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Post by birder1942 on Nov 14, 2007 16:46:22 GMT -8
I checked the Matsqui Flats for a couple of hours this Wednesday afternoon and sorted through what few gull flocks there were, but no Ivory. There were a few birders out but they had not seen it either. I don't know of any reports from this morning. The large flock of mostly Cackling Geese was still there and mixed in were some Canadas, 3 GW Fronted and a Snow Goose. Nearby were about 60 Swans mostly Trumpeters but also a couple of Tundra. A walk round Willband found a family of 5 Tundra Swans (2 adults and 3 young birds); many of the following: Mallard, N. Pintail, Am. Widgeon, A. Coot, GW Teal, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Canada Geese, Lesser Scaup; a few N. Shovellers, Rudy Ducks, Bufflehead; and over 60 DC Cormorants. Good birding, John Vooys
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Post by Gord on Nov 14, 2007 16:58:20 GMT -8
I was out and about in the area around midday but have the same to share as John did.
Things of note in addition to John's report were a Northern Shrike and five Brown-headed Cowbirds in a huge flock of starlings and blackbirds.
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Post by Gord on Nov 14, 2007 23:24:36 GMT -8
Forgot to mention it was good to see you Stan! Glad you got to see the Slaty-backed Gull.
Also of note were the birders I saw when there. A few Washington plates were cruising around, (enjoyed visiting with one briefly) and there was also one from Alberta stuck on a car that looks like it had recently made a dash over the Rockies. I sure hope he finds what he's looking for!
This might be premature considering it's just been a day of not being located, but it might be worthwhile expanding the search a little bit. I thought that there was a marked decrease in the numbers of gulls in the area today. Mew Gulls were certainly not as plentiful. I seem to notice that as we get into winter, the numbers of Mew Gulls drop. I assume they more to the coast or perhaps a little south. Maybe, if this is true, they are bringing the Ivory along!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2007 19:28:36 GMT -8
We spent most of today in Yarrow (yes, I missed the Eagle Festival, but this was a prior commitment). So I sneaked off for 1.5 hrs to check for gulls between the Vedder Canal and Evans Rd.
I found gull flocks at several locations but the only species I saw were Mew and Glaucous-winged. However, I couldn't get clear views in some cases, I only had time for a quick scan of each flock, and I ran out of time before I finished coveringl the area, so I can't rule out the possibility that the Ivory Gull might have moved east.
Locations of fields with gull flocks included: Yale Rd west of Lickman Rd Evans Rd at Sumas Central Rd Lickman Rd just north of South Sumas Rd Adams Rd west of Lickman Rd (several fields) East side of Blackburn Rd north of Keith Wilson Rd (poorly visible) Sinclair Rd between Sumas Prairie Rd and Blackburn Rd (large flocks swirling in the air near the heronry)
Let's hope someone turns it up somewhere.
Stan
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Post by Dave on Nov 17, 2007 19:37:57 GMT -8
I had some time later this afternoon as well and went out looking through gull flocks, but no Slaty-backed or Ivory.
I searched the following:
Small flock at SW corner of Prest/Chwk Central Huge Flock at NW corner of Banford/Prairie Central Various Flocks along Banford from Hwy 1 to the mountain. Large Flocks on either side of Gibson between Prairie Central and the Highway.
Herring. Mew. Glaucous-winged.
Couldn't even find a Western!
Dave
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Post by Gord on Nov 17, 2007 23:02:32 GMT -8
Good to hear the flocks are getting checked over well and regularly. Things certainly change daily on what's seen out there. I think they move around a fair bit. Combine this with the fact that at any given time some of the gull flocks are far away from any vantage point that one can ID to species makes it very worthwhile to check back frequently to catch them closer to the road.
A lot of Mew Gull flocks in west Chilliwack. That's where Id watch for the Ivory. Hardly any big gulls out this way the last couple days.
I havnt seen any Western's either lately aside from a few 'close but not quite' ones. They started strongly too!
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