This is the Vancouver Natural History Society?s Rare Bird Alert for
Wednesday, November 24th, 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 Wednesday, November 24th:

At Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver, the NORTHERN
PYGMY-OWL was seen halfway between the nursery and the bridge.

At Brunswick Point in Delta were 3 SNOWY OWLS.


Sightings for Tuesday, November 23rd:

At Maplewood Conservation area in North Vancouver, a NORTHERN
PYGMY-OWL and RUSTY BLACKBIRD were seen. The blackbird was
in the swampy area near the southwest corner and the owl was nearer to
the Dollarton Highway

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta was a late NORTHERN ROUGH-
WINGED SWALLOW.


Sightings for Monday, November 22nd:

At Maplewood Conservation Area, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was seen
near the feeders at the entrance.


Sightings for Sunday, November 21st:

At Maplewood Conservation Area, the RUSTY BLACKBIRD was still
present.

In Delta, the GYRFALCON was present on the Boundary Bay
foreshore between 88th and 96th St. An AMERICAN KESTREL
was seen at 96th St. and Highway 99. 7 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS
were seen between 88th and 96th St on the road that parallels the
railway tracks.

In Surrey, the AMERICAN AVOCET was present at the mouth of the
Serpentine River just upstream from the railway trestle.

At Brunswick Point were a SWAMP SPARROW, an AMERICAN TREE
SPARROW, and an AMERICAN BITTERN.


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
adult ICELAND 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.



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