This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Wednesday, January 31st. Evening
Update.

Rare bird alert for the BRAMBLING.

Featured birds are BRAMBLING, GLAUCOUS GULL, & SNOWY OWL.

Several announcements before tonight's update.

After nearly a month of welcoming birders onto their property at 7620 No. 3
Rd. the homeowners are requesting, until further notice, birders view the
HOODED ORIOLE from Jones Rd. Both feeders are easily viewed from this
vantagepoint. On behalf of the birding community I would like to thank the
Lackners for their hospitality over the last 4 weeks. Many birders from
around the Province, Washington State and a few visitors from Ontario have
enjoyed great views of this rare vagrant to B.C.

Birders are reminded that Thursday is Birder's Night. As usual the meeting
starts at 7:30 at York House School, 4176 Alexandra St. in Vancouver. The
school is situated on the NW corner of Granville and 26th. Thursday speaker
is Dave Allinson, president of Vancouver Island's Rocky Point Bird
Observatory. He will be speaking migration monitoring at the Observatory.

Species mentioned: ( * new sightings)

Greater White-fronted Goose [Sea Island, Langley]
Northern Goshawk [Maplewood CA, Reifel]
Black Oystercatcher [Stanley Park, Tsawwassen Jetty, Grebe Islets]
Surfbird [Grebe Islets]
Rock Sandpiper [Iona Jetty, Stanley Park]
*Western Sandpiper [Iona Jetty]
*Long-billed Dowitcher [Iona]
*Glaucous Gull [72nd]
SLATY-BACKED GULL [112th]
Western Gull [Burns Rd.]
Short-eared Owl [72nd]
SNOWY OWL [Vancouver Airport]
Northern Pygmy-Owl [Maplewood CA]
Anna's Hummingbird [West Vancouver]
Townsend's Solitaire [72nd]
Crested Myna [Wylie & 2nd]
*Yellow-rumped Warbler [Iona]
American Tree Sparrow [5300 - 112th]
HOODED ORIOLE [No. 3 Rd. & Jones - Richmond]
BRAMBLING [1961 Berkley Ave, North Vancouver]

Sightings for Wednesday, January 31

The BRAMBLING was again observed in the backyard of 1961 Berkley Ave. North
Vancouver. The homeowners are allowing birders access to their property via
a gate on the right side of the house. This allows access to the backyard.
The bird is being seen on the grass below the feeder on the left side of the
yard.

The SNOWY OWL that has been seen several times on the Airport foreshore near
Iona was again reported on the foreshore just north of the approach lights
that extend into the water. Seen at the SW pond at Iona were a
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER & a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. Seen from the Iona jetty
were a ROCK SANDPIPER, and 5 WESTERN SANDPIPERS. The annual massing of
Scoters is taking place offshore from the end of the Jetty. The flock is
numbered at 5,000+. Anybody scoping this flock should keep a watchful eye
for Eiders.

An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was seen in a large gull roost along 72nd in Delta.

Tuesday, January 30

The BRAMBLING was seen at its usual location 1961 Berkley Ave. North
Vancouver.

An adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen a short distance from the bridge at
Maplewood.

Monday, January 29

The BRAMBLING was seen most of the day.

The HOODED ORIOLE was seen at Jones & No. 3 RD. in Richmond.

3 adult WESTERN GULLS were seen in the large gull roost along Burns Drive in
Delta.

Sunday, January 28

The BRAMBLING and HOODED ORIOLE were seen at their usual locations.

2 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were reported from Maplewood today.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen in brambles west of the foot of 72nd St. at
Boundary Bay. Also in the area were 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS. The AMERICAN TREE
SPARROW frequenting the front yard of 5300 - 112th St. in Delta was
reported. Also in a field along 112th was a SLATY-BACKED GULL.

5 CRESTED MYNAS were seen near Wylie & 2nd in Vancouver.

A ROCK SANDPIPER and 3 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were observed at Stanley Park's
Ferguson Point. Another BLACK OYSTERCATCHER was seen from the Tsawwassen
Jetty and yet another on the Grebe Islets. Also seen at this location were
150+ SURFBIRDS. Another bird of interest reported from West Vancouver's
Howe Sound Lane was an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.

2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were seen at Reifel.

Several GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were reported. One on Sea Island near
the Horse Farm on Ferguson Rd. and another near 24th & 208th in Langley.

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