This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Tuesday,
December 7th, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The Rare Bird Alert continues for the McKAY'S BUNTING and a possible GREAT
GREY OWL.

Sightings for Tuesday, December 7

The McKAY'S BUNTING was again seen on the Iona South Jetty at around 11:00
AM. It was observed with a group of 5 SNOW BUNTINGS. The flock was seen
working it's way from the tip to the second shelter when they flew off
towards Sea Island & the airport. The bird was observed for about 20
minutes. Seen on the North Jetty was a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH. This bird
was near the far end of the jetty where the land ends and the rocky tip
starts. A GRYFALCON was sighted in a fly by of the Jetties.

At Brunswick Point was a CATTLE EGRET at the end of River Rd. Also observed
at the Point were 5 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a SWAMP SPARROW & 5 SNOWY OWLS.

Near by at the Reifel Refuge were 40 COMMON REDPOLLS, the GOLDEN EAGLE & a
CINNAMON TEAL.

A bird thought to be a GREAT GRAY OWL was observed in a wooded area near
William Griffin Rec Centre in North Vancouver. This Rec Centre is west of
Westview Dr. & south off of Queens Rd. There is a small parking lot on the
east side of the Centre from which a narrow trail leads off into the woods.
The bird was seen in the ravine.

Single MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES were seen coming to 2 different feeders. One was
at a feeder in the 22900 block of Old Yale Rd. in Langley, the other in the
2000 block of Winfield Dr. in Abbotsford.

Monday, December 06

The McKAY'S BUNTING was again seen on the Iona South Jetty at around 12:45
PM.

Sunday, December 05

A McKAY'S BUNTING was seen near the tip of the Iona South Jetty at around
11:00 AM.

Seen at Brunswick Point were 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a CATTLE EGRET, 2
SHORT-EARED OWLS and 4 SNOWY OWLS.

Reported from the Reifel Refuge were a GOLDEN EAGLE, 2-3 MOUNTAIN
CHICKADEES, 10 to 15 COMMON REDPOLLS, 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, a
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and 4 SANDHILL CRANES.

Observed along the Roberts Bank Jetty was a RUDDY TURNSTONE.

In a Langley flooded field near 208th & 102B Ave. was a CINNAMON TEAL.

A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK was sighted at Maplewood CA near observation
station #16.

Saturday, December 4

At Blackie Spit were a LONG-BILLED CURLEW and 6 MARBLED GODWITS.

Friday, December 3

Reported from Blackie Spit were a LONG-BILLED CURLEW, 6 MARBLED GODWITS, 8
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, & 26 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Near the Community Gardens
was a CEDAR WAXWING.

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
http://www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/

Larry Cowan
Pitt Meadows, BC
Lawrencecowan at shaw.ca