This is the VANCOUVER BIRD ALERT for Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, 9:45 p.m.
edition.

Species mentioned:

Trumpeter Swan [Brunswick Point]
Brant [Beach Grove]
Tufted Duck [Iona]
Gyrfalcon [Roberts Bank]
Sandhill Crane [Brunswick Point]
Black-bellied Plover [Roberts bank]
Willet [Tsawwassen Jetty]
BAR-TAILED GODWIT [Roberts Bank]
Rock Sandpiper [Iona]
Dunlin [Roberts Bank]
Parasitic Jaeger [Point Roberts]
Short-eared Owl [Sea Island, Brunswick Point]
Red-breasted Sapsucker [Tynehead Park]
Northern Shrike [Brunswick Point]
Mountain Bluebird [Iona]
Snow Bunting [Iona, Maplewood CA]
Gray-crowned Rosy Finch [Iona]

The Feature Birds are GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH, TUFTED DUCK and MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRD.

The LONG-TAILED DUCK reported yesterday as the first of the season, was not
the first after all. This species has in fact been seen here and there since
mid-October. These will soon become common, so it is not necessary to report
any more of them. If you see a bird that might be the first of the season
for that species, or a late end-of-season straggler, or an out-of-season
bird, please let the Bird Alert know. If you don't know when a species is
expected in this area, it is helpful to consult a Seasonal Status of Birds
list for the Vancouver checklist area. These can be purchased at the monthly
VNHS Birders Night, and at most Wild Birds Unlimited shops.

Sightings Monday, November, 6

The GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH, found yesterday at the base of the Iona south
jetty, spent today on the jetty in the vicinity of the pumphouse. A male
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was also noted; this bird flew toward the North Arm jetty,
and was seen to settle near the large earth mound. A female SNOW BUNTING was
at the south jetty tip. The female TUFTED DUCK was on the Iona Outer Pond. A
SHORT-EARED OWL was on Sea Island, near Ferguson and MacDonald Roads.

There was a report from Burnaby of a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH near Dunblane
Ave. and Imperial.

Sunday, November 5th

The BAR-TAILED GODWIT. The bird was relocated on the mid-morning rising
tide, with large numbers of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and DUNLIN, far off the
south side of the base of the Coalport Jetty. At the same location, at 4 PM,
was a gray morph GYRFALCON, the first of the season.

At Iona, a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH was at the base of the south jetty at 3
PM; at the same time, the first ROCK SANDPIPER of fall was at the south
jetty tip. The female TUFTED DUCK was on the Iona Outer Pond.

A late PARASITIC JAEGER was off Point Roberts.

The WILLET was still at the base of the Tsawwassen ferry jetty, south side.
At Brunswick Point, among other species, were 5 TRUMPETER SWANS, a NORTHERN
SHRIKE, 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS, and 4 SANDHILL CRANES.

Saturday, November 4

A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was in Tynehead Park, north Surrey.

A SNOW BUNTING was at Maplewood Flats, at the edge of the mudflats on the
east side of the park, in late afternoon.

Small numbers of BRANT are being seen at Beach Grove, Tsawwassen.

END TRANSCRIPT

To report a sighting, call the Vancouver Bird Alert at 737-3074. Visit
our website at www.naturalhistory.bc.ca.