Subject: RBA Vancouver, BC -- Feb. 01/03
Date: Feb 1 21:30:25 2003
From: Larry Cowan - lawrencecowan at shaw.ca


This is the Vancouver Natural History Societies Rare Bird Alert for
Saturday, February 1st, evening update, sponsored in part by the Wild
Birds Unlimited Stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The featured birds are LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, AMERICAN AVOCET and HARRIS'
SPARROW.

Sightings for Saturday, February 1:

The rare bird alert continues for the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, which
was seen in a field near the hospital along Burn's Drive in Ladner. The bird
was then seen to fly towards the dump. Also in the area were 3 WESTERN
GULLS.

The adult HARRIS' SPARROW was seen along River Road in Ladner.

The AMERICAN AVOCET was at Beach Grove Lagoon in Tsawwassen.

The WILLET was at the base of the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty and a RED KNOT was
along 34th Street in Delta.

A female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was at Blackie Spit.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Sunset Beach in Stanley Park.

Friday, January 31

An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in breeding plumage was likely a
bird found in December and was relocated along Burns Drive in Delta
in the morning sitting with about 1000 other gulls and flew off towards
the dump.

The adult HARRIS' SPARROW was again seen along River Rd in Ladner
about 4 houses from the end. Please respect private property as the
bird can be viewed from the road and it was near a shed with a blue
roof and with GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS.

The tundrius race PEREGRINE FALCON was seen perching on trees at Brunswick
point.

A BLUE JAY has been seen for about a month at a feeder with many
STELLER'S JAYS at the residence in the 600 block (even numbered
address) of E. Windsor Rd in North Vancouver.

The AVOCET was at Beach Grove Lagoon in Tsawaassen.

The pair of CRESTED MYNAS was seen going into a hole in the bricks
under the "Best Facilities Services" sign along Wylie Street between
1st and 2nd Avenues in Vancouver.

The wintering MARBLED GODWIT was seen near 28th and on the West side
of Highway 17 with the large flock of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.

16 BARN SWALLOWS were seen on the approach to Iona Island near the
Vancouver International Airport.

There were no sightings for Thursday.

Wednesday, January 29

There were 20 to 30 BARN SWALLOWS AND A CLIFF SWALLOW at Iona Island.

Tuesday January 28th

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Ladner were the following birds: 22
BARN SWALLOWS, 1 IMMATURE GOSHAWK, 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, 1 MERLIN, 1
PEREGRINE FALCON, many SNOW GEESE, a pair of CINNAMON TEAL,
1 GREAT HORNED OWL and a BARN OWL.

If you have a query about Vancouver Birds or birding, please call:
Larry at 604 942-0931 or John at 604 737-1611.

Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert & Good Birding!

For further information on birding in the Vancouver area log onto the
Vancouver Natural History Society's web site at www.naturalhistory.bc.ca
John Kalman, Vancouver, BC