Victoria RBA
May 2, 2008
Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 11:01:46 -0700
Reply-To: David Allinson <passerine@SHAW.CA>
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From: David Allinson <passerine@SHAW.CA>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] RBA Victoria, BC - May 2, 2008
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- RBA
* British Columbia
* Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Is.
* May 2, 2008
* BCVI020508
- Transcript
Hello birders! This is the Victoria Natural History Society's Rare Bird
Alert for Friday, May 2, 11 am update. Compiled and transcribed by David
Allinson.
Feature Birds
---------------------------
GLAUCOUS GULL
WANDERING TATTLER
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE
Friday, May 2
2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained on Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich. Today the
birds were in the "Warbler Triangle" which is the set of paths on the east
side just below the summit amongst all the Garry oaks. However, the birds
have also been reported from the northwest side. However, any hilltop at
this time of year can be a good location for this species (for example,
Mount Douglas, Mill Hill, Christmas Hill, and anywhere in the Highlands).
The first WARBLING VIREO of spring was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in
Saanich.
Thursday, May 1
A GLAUCOUS GULL was reported from Cattle Point in Uplands Park off Beach
Drive in Oak Bay. This is a late record for this species.
2 WANDERING TATTLERS were on the Ogden Point Breakwater at the foot of
Dallas Road along the Victoria waterfront. The birds were towards the outer
end of the breakwater.
A single SOLITARY SANDPIPER remained at "Rapiers Pond" which is a vernal
pond located off Charlton Road at the corner of Burnside Road West in
Saanich. Year after year in spring this remains one of the more reliable
locales for this migrant shorebird.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was again reported near the summit of Mount Tolmie
Park in Saanich.
The first BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK of the year was photographed in a yard in
the Highlands.
At the Victoria Golf Club off Beach Drive in Oak Bay, 24 WHIMBREL, 1 MARBLED
GODWIT, and 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE remained.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was again spotted at Swan Lake.
Wednesday, April 30
RARE BIRD ALERT: A possible LEAST FLYCATCHER was heard at Trevlac Pond at
Trevlac Park. This is located in the 4400-block of Prospect Lake Road south
of the Prospect Lake Golf Course. Confirmation is requested.
A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was visiting feeders at a private location in
Saanich. Other locations to be on the lookout for this annual migrant
include Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, Viaduct Flats, Rithet's Bog, Elk
Lake/Beaver Lake Regional Park, and Somenos Marsh in Duncan.
In the morning there were 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at Rapiers Pond located off
Charlton Road.
Nearby at Hastings Flats off Hastings Street there were 2 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS. This is an exceptional record as spring/adult Pectorals are
rather rare in Victoria and quite different in appearance from the
predominantly fall immatures that are common here in late summer-fall.
Joining the WHIMBREL flock at the Victoria Golf Club fairways off Beach
Drive in Oak Bay was a MARBLED GODWIT.
An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was over Jennings Lane at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional
Park in Saanich.
Tuesday, April 29
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at "Rapiers Pond" off Charlton Road.
The WHIMBREL flock at the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay continues to grow
with 27 birds in total now.
Monday, April 28
An AMERICAN BITTERN was at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary in Saanich. Also
present was a SORA and a NORTHERN HARRIER as well as the first WESTERN
TANAGER of the year.
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained on the northwest side of Mount Tolmie Park
in Saanich.
23 WHIMBREL were on the fairways of the Victoria Golf Club.
Sunday, April 27
RARE BIRD ALERT: 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in a yard on the west side
of the old golf course off Otter Point Road in Sooke. While the
acceptability status of this species is still somewhat vague for the
province and the possibility of an escaped cage bird is always possible,
nevertheless there is no doubt that this species continues to undergo a
rapid expansion throughout North America since its introduction in the
mid-1980's.
An adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was observed from the ferry between Mayne
and Pender Islands.
A GREEN HERON was seen at Somenos Marsh in Duncan.
2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE were on the northwest side of Mount Tolmie.
Another TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was observed near Port Renfrew.
A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was heard again in the Mount Wells area in Langford.
2 skeins totaling an estimated 2-3000 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were
migrating high over the University of Victoria area.
This Saturday, May 3rd the VNHS Saturday Birding group will be going to
Beacon Hill Park as part of Camas Day activities. Meet at the flag pole at
the top of the hill at 7:00AM. For those that are interested we will be
doing some shorebirding afterwards along the Victoria waterfront.
To report bird sightings of interest, please leave your name and telephone
number as well as the details of your sighting at the end of this greeting.
For those receiving the transcript only, note the RBA # is 592-3381.
For information about Victoria birding or to summon birders to confirm a
rare bird, please call either Barbara Begg at 656-5296, or me David Allinson
at 391-1786. Photos of rare or unusual birds are appreciated and may be
e-mailed to rba2 AT vicnhs.bc.ca .
For more information about the Victoria Natural History Society, visit our
website at http://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/.
Good birding and wishing you lifers all!
David Allinson
passerine AT shaw.ca
Victoria, BC
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