This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Monday,
December 20th sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver.

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

Today's birds in CAPS

MCKAY'S BUNTING
SNOW BUNTING
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
COMMON REDPOLL
CATTLE EGRET
SNOWY OWL
GLAUCOUS GULL
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
Green-winged Teal (Eurasian race)
Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Western Gull
Eared Grebe
American Bittern
Willet
Green Heron
Gyrfalcon
Bohemian Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Rock Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone

Sightings for Monday, December 20

The MCKAY'S BUNTING was again observed near the tip of the Iona Jetty with
SNOW BUNTINGS. It was present for most of the day, last being reported at
4:14 PM.

Reported from the Reifel Refuge were a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, a
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, and 35 COMMON REDPOLLS.

Another flock of 55 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen in trees near the intersection
of 26th & Lawson in Vancouver.

The CATTLE EGRET was seen at its usual location at the west end of River Rd.
Brunswick Point reported in with 5 SNOWY OWLS. Near the intersection of
River Rd, & 30B St. was a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL.

Out Abbotsford way a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE continues coming to a feeder in the
2000 block of Winfield.

Sunday, December 19

The MCKAY'S BUNTING was observed near the tip of the Iona Jetty with SNOW
BUNTINGS for approx. 3 hours.

Seen at Elgin Heritage Park in Surrey were a COMMON REDPOLL & a Eurasian
race GREEN-WINGED TEAL.

Reported from Reifel were a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and a CACKLING GOOSE.

The WILLET was seen at the base of the Tsawwassen Jetty.

Observed offshore from the White Rock Pier were a WESTERN GULL and an EARED
GREBE.

Saturday, December 18

The MCKAY'S BUNTING was observed with a flock of 5 SNOW BUNTINGS at 1:40 PM.

Reported from the Iona outer pond was an AMERICAN BITTERN.

The WILLET was seen at the base of the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty.

A GREEN HERON was observed hunting in a ditch near the intersection of 55th
and Balaclava in Vancouver.

A Eurasian race GREEN-WINGED TEAL was in a flooded field off 208th north of
102B Ave. in Langley. Seen overhead at this location were 2 COMMON
REDPOLLS.

Thursday, December 16

The MCKAY'S BUNTING was seen in the afternoon.

>From the foot of 72nd at Boundary Bay came the report of 3 SNOWY OWLS, and a
GYRFALCON. On 72nd near the golf course was a BOHEMIAN WAXWING.
Seventy-eight COMMON REDPOLLS were seen in a flock of 100+ Pine Siskins near
the foot of 96th.

At Brunswick Point were 7 SNOWY OWLS & an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW.

Observed at the foot of the Roberts Bank Jetty were a ROCK SANDPIPER and a
RUDDY TURNSTONE.

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