This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Thursday, January 11th. Evening
Update.

Rare bird alert for a HOODED ORIOLE, BLACK-HEADED GULL and out town NORTHERN
HAWK-OWL.

Species mentioned:

Brandt's Cormorant [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Tundra Swan [River Rd. & 68th]
Brant - Grey-bellied [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Tufted Duck [Lost Lagoon]
Ring-necked Duck [Lost Lagoon]
Steller's Eider (only a possible) [Active Pass]
Gyrfalcon [Harrison Mills]
American Kestrel [Roberts bank]
Black Oystercatcher [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Spotted Sandpiper [Maplewood CA]
Willet [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Western Sandpiper [Blackie Spit]
BLACK-HEADED GULL [36th & 72nd - Delta]
Short-eared Owl [Boundary Bay]
Northern Pygmy-Owl [Maplewood CA]
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL [Washington State]
Townsend's Solitaire [Hemlock Valley]
Bohemian Waxwing [Hemlock Valley]
VESPER SPARROW [Kilby PP]
Swamp Sparrow [Maplewood CA]
Lapland Longspur [Chilliwack]
Snow Bunting [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Western Meadowlark [Blackie Spit]
HOODED ORIOLE [Richmond]

Sightings for Thursday, January 11

A male HOODED ORIOLE was confirmed coming to a Hummingbird feeder in the
back yard of 7620 No. 3 Rd. in Richmond. This is a large yellow house on
the corner of No. 3 Rd. & Jones. The bird has been frequenting the feeder
for several days. According to the homeowners the most likely time to see
the bird is early to mid morning and then again from 2:30 till dusk. The
bird does stay for a time when it comes in to feed. The homeowners have
consented to allow birders to enter the property using the footpath that
leads to the side of the house affording a view of the backyard feeders.
Please stay on the path and bricked area and respect the owner's property.

The NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was observed near 8699 Stein Road south of Blaine,
Washington. It was also seen 1 street away on Deltaline Rd. To find this
bird take I-5 to the Birch Bay/Lyndon Road interchange, head east, and then
turn north onto Stein Road.

The BLACK-HEADED GULL was reported from its' usual location of 36th west of
72nd in Delta.

A total of 7 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen on Boundary Bay from 17A to 72nd.
Forty-seven BRANT of the Grey-bellied Race were seen at Beach Grove.

Out Chilliwack way near the intersection of Prairie Central & Banford Rd.
were 25 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. A light phase GYRFALCON was seen near the
intersection of Kennedy & Hwy 7 in Harrison Mills.

A heads up for birders traveling the ferries to & from the Island. A pair
of birds thought possibly to be STELLER'S EIDER'S were seen in Active Pass
today. They were observed flying north up the coast.

Wednesday, January 10

The BLACK-HEADED GULL was reported from its' usual location of 36th.

The NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was observed near 8699 Stein Road Washington.

The NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was reported from the Maplewood CA's west side.

The VESPER SPARROW was seen near Kilby PP on Kennedy Rd. about 100m south of
Hwy #7.

A trip to the Hemlock Valley Ski area resulted in the sighting of a TOWNSEND
SOLITAIRE and a BOHEMIAN WAXWING.

Closer to home were 20 TUNDRA SWANS with Trumpeters near River Road & 68th.

A female TUFTED DUCK & a RING-NECKED DUCK were observed on Lost Lagoon in
Stanley Park.

Tuesday, January 9

The VESPER SPARROW, seen last month near Kilby PP was relocated.

The NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was reported from the Maplewood CA in North Vancouver
along with a SWAMP SPARROW near the marsh & a SPOTTED SANDPIPER near the
bridge.

Two WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were sighted at Blackie Spit and close by at
Crescent Beach were 3 WESTERN SANDPIPERS.

A BLACK OYSTERCATCHER & 4 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the Tsawwassen Ferry
Jetty.

Monday, January 8

Observed from the Tsawwassen Jetty were the WILLET, 12 BRANT, and 3 BRANDT'
S CORMORANTS. The female AMERICAN KESTREL was reported near the base of the
Roberts Bank Jetty.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen on Sea Island near Ferguson Road.

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