This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Tuesday, January 20, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with
stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA phone number is (604)
737-3074.

Featured birds are GREAT GRAY OWL & AMERICAN TREE SPARROW.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 20

The GREAT GRAY OWL has been relocated at the University of B.C. The
bird was about ? km north of the entrance to the BC Research Institute
on Wesbrook Mall. The bird was perched in an alder tree. It was
reported yesterday, but the caller neglected to leave a name or phone
number for verification.

The HARRIS?S SPARROW was reported at the Dunsmuir Community
Gardens at Blackie Spit, Surrey.

Four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen near the foot of 72nd
Street at Boundary Bay, Delta.

The MARBLED GODWIT was observed at the Tsawwassen Jetty
compensation lagoon, Delta


Monday, January 19

Two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen near the foot of 72nd
Street, Delta

Reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were 5 BARN SWALLOWS
and 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS.

The BLUE JAY was observed on Dyke Road 0.5 km west of No. 5 Road in
Richmond, along the Horseshoe Slough Trail.

In Surrey in a field NE of 208th Street and 26th Avenue was a single
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in the company of Canadas.


Sunday, January 18

The godwit reported Saturday at the Tsawwassen Jetty compensation
lagoon in fact was a MARBLED GODWIT and was reported again today.

A flock of 5 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS was observed near an old
electrical substation about halfway between 72nd & 64th along the
Boundary Bay dyke, Delta. Near the foot of 88th was a SWAMP SPARROW.

The adult GLAUCOUS GULL was again seen behind the Community
Centre on 96th north of Hwy 10, Delta. A WESTERN GULL was sighted
near the intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 10 (Ladner Trunk Road)
in
Delta.

Reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta, were 14 BARN
SWALLOWS, a VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, a SWAMP SPARROW, and 2 NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWLS.


Saturday, January 17

A MARBLED GODWIT was seen at the Tsawwassen Jetty compensation
lagoon, Delta. The WILLET was also observed at the foot of the Jetty.

Reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta, were a NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL and 2 BARN SWALLOWS.

Two BARN SWALLOWS were also reported seen behind the Community
Centre on 96th Street, Delta. Also at this location was an adult
GLAUCOUS
GULL. Another GLAUCOUS GULL was observed near the north end of
72nd St. At the foot of 72nd were 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS.

The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY continues its stay at 4126 River Rd. in Delta..

In the 13200 block of No. 4 Rd. in Richmond was a WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW. Observed during the monthly bird survey at Terra Nova Park,
Richmond, was a juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK sighted at the west end
of Westminster Hwy. Along the Richmond west dyke south of Westminster
Hwy were 2 COMMON REDPOLLS.

An immature GYRFALCON was seen in Pitt Meadows NE of the intersection
of McKechnie and Connecting Roads..


Thursday, January 15

In a field on the east side of 72nd Street near 36th Avenue, Delta,
were 63 GREATER YELLOWLEGS & 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS.
Seen in overflight at this location was a MARBLED GODWIT. At a turf
farm also along 72nd were 2 WESTERN GULLS.

Near the stone bridge at the west end of Lost Lagoon in Vancouver's
Stanley Park was the VIRGINIA RAIL. On the Lagoon were 7 male & 1
female RING-NECKED DUCKS.

Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen near the mouth of the Serpentine
River, Surrey.

Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert & good birding.

This transcript was prepared by Larry Cowan 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