Another BAR-TAILED GODWIT @Boundary Bay

[Barwit on LEFT, with Marbled Godwit]

This report and pic from Mike Tabak (June 14th):

On the way home from work today I stopped off at Boundary Bay and found some late spring shorebird migrants, including two less than annual species in the Vancouver area. 13 Whimbrel, I BAR-TAILED GODWIT, 1 Marbled Godwit, and a SABINE'S GULL were in front of the mansion west of the foot of 96 st about 5:30 PM on the high tide. All birds flew west as the tide rolled in and could possibly be refound at Beach Grove or TF Jetty. Strong winds may have blown in other interesting birds.

June 15th UPDATE: All 3 birds (2 godwits and SAGU) still present as of June 15th (Roger Foxall)

June 16th UPDATE: Bar-tailed Godwitt STILL present near "The Mansion" west of the foot of 96th street (on the dyke). This was around 6pm on a rising tide. (Carlo Giovanella)

June 19 UPDATE: John Reynolds saw it again this evening.

June 5th--BROWN THRASHER in New Hazelton

Found by Ray Sturney--here's a photo!

Tufted Duck on Tatla Lake (West of Williams Lake)

This from Avery Bartels:

"Big news; on tuesday I found a male Tufted Duck on Tatla Lake in the Chilcotin. No way of knowing its origins but the owner of the store where I saw the bird from knew it was there although I am not sure he knew which bird I was talking about because originally he said 8 or 9 show up every year...and there were a number of both Scaup on the lake as well as a RNDU. The Tufted was courting the female Greater Scaup along with a number of GRSC males."

May 31--Cattle Egret in Kelowna

Yesterday (May 31) Pirmin Nietlisbach reports seeing a single CATTLE EGRET flying north over Robert Lake in Kelowna; it was being harrassed by a raven.

RBA: HERMIT WARBLER near Powell River (May 29th)

Doug Brown called to report that he heard and saw a pure-looking Hermit Warbler today along the Stillwater Main forest road near Powell River, just past the Lois Lake dam.

RBA: LESSER NIGHTHAWK IN SOOKE

At 5:45pm on Saturday, May 28, a Lesser Nighthawk was found at Whiffin Spit in Sooke (Jeremy Gatten/Jeremy Kimm). The bird was found halfway along the spit, at the open area near the washroom, flying from there to the ocean side of the spit, where it roosted on logs. The bird was still there as of 8pm (J. Gatten) but has not been relocated since, despite thorough searches.

A number of expert opinions have come back, confirming this species as a Lesser Nighthawk.

This is the 3rd BC record for this species, and only the second found alive.

Photos by Jeremy Gatten

-JK

RBA: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Cawston

Details and PHOTOS here:

http://bcbirding.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=rarebirds&action=display&thread=4278&page=1

Was not re-found this PM.

Updates to follow-- but I'm doing a big day tomorrow!

RBA: SNOWY EGRET (May 19-22)

From Adrian Dorst(May19):

"I got a call from Ralph Crombie this evening who lives at the fish hatchery. He first told me about some of the birds he'd seen during the day, then about the wolves. He said he had several sightings today and saw one wolf attack an adult otter but the otter fought back and bit the wolf in the head causing the wolf to retreat and roll around on the ground in pain."Oh and by the way, there was a second egret there a while ago, small with nice plumes, a dark bill, dark legs and yellow feet. It flew towards Tofino." I rushed out to the botanical gardens but it was dusk and I failed to see it. I'll try again tomorrow. Ralph also saw the Great Egret today so he had two egrets in one day in BC." --This is BC's 24th record

MAY 20 UPDATE: Bird is still present (AD).

For anyone coming this way, best bet is end of Sharp Road (at Dolphin Motel).

Ross's Goose in Creston

MAY 12th--Linda Van Damme found and photographed this bird along Duck Creek near the south dyke of Duck Lake (Creston).

A nice find anywhere in the province--always a treat!

MAY 15th UPDATE-- Still present (Thor Manson)

Directions: From Wyndell, just north of Creston on highway 3A, take Lower Wyndell Rd/Duck Lake Rd to Channel Rd. Turn right, and proceed about 3.5 kms to a sharp 90 degree turn to the west. Stop here. Look across the channel to an open meadow to the East. The bird should be in here with a group of Canada's. The bird could also be found anywhere along this channel, but seems to prefer this location.

May 8,10--Bar-tailed Godwit at Boundary Bay

This from Mike Tabak:

"My brother John found a Bar-tailed Godwit on Sunday at Boundary Bay in front of the mansion, west of the foot of 96 St(South Delta). His description did not eliminate a plain Marbled Godwit , so I asked Pieter to check for this bird yesterday but no godwit was found.

This morning I relocated the Bar-tailed Godwit in the same location, associating with a flock of Black-bellies and assorted shorebirds."

--This is the second spring record for the Vancouver checklist area