This is the Vancouver, BC Bird Alert for Wednesday February 09th, 10 pm
update.
Highlights Include:

BARN SWALLOW
COMMON REDPOLL
SLATY-BACKED GULL

Other Species Noted:
Western Gull
Black-crowned Night Heron
Great-horned Owl
Merlin
Glaucous Gull
Arctic Loon
Pine Grosbeak
Marbled Godwit
Crested Mynah
American Tree Sparrow
Northern Goshawk
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Mockingbird
King Eider
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Red Crossbill
Iceland Gull
Snowy Owl
Short-eared Owl
Eurasian Wigeon
Northern Shrike
Black Oystercatcher
Peregrine Falcon
Barn Owl
Snowbunting
============================================

Sightings for Wednesday, February 09th
At Reifel today, a flock of about a dozen BARN SWALLOWS were again seen in
the display, or central pond area. Also in this area was a flock of over 50
COMMONREDPOLLS. Other species of note from the refuge today were, an
immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK, a SAW-WHET OWL, and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON.

In other sightings today a winter plumaged SLATY-BACKED GULL was again seen
in the company of other gulls including 1 adult WESTERN GULL in the fields
at the far west end of Burn's Dive at Delta.


Sightings for Tuesday, February 08th
At Reifel today the 12 swallows were confirmed as BARN SWALLOWS, they are
present in the display ponds area. Also in this area the 50 COMMON REDPOLS
were again seen. Other sightings from refuge included 1 AMERICAN TREE
SPARROW, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS.

Monday, February 07th
At Reifel today a flock of 45-50 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen in the display,
or central pond area of birch trees. Also seen here today was an
unconfirmed report of 12 swallows believed to be BARN SWALLOWS.
Confirmation is requested as this would be over a month early for this
species.
At Deas Island Park a pair of GREAT-HORNED OWLS were seen while in Richmond
west dyke a MERLIN was seen eating what was probably a COMMON REDPOLL.

Sunday, February 06th
An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was found today with other gulls at Hwy 10 and 88th
Street.
The 25 COMMON REDPOLLS were again seen along the Richmond west dyke in birch
trees bordering the Quilchena Golf Course. This area can be best accessed
either by the west-end of Blundell Road or the Westminster Hwy. Also seen
here was a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a BARN OWL.
Along the Boundary Bay dyke between 64th Street and 72nd Street were 2
SHORT-EARED OWLS.

Saturday, February 05th
The ARCTIC LOON was again seen in south east Washington on the Columbia
River from the Priest Rapids Wildlife Area, also seen here was a NORTHERN
MOCKINGBIRD. The journey from Vancouver to the bird is about 4.5 hrs. To
get to the Priest Rapids Wildlife Area, take interstate 5 to Seattle, exit
on 405 at the connector that bypasses Seattle until you come to interstate
Hwy 90. Go east for about 2 hrs. till you come to the small town of Vantage
where you cross over the Columbia River. Just after you cross over the
river you'll come to the first road on your right, take that right for
approximately 2 minutes then exit again, which will be to the right, on
interstate Hwy 243. Travel on this road south for 20 minutes and you'll
come to a road called SW26 (this will be on your right hand side), turn
right and follow this road which leads to the wildlife viewing area. The
bird is sometimes distant so a telescope is essential to obtain good views,
though it is in the area and it has been in the area for about 3-4 weeks.
Local Sightings, a trip up Cypress Bowl produced 2 PINE GROSBEAKS, a couple
of RED CROSSBILLS and a RED-BRESTED SAPSUCKER.
Twenty five COMMON REDPOLLS were found today on the Richmond west Dyke at
the end of Blundell Road. Go 200 metres north to the end of Blundell where
the trees of the Quilchena Golf Course border the dyke, and search. Also in
the area were a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a SHORT-EARED OWL. At Sea Island along
the dyke east of the south end of the causeway was an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW.
At Reifel there was NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK
reported. Along the east dyke trail was an AMERICAN TREE SPAROW. On the
Boundary Bay dyke between 64th Street and 72nd Street were 2 SHORT-EARED
OWLS while the base 112th Street on the west side on the foreshore was a
MARBLED GODWIT.
At the base of the Tsawwassen ferry jetty was the WILLET and 7 SNOWBUNTINGS
Those wishing to see CRESTED MYNAHS should look at 2nd and Wylie in
Vancouver where two birds were reported throughout the day today.

Friday, February 04th
An out of town ARCTIC LOON was again seen in southeast Washington at the
Priest Rapids wildlife area on the Columbia River. The journey for the bird
is about 4.5 hrs from Vancouver. For detailed directions to find this bird
call the Washington Birdbox at (425) 454-2662.
Four COMMON REDPOLLS were found at 2 pm at the end of Blundell Road in
Richmond near the Quilchena Golf Course at the beginning of the Richmond
west dyke.
A walk down the Boundary Bay dyke from 64th Street to 72nd produced 10
SHORT-EARED OWLS and 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE. Nearby at the Boundary Bay airport
1 PEREGRINE FALCON.
>From Pitt Meadows came a report of 1 male EURASIAN WIGEON with AMERICAN
WIGEON and 6 RED CROSSBILLS.


Thursday, February 03rd
In a late report, the immature male KING EIDER was again reported from the
Sunshine Coast near Sechelt. This time from the end of Jack Road. The
first year ICELAND GULL was found at 2 pm this afternoon at the Iona Island
sewage treatment plant. The bird was on the domed roof of the plant with
other gulls. It was last seen flying east at 2:40 pm. Look for it, on the
inner ponds, the Fraser River log pilings or on the roof of the sewage
treatment plant with other gulls.
Also today the SLATY-BACKED GULL was relocated in the morning in the field
on Burns Drive, which is just north of Hwy 10 and Hwy 99 interchange.

Wednesday, February 02nd
In a late report an immature SNOWY OWL was found on the foreshore of 112th
street at 1:30 pm. Also in a late report, there were 7 SNOWBUNTINGS and 2
BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS observed on the south side of the base of the
Tsawwassen ferry jetty.
Two SLATY-BACKED GULLS, both adults, were located with large numbers of
gulls in fields on the north side of Burn's Drive just north of Hwy 10 and
Hwy 99 interchange.
Also seen on Wednesday 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were observed on the west
Vancouver foreshore at the foot of 17th Street.

END TRANSCRIPT
Please visit the Vancouver Natural History Society's (VNHS) Web Page at
http://www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/ for birding area locations mentioned
and other events.