This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Wednesday, December 19th evening
update.

Rare bird alert continues for the IVORY GULL.

Species noted:

Yellow-billed Loon [Roberts Bank]

Black-crowned Night Heron [Reifel]

Greater White-fronted Goose [Vancouver]

Eurasian Wigeon [Roberts Bank]

Cinnamon Teal [Reifel]

Ring-necked Duck [Surrey]

Surf Scoter [West Vancouver]

American Kestrel [Delta]

Black Oystercatcher [West Vancouver, Tsawwassen Jetty]

IVORY GULL [Robert's Bank Jetty]

Heermann's Gull [White Rock]

Barred Owl [Reifel]

Townsend's Solitaire [Queen Elizabeth Park]

Crested Myna [Wylie & 2nd Vancouver]

Townsend's Warbler [False Creek]

Snow Bunting [Tsawwassen Jetty]

Western Meadowlark [Blackie Spit]


Sightings for Wednesday, December 19th

The IVORY GULL was reported for most of the day and into the evening
at the same location as yesterday. To locate this bird drive west on
Deltaport Way. When the road veers to the left towards the container
terminal, follow the road as it curves around the small bay until it
ends at a large parking lot and a gate. Next to the gate facing the
water is a sign that reads "Deltaport Ship Access Gate". The bird was
just offshore of this sign on a barge containing a large orange crane
with "Fraser River Pile and Dredge" printed on its side. The bird at
times moves around the equipment on the barge and can be out of sight
for extended periods of time. Due to the bright lights of the
facility it is possible to see the bird quite well after sunset.
Yours truly finally saw the bird tonight at 7:30. Birders should be
cautioned that this area is an active industrial site and during the
week has a high concentration of fast moving truck traffic.

Another gull of note, which has been overshadowed of late, is the
HEERMANN?S GULL at White Rock, which was reported today.

On a boat survey around West Vancouver?s Bird & Grebe Islets 70 BLACK
OYSTERCATCHERS and 350 SURFBIRDS were observed.

Tuesday, December 18th

The IVORY GULL was reported for most of the day at its present
location.

Also seen at this location amongst a large raft of AMERICAN WIGEON
were 41 male EURASIAN WIGEON. An AMERICAN KESTREL was sighted near
the intersection of Deltaport Way & 41B.

Sighted on a drive along the Tsawwassen Jetty were 2 SNOW BUNTINGS, 2
BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and the WILLET.

Monday, December 17th

The IVORY GULL was not observed Monday but a possible immature YELLOW-
BILLED LOON was found near the small bay at the far SW corner of the
Roberts Bank Jetty.

Reported from the Reifel Refuge were 14 CINNAMON TEAL, 2 BLACK-
CROWNED NIGHT HERONS and a BARRED OWL.

On the monthly shoreline survey of Mud Bay the only birds of note
were 2 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at Blackie Spit.

24 RING-NECKED DUCKS were observed on a pond found along the
Semiahmoo Trail, which is located south of 32nd & west of 148th in
south Surrey.

Two CRESTED MYNAS were seen at their now usual haunt of Wylie & 2nd
in Vancouver. The alert would appreciate any sightings of CRESTED
MYNAS seen in the Vancouver Area. It is feared the population may be
down to just these 2 birds at this Wylie & 2nd location. On a survey
in February of 2001 only 5 MYNAS could be located on a search of the
Vancouver area and all were not far from the remaining birds locale.

Sunday, December 16th

The IVORY GULL was located in the afternoon at the north west tip of
the Coal Port Jetty.

On the Tsawwassen Jetty 2 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen near its base.

The provisional count total for the Vancouver CBC is 123. The bird
of the day was a TOWNSEND?S WARBLER at False Creek. A TOWNSEND?S
SOLITAIRE was counted at Queen Elizabeth Park and a total of 11
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were tallied in the count area.

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

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