British Columbia

une started unsettled and cool, but this changed by the third week of the month, as high pressure built in over the Region.There were occasional showers and thundershowers during the period, but precipitation deftfits occurred over large areas, and temperatures were above normal everywhere.It was frequently breezy in many areas, ineluding the coast.These winds were likely the trigger for a significant algol bloom off the west coast of Vancouver Island.Lesser Nighthawk was recorded in the province for the first time ever--with two photographic records during the period.SWANS THROUGH SHOREBIRDS Accidenta] in summer in the s.interior, a Trumpeter Swan was on Vaseux L. 26 Jul (RuC).The only Yeflow-billed Loon reported involved a single on Tameka L. 13 Jun (CD).Two Clark's Grebes were off Haynes Pt. in Osoyoos 24Jun (RuC); this species is known to breed farther n., in Salmon Arm. Brown Pelicans continued their northward flight that began in spring, with many more birds involved.As usual, most reports came from the outer coast: 32 birds at Cleland I. 2 Jun (RP); 35 at Long Beach 7 Jun (AD); 50 at Plover Reef 7 Jun (MM); and 30 at Vargas L 17 Jun (GA).The northward movement of pelicans ended in Jul, with only two reports: 18 off Carmanah Pt. 14Jul 0E); and one at Cleland 29 Jul (RP).Most of these pelican records were gratefully received from the Strawberry Island Research Foundation, based in Torino.A Double-crested Cormorant was seen 14Jun in Salmon Arm (AB, DM), where casual.Talk about a wonderful addition to a yard list: an ad.male Magnificent Frigatebird was soaring over Sooke with Turkey Vultures 27 Jun ($RTo)--likely a first confirmed record for the Victoria area and only the 9th provincial record.Swainson's Hawks were well n. of usual areas, with 3 e. of Dease L. in mid-Jun (GLM).Accidental in Jun, especially in the s.interior, a Rough-legged Hawk was near Anarchist Summit, Osoyoos 6 Jun (ph.Bob McKay).A late push for Semipalmated Plovers furnished Jun records for Chesterman Beach, where 11 were present 5-6 Jun (AD), plus 2 in the Highland Valley near Karnloops 3 Jun (RH, CC).A pair of Black-necked Stilts was seen mating just n. of Osoyoos in a flooded field 21 Jun (RuC); these birds were later thought to be incubating.There was one prior failed nesting attempt in the Okanagan in 2001 at Alki L., Kelowna.Whimbrels are often found lingering along the outer coast in early Jun, but this season, they remained longer and in larger numbers, almost to the point of over-S fi During a pelagic trip off the west coast of Van-/-•couver I., a photographer was taking shots of pelagic birds when a strange brown bird came bobbing along.The bird was photographed and thought to be a Common Nighthawk.Upon posting photographs to the Internet, observers began to wonder if indeed this was the correct identification.After some scrutiny, the bird was identified as a first-summer male Lesser Nighthawk a provincial first!This individual was 80 km offshore 5 Jun (ph MY).Then oddly enough, birders discovered a freshly dead nighthawk, photographed it, and--vollfi!--anotherLesser Nighthawk!This latter individual was found dead at Iona S.T.P. 30 Jun (IP, ph.PC) and was subsequently donated to the Cowan Verte-Just weeks after a live Lesser Nighthawk was found 80 km off the British Columbia coast, a second one for the province was discovered dead at Iona Sewage Treatment Plant 30 June 2006 (here).There is one previous record for Canada of the species, from Point Pelee in 1974.Photograph by Peter Condido.brate Museum at the University of British Columbia.One can only wonder how many birds were involved in this northward push.There is a previous Canadian record, of a female from Point Pelee N.P, 29 Apr 1974 (fide Alan t•brmington).lapping with southbound birds, with 12 present as late as 21 Jun (AD).An ad.Little Stint in worn alternate plumage was discovered at Iona S.T.P 19-21 Jul ($TP, $MT, m.ob.); it furnished a 13th provincial record.Rare in the province away from the Peace R. area, an ad.White-rumped Sandpiper was at Boundary Bay 2 Jul (IP et al.) JAEGERS THROUH FINCHES Three Long-tailed Jaegers inland on Atlin L. 4 Jul (MC) were most unusual.Fmnklin's Gulls occasionally wander as far as the coast, usually in autumn; 2 were early at White Rock Beach 1 Jul (IP).Sabines Gulls, although regular in the fall in the interior, are rare spring vagrants; an ad. in Salmon Arm 14 Jun (AB, DM) was most unexpected there.Horned Puffins are very rarely encountered away from the few suspected nesting sites on the outer coast, and a single at Clefand I. 4-6 Jul (RCh, MM) was well s. of usual areas.Single Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to appear along the coast: in Gibson's 1 Jun (GP, LP), and at Iona 11 Jul (MT)--a bird that landed on the mud among the shorebirds!Casual in the province, a White-winged Dove visited a Casdegar feeder 23-25 Jun (ph.vJ), a 10th provincial record.Also casual in the province, a Black-billed Cuckoo was at the Corn Creek Marsh, Creston 20Jun (MAB et al.).A Barn Owl feather was retrieved from a swallow nestbox on Anarchist Mt., indicating the Barn Owl may well have been at the high elevation of 1200 m (RJC).Snowy Owls lingered very late, with 2 in the Knutsford area s. of Karoloops in early Jun (fide RH).Evidence of Northern Hawk Owls breeding in Kootenay N.P came with the observation of 2 ads.and 4 young together 29 Jun (*DN,VH).Alder Flycatchers are thought to be very rare along the coast, but one was audio-taped near Surrey L_ 14-15 Jun (v.r., RF, CG).Furnishing a first for the Okanagan, a Black Phoebe was in Osoyoos 4 Jul (DB), while an Eastern Phoebe, rare away from the Peace R., was at Surrey L. 15-19 Jun (ph.CG, IP et al.).Rare in the Lower Mainland, a Rock Wren was at Pit L. 4 Jun (MT).The only report of Northern Mockingbird was of one in Surrey 2 Jun (CG).Sage Thrashers returned to the s.Okanagan, with 3 at White L. 20 Jun (CC et al.) and a vocal male at Chopaka 21 Jun (RuC).A singing male Northern Parula was at Royal Roads University, Victoria 13 Jun (DA), providing the 8th provincial record.This species has been annual in the province since 2002_ Another "eastern" warbler, a male Chestnut-sided Warbler, singing and in full breeding plumage, was at the s.end of Long Beach and observed in pursuit of a Yel-568 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS British

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