This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Bird Alert for Sunday,
January 4, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Featured bird is BLUE JAY & WESTERN SCRUB JAY.

Sightings for Sunday, January 4

The WESTERN SCRUB JAY was reported from it's location at 4126 River Rd. in
Ladner. Observed in a walk at Brunswick Point were a SWAMP SPARROW, a ROCK
SANDPIPER, BARN OWL & 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS.

Reported from the Reifel Refuge were a SORA coming to a green feeder on the
east dyke, & a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON.

The BLUEJAY was seen at it's location approx 1/2km west of #5 Rd. along Dyke
Rd. Take the Horseshoe Slough trail to a feeder near a building.

Four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were observed near the foot of 64th at Boundary
Bay. At 72nd were a BARN OWL & a SHORT-EARED OWL. There was another report
of 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS seen between 112th & 72nd. Near 104th & Hwy 10 was a
Gray phase GYRFALCON. Near 132nd & Hwy 10 were 2 RED CROSSBILLS.

Seen near the Prospect Point picnic area in Stanley Park were 2 TOWNSEND'S
WARBLERS. Two BRANDT'S CORMORANTS were on a marker bouy off Brockton Point.

The Annual Eagle Count at Brackendale near Squamish totalled 1709 eagles.

Saturday, January 3

A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was reportedly seen 1km from the parking lot at Mt.
Seymour.

Three HERMIT THRUSH were observed in a yard in the 13800 blk of Blackburn
Ave. in White Rock.

A SORA was reported from Reifel.

The 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen near the mouth of the Serpentine River.


Friday, January 2

The BLUE JAY was again observed 0.5 km west of #5 Rd. along Dyke Rd.
Richmond.

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen in the 13200 blk of #4 Road along with the
RUSTY BLACKBIRD. This is a very busy street, caution should be used when
parking. The residents of the house these birds are frequenting are uneasy
about all the visitors. Please park away from the house and respect their
privacy as much as possible while looking for these birds.

Reported from Reifel were a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL & a HERMIT THRUSH.

A MARBLED GODWIT was seen between 88th & 72nd & near the foor of 72nd were 6
SHORT-EARED OWLS.

Another SHORT-EARED OWL was observed near the mouth of the Serpentine River.
Also at this location were the 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS.

The GREAT GREY OWL was reported from Jericho Park.

Thursday, January 1

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen on #4 Road between Finn Rd. & Dyke Rd.

The BLUE JAY was observed near #5 & Dyke Rd. also in Richmond.

The WESTERN SCRUB JAY continued it's stay into 2004 at 4126 River Rd. in
Ladner. At Reifel were a 2 WESTERN SAW-WHET OWLS and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.
Brunswick Point was the location for 2 RED KNOTS.

At Boundary Bay between the Mansion & 88th was a GYRFALCON.

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
Port Coquitlam, BC
lawrencecowan at shaw.ca