This is Wayne Weber with Nature Vancouver's Rare Bird Alert for Sunday,
January 31st, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.

If you wish to leave a rare bird report, please press the star button at the
end of this message to go back to the menu, press "2" for the rare bird
reporting line, and follow the instructions given there.


RARE BIRD ALERT for an ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE at the Alaksen National Wildlife
Area in Delta on January 18, but not seen since then.

RARE BIRD ALERTS also for an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL in Delta on January
16th; a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY in the 21900 block of the Lougheed Highway in
Maple Ridge, present for at least 7 months; and two GREAT GRAY OWLS, both
present since December, one at Colony Farm Regional Park in Port Coquitlam,
and one at Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley. The Port Coquitlam bird
was last reported on January 7, but may still be present. Birders and
photographers are requested to stay at least 10 to 20 metres away from Great
Gray Owls, and not harass them.


Sightings for Sunday, January 31st

The WILLET was seen again near the base of the Tsawwassen ferry jetty in
Delta, and 6 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were on the nearby Tsawwassen Indian
Reserve.

A GYRFALCON was seen near the foot of 96th Street in Delta, 2 WESTERN GULLS
near 96th Street at Hornby Drive, and 15 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES on 112th
Street north of Highway 10.


There were no sightings reported for Saturday, January 30th


Sightings for Friday, January 29th

A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was reported from Beaver Lake in Stanley Park,
Vancouver, apparently the first-ever sighting for Stanley Park.

The GOLDEN EAGLE and 8 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were along 112th Street north
of Highway 10 in Delta, and a GYRFALCON was perched on a power pylon on 96th
Street north of Highway 10.


Sightings for Thursday, January 28th

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen and photographed again near the 16th Avenue
entrance of Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley.

Three SAVANNAH SPARROWS, rare in winter, were along 28th Avenue in Delta
west of Highway 17.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 27th

The female REDHEAD, 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, and the BOHEMIAN WAXWING
were reported again from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta.

A single YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was near the South Delta Recreation Centre on
56th Street in Delta.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE turned up in the 4600 block of Bellevue Drive in
Vancouver.

Four different GYRFALCONS were seen: three in Delta (foot of 96th Street,
104th Street south of Highway 99, and Deltaport Way near Arthur Drive), plus
one in Surrey (40th Avenue west of Highway 99). This is a record for the
number wintering in the Vancouver area.

The GOLDEN EAGLE and 14 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were again along 112th
Street in Delta, north of Highway 10. A total of 17 more collared-doves were
along 96th and 88th Streets in Delta, for a total of 31 in the area.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 26th

A WILLET and 4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were on the south side of the Tsawwassen
ferry jetty in Delta.

A drake EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen at the Beach Grove lagoon in
Delta, at the east foot of 12th Avenue.


Sightings for Monday, January 25th

The BARN SWALLOW was seen again at Iona Island in Richmond, as was the
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near the bridge at the west end of Lost Lagoon in
Vancouver's Stanley Park.

The long-staying WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was noted again in the 21900 block of the
Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge.

The GOLDEN EAGLE was seen once more on 112th Street in Delta north of
Highway 10, as was a GYRFALCON on 112th south of Highway 99, near Boundary
Bay.

Nine GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were feeding with CANADA GEESE in Delta
near the entrance to the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.


Sightings for Sunday, January 24th

An out-of-season BARN SWALLOW was seen flying over the outer pond at Iona
Island, Richmond.

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, rare in winter, was seen in the 2100 block of Bowser
in North Vancouver.

A SPOTTED SANDPIPER was reported from Alderside Road in Port Moody, where
one has frequent wintered during the last few years.


Sightings for Saturday, January 23rd

The GREAT GRAY OWL in Campbell Valley Park in Langley was seen again, along
a horse trail just south of 16th Avenue.

The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen again near the west end of Lost Lagoon
in Stanley Park, and 10 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were near Ferguson Point in the
park.

Six AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW were reported near the
parking area at Iona Beach Regional Park, Richmond.

A high count of 18 wintering BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were seen along Farrell
Avenue in Tsawwassen (Delta).


Sightings for Friday, January 22nd

The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen again near Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park,
as were the 5 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in Vanier Park, Vancouver.


Sightings for Thursday, January 21st

Five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen with CANADA GEESE at Vanier Park
in Vancouver. They have been in this area for several weeks.

An apparent hybrid EURASIAN x AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen at Iona
Island in Richmond.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 20th

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen again at Campbell Valley Park in Langley, first
at the large meadow south of the 16th Avenue entrance, and at 4:30 PM
perched on a fence post right next to 16th Avenue west of the parking area.

The GYRFALCON was seen again along Deltaport Way in Delta. Nearby, the lone
BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were at the Reifel Bird
Sanctuary.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 19th

Sightings at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta included a BOHEMIAN WAXWING
and 60 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS, 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, 4
SANDHILL CRANES, and the female REDHEAD.


Sightings for Monday, January 18th

An immature ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE, only the second record for BC, was seen
and photographed along the entrance road to the Alaksen National Wildlife
Area in Delta, next door to Reifel, between 1:00 and 1:45 PM. Unfortunately,
despite extensive searches on the following days, it has not been relocated.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, a female REDHEAD was unusual.

The GREAT GRAY OWL was present for at least 1.5 hours in the afternoon in
the large meadow south of the 16th Avenue entrance to Campbell Valley Park
in Langley.

At least 50 CACKLING GEESE were with a flock of 200 or more CANADA GEESE
along 40th Avenue west of Highway 99 in Surrey.


Sightings for Sunday, January 17th

At Brunswick Point, at the west end of River Road in Delta, sightings
included 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS, a BARN OWL, a SHORT-EARED OWL, and an AMERICAN
TREE SPARROW.

The GYRFALCON and an AMERICAN KESTREL were again along Deltaport Way in
Delta, and 15 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were seen from the Roberts Bank jetty.
Another GYRFALCON was on top of the tower west of the foot of 96th Street in
Delta, and a WILLET and 2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were near the base of the
Tsawwassen jetty in Delta.

Seven EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES and a SLATE-COLOURED JUNCO were along 112th
Street north of Highway 10 in Delta, and 2 SANDHILL CRANES were feeding near
68th Street south of River Road, also in Delta, near Burns Bog.

Two MUTE SWANS were near the Westham Island bridge in Delta.

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen along 16th Avenue west of the parking area in
Campbell Valley Park, Langley.


Sightings for Saturday, January 16th

An adult SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen and photographed in a gull flock east of
96th Street and south of Hornby Drive in Delta. A GYRFALCON was seen nearby,
and the GOLDEN EAGLE was seen again on Highway 10 just east of 112th Street.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, 10
SANDHILL CRANES, 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS, and an out-of-place PILEATED WOODPECKER.
Six EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were nearby along River Road at Station Street
in Ladner.

Six MARBLED GODWITS and the LONG-BILLED CURLEW were still at Blackie Spit in
Surrey. Nearby, along 40th Avenue east of 160th Street were a GYRFALCON, an
AMERICAN KESTREL, and 4 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES.

Another GYRFALCON and an AMERICAN KESTREL were along Deltaport Way near
Arthur Drive in Delta.

In Vancouver's Stanley Park, the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was still near the
pedestrian bridge west of Lost Lagoon, and 5 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and 50
SANDERLINGS were at Ferguson Point.

A whopping 30+ EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in the 13800 block of McKechnie
Road in Pitt Meadows.

A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Shoreline Park in Port Moody, and 22
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were at Burnaby Lake in Burnaby.

Two EVENING GROSBEAKS, which have been very scarce this winter, were in the
1900 block of Berkley in North Vancouver.


Sightings for Friday, January 15th

A BLACK OYSTERCATCHER was seen at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver,
and the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was near the bridge at the west end of Lost
Lagoon again.

The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was seen again in the 21900 block of Lougheed Highway
in Maple Ridge, although it is not seen there every day.

Twelve LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen along 41B Street near Deltaport Way in
Delta. This has been a regular wintering area for this species in the past.


Sightings for Thursday, January 14th

A BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 72 CEDAR WAXWINGS, a high number, were seen at the
Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 13th

A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen at close range in Campbell Valley Park in Langley,
along the Little River loop trail south of the 16th Avenue entrance. It was
near the south end of a large meadow about 0.5 km from the parking area.
This bird has apparently been seen there intermittently since at least
December 25th, but this information was not widely circulated.

The GYRFALCON along Deltaport Way in Delta was seen again, just west of
Arthur Drive.

A BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 18 CEDAR WAXWINGS were seen near the intersection of
Gilley and McBride in Crescent Beach, Surrey.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 12th

A subadult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen and photographed by two observers along
112th Street south of Highway 99 in Delta.


No sightings reported for Monday, January 11th


Sightings for Sunday, January 10th

In and near Blackie Spit in Surrey were the LONG-BILLED CURLEW, 6 MARBLED
GODWITS, a BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 20 CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a MUTE SWAN near the
mouth of the Nicomekl River.

A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen in the north outer pond at Iona Island in
Richmond, and a GLAUCOUS GULL was on the river nearby.

A male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen at the Beach Grove lagoon in
Delta, and 8 SANDHILL CRANES were at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was still present in the 21900 block of the Lougheed
Highway in Maple Ridge.




A brief account of 31 of the best birding locations in the Vancouver area
can be found on the Nature Vancouver website at
http://www.naturevancouver.ca/Birding_Birding_Sites



If you have any questions about birds or birding in the Vancouver area,
please call Wayne at 604-597-7201, 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