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

The featured bird is RUSTY BLACKBIRD.


Sightings for Saturday, November 20th:

At the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver, a RUSTY
BLACKBIRD was seen. Also here were 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.

At Brunswick Point in Delta were 3 SNOWY OWLS. Two were seen
across Canoe Pass from the parking lot, and one was seen on the
foreshore near the big bend along the dyke. Nearby were 5 AMERICAN
TREE SPARROWS, a SWAMP SPARROW, a SAVANNAH SPARROW,
2 SHORT-EARED OWLS, a GREAT HORNED OWL, a NORTHERN
SHRIKE, and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. Along River Rd and
34th St. was an AMERICAN KESTREL. The SAGE THRASHER was
not seen today.

On Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, a PINE GROSBEAK was heard flying
overhead.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were 3 COMMON REDPOLLS, 2
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a BARRED OWL,
and an AMERICAN BITTERN. Also on Westham Island was an AMERICAN
KESTREL along Tamboline Rd.

North of Boundary Bay in Delta, 2 CATTLE EGRETS were seen. One
was north of Highway 10, west of 72nd St. and the other was at Highway
10 and 88th St., in a field with sheep and one llama. West of the
foot of 72nd St., along the dyke, was a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, a
SNOWY OWL, and an AMERICAN KESTREL. Just north of the railway
tracks on 72nd St. in a gull flock, was a WESTERN GULL and an
intergrade adult ICELAND/THAYERS GULL. At the foot of 88th St.
was a GYRFALCON. Single AMERICAN KESTRELS were seen on
104th St. N of Hwy 10, and at the intersection of Hwy 10 and Hornby
Drive.

In Surrey, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE was near108th Ave. at 152nd St.

In North Delta, at the junction of 117A St and 94A Ave, a BOHEMIAN
WAXWING was again present in the morning.

In Abbotsford, at 35120 Vye Rd., a SNOWY OWL was seen in a garden for
30 minutes.


Sightings for Friday, November 19th:

At Brunswick Point in Delta, at 1:30 PM, a bird fitting the
description of a SAGE THRASHER was seen on the north side of
the dyke, just beyond the parking area. It later flew into the
woodlot and was lost to view.

In Vancouver, along Point Grey Road between houses 3350 and 3352,
2 MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES were coming to a feeder.

In West Vancouver, a LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen from the seawall
west of Ambleside Park.

In Delta, the 2 CATTLE EGRETS were seen just north of Highway
10, on the west side of 72nd St., feeding among cows. A NORTHERN
GOSHAWK was seen west of the foot of 72nd St. along the dyke.

In North Delta, 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen in a berry tree at the
junction of 117th St. and 94A Ave. They were present until 4 P.M..

In Abbotsford, a SNOWY OWL was seen and photographed. No further
information is available.


Sightings for Thursday, November 18th:

In Delta, the 2 CATTLE EGRETS were relocated just north of Highway 10,
on the west side of 72nd St. At 72nd St. and 36th Avenue were 4 BARN
SWALLOWS.

In Richmond, at 5911 Airport Road South, near the South Terminal of
the Vancouver Airport, 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen briefly before
flying off.


Sightings for Wednesday, November 17th:

At the foot of 96th St. in Delta, an adult HARRIS?S SPARROW was
seen with a flock of WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROWS. It flew up the street to the first house on the left and
was not relocated. Also on the foreshore here were 2 MARBLED
GODWITS.

Nearby, a GYRFALCON and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were seen at
the turf farm off 72nd St.

At Brunswick Point were 3 SNOWY OWLS. Two were seen on the
foreshore from the big bend and 1 was seen looking across Canoe
Pass from the parking lot. Also at Brunswick Point were 2 SWAMP
SPARROWS, a GREAT HORNED OWL, 4 VIRGINIA RAILS, and 26 TRUMPETER
SWANS.

At the Westham Island Bridge in Delta, 1 MUTE SWAN was seen.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, a SNOWY OWL was seen on the
foreshore, and a GYR FALCON, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL,
2 AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON,
and a WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE were also reported.


Sightings for Tuesday, November 16th:

An unidentified egret, probably a CATTLE EGRET, was seen flying out
over the water from Spanish Banks, Vancouver.


Sightings for Monday, November 15th:

In Delta, the 2 CATTLE EGRETS were in the field with sheep and 1
llama at the junction of Ladner Trunk Road (Hwy 10) and 88th St.

Also in Delta, the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was reported from
the foot of 72nd St. just west, feeding in berry bushes. 2 SNOWY OWLS
were seen on the foreshore. One was 50 metres west of 96th St., and
the other was between 64th and 72nd St. Also between 64th and 72nd
Streets were 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES and an AMERICAN KESTREL.

In south Surrey, a SNOWY OWL was seen flying in from the northwest
between Crescent Beach and Ocean Park. It landed on rocks briefly
before flying off in a northwest direction. Nearby, a WESTERN
MEADOWLARK was seen at Blackie Spit.

Also in south Surrey, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Mud Bay Park east
of the railway trestle.


Sightings for Sunday, November 14th:

In Delta, 2 CATTLE EGRETS were seen at the junction of Ladner
Trunk Road (Hwy 10) and 88th St. in a field with sheep and llamas.
Also seen nearby on the Boundary Bay foreshore were 2 GYRFALCONS
between "the mansion" near the foot of 96th St. and 88th St. An adult
HARRIS?S SPARROW was seen on the dyke, 200 metres east of the
pump house between 72nd and 88th St. A BARN OWL was flushed from
trees nearby. 2 SNOWY OWLS were seen today on the foreshore, one west
of 72nd St. and the other just east of the golf course. A SHORT-EARED
OWL was seen hunting over the golf course at dusk.

At the Tsawwassen jetty in Delta, a SNOW BUNTING was seen about
halfway out on the road to the boat launch.

In Surrey, the AMERICAN AVOCET was seen at the mouth of the
Serpentine River, just upstream from the railway bridge. Access is
from the Mud Bay Park parking lot off Colebrook Road. Also in Surrey,
an EARED GREBE was seen inside the rock breakwater off the White
Rock Pier.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, the GOLDEN EAGLE was seen
near the entrance. A SNOWY OWL was seen just south of the sanctuary.
Around the sanctuary were a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, a male
CINNAMON TEAL, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, an AMERICAN BITTERN,
and a SWAMP SPARROW by the viewing tower.

In Delta, in a field east of 68th St. and south of River Road, 2
SANDHILL CRANES were present.

In North Delta at Grant Place and 95th Ave., an EVENING GROSBEAK was
seen coming to a feeder.


End transcript

This transcript was prepared by Kevin Louth and distributed by Wayne
Weber.

For further information on birding in the Vancouver area, log onto
Vancouver Natural History Society?s website at
www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/ .


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