This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Wednesday, January 17th. Evening
Update.

The rare bird alert continues HOODED ORIOLE, and out of town WHITE-WINGED
DOVE and possible RED-FACED CORMORANT.

Species mentioned:

Yellow-billed Loon [Mill Bay, V/Isl.]
RED-FACED CORMORANT [Parksville]
Greater White-fronted Goose [Sea Island]
Tufted Duck [Lost Lagoon]
Semipalmated Plover [Blackie Spit]
Black Oystercatcher [Fisherman's Cove, Grebe Islets]
Surfbird [Grebe Islets]
Western Sandpiper [Crescent Beach, Iona]
Glaucous Gull [Iona]
Western Gull [offshore - Iona]
Common Murre [offshore - Iona]
WHITE-WINGED DOVE [Victoria]
SNOWY OWL [Iona]
Northern Pygmy-Owl [Maplewood Conservation Area (CA)]
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL [Washington State]
American Dipper [Langley, Stanley park]
Hermit Thrush [Stanley Park]
VESPER SPARROW [Kilby PP]
HOODED ORIOLE [Richmond]
CASSIN'S FINCH [Chilliwack]

Sightings for Wednesday, January 17

The male HOODED ORIOLE continues at 7620 No. 3 Road. This is the 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 the best location for viewing and
not disturbing the bird is from the small bench on the bricked area as you
enter from Jones. While on the property please respect the privilege granted
to you by the homeowners.

A SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was seen at Blackie Spit. Near by at the foot of
Sullivan in Crescent Beach were 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS.

An AMERICAN DIPPER was located in a small feeder stream of the Nicomecl next
to Stafford High School in Langley.

In Victoria the WHITE-WINGED DOVE continues to be seen coming to a feeder at
#1 Obed. A YELLOW-BILLED LOON has been observed between the Mill Bay Ferry
Terminal and the town of Mill Bay.

In a late report from Sunday, a bird fitting the description of a RED-FACED
CORMORANT was seen north of Parksville at the mouth of French Creek. This
bird has not been positively confirmed but is very possible from the
description. It has not been relocated since Sunday.

Tuesday, January 16

The male HOODED ORIOLE was reported from 7620 No. 3 Road.

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. 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 in the NW section of Maplewood
Conservation Area (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 64 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 large flocks along Elk View, Ryder Lake, Briteside, Hayley, 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 its Jones & No. 3 Rd.
location.

The NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was also reported again near 8699 Stein Road south of
Blaine, Washington.

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.

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