This is Wayne Weber with Nature Vancouver's Rare Bird Alert for Monday,
February 22nd, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver. The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.
We regret the delay since the last update, which resulted from some
technical problems.

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.

We wish to extend our warmest welcome to any birders from other countries or
other Canadian provinces who are visiting Vancouver for the Winter Olympics.


RARE BIRD ALERT for a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY in the 21900 block of the Lougheed
Highway in Maple Ridge, present for at least 8 months; and a GREAT GRAY OWL,
present since December, at Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley. Birders
and photographers are requested to stay at least 10 to 20 metres away from
Great Gray Owls, and not harass them.


Sightings for Monday, February 22nd

The long-staying WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was seen again in Maple Ridge near the
intersection of Cliff Avenue and Cliff Place, close to where it has been
seen repeatedly since June 2009.

Another early TURKEY VULTURE was seen over the Vancouver Aquarium in
Vancouver's Stanley Park.

Five TREE SWALLOWS were seen briefly at the Alaksen National Wildlife Area
in Delta, and the NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen again at the nearby Reifel
Bird Sanctuary.

Four more TREE SWALLOWS were seen at the rowing complex on Burnaby Lake in
Burnaby, as were 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS.


Sightings for Sunday, February 21st

The LONG-BILLED CURLEW was seen again on the east side of Blackie Spit in
Surrey, but the MARBLED GODWITS which have accompanied it all winter could
not be found.


Sightings for Saturday, February 20th

A flock of 43 MOURNING DOVES was seen near Ladner Harbour Park in Delta, and
3 SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Iona Beach Park in Richmond.


Sightings for Friday, February 19th

Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were reported from Como Lake Park in
Coquitlam.

The GYRFALCON was seen again in Delta along Deltaport Way near Arthur Drive,
but is being seen less predictably in the last couple of weeks.

Four SAVANNAH SPARROWS and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, both rare in winter, were
seen along 28B Avenue near 41B Street in Delta with other sparrows, near
where they were seen earlier.


Sightings for Thursday, February 18th

A TURKEY VULTURE seen in Surrey at King George Highway and 60th Avenue was
the first of the spring and exceptionally early.

A male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was reported near the Westham Island
bridge in Delta.

A SPOTTED SANDPIPER, rare in winter, was seen near the mouth of the Capilano
River at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver.


Sightings for Wednesday, February 17th

Four early BARN SWALLOWS were seen over the Iona Island ponds in Richmond,
and a WESTERN GULL was at nearby Iona Beach Park.

Three TREE SWALLOWS at the Alaksen Natl. Wildlife Area in Delta (next door
to Reifel) were the first of the spring.


Sightings for Tuesday, February 16th

The NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen again at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in
Delta.


Sightings for Monday, February 15th

Two REDHEADS were at Surrey Lake on 152nd Street in Surrey, and an adult
WESTERN GULL was at the White Rock pier in White Rock. The female REDHEAD
was still at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta.

Four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and a SHORT-EARED OWL were at Iona Beach
Regional Park in Richmond.

An AMERICAN KESTREL was near 41B Street and 33A Avenue in Delta.


There were no sightings reported from February 11th through 14th


Sightings for Wednesday, February 10th

A BARN SWALLOW was seen at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, and 9 GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen along the entrance road to the refuge. Nearby,
a GYRFALCON was seen again along Deltaport Way in Delta.


Sightings for Tuesday, February 9th

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen again in Langley's Campbell Valley Park, along
the horse trail just west of the 16th Avenue parking area.

Four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen again at Iona Beach Regional Park in
Richmond, near the base of the Iona South Jetty.

A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in
Delta.

Eight PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and about 150 BRANT were seen offshore from
Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, WA.

A REDHEAD was reported from Surrey Lake on 152nd Street in Surrey.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was on the Boundary Bay dyke near the foot of 64th Street
in Delta.


Sightings for Monday, February 8th

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was at Charleson Park, a small park on False Creek in
Vancouver.


Sightings for Sunday, February 7th

Five AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were at Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond.

A WILLET, 2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, and 3 EARED GREBES were seen along the
Tsawwassen ferry jetty in Delta. The female REDHEAD was still at the Reifel
Bird Sanctuary in Delta, and an AMERICAN KESTREL was nearby along 33A Avenue
near 41B Street.


Sightings for Saturday, February 6th

Four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen again near the restrooms at Iona Beach
Regional Park.

A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, rare in the lowlands, was in Delta near Enderby
and Whitcomb.


Sightings for Friday, February 5th

The WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was seen again in the 21900 block of the Lougheed
Highway in Maple Ridge, but it is being seen much less often than last year.

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen and photographed again in Campbell Valley Park
in Langley.

Ten SANDHILL CRANES, the female REDHEAD, and 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS
were reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta.

A BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS were eating holly berries along
Main Mall at the University of BC, Vancouver.

A LONG-BILLED CURLEW and 2 MARBLED GODWITS were still present on the east
side of Blackie Spit in Surrey.

Five EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were along 96th Street in Delta, a regular spot
for this species for the last 2-3 years.

Sightings at Iona Island Regional Park in Richmond included 2 AMERICAN TREE
SPARROWS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS
in the outer pond.


Sightings for Thursday, February 4th

A BOHEMIAN WAXWING was with 50 CEDAR WAXWINGS along the entrance road to the
Alaksen National Wildlife Area in Delta.


Sightings for Wednesday, February 3rd

The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen again at the bridge at the west end of
Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park, Vancouver.

Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were near the foot of Piper Road at Burnaby
Lake in Burnaby.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta were an AMERICAN BITTERN, 4 SANDHILL
CRANES, and 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. Nearby, 5 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES
were along Tamboline Road on Westham Island, and 2 MUTE SWANS were near the
Westham Island bridge.


Sightings for Tuesday, February 2nd

Six BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were seen in Vancouver's Stanley Park, south of the
Second Beach pool.


Sightings for Monday, February 1st

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, rare in winter, was reported from Bowen Island.

The GOLDEN EAGLE in Delta was seen again along Highway 10 near 112th Street.

The wintering WILLET and 9 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were seen on the Tsawwassen
ferry jetty in Delta. Nearby, 900 BRANT were in the Beach Grove area of
Boundary Bay.

Ten SANDHILL CRANES were still at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta.



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