This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for
January 31st, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores
in Vancouver and North Vancouver. This message was updated
at 9:00 PM on January 31st. The RBA telephone number is
(604) 737-3074.



RARE BIRD ALERTS continue in Washington State for a WHOOPER
SWAN near Conway, a KING EIDER at the Semiahmoo Resort in
Blaine, a THICK-BILLED MURRE at Point No Point, and a SLATY-
BACKED GULL in Renton.
Please see the Tweeters E-mail group recent archives at
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TWET.html , or phone the
Washington State BirdBox at (206) 281-9172, for the latest
updates and directions to these birds.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 31st

Three SNOWY OWLS were seen fairly close together on the golf course
at the south foot of 72nd Street in Delta. They are best viewed from
the walking trail on the Boundary Bay dyke.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 30th:

An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was near Fuller Slough
at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta.

Four SNOWY OWLS were present on the golf course at the foot of
72nd Street, Delta.

Three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at Iona
Island, Richmond, and two CACKLING GEESE were seen on
nearby Sea Island under the Dinsmore Channel bridge.

Along the Boundary Bay dyke in Delta west of 88th Street were
2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS and 2 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.


No reports for Monday, January 29th


Sightings for Sunday, January 28th:

130 SANDERLINGS were observed at Boundary Bay Regional Park,
Delta.

Five PINE GROSBEAKS were observed again along 64th St near
28th Ave, Delta.

Two ROCK SANDPIPERS and 3 SURFBIRDS were observed
at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal near Berth 1, Delta. The WILLET
was also seen near the base of the ferry jetty on the south side.

A first winter GLAUCOUS GULL was seen along 36th Avenue between
72nd and 64th Streets, also in Delta.

At and near the Reifel Bird Sanctuary were a BARN OWL, a NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL, and 4 GREAT HORNED OWLS.


Sightings for Saturday, January 27th:

The WILLET continues at the base of Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty

An AMERICAN AVOCET was observed across from Blackie Spit
at the mouth of the Nicomekl River in Surrey.

Sightings at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta, included a NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, 3 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, a SWAMP SPARROW,
and 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS. Two MUTE SWANS were near the
Westham Island bridge.

Four SNOWY OWLS were seen on the golf course east of the south
foot of 72nd Street in Delta.


Sightings for Friday, January 26th:

25 COMMON REDPOLLS were present at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen along 36th Avenue
near 72nd Street in Delta.


Sightings for Thursday, January 25th:

At least 10 PINE GROSBEAKS were observed and others were heard
along Allen Road in the Lynn Creek area of North Vancouver.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 24th:

The wintering AMERICAN AVOCET was still present at the mouth of
the Serpentine River, viewed from Mud Bay Park in Surrey.


No reports for Tuesday, January 23rd or Monday, January 22nd.


Sightings for Sunday, January 21st:

Boundary Bay was productive with 5 PINE GROSBEAKS at the foot of
64th St, 2 WESTERN GULLS with one on the foreshore at 104th St
and the other on the foreshore at 88th St. Nearby, the 2 EURASIAN
COLLARED DOVES continue at 3706 88th St. Two MARBLED
GODWITS were present at the foot of 112th St.

Also seen along 72nd Street were 4 SNOWY OWLS, 3 SHORT-EARED
OWLS, and 2 first-year GLAUCOUS GULLS.

At Delta's Reifel Bird Sanctuary were 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-
HERONS, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
and a SWAMP SPARROW.


Sightings for Saturday, January 20th:

An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was discovered at Ladner
Harbour Park in Delta.


Sightings for Friday, January 19th:

Two EVENING GROSBEAKS were present along the upper
trail in Montrose Park in north Burnaby.


Sightings for Thursday, January 18th:

Two NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, an immature NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, and 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS have
been seen regularly at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta over
the past week.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 17th:

A FRANKLIN'S GULL was reported from a farm field at the foot of 112th
Street near Boundary Bay in Delta.

Iona Island in Richmond produced a male RING-NECKED DUCK,
an AMERICAN BITTERN, and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK.

An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was in the Terra Nova area
just north of the Quilchena Golf Course in Richmond.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 16th:

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was heard singing at Everett Crowley
Park in Vancouver


Sightings for Monday, January 15th:

A GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH was again seen at Simon Fraser
University in Burnaby, along the south side of the court yard of the
Academic Quadrangle. Seven COMMON REDPOLLS were also
present at this location.



If you have any questions about birds or birding in the Vancouver
area, please call Peter at 604-736-0991, Viveka at 604-531-3401,
or Larry at 604-465-1402. Thank you for calling the Vancouver
Rare Bird Alert, and good birding.


This message was recorded and transcribed by Mark Wynja,
and forwarded by Wayne Weber.


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