Subject: RBA Vancouver, BC -- Oct. 12/03
Date: Oct 12 23:33:34 2003
From: Larry Cowan - lawrencecowan at shaw.ca


This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Sunday,
October 12th, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Rare Bird Alert for an EMPEROR GOOSE.

Featured bird is GYRFALCON.

Sightings for October 12

An EMPEROR GOOSE was seen in overflight with a small flock of Snow Geese
near the intersection of 72nd & 36th Ave. in Delta. The birds did not land
and were heading in an Eastward direction.

A dark immature GYRFALCON was seen hunting in the fields near Delta Port Way
& Arthur Dr. At the base of the Roberts Bank Jetty on the Tsawwassen side
were 2 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS. A flock of 18 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
were in a field near 34th & 33A in Delta.

Seven MUTE SWANS were seen near the Westham Island Bridge. Reported from
Reifel were 30 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 1 STILT SANDPIPER and 7,000 SNOW
GEESE.

October 11

Seven TURKEY VULTURES were seen over Jericho Park in Vancouver and a further
15 were seen near Burns Dr. & 72nd in Delta. Four SANDHILL CRANES were seen
in a field off 64th between Hwy 99 & River Rd.

On Boundary Bay near the Mansion were 3 STILT SANDPIPERS, a RED KNOT, and a
LESSER YELLOWLEGS.

A PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen in a field near 34th & 33A. At the end on
34th in the stubble field were 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS.

Reported from Reifel were 2 PEREGRINES and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.

October 10

The NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW at Viaduct Flats in Victoria was still
being observed. For further details call the Victoria Bird Alert at
250-592-3381.

Observed at Lighthouse Marine Park at Point Roberts Washington were 10
HEERMANN'S GULLS, and 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS. Also near the market area were a
late WESTERN TANAGER and a MERLIN.

October 9

The NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW located at Viaduct Flats in Victoria was
observed.

At the Compensation Lagoon at the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty were 3 MARBLED
GODWITS and 18 CASPIAN TERNS.

Near 104th at Boundary Bay were 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and 2 EURASIAN
WIGEON.

Reported from the Reifel Refuge were 3 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS, a HERMIT
THRUSH, CINNAMON TEAL, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS and 700+ SNOW GEESE.

Three PARASITIC JAEGERS and 4 HEERMANN'S GULLS were observed at Point
Roberts.

Seen on a high rise at 1250 Quayside in New Westminster was a PEREGRINE
FALCON.

Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert & good birding.

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

Larry Cowan
Port Coquitlam, BC
Lawrencecowan at shaw.ca