Subject: [Tweeters] Update: N. Hawk Owl in Ladner BC
Date: Dec 4 21:25:39 2010
From: Levine, Barron S - LevineB at bsd405.org


Tweeters,
The Northern Hawk Owl was seen pretty much all day long at the Westham Island Road location mentioned in Wayne Weber's previous post. For those of you unfamiliar with where this is, here are directions. After crossing the border on I-5, (you're now on hwy 99), turn left onto hwy 17 and make a right at the first light toward the town of Ladner. Continue straight into town and bear left onto River Road in the town centre. Follow that and then turn right at Westham Island Road (look for sign to Reifle). The bird was seen at the first of 2 consecutive 90 degree turns. This is about 1/4 mile before you get to Reifle .
There's plenty to see in the area as well. A Yellow-breasted Chat is nearby at Alaksen (go straight ahead rather than turning left to go into Reifle). Note: Alaksen is closed on the weekends and permission is necessary during the week. A gray morph Gyr is about an hour away in Abbotsford. Snow Buntings have been seen about 25 minutes away at Blackie Spit in White Rock.
Other possible birds of interest seen today:
At Reifle- 3 Sandhill Cranes, 4 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 1 Great Horned Owl, 10 Wood Ducks, 50 Long-billed Dowitchers. No Saw-whets have been seen in over a week. Last one was seen being eaten by a Barred Owl.
At Boundary Bay- 5 Short-eared Owls, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Western Meadowlarks, 2 Northern Shrike.
Lovely day to boot.


Barry Levine
Seattle
levineb at fastmail.fm