This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Friday, Dec. 29th Evening Update.

Rare Bird Alert for BLACK-HEADED GULL.

The feature birds are BLACK-HEADED GULL & NORTHERN GOSHAWK.

Species mentioned:

Arctic Loon [Washington State]
American Bittern [72nd]
Black-crowned Night Heron [Reifel]
Greater White-fronted Goose [Sea Island]
Eurasian Wigeon [Lost Lagoon]
Northern Goshawk [176 & 24th - Surrey, Reifel]
Rough-legged Hawk [Sea Island]
Mountain Plover [Washington State]
Black Oystercatcher [Ferguson Point]
Greater Yellowlegs [72nd]
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]
Orange-crowned Warbler [Iona]
Yellow-rumped Warbler [Iona]
Harris's Sparrow [72nd & 36th - Delta]
Rusty Blackbird [Westham Is.]

Sightings for Friday, December 29

The adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was observed for most of the day in various
fields in the vicinity of 72nd & 36th Avenue in Delta.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen near 176th & 24th Ave. in south Surrey.

A male EURASIAN WIGEON was sighted on Stanley Park's Lost Lagoon. Near by
at Ferguson Point were 14 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS.

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 located 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 were the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
and the BARRED OWL.

Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert & good birding.

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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