Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for January 2, 2005
Date: Jan 3 02:16:16 2005
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society?s Rare
Bird Alert for Sunday, January 2, 2005, sponsored in part by the Wild
Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The Rare Bird Alert continues for the REDWING in Olympia, Washington,
which was seen again today, January 2. For updates on this bird, phone
the Washington State RBA at (206) 281-9172 or check the TWEETERS
E-mail group.

Locally, Rare Bird Alerts are issued for a probable female MCKAY?S
BUNTING, an ICELAND GULL, and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

The White Rock-Surrey and Pitt Meadows Christmas Bird Counts were held
on January 2, and I will try to get some details for the next update.


Sightings for Sunday, January 2

The bird believed to be a female MCKAY?S BUNTING was seen again today
with 3 SNOW BUNTINGS at the end of the Iona Island south jetty in
Richmond. However, the identification of this bird has still not been
confirmed, and it could be a hybrid MCKAY?S X SNOW BUNTING. The male
MCKAY?S BUNTING, present here since December 4, has not been seen
since the 29th, but may still be in the area.

An adult ICELAND GULL of the Kumlien?s race was seen in a field near
the intersection of Highway 10 and 72nd Street in Delta, as was a
first-year GLAUCOUS GULL. This may be the same ICELAND GULL reported
once or twice in the same field in late fall 2004.

Three SNOWY OWLS and a GREAT HORNED OWL were seen at Brunswick
Point in Delta. A GYRFALCON was seen on the Boundary Bay dyke near
the mansion, west of 96th Street in Delta, and a CATTLE EGRET was seen
in overflight at the Mound Farm W of Highway 15 and S of Highway 10 in
Surrey.

In Abbotsford, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE was still coming to a feeder in
the 2000 block of Winfield.


Sightings for Sunday, January 1

The male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK is still coming to feeders at 3690
Victoria Drive in Coquitlam, near Minnekhada Park. The homeowner has
kindly given permission to birders to walk up the driveway to where
the feeders can be seen, but please be quiet and respectful while you
are on private property.

A bird which may have been an INDIGO BUNTING was briefly glimpsed with
sparrows at the Mound Farm in Surrey, and at least 1 WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW was in the sparrow flock.

The probable female MCKAY?S BUNTING was seen again with 3 SNOW
BUNTINGS near the tip of the Iona I. South jetty in Richmond.

A WILSON?S WARBLER was well seen by 2 observers during the Abbotsford
Christmas Bird Count. It was in a blackberry thicket west of Ross Road
and south of Simpson Road.

At Brunswick Point in Delta, a lethargic CATTLE EGRET was present near
the parking area at the west end of River Road. Up to 4 SNOWY OWLS
were seen here, 3 of which were across Canoe Pass on the south dyke of
Westham Island. Three MUTE SWANS were near the Westham Island bridge.
At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, sightings included 2 adult BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS, 4 SANDHILL CRANES, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, and a
female REDHEAD in the flooded West Field with CANVASBACKS. A flock of
60 COMMON REDPOLLS was seen at Bissett Farms on Westham Island Road.

On the Tsawwassen ferry jetty in Delta, 5 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were
seen, plus the WILLET near the jetty base. Two SNOWY OWLS were seen
near the foot of 72nd Street in Delta.


Sightings for Friday, December 31

The probable female MCKAY?S BUNTING was seen again at the tip of the
Iona I. South jetty. The CATTLE EGRET and 2 SNOWY OWLS were reported
from Brunswick Point. Two NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were present at the
Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver. An out-of-season
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was at Blackie Spit in Surrey. And an equally
out-of-season TURKEY VULTURE was seen in overflight at 148th Street
and 108th Avenue in Surrey.


If you have any questions about birding in the Vancouver area, please
call John at 988-8667, Viveka at 531-3401, or Larry at 465-1402. Thank
you for calling the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert, and good birding.

END TRANSCRIPT

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