This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Wednesday, January, 3rd. Evening
Update.

The Rare Bird Alert continues for the BLACK-HEADED GULL.

Birders are reminded that Thursday is Birder's Night. Meeting time is 7:30
at York House School Auditorium, 4176 Alexandra St., Vancouver. This
evening's speaker is Martin McNichol reporting on Tern Studies in Canada.
Birders of all levels are welcome.

The feature birds are BLACK-HEADED GULL, and SLATY-BACK GULL.

Species mentioned:

Eared Grebe [White Rock]
Black-crowned Night Heron [Reifel]
Brant [Roberts Bank]
Eurasian Wigeon [Roberts Bank]
Cooper's Hawk [36th & 72nd]
Northern Goshawk [Reifel]
Rough-legged Hawk [36th & 72, Brunswick Point]
Merlin [Reifel]
American Kestrel [Roberts bank]
Gyrfalcon [Vancouver]
Peregrine Falcon [36th & 72nd, Reifel]
Sandhill Crane [Westham Isl.]
Black Oystercatcher [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Willet [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Ruddy Turnstone [White Rock]
Rock Sandpiper [41B St & 33A Ave - Delta]
Western Sandpiper [41B St & 33A Ave - Delta]
BLACK-HEADED GULL [36th & 72nd - Delta]
Herring Gull [Burns Drive]
SLATY-BACKED GULL [Burns Drive]
Western Gull [Burns Drive]
Short-eared Owl [Sardis]
Great Horned Owl [Reifel]
SNOWY OWL [Westham Island]
Barred Owl [Reifel]
Northern Saw-whet Owl [Reifel]
American Pipit [Sardis]
Yellow-rumped Warbler [Iona]
American Tree Sparrow [Mission]
Harris's Sparrow [72nd]
Lapland Longspur [Sardis]
Snow Bunting [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Western Meadowlark [Sea Island, Sardis]

Sightings for Wednesday, January 3rd

The BLACK-HEADED GULL was again observed in fields along 36th Ave. west of
72nd in Delta. The bird is some times difficult to find due to its tendency
to not stay in one location for any great length of time. Persistence will
pay off.

The SLATY-BACKED GULL was reported along Burns Drive in the large gull
roost. Also reported in the roost were 3 WESTERN GULLS, and 42 HERRING
GULLS.

The RUDDY TURNSTONE and EARED GREBE were again seen from the White Rock
Pier.

On Deltaport Way near the 1st overpass was an AMERICAN KESTREL. Out on the
Jetty was a EURASIAN WIDGEON.

At Reifel a BARRED OWL was seen. Just south of the Refuge 3 SANDHILL CRANES
were seen in overflight.

Also seen in overflight was a GYRFALCON in the 900 block of West 58th in
Vancouver.

Two NORTHERN SHRIKE were seen pursuing a Northern Flicker at Elgin Heritage
Park in Surrey.

Tuesday, January 2nd

The BLACK-HEADED GULL was at its 36th Avenue location. Near by on 72nd
south of 36th was the immature HARRIS'S SPARROW.

A female SNOWY OWL was present on Westham Island. The bird was located in a
berry field near the first farmhouse on the left after crossing the Westham
Island Bridge. At Reifel were a GREAT HORNED OWL, BARRED OWL, and a
NORTHERN GOSHAWK.

Reported from the Tsawwassen Jetty were the WILLET, 4 SNOW BUNTINGS and 2
BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS. Between the Jetties were 200+ BRANT.

The SLATY-BACKED GULL and 6 HERRING GULLS were in a large gull flock off
Burns Drive.

A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was reported from Sea Island and a YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER was on the path between the inner & outer ponds at Iona.

Monday, January 1st

In fields near Branford Rd. & Prairie Central in Sardis were 30 LAPLAND
LONGSPURS, an AMERICAN PIPIT, 9 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS.

The BLACK-HEADED GULL was reported from the fields along 36th Avenue west of
72nd in Delta. Seen general area were a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, PEREGRINE and a
COOPER'S HAWK.

Birds reported from Reifel were: GREAT HORNED & NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 2
NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, a PEREGRINE, and a
MERLIN.

A ROCK SANDPIPER was seen with a WESTERN SANDPIPER & 500+ DUNLIN in a field
near the intersection of 41B St. & 33A Ave.

The WILLET & 4 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the Tsawwassen Jetty. Three
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were observed in the Brunswick Point area.

A RUDDY TURNSTONE and an EARED GREBE were observed from the White Rock Pier.

Out of town, 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen at the foot of Nelson in
Mission.

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

END TRANSCRIPT

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