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SPRING 2004 15 Fifth Report of the Alberta Bird Record Committee BY ANDREW SLATER AND JOCELYN HUDON The Alberta Bird Record Committee (ABRC) continues to adjudicate provincial records of rare birds and to maintain the Official List of Birds of Alberta. With this report, the RECORDS ACCEPTED - near Taber; 17 May 1993; article in Tricolored Heron (Egretta Alberta Naturalist 25(1): 12 (1993) provincial list reaches a tricolor) near Bashaw; 22 May (Lloyd Bennett). Code 3 record; major milestone. The 1981; reported in American the ABRC was not satisfied that the Birds 35: 834-837 (1981) photo which accompanied the addition of three species (Bernard Gollop) with black article was of this individual. (Eurasian Collared- and white photograph (Rudi Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) near Butot). Code 1 record. Dove, Siberian Accentor Crossfield; 15 May 2001; Green Heron (Butorides photographs and description (M. and Hermit Warbler) to virescens) at Frank Lake; 26 Ross Lein and Valerie A. Haines). the Official List pushes May 2001; description (Dave Code 1 record. Gibson, Ian Halladay and Don the species total past the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris Magnusson). Code 3 record. acuminata) at Langdon 400 mark. -in Fish Creek Provincial Park, Reservoir; 30 September 2001; Calgary; 5-9 August 2002; photograph (Bill Walker), four Since publication of the photograph (Bill Walker) and descriptions (Mike Mulligan, Phil fourth report of the ABRC description (Brian and Nancy Cram, Alan Fishkin, M. Ross Lein Ritchie). Code 1 record. (Slater and Hudon 2002), the and Valerie A. Haines). Code 1 ABRC has reached a decision Garganey (Anas querquedula) record. on the following records. near Strathmore; 12-15 June Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius Rejection of a record by the 1982; description (Moray J. longicaudus) at Pine Lake, Wood ABRC does not necessarily Lewis). Code 3 record. imply that the species did not Buffalo National Park; 8 June - near Taber; 6-28 May 1990; occur at the reported time 2002; four photographs and article in Alberta Bird Atlas and place, only that the description (Paul Jones). Code 1 Newsletter 5(1): 3-4 (1991) and documentation or record. Alberta Naturalist 25(1): 12 circumstances of the (1993) (Lloyd Bennett), two Little Gull (Larus minutus) at observation were judged descriptions (Ross D. Dickson, Hastings Lake; 13-14 September inadequate for the ABRC to Doug Collister). Code 2 record. 1998; description (Brian Ritchie). endorse occurrence in the Code 3 record. province. -in Winagami Lake Provincial Park; 15 May 1992; description - near Irricana; 4-10 May 2002; three with sketch (John B. and Marion photographs (Bill Walker), two descriptions, (Andrew Slater, Brian E. Steeves). Code 3 record. Ritchie). Code 1 record. 16 NatureAlberta - near Cold Lake; 30-31 August Barn Owl (Tyto alba) near Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2002; five images captured from Bashaw; mid-December 1999- (Poecile rufescens) along video and brief description (Richard Klauke). Code 1 record. early January 2000; article in Alderson Lake Trail, Waterton Blue Jay 59(3): 122-3 (2001) Lakes National Park; 8 October Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (Lisa Takats and Gordon Court) 1984; description (Robert W. at Inglewood Golf Course, with photograph (Jim Storms and K. M. Mleziva). Code Calgary; 9 November 1996; Whitehouse). Code 1 record. 3 record. description with sketch (Michael - in Bowness Park, Calgary; 22 Harrison). Code 3 record. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) near Cremona; 20 April 1988; description with -at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, August-27 September 1990; two sketch (John W. Thompson). Calgary; 9 May 2000; description Code 4 record. (M. Ross Lein and Valerie A. descriptions (Ross D. Dickson, Haines). Code 3 record. Doug Collister). Code 2 record. - in Waterton Lakes National - near Turner Valley; 20 August-7 Park; 27 February 1999; two Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus October 1991; description (Ross photographs (Randal fuscus), Inglewood Bird D. Dickson). Code 3 record. Hoscheit). Code 1 record. Sanctuary; 23 August-20 -in Calgary; 14 September 1995; September 2001; two Western Bluebird (Sialia description with sketch (John mexicana) nesting near Turner photographs with description Riddell). Code 3 record. Valley (two pairs); 30 March-27 (M. Ross Lein and Valerie A. -in Lethbridge; mid-September-30 Haines). Code 1 record. June 1984; illustrated article in October 2002; several Alberta Naturalist 14(3): 97-98 photographs (Teresa and Doug Eurasian Collared-Dove (1984) (Dave Elphinstone, Ena (Streptopelia decaocto) in Red Dolman, Lloyd Bennett), description with sketch (Teresa Spalding and John Bargman). Deer; June-July 2002; VHS video and Doug Dolman). Code 1 Code 1 record. with vocalizations, several record. -at Saskatchewan Crossing in Banff photographs and brief National Park; 10-12 July 1991; description (David Prescott). Red-breasted Sapsucker description (Ross D. Dickson). First documented occurrence (Sphyrapicus ruber) at Alliance; Code 3 record. in the province. Code 1 May 2000; two photographs and -at Rafter Six Ranch near Exshaw; record. colour sketches (Norm 2-20 June 1992; two descriptions - near Beaverhill Lake; 23 Johnston), courtesy of Wildbird (Ross D.Dickson, Ray M. September 2002; description (Fred General Store, Edmonton. Code Wershler). Code 2 record. Whiley and Betty Rogers). Code 3 1 record. record. THE CODE DEFINITIONS REPORTED HERE ARE: ACCEPTED, CODE 1. Records ACCEPTED, CODE 2. Sight ACCEPTED, CODE 3. Sight records by supported by material evidence, records (without supporting single observers that are supported by a i.e. specimens, identifiable body material evidence) by multiple written description that leaves no doubt parts, identifiable photographs observers that are supported by as to species identity, and which receive or sound recordings, whose written descriptions that leave five favourable votes and no dissenting origin from within the borders of no doubt as to the species vote. A Code 3 is the minimum for Alberta is in no doubt, that are identity. A Code 1 or 2 sighting inclusion in the official provincial list. accompanied by written reports must receive four favourable ACCEPTED, CODE 4. Sight records by of the circumstances of the votes and no more than one single observers that receive four observation. dissenting vote to be accepted. favourable votes and no more than one SPRING 2004 17 Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes Black-throated Sparrow Temmink’s Stint (Calidris montanus) near Keoma; 19 May (Amphispiza bilineata) in Jasper, temminckii) at Wyndham- 1986; description (Bill Wilson, Jasper National Park; 30-31 Carseland Provincial Park; 8 Kenneth Parker). Code 3 record. August 1993; photograph (Gloria October 1990; description with Martin), courtesy of Wildbird sketches (John B. Steeves and -at Buffalo Prairie, Jasper National Marion E. Steeves). The ABRC Park; 11 May 1995; field notes and General Store. This becomes written description (Gordon the first documented felt that, though the evidence Ruddy, Roy Richards). Code 2 occurrence in the province. was very suggestive, the record. Code 1 record. description provided did not - near Brooks; 16 June 1999; rule out other species, photograph and brief description RECORDS INSUFFICIENTLY particularly Least Sandpiper (C. (Bill Walker). Code 1 record. DOCUMENTED. minutilla). Siberian Accentor (Prunella Garganey (Anas querquedula) Black-chinned Hummingbird montanella) in Calgary; 20 near Taber; 25 July 1991; brief (Archilochus alexandri) in March-5 April 2002; two description in article in Alberta Priddis Greens; 26-27 July 1995; photographs (Walter Zwick). Naturalist 25(1): 12 (1993) description with sketch First documented occurrence (Lloyd Bennett). The ABRC felt (Lorraine Smith). The ABRC felt in the province. Code 1 record. that the documentation did not that Ruby-throated eliminate other duck species in Hummingbird (A. colubris) was Hermit Warbler (Dendroica eclipse plumage. not eliminated by the evidence. occidentalis) by Tawayik Lake, Elk Island National Park; 15 May Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte 2002; description (Martin Sharp fulva) at Namaka Lake; 20 anna) at Highwood House, and Peter Nienow). First September 1992; description Kananaskis Country; 19-23 June documented occurrence in (John B. Steeves). The ABRC felt 1994; written description (Terry the province. Code 3 record. that American Golden-Plover (P. Korolyk). The ABRC felt that dominica) was not eliminated by more common species were not Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo the evidence. eliminated by the evidence and chlorurus) in Lethbridge; 17 June - near Dalroy; 22 May 1997; that the date of the sighting was 1993; two descriptions (Randy A. description (John B. Steeves). The out of season for expected Nystrom, Ross Munro). Code 2 ABRC again felt that American occurrences of this species in record. Golden-Plover was not eliminated. the province. dissenting vote. For record adjudication detailed enough to eliminate all ERROR IN IDENTIFICATION. Records purposes, such a record is acceptable, other possibilities, or to support that are not supported by the but does not pass the more stringent conclusively the identification of documentation available to the requirements for inclusion on the the species as presented. committee, or that describe official provincial list. A list of species Placement in this category should another species from that that have no higher than a Code 4 in no way be interpreted as a suggested. record may be published as an reflection on the veracity of the QUESTIONABLE