This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Tuesday, February 24, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with
stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA phone number is (604)
737-3074.

The featured bird is GREAT GRAY OWL.


Sightings for February 24th

The GREAT GRAY OWL near the BC Research offices (on Wesbrook Mall
south of 16th Ave. near the University of BC), and the other GREAT
GRAY OWL in the north fields at Colony Farm on the Port Coquitlam
side,
continue to be seen by many birders.

At Mound Farm Park in Surrey was an immature GOLDEN EAGLE.

The 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS continue at the mouth of the Serpentine River
in Surrey (Mud Bay Park).


Sightings for February 23rd

An immature GYRFALCON was seen near Highway 10 and 112th Street
in Delta.

At Jericho Park in Vancouver was a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE.


Sightings for February 22nd

At Mound Farm Municipal Park in Surrey (entrance located on 168th
Street south of Highway 10) were a CHIPPING SPARROW and a WHITE-
THROATED SPARROW. Seen flying over the park was a
GOLDEN EAGLE.

At the foot of 104th Street on Boundary Bay (Delta) were a PACIFIC
GOLDEN-PLOVER, a MARBLED GODWIT, a WESTERN GULL and a
GYRFALCON.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were 5 SANDHILL CRANES and 2
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. Nearby in the 4100 block of River
Road, Ladner were the WESTERN SCRUB-JAY and an AMERICAN
KESTREL.

Near the stone bridge at the west end of Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park,
Vancouver, was a VIRGINIA RAIL.


Sightings for February 21st

At Iona Island, Richmond, were 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS.

At the 72nd Street turf farm in Delta was the adult ICELAND GULL. At
104th Street were a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, a MARBLED GODWIT
and a GYRFALCON. Birders should also be on the lookout for a possible
RUFF reported in the area.

An AMERICAN KESTREL was near 34B Avenue and 64th Street in Delta.

The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was still at the 4126 River Road in
Ladner (Delta), while 8 MUTE SWANS were near the Westham Island
Bridge.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary were a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, a BLACK-
CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a TREE
SWALLOW, 5 BARN SWALLOWS, a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, 5
SANDHILL CRANES and a SWAMP SPARROW.

The 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS were at Mud Bay Park in Surrey (mouth of the
Serpentine River).

The GREAT GRAY OWL was once again seen in the Wesbrook Mall and
16th Avenue area near the University of B.C.


Sightings for February 20th

At Blackie Spit, Surrey, in the Dunsmuir Community Garden, the
HARRIS'S SPARROW continues.


Sightings for February 19th

At the foot of 72nd Street in Delta was an adult ICELAND GULL, while
at the foot of 88th was an immature GYRFALCON. Nearby, at the foot
of 96th was a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER.

>From the Reifel Bird Sanctuary comes the report of a TREE SWALLOW,
a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, 5 SANDHILL CRANES and 2
AMERICAN BITTERNS. Near the Westham Island Bridge were
2 MUTE SWANS.



Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert, and good birding.

This transcript was prepared by Calvin Gehlen and distributed by Wayne
Weber.


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/


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net