This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Tuesday, January 16th. Evening
Update.

The rare bird alert continues HOODED ORIOLE.

Species mentioned:

Brandt's Cormorant [Grebe Islets]
Greater White-fronted Goose [Sea Island]
Tufted Duck [Lost Lagoon]
Rough-legged Hawk [Chilliwack]
Black Oystercatcher [Fisherman's Cove, Grebe Islets]
Willet [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Surfbird [Grebe Islets]
Western Sandpiper [Iona]
BLACK-HEADED GULL [36th & 72nd - Delta]
Glaucous Gull [Iona]
Western Gull [offshore Iona]
WHITE-WINGED DOVE [Victoria]
Short-eared Owl [Chilliwack]
Great Horned Owl [Stanley Park]
SNOWY OWL [Iona]
Northern Saw-whet Owl [Stanley Park]
Northern Pygmy-Owl [Maplewood CA]
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL [Washington State]
American Dipper [Stanley park]
Hermit Thrush [Stanley Park]
American Pipit [Chilliwack]
Savannah Sparrow [Chilliwack]
VESPER SPARROW [Kilby PP]
Lapland Longspur [Chilliwack]
HOODED ORIOLE [Richmond]
CASSIN'S FINCH [Chilliwack]

The feature birds are HOODED ORIOLE, and SNOWY OWL,

Sightings for Tuesday, January 16

The male HOODED ORIOLE was reported from 7620 No. 3 Road. This is a large
yellow house on the corner of No. 3 Rd. & Jones. The homeowners are allowing
birders on to the property via the gate on Jones but due to the nervous
nature of the bird it is suggested that viewing from Jones may increase the
time spent at the feeders by the bird. The feeders are easily viewed from
the roadway on Jones. If on the property please respect the privilege
granted to you by the homeowners.

A SNOWY OWL was observed on the Vancouver Airport foreshore. The bird was
easily viewed from the pump house. Birders should look for this bird along
the Terra Nova dike area as several observers have related that they have
seen the bird hunting in this area over the last few days but had not phoned
the alert of it's presence. Also from the Iona area was a GLAUCOUS GULL
seen on the NE pond at Iona. The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen along
Ferguson Rd. west of McDonald Rd. on Sea Island.

Stanley Park was the location of a HERMIT THRUSH and an AMERICAN DIPPER near
Beaver Creek. The female TUFTED DUCK was again seen on Lost Lagoon.

The NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was present today in the NW section of Maplewood CA
in North Vancouver.

There appears to be mini invasion of CASSIN'S FINCHES in the Chilliwack
area. The area they are being observed in is the Ryder lake Rd. area south
of Hwy #1 east of Prest Rd. A total of 54 birds were seen. To reach this
area follow Hwy #1 to Exit 123, Prest Rd. Travel south to Bailey Rd.
Turning left here will take you to Elk View Rd. The birds were seen in
several flocks of 18 & 39 birds along Elk View, Ryder Lake, Briteside,
Huston, and Extrom Roads. Check out any feeders especially one at the
bottom of the steep hill on Briteside Rd. and another near Briteside &
Shurlaw.

Monday, January 15

The HOODED ORIOLE was seen most of the day at it's Jones & No. 3 Rd.
location.

The NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was also reported again near 8699 Stein Road south of
Blaine, Washington. To find this bird take I-5 to the Birch Bay/Lynden Road
interchange, head east approximately 2.6 km to Stein Road. Turn north onto
Stein Road and proceed to 8699. The bird has been seen perched on the
conifers and down at ground level in the berry field.

This was the first report of the CASSIN'S FINCHES in the Chilliwack, Ryder
Lake area. They reportedly have been in the area since January 11.

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

On a boat trip 3 to 4 km off the Iona North Jetty were large numbers of
COMMON MURRE and a WESTERN GULL. There were 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS on the tip
of the North Jetty. Seventy SURFBIRDS were seen on the Grebe Islets and 41
BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at Fisherman's Cove in West Vancouver.

Sunday, January 14

The BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen in fields along 36th west of 72nd.

Another out of town rarity is a WHITE-WINGED DOVE coming to backyard feeders
at #1 Obed Ave. This is at the intersection of Obed & Harriet in Victoria.

On a boating tour of the Bird & Grebe Islets off the West Vancouver
shoreline were 5 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS, 35 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, and 60 to 70
SURFBIRDS.

The female TUFTED DUCK was reported from Stanley parks Lost lagoon. Also
seen in the park were a GREAT-HORNED OWL, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL.

The WILLET was reported from it's usual location at the base of the
Tsawwassen Jetty.

In a field SE of the intersection of Prairie Central & Banford Rd. near
Chilliwack were 23 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, an AMERICAN PIPIT, 6 SAVANNAH
SPARROWS, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.

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