BRITISH COLUMBIA 
Seen by many birders near Enderby, British Columbia 16-22 
(here 20) March 2009 was this cooperative Great Gray Owl. 
Photograph by Chris Charlesworth. 
May (GB). Reports of Red Knot are always of 
interest, especially as this species experiences 
serious population declines in North America. 
Three were seen on mudflats in Tofino 3 May 
(AD). A Sanderling was at Alki L., Kelowna 25 
May (ES, GS, AR). Rare in the interior, Dunlins 
were reported at several locations in Kelowna: 
one was at Robert L. 20 Apr (RC); one was at 
the mouth of Mission Cr. 19 Apr (RC); and 2 
were in flooded fields near the airport 21 Apr 
(RC). A rare but regular spring migrant in the 
Peace R. area, 4 White-rumped Sandpipers 
were at the Fort St. John sewage lagoons 26 
May (RC). A rare spring migrant in the interi- 
or, a Baird’s Sandpiper was at White L. near 
Okanagan Falls 9 Apr QL et ah). 
Rare anywhere in the province, a Fittle 
Gull was at the Vanderhoof Sewage Lagoons 9 
May (CCo, CA et ah). Glaucous Gull is a rel- 
atively rare throughout the province. The 
highest numbers occur in the Kelowna area, 
where 5 were seen at the landfill 8 Apr (CC, 
m.ob.); and 4 were at the Maude Roxby Bird 
Sanctuary in Kelowna 13 Mar (RC). Else- 
where in the province, singles were at Beach 
Grove Park in Delta 8 Mar (PD); at Spanish 
Banks, Vancouver 13 Apr (Richad Wing); at 
Race Rocks near Victoria 8 Mar (Ryan Mur- 
phy); and at Witty’s Lagoon in Metchosin 15 
Mar (DA), perhaps the same individual as 
seen at Race Rocks. Two Glaucous Gulls were 
seen at the Quatse Estuary in Port Hardy 6 
Mar (MS). Sightings of Kumlien’s Iceland 
Gulls were many this spring. A second-cycle 
bird was seen at Robert L., Kelowna between 
24 Mar and 4 Apr (CC, RC, m.ob.); 3 second- 
cycle birds were at the Kelowna Landfill 8 Apr 
(CC, RT et ah); and a pale ad. was seen at the 
same location 28 Apr (ME). On Vancouver 1., 
a first-cycle Iceland Gull was at Admiral Ty- 
ron Pool near Parksville 12 Mar (GM); anoth- 
er first-cycle bird was seen at Duncan 13 Mar, 
perhaps representing the same bird as above 
(Val George). A second-cycle Iceland Gull 
was at Witty’s Lagoon in Metchosin 15 Mar 
(DA). Single ad. Slaty-backed Gulls were on 
Vancouver I. at Deep Bay 9 Mar (Mike Ash- 
bee) and at Swan L. in Victoria 17 Mar (CSa). 
Common Tern is a very rare migrant in cen. 
British Columbia in spring, so one at Cotton- 
wood Island Park, Prince George 23 May was 
of note (NK, RC et ah). Eurasian Collared- 
Doves continue to expand, and most records 
are no longer noteworthy in the s. half of the 
province. Up to half a dozen reports were re- 
ceived from the Prince George area in the cen- 
ter of the province (fide CA). 
OWLS THROUGH GRACKLES 
A few northern owls lingered into the period, 
including a very coopera- 
tive Great Gray Owl near 
Enderby that remained 
16-22 Mar (SB, m.ob.). A 
pair of Great Grays seen 
near Rock Cr. near the 
U.S. border 12 Apr was 
suspected of local breed- 
ing (DB). A very coopera- 
tive Northern Hawk Owl 
remained in Nanaimo, 
Vancouver 1. from 24 Jan 
through at least 13 Mar 
(MY, m.ob.). A Snowy 
Owl at Island View Beach 
in Victoria 6 Apr was of 
note (MR). Rare along 
the coast, a Red-naped 
Sapsucker was along 
Cambridge St. in Vancou- 
ver 20 Apr (DHC). 
A singing Alder Flycatcher was at Grant 
Narrows in Pitt Meadows 4 Jun (LL). On Van- 
couver I., a Least Flycatcher was singing at 
Sasamat E. near Port Moody 13 May (]R). 
Rare on Vancouver 1., a Dusky Flycatcher was 
singing in Langford 12 May (DA). In Vancou- 
ver, a Dusky Flycatcher was banded at Colony 
Farms 8 May, and 2 were seen on 14 May 
(DMa). At Maplewood Flats in North Van- 
couver, a Say’s Phoebe was seen 24 Apr (CT). 
An Ash-throated Flycatcher at Colony Farms 
in Vancouver 21 Jun (Jeremiah Kennedy, 
DMa) was noteworthy. Uncommon in the 
Lower Mainland, 4 Western Kingbirds enter- 
tained birders at Jericho Park in Vancouver 18 
May (Michelle Lamberson). Single Eastern 
Kingbirds were seen at Blackie Spit in White 
Rock 7 Jun (Hank Tseng); at Swan L., Victo- 
ria 2 Jun (Ted Ardley); and at Fong Beach Air- 
port near Tofino 7 Jun (AD). A Loggerhead 
Shrike was seen at Duck L. near Creston 10 
Jun (Marc-Andre Beaucher). Singing Red- 
eyed Vireos appeared at Maplewood Flats in 
North Vancouver 1 Jun (RL) and at Parksville 
10 Jun (Christopher Stephens). An excellent 
find was a Philadelphia Vireo at Witty’s Fa- 
goon in Metchosin 24 May (DA). 
A Blue Jay turned up in Kelowna near Kins- 
men Park 21 Apr (RC). Maple Ridge hosted a 
Western Scrub-jay, seen by many, 20 Jun+ 
(RCr, m.ob.). This species is expanding its 
range northward in Washington but remains a 
very rare visitor to British Columbia. A White- 
breasted Nuthatch continued at Beach Grove 
Park in Delta through at least 10 Mar (GC, 
m.ob.). The Bewick’s Wren expansion into the 
Okanagan Valley continues, with one singing 
in Inkameep PR, Oliver 24-26 Apr (BM, CC, 
m.ob.). The province’s first Eastern Bluebird 
was photographed at Fort Nelson 28 May 
(Penny Hall). Rare in the Vancouver area, a 
male Western Bluebird was at Iona Beach 20 
May (PC). On Vancouver I., male Mountain 
Bluebirds were reported at Nanoose 4 Apr 
(GM) and at Island View Beach in Victoria 7 
Apr (AC). A Northern Mockingbird appeared 
briefly at the Carmanah Point Lightstation, 
Vancouver I. 10 Jun QE). Extremely rare in 
British Columbia, a Brown Thrasher was 
banded and photographed at Colony Farm in 
Vancouver 6 Jun (DMa et ah). 
A Nashville Warbler at Witty’s Lagoon in 
Metchosin 2 May was an uncommon find 
(AC). A singing male Northern Parula was 
found in Edgewood in the West Kootenays 5 
Jun QG)’ This represents the first interior 
record in the province for this species. A male 
Chestnut-sided Warbler was banded at the 
Rocky Point B.O. near Victoria 14 Jun (RS, 
m.ob.). A male Black-and-white Warbler was 
This Bewick's Wren near Oliver, British Columbia 26 April 2009 was part of the massive 
expansion of the species in the Pacific Morthwest. Previously strictly a coastal species in 
the province, Bewick's Wrens have recently expanded into the Okanagan Valley, where 
breeding has been confirmed. Photograph by Chris Charlesworth. 
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NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
