• Always a scarce migrant through the interior, Red-throated Loons were reported from only a couple of locations.  One was spotted on Puntchesakut Lake, Quesnel August 26 (Adrian Leather), and singles were on Eaglet Lake, October 18-19 and November 16 (Jamie Fenneman, Sandra Kinsey, Laird Law).  A pronounced movement of Pacific Loons was noted in the interior during October and November, with a peak count of 31 birds at Eaglet Lake October 8 (Cathy Antoniazzi, Jack Bowling, Helen Dunlop, Dan Dunlop).  The high count of Common Loons at the Roberts Bank staging area was of 197 birds north of the Tsawwassen jetty September 29 (Michael G. Shepard).  Fifty were on Okanagan Lake off Okanagan Mountain Park October 21 (Chris Charlewsorth et al.).  Yellow-billed Loons were observed at several coastal locations.  Additionally, there were two interior records:  one bird on Okanagan Lake off Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park October 7 (Hank Vanderpol) and a single bird with two Pacific Loons at Deadman Lake October 26 (Doug Brown).
• The third record of Eared Grebe in the Pacific Rim NPR area was provided by a single bird near Stubbs Island September 17 (Adrian Dorst).  The latest record ever for the far northeast was provided by a single bird at the Fort Nelson sewage lagoons October 24 & 25 (Michael G. Shepard).  A downed Western Grebe was found in McBride during a stormy night November 3 (fide Elsie Stanley).  The finders released it into the Fraser River.  The next day, perhaps the same bird was on nearby Horseshoe Lake, and still present November 11 (Elsie Stanley).  The latest central interior reports were from Eaglet Lake ("several") and Tabor Lake (5) on November 16 (Sandra Kinsey, Laird Law).  On the coast, about 3,000 Western Grebes were at Boundary Bay in late September as were about 2,000 Red-necked Grebes (Kyle Elliott).  Only one Clark's Grebe was noted this fall, a single bird off Christmas Island, Salmon Arm on September 8 (Don Cecile).

TUBENOSES, CORMORANTS, PELICANS, HERONS, EGRETS
Pelagic species were poorly reported this fall and cormorants went virtually unnoticed.  However, both Great and Cattle Egrets made an excellent showing.

• One, and possibly up to four Flesh-footed Shearwaters were off Tofino August 21 (Adrian Dorst et al.).
• Only a handful of Brown Pelicans ventured into BC waters this fall. On September 5, three were at Carmanah Point and 12 were at Owen Point near Port San Juan.  A single bird was at the north end of James Island September 22.  Vancouver observations came from under the Burrard Bridge October 23 and off Wreck Beach October 27.  Birders seemed to miss the fall movement of American White Pelicans.  The largest group reported was 21 on the shores of Nicola lake near the mouth of Quilchena Creek September 16 (Wayne Weber).  The only interior records of Double-crested Cormorants were of single birds at Swan Lake, Tupper August 2 (Mark Phinney) and Eaglet Lake September 23 (Cathy Antoniazzi, Mary Antoniazzi).
• The 73 Great Blue Herons on the Tofino mudflats August 6 (Adrian Dorst) constituted a rather large gathering for the west coast of Vancouver Island.  Very scarce in the northeast of the province, 2 were at the Dawson Creek airport August 17 (Jamie Fenneman), 1 at Dawson Creek August 30 (Jamie Fenneman), and 1 along the Pouce Coupe River October 22 (Phyllis Bedell).  What became the greatest Great Egret show on record began in June and continued through the fall.  Most observations were from the Fraser delta and Boundary Bay foreshore, although one was seen as far north as Smithers.  The latest record was of a single bird on Westham Island November 1.  A Cattle Egret in Giscome August 19 (Mary Antoniazzi) provided an unusually early record for the species.  However, it was the forerunner of a rather impressive invasion this fall.  Throughout November Cattle Egrets snowed down on southwestern BC and the central interior.  They even made it as far north as the Peace River county (fide Mark Phinney) and the north end of Williston Lake (Robert Tomah).  Extraordinary away from the southwest corner of the province, a Green Heron was at Scout Island, Williams Lake October 12-27 (Kris Andrews, Phil Ranson, Anna Roberts).  A Plegadis species  was spotted on Earls Golf Course, Nanaimo on November 3 (Neil Bourne).  Birds of this genus previously seen in BC have been identified as White-faced Ibis.
• In recent years, Turkey Vultures have been pushing their range northward, and are now almost regular in the central interior.  Two were in a field 10km south of Fort St. James on August 9 (Ray Sturney, Barbara Jackson).  This fall, the vultures beat a hasty retreat from BC.  No large concentrations were seen in October.  Indeed, there were only a handful of October reports.  Stragglers were observed on southern Vancouver Island November 15, with 1 in Langford (Michael G. Shepard) and 5 at Viaduct Flats.  Four were at Rocky Point November 28 (David Allinson).

WATERFOWL

• The main Greater White-fronted Goose migration went unnoticed this fall.  Only scattered individuals and small groups were observed.  Small numbers of Brant summered along the BC coast.  Three were at the south end of Vargas Island, last reported August 21 (Adrian Dorst et al.).  A Brant of the rare "Gray-bellied" form was in Kamloops November 6-12 (George Gardner et al.).  Fourth record of Brant in the Kamloops area.
• An American Black Duck of unknown origin was present at the Tsawwassen jetty throughout the fall.  On the Fort Nelson sewage lagoons October 25, 4 male, 4 female Gadwall provided a new late departure date for the far northeast (Michael G. Shepard).  The tally of 48 migrant Northern Shovelers at Tofino September 22 (Adrian Dorst) was very high for the outer coast.
• Rarely birded in the fall, the Fort Nelson area produced a number of noteworthy records this October (Michael G. Shepard).  Highlights included an immature male Canvasback and 6 Long-tailed Ducks.  In the interior, Long-tailed Ducks were also seen in the Prince George area (one on the very early date of August 28 - Laird Law, Sandra Kinsey), Kelowna and Osoyoos.  A male Redhead at Fanny Bay November 23 (Guy Monty) provided one of the very few Vancouver Island records of this species north of Duncan.  Maria Slough near Agassiz hosted 350 Ring-necked Ducks October 28 (Michael G. Shepard), and another 221 were at Quamichan Lake November 14 (Derrick Marven).  A female Tufted Duck frequented the outer pond at Iona Island November 10-24.  The last interior report of Surf Scoter was of a female on the Columbia River near Robson December 28 (Ed Beynon), and of White-winged Scoter, a female off Sutherland Park, Kelowna December 3 (Chris Charlesworth).  Buffleheads appeared suddenly along the shores of southern Vancouver Island during the first week of November.  Small groups could be found in most sheltered shallow bays at that time, with a few larger aggregations such as the 157 tallied at Esquimalt Lagoon November 5 (Michael G. Shepard).  A bird identified as a SMEW was reported off the Little River ferry terminal, Comox on November 13 (Pierre Geoffray).  Impressive tallies of 245 Hooded Mergansers and 2000 Common Mergansers were made at Quamichan Lake November 14 (Derrick Marven).   The highest interior count of Red-breasted Mergansers was six, at Tabor Lake October 29 (Laird Law).

OSPREY, HAWKS, FALCONS

• Ospreys departed more or less on time with the latest coastal observations made October 31 at Reeve Park, Port Coquitlam (2 birds) and 112th Street, Delta.  The last NE report of a Swainson's Hawk was of a single bird near Rolla August 26 (Jamie Fenneman, Mark Phinney).  The bird was not far from the newly discovered nesting site.  Late for the far northeast, a Red-tailed Hawk was at Muskwa Heights October 26 (Michael G. Shepard).  Not often seen on Vancouver Island outside the southern tip, a Rough-legged Hawk was hunting along highway near Wilifried Creek November 25 (Guy Monty).  A migration watch at Pine Pass October 1-3 tallied an impressive 316 Golden Eagles (Sandra Kinsey, Laird Law).  Individual Gyrfalcons were at Pine Pass, and near Dawson Creek, McBride and Kelowna.

CRANES, RAILS, SHOREBIRDS  Shorebird watching was locally excellent, particularly at Salmon Arm and Boundary Bay.  Very few rarities were seen, but a great assortment was reported.

• The largest number of Sandhill Cranes reported was the 1000+ over Williams Lake airport October 11 (Phil Ranson).  A lingering Sandhill was near the Vanderhoof airport November 22 (Randy Rawluk).  A Virginia Rail in a pond along Highway 5A between Napier and Tullee Lakes November 24 (Wayne Weber) was very late for the Nicola Valley.
• As usual, Boundary Bay and the Fraser River delta hosted thousands of shorebirds.  An estimated 1,000 Black-bellied Plovers were at the south end of 34th Street October 15.  Two or more Hudsonian Godwits were among the Boundary Bay highlight species this fall.  The first observation was on August 18, with a juvenile remaining until at least November 6 at 104th Street.  The long time mostly resident Willet at the base of the Tsawwassen jetty remained at that location all fall.  In addition to this bird, single juveniles were seen in west Delta October 15 & 26, and individuals were at Reifel  Island October 6 and November 9.  Red Knots were reported more frequently than usual, with a high count of 12 birds September 24 at the base of the Roberts Bank jetty.  At Iona Island, a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper remained until November 24 (Jamie Fenneman, Nathan Hentze, Rick Toochin), providing the latest record ever for the Vancouver area.  Fifty-two Long-billed Dowitchers were still at Iona October 31.  The 55 Western Sandpipers at Iona Island November 13 provided a rather late record for a sizable flock of this species.  Very rare west of the Rockies, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was at the tip of the Iona Island south jetty September 22 (Dan Peterson, John Chandler, Calvin Gehlen).  A Ruddy Turnstone, perhaps planning to winter in BC, was with Black Turnstones at Maplewood Mudflats November 10.
• A spectacular array of shorebirds visited Salmon Arm in early September.  A Hudsonian Godwit graced Christmas Island, Salmon Arm September 6-14 (Rick Howie et al.).  A juvenile SURFBIRD present there September 7 & 8 (Chris Charlesworth, Frank Kime, Dorothy Kime et al.) provided the first record for the BC interior.  Two juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were there September 7 & 8 (Chris Charlesworth, Frank Kime, Dorothy Kime, Phil Gehlen et al.).  In the Kelowna area, a Sanderling was at the mouth of Power's Ck, Westbank September 20 (Chris Charlesworth), a Dunlin was at the Maude Roxby Sanctuary October 28 (Laure Neish), and four Long-billed Dowitchers were present at Robert Lake as late as November 3 (Hank Vanderpol).
• Elsewhere in the interior, not much was seen in the way of shorebirds.  On August 9, an Upland Sandpiper flying over the alpine meadows of Vineyards (100 km east of Prince George) at the 2030 meter elevation provided the only BC record of the species this fall ((Laird Law, Sandra Kinsey, Nancy Krueger).  A Buff-breasted Sandpiper visited Drummond Lake, Riske Creek August 11 (Cathy Koot).
• There were few noteworthy shorebird observations on Vancouver Island this fall.  Four Marbled Godwits were at Ucluelet September 15 (fide Jamie Fenneman), 28 flew by Amphitrite Point September 16 (fide Jamie Fenneman), and one frequented Gonzales Bay October 16-30.  Solitary Sandpiper were reported more often then usual in the Long Beach area.  Sightings of a single bird were made August 4 & 5 (Adrian Dorst), September 13-16 (Adrian Dorst et al.), and October 1 (Adrian Dorst).  Now appearing annually on the coast, an Upland Sandpiper was at Boundary Bay August 9 & 10 (Len Jellicoe et al.).  A basic-plumage adult Ruddy Turnstone was at Point Holmes, Comox November 1 (Nathan Hentze).  Adrian Dorst also found a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at the Long Beach airport October 24.  The Baird's Sandpiper at Icarus Point August 19 (Guy Monty) provided the first record for the Nanaimo area.  Not often reported on the outer coast, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Tofino August 5 (Paul Yorke, Mary Bewick).

JAEGERS, GULLS

• Eight or more South Polar Skuas tallied on a pelagic trip between Ucluelet and Barkley Canyon September 15 represented a rather large number for BC.   Parasitic Jaegers have not been particularly conspicuous this fall.  One was at Penticton September 23-26 (Richard Cannings et al.).  The last report was of a single bird accompanying a flock of 1,000 Bonaparte's Gulls off the Iona Island south jetty November 4.  
• Five Bonaparte's on Nicola Lake November 11 (Wayne Weber) were a touch on the late side for the interior, and a flock of 3,500+ Bonaparte's off Denman Island November 25 (Guy Monty) provided a rather late record for such a concentration.  On October 27, an adult Little Gull in basic plumage was near the mouth of Nile Creek on Vancouver Island (Nathan Hentze, Jamie Fenneman, Art Morgan).  Franklin's Gulls were widely reported in the interior and on the south coast, the last being two were at the Ruskin Recreational Site west of Mission November 17.  The Vernon/ Kelowna area continues to be a hotspot for gulls.  The highlight of the fall there was an ICELAND GULL, present November 10 though into December (Don Cecile et al.).  Glaucous Gulls are rare but regular visitors from the north.  Individual immatures were in the vicinity of Okanagan Landing November 12-24 (Don Cecile), and along the Fraser River north of Iona Island November 4-24.  An adult was along the Chilcotin River at Farwell Canyon November 25 (Steve Howard, Phil Ranson).  On November 10, a third year SLATY-BACKED GULL was near Harrison Mills at the mouth of the Chehalis River (Denis Knopp).  Now pretty much a regular fixture in the half of Okanagan Lake, Glaucous-winged Gulls were reported frequently in the Kelowna/Vernon area.  A single bird was at the north end of Osoyoos Lake November 23 (Doug Brown).  A Black-legged Kittiwake at Rocky Point on August 12 (David Allinson) provided the first August record for the Victoria area.  Sabine's Gulls were again widespread in the interior, with a high of 5 birds turning up at Williams Lake (Phil Ranson).  Three departing Caspian Terns were at Williams Lake September 16 (Phil Ranson).  A very few Arctic Terns were reported in the interior.  Three were at Swan Lake, Tupper on August 26 (Jamie Fenneman, Mark Phinney). 

CUCKOOS, NIGHTJARS, OWLS, HUMMINGBIRDS, WOODPECKERS

• One of the best birds of the season was a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO discovered at the unlikely location of Bella Coola August 18 (Cathy Koot). 
• A WHIP-POOR-WILL, representing the first record for BC, was found dead at Amphitrite Point November 5 (Bill McIntyre).
• Exceptional were two November reports of swifts.  Guy Monty found a Vaux's Swift on Raines Road, Nanaimo November 21, and Calvin Gehlen observed a Black Swift in Vancouver November 22.  There are very few swift records in BC after September.
• Exceedingly rare on the coast, particularly in fall, a juvenile Calliope Hummingbird was at the Englishman River estuary September 7 (Guy Monty).  Outside the southwestern corner of the province, very few Anna's Hummingbirds were seen.  A very northerly individual was in Smithers November 20 (fide Brenda Mallory), and another Anna's visited Rutland from the end of November well into December (fide Chris Charlesworth).
• In the Oliver area, a female White-headed Woodpecker, first reported from Camp McKinney Road August 8 (Danny Tyson et al.), was still present November 9 (Mike Toochin).

PASSERINES

• A latish Say's Phoebe was at Haynes Point Provincial Park November 23 (Doug Brown).  A juvenile Ash-throated Flycatcher was at Beach Grove Park, Delta on August 26 to October 14 (Viveka Ohman et al.).  Tropical Kingbirds staged their annual invasion of the southwest coast right on time.  Singles were near Ucluelet October 14 & 15 (Brian Slater), Tofino October 16 & 21 (Adrian Dorst), Chesterman Beach October 18 & 19 (Adrian Dorst) and two at Carmanah Point October 27.  The first PHILADELPHIA VIREO ever for the Prince George area turned up at Eaglet Lake on the amazingly late date of November 5 (Sandra Kinsey, Laird Law).  A tardy Cliff Swallow was at Alkali Lake October 21 (Steve Howard, Phil Ranson),  and two were at Reifel Island November 2.  A few Barn Swallows remain in the Lower Mainland into the late fall or early winter.  Three were at Reifel Island November 3.  Much rarer at this time of year on Vancouver Island, two were at Creswell Road, North Saanich on November 14.  Unprecedented though, were reports of individual Barn Swallows in the Prince George area, one near Giscome school November 16 (Sandra Kinsey, Laird Law), and the other (the same bird?) at nearby Eaglet Lake on November 17 (Cathy Antoniazzi).  
• Blue Jays staged a minor invasion of  BC this fall, with sightings made both in the interior and on the coast.  
• Four Mountain Bluebirds at Tofino airport November 25 (Rorie Paterson) were a rare find for the outer coast.  Twenty Townsend's Solitaires tallied along Lakeshore Road, between Kelowna and  Okanagan Mountain Park on November 3 provided quite a high count for this time of year (Hank Vanderpol).  Three Northern Mockingbirds were feeding among American Robins at Cassidy August 3.  A RED-THROATED PIPIT was found in the Vantreight bulb fields, Central Saanich October 17 (Keith Taylor).  This species probably occurs annually along the BC coast.  A tardy American Pipit was in Prince George November 20 (Nancy Krueger).
• Undoubtedly the passerine highlight of the fall was a male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, found dead in downtown Victoria November 16 (Shane Ford).  This is the first record of the species for BC.  Another extreme rarity west of the Rockies, a CONNECTICUT WARBLER, was captured and banded at Revelstoke September 12 (Janice Jarvis).
• Very rare east of the Rockies, a Townsend's Warbler was in a mixed migrant flock west of Rolla  August 26 (Jamie Fenneman, Mark Phinney).  Coastal vagrant Blackpoll Warblers were at Beach Grove Park, Delta September 8, and about 20 km offshore off Ucluelet in the vicinity of LaPerouse Bank September 15.  Scarce in the central interior, a Black-and-white Warbler was spotted amid a mixed songbird flock along the Bowron FSR August 28 (Laird Law, Sandra Kinsey).  
• After the middle of October, very few warblers were reported from anywhere in the province.  A Nashville Warbler was at Williams Lake October 18 (Phil Ranson).  A tardy Yellow Warbler was at Tofino airport October 31 (Adrian Dorst).  The first-year female BLACK- THROATED GREEN WARBLER at College Heights, Prince George on November 16 (Marika Ainley) was not only astoundingly late but also the first for the local checklist area.  Prince George also hosted exceptionally late Wilson's Warblers November 7-20 (Lois Withers, Colleen Kelly, Gaygie Foston).  Another Wilson's was at 104th Street, Delta on November 7.  Interior straggler Yellow-rumped Warblers were in McBride November 5 (Elsie Stanley) and at "Pennask Bay" on Nicola Lake November 11 (Wayne Weber).  Though not as prevalent as usual, Palm Warblers showed up in small numbers on the south coast in the late fall.
• An unusually high count of 60 American Tree Sparrows was made at the north end of Osoyoos Lake November 23 (DBr).  A latish Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow was at McQueen's Slough August 26 (Jamie Fennmean, Mark Phinney).  Swamp Sparrows have continued to put on good fall and winter appearances in recent years.  One was along the Williams Lake shoreline at the end of Sutton Road September 16 (Phil Ranson), and one was at Reifel Island November 2.
• Amazing numbers of Lapland Longspurs turned up near Boundary Bay in early November.  Fifty-four were in corn stubble fields east of 104th Street November 5 & 6, and on November 7-11 an estimated 100-200 were in another corn stubble field east of 96th Street.  Rarely are more than a dozen seen at a time in coastal locales.  Snow Buntings were relatively scarce this fall, with just a few scattered individuals reported.  Eleven were at the Fort Nelson sewage lagoons October 27 (Michael G. Shepard), and 18 were at Sikanni Chief November 20 (Jack Bowling).  A single bird near the mouth of Nile Creek (Nathan Hentze, Jamie Fenneman, Art Morgan) was a rare find for that part of Vancouver Island.
• Unusual on Vancouver Island, a female Rusty Blackbird was in Nanaimo November 27-30 (Guy Monty). The GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Kelowna, first reported in June 2000, was observed throughout the fall.
• A noteworthy flock of 30 House Finches was at Flett Road, Williams Lake November 7 (Phil Ranson).  The fall was excellent for viewing Common Redpolls.  Jack Bowling reported numerous flocks along the Alaska Highway, with approximate totals of 950 birds between miles 335 & 375 on November 22,  and 936 birds between miles 300 & 130 on November 25.  Large numbers were reported even as far south as Richmond, where 150+ were observed on the west dyke November 17 (Prue Spitmann, Bernie Spitmann).