This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Thursday,
December 23rd
sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in Vancouver and
North Vancouver.

Rare Bird Alert for the MCKAY'S BUNTING, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, LITTLE
GULL and out of town in Olympia, Washington a REDWING.

Today's birds in CAPS

MCKAY'S BUNTING
REDWING
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
LITTLE GULL
SNOW BUNTING
BONAPARTE'S GULL
MARBLED MURRELET
BRANT'S CORMORANT
COMMON REDPOLL
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
Green Heron
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Snowy Owl

Sightings for Thursday, December 23

A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK has been reported coming to a backyard feeder
& birdbath for 3 days in NE Coquitlam. The bird is not viewable from the
street. The homeowner has graciously consented to allow birders to enter the
property for a chance of viewing bird. The bird at present has only been
observed during the afternoon. The address is 3690 Victoria Dr. in
Coquitlam. Please park with care on the street and enter the property via
the driveway.

The Iona South Jetty MCKAY'S BUNTING was present for a short time today in
the morning. It & several SNOW BUNTINGS were flushed by a passing truck
around 9:30 & had not returned as of 3:00 PM. Observed in a large flock of
gulls off the Jetty was an adult plumaged LITTLE GULL. This flock also
contained 34 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Also reported from the Jetty were 2 MARBLED
MURRELTS & 3 BRANT'S CORMORANTS.

The Olympia Washington REDWING was again well observed by many birders
beginning at 10AM on 4th Ave at Decatur Street. Later it was viewed on the
westside of Cushing St. between 4th and Harrison Ave. Reports indicate
there were 70+ birders in the area. Find the birders & you will most likely
find the bird.

A 100+ flock of COMMON REDPOLLS were seen at Terra Nova Park in Richmond. A
flock of 30 COMMON REDPOLLS were reported in Pitt Meadows along Rannie Rd.
at the bend in the road on the approach to Grant Narrows.

A MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE continues to come to a feeder on the NE corner of 160th
& 82nd Ave. in Surrey.

Wednesday, December 22

The GREEN HERON previously found hunting in the ditch along Balaclava
between 53rd & 55th was again reported.

Tuesday, December 21

The MCKAY'S BUNTING was present for several hours at the Iona Jetty tip. A
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH was also seen along the road between the jetty tip
and the westernmost shelter.

A REDWING discovered on Monday was relocated around 8 am on Olympia
Washington's west side along 5th Ave, between Rogers and Plymouth Streets.
It was associating with Robins and feeding and moving between Holly and
other deciduous trees.

Two SNOWY OWLS were seen between 64th & 72nd at Boundary Bay.

Fifty COMMON REDPOLLS were observed near the intersection of 28th & Blenheim
in Vancouver.

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