This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Wednesday, January 28, 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 Wednesday, January 28

The GREAT GRAY OWL continues its stay at the University of BC in
Vancouver. Today it was located in trees north of a point about 200
metres along South Campus Road, which leads west off Wesbrook
Mall. The spot is just before the turnaround at the end of South
Campus
Road.

An adult WESTERN GULL was seen from the White Rock Pier.


Tuesday, January 27

An AMERICAN KESTREL was observed near the Serpentine River bridge
off 168th Street in Surrey.


Sunday, January 25

The GREAT GRAY OWL was relocated between 4:00 & 5:00 this afternoon.
It was found hunting in a large field on the University of B.C. Farm
at the west end of South Campus Rd. This is south of the UBC Research
Facility running west off Wesbrook Mall.

The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was reported from its usual location of 4126
River Rd. in Ladner.

The BLUE JAY was reported at the feeder at 11511 Dyke Road and from
the Boy Scout Camp further west along Dyke Rd. in Richmond. The
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was again reported from the 13200 block
of No. 4 Road in Richmond.

Reported today from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were 2 SWAMP
SPARROWS, 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 2 BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT HERONS, 5 SANDHILL CRANES, and the juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK.
Seen from the Westham Island Bridge were 9 MUTE SWANS.

An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was observed in a large gull roost along Burns
Drive in Delta. Another was seen in a field off 64th Street. Also in
a field off 64th were 3 TUNDRA SWANS in the company of 190 Trumpeter
SWANS.

Near the foot of 72nd Street, Delta, were 3 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS.
A GYRFALCON was sighted at the north end of 96th in Delta.

AMERICAN KESTRELS were reported from 64th Street and 34B Avenue,
and near Arthur Drive & Deltaport Way in Delta.

The HARRIS?S SPARROW was observed in the field north of the Community
Gardens at Blackie Spit in the company of Golden-crowned Sparrows.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen from the seawall near
the foot of Nicola at English Bay in Vancouver.


Saturday, January 24

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


Friday, January 23

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen in trees on the north side of Wesbrook
Mall not far from the BC Research area south of the University of BC
campus.

In a late report for the period January 11 to the 20th, a GOLDEN EAGLE
has been frequenting the north shore of Stanley Park?s Lost Lagoon.

Off West Vancouver?s Klootchman Park were 3 MARBLED MURRELETS
and a RHINOCEROS AUKLET.


Thursday, January 22

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen at UBC near the BC Research facility
along Wesbrook Mall.


Wednesday, January 21

The GREAT GRAY OWL was observed in trees on the north side of the
north parking lot at BC Research at UBC. This is accessed off
Wesbrook Mall. Also seen in the area was an ANNA?S HUMMINGBIRD.

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

The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD were
observed in the 13200 block of No. 4 Road, Richmond.

The BLUE JAY was observed on the Boy Scout property along Dyke Rd.
west of No. 5 Road, Richmond.


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


Thank you for calling the Vancouver Bird Alert, and 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