This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Thursday, Dec. 28 Evening Update.

I would like to thank Rick Toochin for his very capable handling of the Bird
Alert over the past month.

Rare Bird Alert for BLACK-HEADED GULL.

The feature birds are BLACK-HEADED GULL & ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.

Species mentioned:

Arctic Loon [Washington State]
American Bittern [72nd]
Black-crowned Night Heron [Reifel]
Greater White-fronted Goose [Sea Island]
Northern Goshawk [Reifel]
Rough-legged Hawk [Sea Island]
Mountain Plover [Washington State]
Greater Yellowlegs [72nd]
Spotted Sandpiper [Reifel]
BLACK-HEADED GULL [36th & 72nd - Delta]
SLATY-BACKED GULL [Burns Dive - Delta]
Great Horned Owl [Reifel]
Barred Owl [Reifel]
Northern Saw-whet Owl [Reifel]
Ash-throated Flycatcher [Reifel]
Northern Shrike [Sea Island]
Orange-crowned Warbler [Iona]
Yellow-rumped Warbler [Iona]
Harris's Sparrow [72nd & 36th - Delta]
Rusty Blackbird [Westham Is.]

Sightings for Thursday, December 28

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen with MEW GULLS in a field 100 m West of
72nd on 36th in Delta. Observed near the foot of 72nd were a GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, and an AMERICAN BITTERN.

The ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was again reported behind the picnic tables at
the Reifel Refuge. Also reported from Reifel were a GREAT HORNED OWL, 2
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, & 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS.

Birders heading into Washington State over the holiday period should be
aware of an ARCTIC LOON at Pt. No Pt. and a MOUNTAIN PLOVER on the North
Jetty of the Columbia River. For further details on these birds call the
Washington Bird Box at (425) 454-2662.

Wednesday, Dec. 27:

The adult winter plumaged SLATY-BACKED GULL was present with many other
gulls in the fields along Burns Drive and the north end of 96th St in Delta.

At Iona Island an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was discovered in the Ivy Bushes
directly across from the sign-in book. In the Southeast Pond were 6
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

At nearby Sea Island along Ferguson Rd. the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was
seen with many Canada Geese. Also here was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE and a
light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.

At 72nd St and 36th Ave in Boundary Bay was an immature HARRIS' SPARROW
seen with a large flock of White-crowned Sparrows.

The winter plumaged female RUSTY BLACKBIRD was present at midday outside the
Reifel Refuge along Westham Island Rd. and Robertson Rd. with a large mixed
flock of Blackbirds. At the Reifel Refuge both the immature and adult
NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were seen. Also reported was the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
and the BARRED OWL.

Tuesday, Dec. 26:

The adult winter plumaged SLATY-BACKED GULL was present in the fields along
Burns Drive in Delta.

On Westham Island along Westham Island Rd. and the corner of Robertson Rd.
the female RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen again at midday with a large mixed flock
of Blackbirds. At the Reifel Refuge the immature ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
was present, this time on the main entrance road in the morning near the
Coast Guard Access Rd. This is the same area where the BARRED OWL is
located.
Other species at the Refuge include:
1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK-adult
& 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER seen in the ditch and fields along the East Dyke
Trail.

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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