the marina on the
southeast side of the French Creek estuary. The bird has been seen foraging
around a small bay near the tip of the breakwater. For reference, take Lee
Road to the marina off Hwy 19.
This afternoon, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was on the southeast side of the Swan
Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich, off the trail near a small bridge just
below the Saanich Municipal buildings. This is presumably the same bird that
was reported from this area on September 25th.
A sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was later observed over Swan Lake.
Wednesday, October 12
RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WHEATEAR continues at French Creek. Some 200
birders or so have now enjoyed observing the bird in this general area.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was at the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich at the
south end of the floating boardwalk.
Now surprisingly scarce around Victoria over the last few years, a lone
COMMON TERN was offshore from Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood.
Tuesday, October 11
RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WHEATEAR remains up-island at Columbia
Beach/French Creek area north of Parksville. Note that the bird often moves
up and down the beach here on the northwest side at the mouth of French
Creek. Please be respectful of private property, property owner's privacy,
and of course the welfare of this very rare bird!
A LEACH'S STORM-PETREL was observed from shore flying southeast from French
Creek in the Strait of Georgia.
The first SWAMP SPARROW of the fall appeared today at the Rocky Point Bird
Observatory in Metchosin. A reminder that the observatory is on restricted
DND property and is not open to the general public.
A PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was again present at Clover Point off Dallas Road
along the Victoria waterfront.
Monday, October 10
RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WHEATEAR remains up-island at Columbia Beach
just north of Parksville.
Locally, at Clover Point a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was observed.
The RED KNOT was again present at Bowker Creek in Oak Bay, and has been
sporadically reported here since it first appeared on September 30.
Sunday, October 9
The RARE BIRD ALERT continues for the NORTHERN WHEATEAR at Columbia Beach.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was reported from Clover Point today.
A SANDHILL CRANE was over the Rocky Point Bird Observatory.
For the last month or more at Esquimalt Lagoon, an apparent male AMERICAN
BLACK DUCK has been reported by a number of observers and it now has also
been photographed. Note that the small American Black Duck population north
of Victoria around Cedar has dwindled dramatically over the last few years
as they have hybridized with Mallards. Furthermore, the origin of such a
bird is always a question mark given the numerous other domestics present at
the lagoon, but it could well be of wild or introduced stock.
Saturday, October 8
A RARE BIRD ALERT for a NORTHERN WHEATEAR at French Creek at Columbia Beach.
The bird first appeared Friday the 7th. For directions, travel north on
Highway 19 north past Parksville towards French Creek. After crossing the
French Creek bridge, take the first right on to Columbia Dr. Turn right onto
Admiral Tryon Blvd and follow Admiral Tryon all the way to the south end and
look for the second public beach access pathway on the left. The bird has
been spending most of its time within 50 meters of this spot. Look for the
bird as well along the seawalls on the backyards of homes that back onto the
beach in this area. The bird frequents the vegetation, logs, lawns as well
as the roofs of the homes here. The bird has often been seen specifically
behind either 1725 or 1733 Admiral Tryon Blvd. This is only the second
confirmed record for British Columbia (interestingly, the first record was
near the Victoria Airport from October 10-16, 1970), and there are two
additional sight records for the province.
RARE BIRD ALERT: At the Rocky Point Bird Observatory a TROPICAL KINGBIRD was
present this morning.
At Blenkinsop Lake off Lohbrunner Road there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
Also nearby was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with Canada Geese in the farm
fields.
David Allinson
Victoria, BC
passerine@shaw.ca
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* October 13, 2005
Howdy birders. This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird
Alert for Thursday, October 13. 10:00 pm update. Compiled and transcribed by
David Allinson.
Feature Birds
---------------------------
NORTHERN WHEATEAR
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
AMERICAN BITTERN
Thursday, October 13
RARE BIRD ALERT: Since Friday October 7th, a NORTHERN WHEATEAR continues at
French Creek north of Parksville and was reported to at least 2:00 pm today.
Note that the bird appears to have shifted from Columbia Beach to the
northwest, and now prefers the rocky breakwater at the marina on the
southeast side of the French Creek estuary. The bird has been seen foraging
around a small bay near the tip of the breakwater. For reference, take Lee
Road to the marina off Hwy 19.
This afternoon, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was on the southeast side of the Swan
Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich, off the trail near a small bridge just
below the Saanich Municipal buildings. This is presumably the same bird that
was reported from this area on September 25th.
A sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was later observed over Swan Lake.
Wednesday, October 12
RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WHEATEAR continues at French Creek. Some 200
birders or so have now enjoyed observing the bird in this general area.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was at the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich at the
south end of the floating boardwalk.
Now surprisingly scarce around Victoria over the last few years, a lone
COMMON TERN was offshore from Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood.
Tuesday, October 11
RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WHEATEAR remains up-island at Columbia
Beach/French Creek area north of Parksville. Note that the bird often moves
up and down the beach here on the northwest side at the mouth of French
Creek. Please be respectful of private property, property owner's privacy,
and of course the welfare of this very rare bird!
A LEACH'S STORM-PETREL was observed from shore flying southeast from French
Creek in the Strait of Georgia.
The first SWAMP SPARROW of the fall appeared today at the Rocky Point Bird
Observatory in Metchosin. A reminder that the observatory is on restricted
DND property and is not open to the general public.
A PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was again present at Clover Point off Dallas Road
along the Victoria waterfront.
Monday, October 10
RARE BIRD ALERT: A NORTHERN WHEATEAR remains up-island at Columbia Beach
just north of Parksville.
Locally, at Clover Point a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was observed.
The RED KNOT was again present at Bowker Creek in Oak Bay, and has been
sporadically reported here since it first appeared on September 30.
Sunday, October 9
The RARE BIRD ALERT continues for the NORTHERN WHEATEAR at Columbia Beach.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was reported from Clover Point today.
A SANDHILL CRANE was over the Rocky Point Bird Observatory.
For the last month or more at Esquimalt Lagoon, an apparent male AMERICAN
BLACK DUCK has been reported by a number of observers and it now has also
been photographed. Note that the small American Black Duck population north
of Victoria around Cedar has dwindled dramatically over the last few years
as they have hybridized with Mallards. Furthermore, the origin of such a
bird is always a question mark given the numerous other domestics present at
the lagoon, but it could well be of wild or introduced stock.
Saturday, October 8
A RARE BIRD ALERT for a NORTHERN WHEATEAR at French Creek at Columbia Beach.
The bird first appeared Friday the 7th. For directions, travel north on
Highway 19 north past Parksville towards French Creek. After crossing the
French Creek bridge, take the first right on to Columbia Dr. Turn right onto
Admiral Tryon Blvd and follow Admiral Tryon all the way to the south end and
look for the second public beach access pathway on the left. The bird has
been spending most of its time within 50 meters of this spot. Look for the
bird as well along the seawalls on the backyards of homes that back onto the
beach in this area. The bird frequents the vegetation, logs, lawns as well
as the roofs of the homes here. The bird has often been seen specifically
behind either 1725 or 1733 Admiral Tryon Blvd. This is only the second
confirmed record for British Columbia (interestingly, the first record was
near the Victoria Airport from October 10-16, 1970), and there are two
additional sight records for the province.
RARE BIRD ALERT: At the Rocky Point Bird Observatory a TROPICAL KINGBIRD was
present this morning.
At Blenkinsop Lake off Lohbrunner Road there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
Also nearby was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with Canada Geese in the farm
fields.
David Allinson
Victoria, BC
passerine@shaw.ca