This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Sunday, November 23rd, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited,
with stores in Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Surrey. The RBA phone
number is (604) 737-3074.

The featured birds are AMERICAN AVOCET and GYRFALCON.


Sightings for November 23rd

At the mouth of the Serpentine River on Mud Bay, Surrey, about 100
metres east of the railway trestle, were 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS.

The immature GYRFALCON was again reported from the Boundary Bay
foreshore, Delta, between 88th Street and 72nd Street.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta, the immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK and
the 2 SWAMP SPARROWS were again reported.

A possible adult winter plumaged SLATY-BACKED GULL was observed in a
short grass field at the south end of 96th Street, Delta. This is a
different individual from the Vancouver Landfill bird, and the
observer requests confirmation.


Sightings for November 22nd

The adult winter-plumaged SLATY-BACKED GULL was again present in the
Vancouver Landfill in Burns Bog, Delta-- an area off-limits to the
public. Birders should watch for this bird in the surrounding fields
in Delta.

A very late juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER was found in the grass field
near the corner of 72nd Street along 36th Ave. At the foot of 72nd
Street, the following birds were reported: 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS, 1
NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1 WESTERN MEADOWLARK, 1 MERLIN and 1 PEREGRINE
FALCON.

The dark gray phase immature GYRFALCON was reported both along 96th
Street and at 112th Street and Highway 10.

The WILLET and 2 SNOW BUNTINGS were reported along the south side
of the Tsawwassen ferry jetty, Delta. There were still 4 MARBLED
GODWITS at the compensation lagoon on the north side of the jetty

At the Reifel Refuge was 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 1 HERMIT THRUSH.

The BLUE JAY was again reported from 850 W. 19th Street in North
Vancouver.


Sightings for November 21st

There was no relocation of the male BRAMBLING seen at a front yard
feeder at 4140 Golf Drive in North Vancouver. The bird was seen in
the company of 6-8 DARK-EYED JUNCOS and could easily still be in the
area.

The GREEN HERON was again reported from the big pond at the Noon's
Creek Hatchery in Port Moody.

A ROCK PTARMIGAN was discovered while the observer was
snowshoeing on a back country trail on Grouse Mountain in an area
called Dam Mountain.

The following birds were all reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary,
Delta: 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, 2 SWAMP SPARROWS, 2 SANDHILL
CRANES, and a very late WESTERN TANAGER.


Sightings for November 20th

RARE BIRD ALERT! A male BRAMBLING was found in the afternoon coming to
a front yard feeder at 4140 Golf Drive in North Vancouver.

At the foot of 72nd Street was a dark gray phase GYRFALCON.

A boat trip around the lower part of Howe Sound produced 50 SURFBIRDS
and 27 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS on an islet off Fisherman's Cove Marina.
Off the east side of Bowen Island in Collingwood Channel were 16
MARBLED MURRELETS.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, 2 WESTERN TANAGERS were reported.

Thank you for calling the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert, and good birding.
This report was recorded and transcribed by Rick Toochin, and
forwarded by Wayne Weber.

END TRANSCRIPT

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