RBA Vancouver, BC - December, 16/99

This is the Vancouver, B.C. Bird Alert for Thursday, December 16, 10:55 pm
update.

The Rare bird alert continues for a HOODED WARBLER.

Featured birds are HOODED WARBLER and PALM WARBLER.

Species Noted:

American Bittern
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Red-tailed Hawk - Harlan's
Rough-legged Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Long-billed Curlew
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Cedar Waxwing
Crested Myna
PALM WARBLER
HOODED WARBLER
American Tree Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Common Redpoll

Sightings for Thursday, December 16

The adult female HOODED WARBLER continues to be seen near the
Gibsons-Sechelt Airfield. This bird has been described as a super skulker
and has been difficult to find and view once located. It is best to arrive
as early as possible in the morning and listen for its call. To locate this
bird travel west from the Langdale Ferry Terminal, 22.1 km on Hwy 101 to
Field Rd at Wilson Creek. Look for a large IGA Store in a shopping mall at
this corner. Turn right onto Field Rd and go approx 2km to the southern
edge of the airport. Continue driving straight ahead on a narrow gravel
road lined with Alder Trees. The bird was originally seen 1/2km up this
rd. on a woodland path approximately 50m to the right. There is garbage
pile beside the road at this location. The bird also has been seen 1/4km
further up the road, on the right hand side and near the airport's chain
link fence.

The PALM WARBLER was again reported from the Sea Island dike near the end
of the old Shannon Road west of MacDonald Beach. Also seen at this
location were 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and closer to the Iona Sea Isand
Causeway were 2 COMMON REDPOLLS. Two more COMMON REDPOLLS were seen at
Iona.

Eight SHORT-EARED OWLS, and a Harland's race RED-TAILED HAWK were observed
on a walk along the Boundary Bay dike between 72nd and 64th. Along 36th
Ave. a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen.

On a shorline survey in the Blackie Spit /Crescent Beach area a LONG-BILLED
CURLEW and a CEDAR WAXWING were notable.

Wednesday, December 15

The HOODED WARBLER was seen for the 4th consecutive day.

Tuesday, December 14

The only report for this date was theHOODED WARBLER.

Monday, December 13

The HOODED WARBLER was observed in the morning near the Gibsons-Sechelt
Airfield.

A CATTLE EGRET was seen from Tamboline Rd. on Westham Isl. near a red barn.

Reifel Refuge reported 2 PEREGRINES and 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS.

Sunday, December 12

This was the discovery date of the HOODED WARBLER near the Gibsons-Sechelt
Airfield.

A PALM WARBLER was seen on the Sea Island dike near the end of the old
Shannon Road west of MacDonald Beach. Also seen at this location were, 2
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, an AMERICAN BITTERN, and 23 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.

Beach Grove Park in Tsawwassen was the location for 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS. A
LONG-EARED OWL was seen on 72nd St. and at the dike at 72nd were 3
SHORT-EARED OWLS.

A BARRED OWL was reported from Deer Lake Park in Burnaby.

Four CRESTED MYNAS were seen on 2nd Ave. a block east of the Cambie St.
Bridge.

END TRANSCRIPT

Visit the VNHS web site at www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS or call the
Vancouver hotline at (604) 737-3074