Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for January 10, 2005
Date: Jan 11 09:17:04 2005
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society?s Rare
Bird Alert for Monday, January 10, 2005, sponsored in part by the Wild
Birds Unlimited stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA phone
number is (604) 737-3074.

The Rare Bird Alert continues for the REDWING in Olympia, Washington,
which has been seen daily through at least January 9. For updates on
this bird, phone the Washington State RBA at (206) 281-9172 or check
the TWEETERS E-mail group.


Locally, a Rare Bird Alert is issued for a SKY LARK, and Rare Bird
Alerts continue for a probable MCKAY'S BUNTING, a SLATY-BACKED
GULL, and a PRAIRIE FALCON.

Sightings for Monday, January 10, 2005

A SKY LARK was discovered about 9:30 AM along the north dyke of the
Serpentine River in Surrey, about 500 metres E of the railroad trestle
at the river mouth. This locality can be accessed from Mud Bay Park,
off Colebrook Road in Surrey. The SKY LARK was feeding with a group of
up to 4 AMERICAN PIPITS in a triangular peninsula jutting into the
river at the upper end of the estuary. It was there until at least 2
PM, and several photos were taken. About 12 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS
were present near here, in fields north of the dyke.

This is only the second record of SKY LARK for Vancouver. The bird
could be either a straggler from Vancouver Island, or a long-distance
migrant from eastern Asia.

On the Boundary Bay foreshore at the foot of 72nd Street in Delta,
birds seen included 4 SNOWY OWLS, 2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS,
and 10 AMERICAN PIPITS. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was
seen with White-crowns near the pump station east of 72nd on the
dike, and a GYRFALCON was hunting along the foreshore here.

Another GYRFALCON was seen at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, as were 2
LINCOLN?S SPARROWS. The WILLET was present at the base of the
Tsawwassen ferry jetty on the south side, and 6 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS
were on 88th Street in Delta near the railroad crossing. A single
EARED GREBE was seen from the town pier in White Rock.


Sightings for Sunday, January 9

The probable female MCKAY?S BUNTING was seen again today with 3 SNOW
BUNTINGS on the Iona Island south jetty in Richmond. Photos of the
bunting
have been studied by an expert on the species, who believes it is
probably a MCKAY'S, but cannot completely rule out a hybrid. The male
MCKAY?S BUNTING, present here beginning on December 4, has not been
seen since December 29.

In Delta, an adult GLAUCOUS GULL was seen in the morning at the Burns
Bog landfill, a locality normally off-limits to birders, and again
late in the day at the foot of 72nd Street on Boundary Bay. A
first-year GLAUCOUS GULL was also seen earlier in the day off the foot
of 72nd.

Also along the Boundary Bay dyke, 10 SAVANNAH SPARROWS, at least 3
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, and an immature HARRIS?S SPARROW
were seen east of the foot of 72nd Street. Two SNOWY OWLS, and 6
LAPLAND LONGSPURS were also reported near the foot of 72nd Street,
and a PRAIRIE FALCON was seen along 36th Avenue west of 72nd. A
GYRFALCON was present near the mansion west of the foot of 96th
Street.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, the long-staying immature
GOLDEN EAGLE was observed, as were 2 adult BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS, 4 SANDHILL CRANES, a HUTTON?S VIREO, and 20
COMMON REDPOLLS. 26 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were in
the West Field at the Refuge. At nearby Brunswick Point, sightings
included 2 SNOWY OWLS, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a SWAMP
SPARROW, an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, and a SAVANNAH
SPARROW.

At Vancouver?s Stanley Park, near the Aquarium parking lot, was a
flock of 50 RED CROSSBILLS. Noteworthy feeder birds included an
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the 2500 block of West 12th in
Vancouver, and a locally-unusual CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE
on Ferry Road in Delta.

In Pitt Meadows, a flock of at least 12 PINE GROSBEAKS was seen along
Rannie Road just north of the Swan-e-set Golf Course. At Blackie Spit
in Surrey, a LEAST SANDPIPER and a WESTERN SANDPIPER were
seen. And at the end of Marine Drive in Blaine, WA, an adult WESTERN
GULL was seen from the crab-fishing pier.


Sightings for Saturday, January 8

An adult SLATY-BACKED GULL, the first one reported this winter, was
seen in a gull flock along Burns Drive east of the Burns Bog landfill
in Delta.

The probable female MCKAY?S BUNTING and 3 SNOW BUNTINGS
were seen on the Iona I. South jetty, Richmond. On nearby Sea Island,
3
WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and a
SHORT-EARED OWL were seen along Templeton and Ferguson Roads
near the Vancouver airport.

At Blackie Spit in Surrey, unusual shorebirds included a LONG-BILLED
CURLEW, a MARBLED GODWIT, and a LEAST SANDPIPER. Three
AMERICAN PIPITS and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK were also here.
In Queens Park in New Westminster, a TOWNSEND?S WARBLER was
seen near the waterpark and petting zoo.


Sightings for Friday, January 7

Reports have been few because of the severe winter weather. The only
report today was of a HERMIT THRUSH at 6905 Bradner Road in Langley.


Sightings for Thursday, January 6

At the pier in White Rock, an EARED GREBE and a WESTERN GULL were
seen, and an AMERICAN PIPIT was seen on the beach nearby. Five GREATER
YELLOWLEGS were at the mouth of the Campbell River, also in White
Rock.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, the immature GOLDEN EAGLE was
reported again, as was one adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and
a flock of 35 COMMON REDPOLLS.

In Surrey, the MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE was seen again at the NE corner of
160th Street and 82nd Avenue. At the Maplewood Conservation Area in
North Vancouver, an AMERICAN DIPPER was present at the mouth of
McCartney Creek, and a LINCOLN?S SPARROW in the west marsh area.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 5

The probable female MCKAY?S BUNTING was seen again today with
3 SNOW BUNTINGS and 3 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES at
the end of the Iona Island south jetty in Richmond.

In Delta, the WILLET was seen again near the base of the Tsawwassen
ferry jetty. In Surrey, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported along 100th
Avenue just east of Tynehead Regional Park.

At White Rock, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen on the water near
the town pier. This bird, which spent much of December at Wiser Lake
near Lynden, WA, was seen in the White Rock and Blaine, WA area on
January 2 as well, and should be looked for in this area in future.

Finally, an AMERICAN KESTREL was observed at the intersection of 176th
Street and Fraser Highway in Surrey.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 4

The probable female MCKAY?S BUNTING was seen again today with
3 SNOW BUNTINGS and 3 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES at
the end of the Iona Island south jetty in Richmond.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, an adult BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON and an immature GOLDEN EAGLE were seen, and
one MUTE SWAN was seen near the Westham Island bridge.

At the base of the Tsawwassen Jetty in Delta, a RED KNOT was seen with
the resident WILLET. Two WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were reported from
Blackie Spit in Surrey.

On the Boundary Bay foreshore in Delta, a SNOWY OWL was at the foot of
72nd Street, and a GYRFALCON was near the ?mansion? west of the foot
of 96th Street.

Single AMERICAN KESTRELS were reported from 64th Street at 34B Avenue
and at Highway 10 at 88th Street in Delta, and at two locations along
Rannie Road in Pitt Meadows.


If you have any questions about 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.

END TRANSCRIPT


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