This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Wednesday, December 31, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited,
with stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA phone number is
(604) 737-3074.

The featured birds are GREAT GRAY OWL, and a possible BULLOCK'S
ORIOLE.


Sightings for Wednesday, December 31:

Although there has been an intensive search since Monday for the
possible FIELDFARE, the bird has not been relocated.

An immature ORIOLE, either a BULLOCK?S ORIOLE or a BALTIMORE
ORIOLE, was seen feeding on mountain ash berries in a front yard on
the south side of 24B Avenue in South Surrey.

The GREAT GRAY OWL was again seen in Jericho Park, Vancouver, in
conifers at the west end of the south path before a little bridge.


Tuesday, December 30:

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen in Jericho Park about 500 meters west of
the pond area on the south trail and also near the youth hostel, where
it was being harassed by crows.

Two BLUEBIRDS, probably MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were seen in Port
Coquitlam between Peace Park and the Westham dyke at kilometre 11.

The VIRGINIA RAIL continued to peek out from under the stone bridge at
Lost lagoon in Stanley Park, Vancouver


Sightings for Monday, December 29:

A BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER and 2 TOWNSEND?S WARBLERS
were seen in Vancouver's Stanley Park at the Prospect Point picnic
area, on the north side in deciduous trees.

A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen in Jericho Park, Vancouver, in tall conifers
along the main south path that runs along the lake. As you head east
along the path the bird was on the right hand side just before the
path opens up again before fields and the bridge.

There were 110 LAPLAND LONGSPURS in a field between 104th and
112th Streets in Delta. Also in Delta, the gray morph immature
GYRFALCON was at the foot of 88th Street.

The TOWNSEND?S SOLITAIRE that was seen during the White Rock/Surrey
Christmas Bird Count was relocated at the 14900 block of 25A Avenue in
South Surrey.


Sightings for Sunday, December 28:

A bird thought to be a FIELDFARE or a similar Eurasian thrush was seen
in Port Coquitlam with a flock of 50 robins. The bird, however, has
not been relocated after its initial sighting. To find the location
were the bird was seen drive along the Maryhill Bypass and at the
third traffic light turn right onto Broadway, then make another right
onto Kebet Way. Once on Kebet Way, the flock of robins should be easy
to find.

The species total for the White Rock/Surrey Christmas Count was 125.
Highlights included the HARRIS?S SPARROW at the Dunsmuir Community
Gardens near Blackie Spit in Surrey; 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the mouth
of the Serpentine River; a CINNAMON TEAL at Serpentine Fen; and a
TOWNSEND?S SOLITAIRE in White Rock.

A BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER was seen about 50 yards from
Prospect Point in Vancouver's Stanley Park, on the left side of the
road as you walk west towards the picnic area. It was foraging in the
lower branches of some cedar and hemlock trees. At the picnic area
itself the GREAT GRAY OWL could still be seen, along with 2
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS.


Sightings for Saturday, December 27:

A SNOW GOOSE was seen along the Campbell River in White Rock
(unusual locality).

A female BLUE GROUSE was on the upper grass slopes of Burnaby
Mountain Park, Burnaby.


Friday, December 26:

The GREAT GRAY OWL was still at the Prospect Point picnic area in
Stanley Park, Vancouver

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen in Ambleside Park in
West Vancouver, in the pitch and putt golf area.


Thursday, December 25:

The GREAT GRAY OWL had Christmas dinner at the Prospect Point picnic
area in Stanley Park.

The VIRGINIA RAIL was under the stone bridge at the west end of Lost
Lagoon in Stanley Park.

A TOWNSEND?S SOLITAIRE was seen in Burnaby Mountain Park,
Burnaby.



End Transcript

This update was recorded and transcribed by John Kalman, and
distributed by Wayne Weber.

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