This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Wednesday,
December 8th, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The Rare Bird Alert continues for the McKAY'S BUNTING.

Sightings for Wednesday, December 08

The McKAY'S BUNTING was again seen on the Iona South Jetty at around 9:00 AM
& again around 11:00 AM. It was observed with a group of 6 SNOW BUNTINGS.
It has been suggested the best tactic for spotting the flock might be to be
positioned at the half way point of the jetty and keep scanning in both
directions for the flock.

At Brunswick Point the following birds were observed: the CATTLE EGRET, 4
SNOWY OWLS, 4 to 5 SWAMP SPARROWS, 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a GYRFALCON and
1 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD.

A flock of 10 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen with a flock of Pine Siskins in the
130 block of 57th Ave. in Surrey.

Tuesday, December 7

The McKAY'S BUNTING was 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. 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 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.

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