This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Saturday, December 22nd evening
update.

There were no reported sightings of the IVORY GULL today.

Species noted:

Eared Grebe [Tsawwassen Jetty, White Rock]
Brandt's Cormorant [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Black-crowned Night Heron [Reifel]
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Eurasian Wigeon [Roberts Bank]
Cinnamon Teal [Reifel]
Rough-legged Hawk [64th]
American Kestrel [Delta]
Gyrfalcon [64th]
Black Oystercatcher [West Vancouver, Tsawwassen Jetty, Stanley Park]
Willet [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Red Knot [Delta]
Western Sandpiper [Delta]
Least Sandpiper [Delta]
IVORY GULL [Robert's Bank Jetty]
Western Gull [White Rock]
Heermann's Gull [White Rock]
Crested Myna [Wylie & 2nd Vancouver]
American Pipit [Delta]
Orange-crowned Warbler [64th]
Yellow-rumped Warbler [64th]
Common Yellowthroat [Delta]
Lincoln's Sparrow [Delta]
Swamp Sparrow [Reifel]
Lapland Longspur [Delta]
Pine Grosbeak [Burnaby, Surrey]
Common Redpoll [White Rock, Delta]

Sightings for Saturday, December 22

PINE GROSBEAKS were reported from 2 locations today. One was seen at
Burnaby Mountain Park and another at Elgin Heritage Park in south
Surrey. To find this second bird go to the westernmost parking lot
on Crescent Road, just west of the north end of 136 St., park and
take the gravel path going west from the parking lot. This path
leads to a cattail marsh, crossed by a wooden bridge. The bird was
feeding on Pacific
Crab Apple fruits in trees along the path between the marsh and the
Nicomekl River.

The Roberts Bank Jetty did not have any sightings of the IVORY GULL
today but 25 EURASIAN WIGEON were reported.

The Tsawwassen Jetty to the south yielded the WILLET at the base, an
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK & 2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at the compensation
lagoon and 11 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS & an EARED GREBE near the tip.

In the field NE of 33A Ave. & 34th St. in Delta were 4 LAPLAND
LONGSPURS, 2 AMERICAN PIPITS, 4 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 3 LEAST
SANDPIPERS and a COMMON YELLOW-THROAT. Near the intersection of
River Rd. 34th St. with a flock of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS was a RED
KNOT. At nearby Brunswick Point was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

At the foot of 64th on Boundary Bay was a grey morph GRYFALCON
stealing voles from Northern Harriers. Also at this location were a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, both ORANGE-CROWNED & YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and
a SAVANNAH SPARROW. In the old subdivision along Churchill St. north
of the Boundary Bay Airport were 4 COMMON REDPOLLS.

The HEERMANN'S GULL was again reported near the White Rock Pier.
Also reported from this location were a WESTERN GULL, 2 EARED GREBES
and 24 COMMON REDPOLLS.

Friday, December 21st

The IVORY GULL was seen perched on the tugboat dock at Roberts Bank.
The dock itself is actually an old, somewhat rusty barge connected to
the shore by a catwalk. On the end of this barge is the word "FOAM"
in yellow spray paint. The directions to find the bird are as
follows. Drive down the south side of the Roberts Bank Jetty to the
far end where the road ends in a parking lot where you can park. At
this point you will see the tugboat dock as previously described.
Birders should note that the bird at times is difficult to see due to
its habit of roosting low and close to objects on this dock. It also
goes for walks to areas not visible from shore.

Thursday, December 20th

The IVORY was seen by many on the tugboat dock at Roberts Bank.

Birders heading out to see the Ivory Gull should watch for the
AMERICAN KESTREL hanging out at Deltaport Way & 41B.

Two BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, a SWAMP SPARROW and 8 CINNAMON TEAL
were reported from the Reifel Refuge and in Vancouver near
Wylie & 2nd were 2 CRESTED MYNAS.

The HEERMANN'S GULL was again seen near the base of the White Rock
Pier.

Wednesday, December 19th

The IVORY GULL was reported for most of the day and into the evening
at its Roberts Bank location.

The HEERMANN'S GULL was seen at White Rock.

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

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

END TRANSCRIPT

Visit the Vancouver Natural History Society's website at:
www.naturalhistory.bc.ca