This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Saturday, January 27th. Evening
Update.

Rare bird alert for a BRAMBLING and the BLACK-HEADED GULL.

Species mentioned:

Trumpeter Swan [Delta]
Tundra Swan [Delta]
Greater White-fronted Goose [North Vancouver
Northern Goshawk [Abbotsford, Reifel]
Black Oystercatcher [Stanley Park]
Surfbird [Grebe Islets]
Rock Sandpiper [Stanley Park]
BLACK-HEADED GULL [36th & 72nd]
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL [Delta]
Long-eared Owl [Richmond]
Great Horned Owl [Deas Island RP]
SNOWY OWL [Vancouver Airport]
Northern Pygmy-Owl [Maplewood CA, Chilliwack]
Crested Myna [Wylie & 1st]
Yellow-rumped Warbler [Abbotsford]
Western Meadowlark [Iona]
HOODED ORIOLE [Richmond]
BRAMBLING [1961 Berkley Ave, North Vancouver]

Sightings for Saturday, January 27

The BRAMBLING first reported last Saturday has returned to the backyard of
1961 Berkley Ave. North Vancouver. The homeowners have graciously allowed
birders access to their property via a gate on the right side of the house.
This allows access along the side on the home to view the backyard. The
bird was seen for most of the afternoon on the grass and in the salmonberry
bushes. This bird is extremely skittish and will spook on the slightest
noise. Please respect the homeowner's property.

The BLACK-HEADED GULL was again present on 36th west of 72nd in Delta.

The NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was finally seen by myself and many other on the west
trail at Maplewood CA. The bird was seen in a tree near the fence opposite
the wooden viewing area north of the pond. The bird ranges from here to the
next wooden walkway to the north.

The 5 LONG-EARED OWLS are still present at their roost on the Richmond dike.

Up to 100 SURFBIRDS were seen on the Grebe Islets in West Vancouver.

Friday, January 26

The adult male HOODED ORIOLE is still a frequenting the feeders in the back
yard of 7620 No. 3 RD at Jones. Further details on this location are at the
end of the sightings.

A CRESTED MYNA was seen near Wylie & 2nd in Vancouver.

A TUNDRA SWAN was seen with TRUMPETERS on 68th in Delta.

>From Deas Island RP came a sighting of a GREAT HORNED OWL.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen with Canada Geese on Lower Level Rd.
in North Vancouver. The geese were feeding on the railway tracks adjacent
to the grain elevators.

A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen at 6905 Bradner Rd. in Abbotsford. Also in
CHILLIWACK about 2 km along Elkview Rd. was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL.


Thursday, January 25

A 3rd winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found around 10:00 AM in a field
on Churchill St. just north of the Boundary Bay Airport. Churchill runs
between 72nd & 80th in Delta. The bird was in the field closest to 80th St.
This is a first record for the Vancouver Area.

The NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was seen by many at the Maplewood CA. It is
frequenting the west trail in the stretch north of the pond.

2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were reported, 1 at Reifel and the other from 6905
Bradner Rd. in Abbotsford.

A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was seen on the Iona North Jetty.

A female SNOWY OWL was in the salt marsh near the old runway at the
Vancouver Airport. This is an out of bound area but serves as a heads up
for the Richmond Dike areas.

2 CRESTED MYNAS were seen at Wylie & 1st in Vancouver.

2 ROCK SANDPIPERS were seen with approx. 30 BLACK TURNSTONES between 2nd &
3rd Beaches in Stanley Park.

The male HOODED ORIOLE location at 7620 No. 3 Road 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. 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. The bird lately has been frequenting
the feeder to the rear of the yard. Remember while on the property please
respect the privilege granted to you by the homeowners.

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