This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society's
Rare Bird Alert for February 21st, sponsored in part by Wild Birds
Unlimited, with stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. This
message was updated at 12:30 AM on February 22nd. The RBA
telephone number is (604) 737-3074.



RARE BIRD ALERT for a GREAT GRAY OWL in Campbell
Valley Park, Langley. The owl has not been reported since
February 18 but is likely still present.


In Washington State, a RARE BIRD ALERT continues for a
WHOOPER SWAN near Conway, last reported on February 17.
Also, a BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen on February
21 at Point No Point in Kitsap County.
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 this bird.

Also, on Vancouver Island, RARE BIRD ALERT for a TUFTED DUCK
at Kings Pond, Victoria from at least February 1 to 18. Phone the Victoria
RBA at (250) 592-3381) for updates.



Sightings for Wednesday, February 21st

An out-of-town report was received of a BLACK-HEADED GULL at
Point No Point, north of Bremerton, Washington. This could be
the same bird that was seen several weeks ago on Bainbridge Island.


Sightings for Tuesday, February 20th

Along 34th Street in Delta, near 33A Avenue, 2 MARBLED GODWITS
were seen in a flooded field along with 280 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS and 450 DUNLIN.

At Campbell Valley Park in Langley, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was
seen along 4th Avenue, but the GREAT GRAY OWL could
not be found.

The GYRFALCON was seen again at an unspecified location
in Pitt Meadows.


No sightings reported for Monday, February 19th


Sightings for Sunday, February 18th

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen by many observers at and near the
viewing platform at the east end of the Ravine Trail in Campbell Valley
Regional Park, Langley.

Also seen in Campbell Valley Park were a BARRED OWL, a GREAT
HORNED OWL, 8 RED CROSSBILLS, and 12 COMMON
REDPOLLS,

Four SNOWY OWLS were still on the golf course east of the foot
of 72nd Street and north of the Boundary Bay dyke in Delta.

A possible GOLDEN EAGLE was reported in West Vancouver from
the 4100 block of Rose Crescent.


Sightings for Saturday, February 17th

The GREAT GRAY OWL was photographed in mid-afternoon along
the Ravine Trail in Campbell Valley Park, Langley.

A well-described NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen on a lawn
on 72nd Street in Delta, near the intersection with 36th Avenue.

In Pitt Meadows, a GYRFALCON was seen along Connecting Road
E of McKechnie Road, as was an AMERICAN KESTREL
along Thompson Road E of Neaves Road.

Twelve BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were seen together at the
Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Delta.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, birds seen included a MARBLED
GODWIT with BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS on pilings along the
Fraser River, 2 HUTTON'S VIREOS, an immature NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, 4 SANDHILL CRANES, 2 adult BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS, a drake REDHEAD, and 3 NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWLS.

Eight MOURNING DOVES were in the 16100 block of 40th Avenue
in Surrey.


Sightings for Friday, February 16th

The GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH, present earlier in the winter,
was seen again near rhododendron shrubs inside the Academic
Quadrangle at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby.

A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen at a feeder in the 3600
block of West First Avenue in Vancouver.


There were no sightings reported for Thursday, February 15th.


Sightings for Wednesday, February 14th

At Whistler, BC, a flock of 75 COMMON REDPOLLS with 25
PINE SISKINS was seen at the base of Lorimer Road. This
flock has been present in the area for several weeks.


Sightings for Tuesday, February 13th

Four BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Tsawwassen
ferry terminal in Delta, and the resident WILLET was seen again
at the base of the Tsawwassen jetty, on the south side.


Sightings for Monday, February 12th

The wintering TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen again in
Coquitlam in the 3000 block of Spuraway Road.


Sightings for Sunday, February 11th

A GREAT GRAY OWL was reported from an open area along the
Ravine Trail in Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley.

At and near the foot of 72nd Street in Delta, near the Boundary Bay
shoreline, birds seen included an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
a SHORT-EARED OWL, and a season-high 9 SNOWY OWLS on
the golf course north of the dyke.


Sightings for Saturday, February 10th

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, birds seen included 15 COMMON
REDPOLLS (in alder trees near the Fuller Slough blind), 3
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, an immature NORTHERN
GOSHAWK, 6 SANDHILL CRANES, 3 adult BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS, a REDHEAD, and a singing HUTTON'S VIREO
along the entrance road.

Nearby, 8 MUTE SWANS, including one immature, were at the
Westham Island bridge.

At the foot of 72nd Street in Delta, 6 SNOWY OWLS were on the golf
course on the east side, and 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS were also seen.

The two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were still at 3706 88th Street
in Delta.

35 TUNDRA SWANS were seen with TRUMPETER SWANS along
68th Street near 60th Avenue in Delta. Two second-winter GLAUCOUS
GULLS were seen in a gull flock nearby

3 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were seen at Iona Island, Richmond.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in Richmond on the west dyke of
Lulu Island, at the west foot of Westminster Highway.

At Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, WA, a high count of 21
MARBLED MURRELETS was tallied.


Sightings for Friday, February 9th

At Iona Island in Richmond, a RING-NECKED DUCK was in the outer
pond, and a EURASIAN WIGEON in the old sewage outfall pond.

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen in the 3600 block of West
First Avenue in Vancouver.


Sightings for Thursday, February 8th

At Blaine, WA, an adult WESTERN GULL and at least 5 EARED
GREBES were seen from Semiahmoo Spit on the west side of
Drayton Harbor, and a SNOWY OWL was seen again on
buildings near the Blaine fishing pier.

Fifteen TUNDRA SWANS were with TRUMPETER SWANS
along 68th Street near 60th Avenue in Delta.

Also in Delta, 4 SNOWY OWLS were on the golf course at the
foot of 72nd Street near Boundary Bay, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS
were nearby, and 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were at a
feeder at 3706 88th Street.


There were no sightings reported for Wednesday, February 7th


Sightings for Tuesday, February 6th

Along the Boundary Bay dyke in Delta between 64th and 72nd
Streets, 2 SNOWY OWLS, 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS, and
3 drake EURASIAN WIGEON were seen, although observations
were hampered by fog.

At Iona Island in Richmond, an AMERICAN BITTERN was seen
at the NW corner of the Iona marsh, north of the outer pond.




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.


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