This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
Saturday, February 12, 2005, sponsored in part by the Wild
Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The
RBA phone number is (604) 737-3074.

In Olympia, Washington, the REDWING was seen on February 7
and 8, and the BAIKAL TEAL was last reported on February 10
at the Kent Ponds in Kent, near Seattle. Both birds are likely still
present. For further updates on these 2 birds in Washington State,
phone the Washington RBA at (206) 281-9172, or check the
TWEETERS E-mail group.


Sightings for Saturday, February 12

Two SNOW BUNTINGS and 2 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-
FINCHES were seen at the end of the Iona Island south jetty
in Richmond, and the PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen just
past the second shelter on the jetty

A ROCK SANDPIPER was seen at the end of the Tsawwassen
jetty, Delta, on the south side.

A first winter GLAUCOUS GULL was at Burns Drive near 96th Street
in Delta, and 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were at 72nd
Street south of the railway crossing.

Two SNOWY OWLS were at Brunswick Point in Delta, and 2
GREAT HORNED OWLS were in Beach Grove Park.

One AMERICAN KESTREL was along Highway 10 near 88th Street,
and another was along 34B Street east of Highway 17.

Eight BARN SWALLOWS were over MacDonald Slough on Sea
Island, Richmond and 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were at
the Iona Island sewage ponds.


Sightings for Friday, February 11

The LONG-BILLED CURLEW was at Blackie Spit in Surrey.


Sightings for Thursday, February 10

A GLAUCOUS GULL was off Burns Drive in Delta and a possible
first or second winter ICELAND GULL was seen at Brunswick Point,
as were 3 SNOWY OWLS.

THE 2 SNOW BUNTINGS and 2 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY
FINCHES were at the end of the Iona Island south jetty.


Sightings for Wednesday, February 9

A BARRED OWL was seen in Bear Creek Park in Surrey.

20 COMMON REDPOLLS were in the southwest corner of
the Hastings Park Sanctuary in Vancouver.


Sightings for Tuesday, February 8

A GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH was at the end of the Iona
Island south jetty in Richmond.

The RUSTY BLACKBIRD was again seen at the railway crossing
on 72nd Street south of Highway 10 in Delta, and the AMERICAN
KESTREL continues along Highway 10 near 88th Street.

A (EURASIAN) GREEN-WINGED TEAL was at Elgin Heritage Park
on Crescent Road in Surrey.


Sightings for Monday, February 7

Two YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and a BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD were at 72nd Street in Delta near the railway crossing.

AMERICAN KESTRELS were along Highway 91 at 64th Avenue
and along Highway 10 at 88th Street in Delta.

A singing HUTTON'S VIREO was behind the BC Institute of Technology
in Burnaby, at the Fern Glen residential complex.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a (HARLAN'S) RED-TAILED HAWK
were seen along the entrance road to the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in
Delta.


Sightings for Sunday, February 6

A (KUMLIEN'S) ICELAND GULL was seen off 72nd Street in Delta,
in a field near the railway tracks.

In Pitt Meadows on Koerner Road east of Rannie Road, south of the
Ecological Reserve, were 10 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and
along the road coming from the Pitt Lake parking lot were 5
REDHEADS and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER of the Myrtle
race.


If you have any questions about birds or birding in the Vancouver
area, please call Wayne at (604) 597-7201, Viveka at 531-3401, or
Larry at 465-1402. Thank you for calling the Vancouver Rare Bird
Alert, and good birding.

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


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