Subject: Vancouver Alert Update
Date: Nov 18 01:56:17 1995
From: Larry Cowan - 102650.3672 at compuserve.com


Tweeters

Just to keep you up todate on happenings on the north side of the border, we had
our first Snowy Owl on Thursday Nov. 16. It was spotted in the s.w. corner of
the Reifel Refuge. Also at the refuge were 6 Black-crowned Night Herons, a
female Redhead & 190 Trumpeter Swans.

If you have not experienced the sight of 2 to 3,000 Snow Geese lifting from a
field in unison when an eagle flys over you have not lived. This is a frequent
sight at Reifel at this time of year when you have a high tide accompanied by
high winds. Most of the geese will leave the foreshore waters and settle in the
surrounding fields. Last year I was out there at this time of year and talked to
a photographer who had been patiently waiting over a half hour for just such a
photo. Being cold he decided to go into the warming hut for a few minutes. He
got warm but missed his shot.

Other birds of note recently were 2 Ross's Geese, also at the Refuge, 2 Tufted
Ducks, 1 at Iona & the other on Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. An American Avocet
dropped in once again at Beach Grove Lagoon in Tsawwassen.

Larry Cowan
Port Coquitlam, B.C. <102650.3672 at compuserve.com>