Hello all,

Today, Feb 14 I headed out to look for the chipping sparrow that has been reported over the last few days at Farm Mound Park. I arrived to find out that the chipping sparrow was seen about 15 minutes prior to my arrival. Attempts to relocate it had failed but this area was overloaded with all kinds of sparrows. All of our common species were represented as well as two LINCOLN’S SPARROWS and a beautiful adult WHITE-THROATED SPARROW which I really enjoyed seeing, despite it being quite distant it was a really gorgeous bird with a bright crown and yellow lores. On the way back I also got a BELTED KINGFISHER.

Good Birding,
Ilya

I'm envious! Three birds right there that would be new for my list! We cancelled our birding plans this morning because of rain, but we may try tomorrow. Were there lots & lots of people there (read, "over-populated with bird-watchers") or was it quiet and relaxing? Chippies used to be common in Vancouver in the spring; should be pretty easy to find if he's there. I wonder if there is only one; they like company.

-- Look for CHIPPING SPARROWS as though you were looking for YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, at least in their LOWER favourite haunts. The two species hang out together; like the same habitat. Chippies (and Yellow-rumped Warblers) are often seen in small conifer trees, say, only 10 feet tall or so, well separated from other such trees--as on a lawn or in a clearing.

I'm working on a few long bird lists I may print out. One is the Sibley-Monroe list of the birds of the world. Another is the most recent AOU list. Any reference is likely to have a fairly short lifespan, as information is changing fast. What do you prefer as your favourite sources? Do you rely more on the web or on books?

--I may also put out a new printing of CARSON'S EASY CHECKLIST for Vancouver (and B. C.) Birds. If so, it will take me another month. I've produced quite a number of them in the past. I use them myself, because I like having every single species on one side of one page when the list is spread out. Accidentals have to be added, but one whole side allows for notes, and I find that the list accommodates pretty well everything "normal" a person is likely to see. The same list works for BC on that basis. They're not as detailed as some other lists, but they cost less--I can sell them for "a loonie a list" and still pay for my laser printing and paper (not for the time it takes, but that's okay). So, I might have more to say about that in awhile....

Edit: I thought your BELTED KINGFISHER wuz unfair! But, as luck would have it, we were walking uptown beside Coal Harbour about 3:15, when, silently, a nice blue kingfisher flew along the seawall beside us, toward Canada Place! Excellent! A gift from Cosmos, on a day when I wasn't birding at all! So: February, 103; and for the Year, 110! Oh boy!!