This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000: Evening
Update.

Species mentioned:

Eared Grebe [White Rock]
Northern Goshawk [Reifel, Whistler]
Sandhill Crane [Westham Isl.]
Ruddy Turnstone [White Rock]
Western Gull [Whistler]
Band-tailed Pigeon [Whistler]
Great Horned Owl [Maplewood CA]
Northern Pygmy-Owl [Maplewood CA]
Northern Hawk Owl [Whistler]
Ash-throated Flycatcher [Reifel]
Townsend's Solitaire [Abbotsford]
Yellow-rumped Warbler [Reifel]
Savannah Sparrow [Reifel, Chilliwack]
Lincoln's Sparrow [Reifel]

The feature birds are RUDDY TURNSTONE and TOWNSEND'S WARBLER.

Sightings for Wednesday, Dec. 20:

At the end of the White Rock Pier a RUDDY TURNSTONE spent the entire day.

In Abbotsford a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was found coming to a feeder.

There was no relocation of the immature ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at the
Reifel Refuge today. However in the field behind the washrooms at the
Refuge 2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS and 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW were located.

At Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver a GREAT HORNED OWL and a
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL were found in the woodlot on the west side
of the Sanctuary.

Tuesday, Dec. 19:

The immature ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was relocated in the morning and spent
most of the day in the hedgerow behind the washrooms at the Reifel Refuge.
Also seen here was an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. On
Westham Island 3 SANDHILL CRANES were also reported.

At the White Rock Pier 2 EARED GREBES and 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES were
reported from the end of the walkway.

Out of town the Whistler Christmas Bird Count was held this weekend.
Highlights include: 1 NORTHERN HAWK-OWL, 1 WESTERN GULL, 1 BAND-TAILED
PIGEON and 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK. A total of 48 species were tallied on the
count.

Monday, Dec. 18:

In Mission a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was found in a feed lot. If you wish to view
this bird please call Murr at 604 826-9522.

Nearby in Chilliwack in a large field at Banford Rd. and Prairie Central Rd.
the following species were seen: 18 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, 5 HORNED LARK, 2
AMERICAN PIPITS, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 40 SAVANNAH
SPARROWS and 2 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.

END TRANSCRIPT

To report a sighting to the Bird Alert, call (604) 737-3074. Visit the
Vancouver Natural History Society's website at: www.naturalhistory.bc.ca.