British Columbia Birds
Spring Summary 2003

Compiled by Michael G. Shepard

-Click HERE for the index of observation summaries

• A rather late Pacific Loon was on Okanagan Lake near Pyramid Park May 18 (Roger Foxall), and a Yellow-billed Loon was at the Squamish Estuary May 4 (fide Larry Cowan).  A smattering of interior Double-crested Cormorant reports were received.  One was on the Kootenay River at Fort Steele May 8 (Greg Ross).

• As usual a few Great Egrets turned up in the province.  One was at Acland Pond (Kelowna) May 7-24 (Cathy Jones et al.) and another at Duck Lake (Creston) May 15 (fide Marc-André Beaucher).

• With the global Ross's Goose population apparently on the rise, we seem to be getting more and more observations in BC.  There were numerous sightings in the interior this spring, as well as a few on the coast.  Two birds were at Courtenay  May 5-17 (fide David Allinson).
• During spring migration, Williams Lake tends to be the interior's Eurasian Wigeon capital.  This year was no exception -  Phil Ranson found 9 males at the west end of the lake on April 3.
• A second year male King Eider was at Deep Bay Spit May 6-17 (Dale Whitmee et al.).  A noticeable movement of  Surf Scoters passed through the interior in mid-May.  High counts included 69 birds on Stump Lake (Nicola Valley area) May 11 (Wayne Weber et al.) and 250 on Drummond Lake the same day (Phil Ranson).  30 to 40 Long-tailed Ducks were on Williams Lake May 6 (Phil Ranson).

• At least one White-tailed Kite frequented the Lower Mainland during the last half of a April.  Individuals were reported from Deer Lake, Burnaby, April 14-18  (Istvan Orosi et al.), from Pitt Meadows April 18-21 (Bill McNye, Jennifer Holebrook et al.), and from Chilliwack April 28 (Jason Osterhold).  
• Casual on Vancouver Island, a Prairie Falcon was at Rocky Point April 12 (David Allinson).

SHOREBIRDS

• A SNOWY PLOVER was at the base of the Roberts Bank Jetty April 29 & 30 (John Ireland et al.).
• Black-necked Stilts were scarce this spring.  Two were at Robert Lake, Kelowna April 20 (Brian Peterson), and up to 10 were at Elizabeth Lake Cranbrook in late April.  Boundary Bay's overwintering American Avocet was last reported March 13,  when it was at Beach Grove Lagoon (Richard Swanston).  One bird, possibly the same individual was at nearby Serpentine Fen March 14 (fide Calvin Gehlen).
• Delta's semi-resident Willet was still at the Tsawwassen Jetty April 5 (fide Larry Cowan).  A Wandering Tattler has taken up residence at Ogden Point, having spent the past winter there and remaining until at least June 30 (Michael Shepard).
• A rare spring coastal occurrence of Hudsonian Godwit was noted at Reifel Island May 20-21 (John Ireland et al.).  Unusual in the Kootenay, a Marbled Godwit was at Duck Lake (Creston) April 28.
• A Red-necked Stint in alternate plumage was at Boundary Bay near the foot of 96th Street, Delta on May 15 (Rick Toochin, Jason Osterhold).  Very rare in winter away from the coast, a Dunlin was at the head of Okanagan Lake near Vernon February 13 to March 1 (Bill Cutfield et al.).  Three were there March 23-26 (Don Cecile et al).

• An unseasonable gathering of 700 California Gulls was at Sandy (Tree) Island off Denman Island May 6 (Guy Monty).  A few Iceland Gulls remained into the late winter.  An adult and a first winter bird were at the Delta Landfill March 1 (Rick Toochin), a second winter bird graced the mouth of the Oyster River on Vancouver Island March 4 (Jamie Fenneman), and a first year bird was at Rathtrevor Provincial Park April 1 (Guy Monty).  The herring spawning phenomenon along the east coast of Vancouver Island attracts a great number of gulls each spring.  Among the thousands of more common species, Guy Monty picked out 7 Glaucous Gulls in the Parksville/Qualicum area March 28.
• Very rare in the southern interior, an Arctic Tern was discovered at Swan Lake (Vernon) May 18 (Russell Cannings, Richard Cannings, Ryan Tomlinson, Carlo Giovanella).

• Burrowing Owls made unusual urban appearances this spring.  Up to two adults were at a shopping mall in Maple Ridge March 11 to April 3 (many observers), and one was at another mall in Abbotsford April 4 (many observers).  Yet another individual was along Lickman Road, Chilliwack March 22 to April 5.
• There have been very few reports of Anna's Hummingbirds in the interior over the past few months.  A female was at 3 Gates Farm near Kaleden in mid May (Todd Hunter, Doreen Olson).  As usual a few Calliope Hummingbirds passed through the Lower Mainland and vicinity.  Noteworthy was a male at Gibsons May 5 (Amelie Rousseau).

PASSERINES

• Judging from the goodly number of credible reports over the past few years, it appears that the Dusky Flycatcher could well be a regular spring migrant on the coast.  Several were found on the Lower Mainland and one was photographed at Mt. Tolmie May 13.  What was likely a very early spring migrant, a singing Pacific-slope Flycatcher was in Chilliwack March 3 (Jason Osterhold).
• A bird, thought possibly to be a BLACK-BACKED WAGTAIL was near Brunswick Point April 21 (Rick Toochin, Guy Monty).  The bird was relocated, photographed and identified as that species at Iona Island April 25 (Kiyoshi Takahashi).  
• A singing male NORTHERN PARULA graced Qualicum Beach May 18 (Guy Monty).  There have been only a handful of previous reports for the province.  Of rare but regular occurrence in the province, a male Hermit Warbler was at Burnaby Mountain May 14 (Dan Petersen). 
• On the south coast, Vesper Sparrows were somewhat more widespread than usual.  Most noteworthy were individuals found near Powell River April 15 and May 5 (Neil Hughes).  A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW visit a feeder in Invermere May 3.  In the southern interior, an exceptionally large concentration of 70 Snow Buntings was discovered on the Vernon Commonage March 26 (Chris Charlesworth).  
• Kelowna's GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was last reported May 24 (Chris Charlesworth, Ryan Tomlinson, Connor Charlesworth). 

Click HERE for the index of observation summaries