This is Wayne Weber with Nature Vancouver's Rare Bird Alert for Friday,
January 22nd, 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 on subsequent dates.

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 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 OYSTERCATCHER 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.


Sightings for Saturday, January 9th

A large flock of CACKLING GEESE was along 40th Avenue west of Highway 99 in
Surrey.

The Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta produced a BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 40 CEDAR
WAXWINGS, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, and a BARN OWL.

A GYRFALCON was seen and photographed along Deltaport Way in Delta.

Along 68th Street north of 60th Avenue in Delta were 2 SANDHILL CRANES and 4
TUNDRA SWANS.

Two BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were seen in the 2100 block of Bowser in North
Vancouver.


Sightings for Friday, January 8th

The LONG-BILLED CURLEW and 6 MARBLED GODWITS were reported again from
Blackie Spit in Surrey.

The wintering WILLET and 5 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were on the Tsawwassen ferry
jetty in Delta.

A BOHEMIAN WAXWING and a GLAUCOUS GULL were seen at the Reifel Bird
Sanctuary in Delta, and the GYRFALCON was again at the foot of 96th Street
on Boundary Bay.

The SPOTTED SANDPIPER was seen again at the Maplewood Conservation Area in
North Vancouver.

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was reported from the stone bridge at the west end
of Lost Lagoon in Vancouver's Stanley Park.


Sightings for Thursday, January 7th

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen again along the northern edge of Colony Farm
Regional Park in Port Coquitlam, reached most easily from the Poco Trail
starting from Pitt River Road. This bird has apparently been seen frequently
but not daily.

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

The TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen again in Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver.


Sightings for Wednesday, January 6th

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen along 52nd Street in Delta, just south of
Highway 17, and another one was reported in Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth
Park.


Sightings for Tuesday, January 5th

A WESTERN TANAGER, apparently present for several days near 33rd Avenue and
Blenheim Street in Vancouver, was finally confirmed by an experienced
birder.

Iona Island in Richmond produced 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES, a YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER, and 5 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS.

A single BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen along West Mall on the University of BC
campus in Vancouver.

At Blackie Spit in Surrey were the LONG-BILLED CURLEW, 6 MARBLED GODWITS,
and 15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, all present there for some time.


Sightings for Monday, January 4th

Two AMERICAN DIPPERS were feeding at the mouth of McCartney Creek in North
Vancouver, at the eastern edge of the Maplewood Conservation Area.


Sightings for Sunday, January 3rd

Ten COMMON REDPOLLS were reported from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta.

Along the north side of Boundary Bay in Delta, 2 GYRFALCONS, 6 PEREGRINE
FALCONS, a TUNDRA SWAN, and 22 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were seen. The doves
and GYRFALCON are usually seen along 96th Street.

Another GYRFALCON was seen near the intersection of the King George Highway
band 48th Avenue in Surrey.

Sightings at the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver included a
HUTTON'S VIREO, a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, and the wintering SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

In the Brackendale area, just north of Squamish, the annual eagle count
tallied 956 BALD EAGLES, lower than normal, plus 3 GOLDEN EAGLES and one
NORTHERN GOSHAWK.

A BARRED OWL was being mobbed by crows at 5th Avenue and Trafalgar Street in
Vancouver.

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, rare in winter, was seen on Stevens Lane in the
Tsawwassen area of Delta.


Sightings for Saturday, January 2nd

Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along the beach in the Centennial Beach portion
of Boundary Bay Regional Park, Delta, and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen
nearby.

In the Port Moody area, birds seen during the Pitt Meadows Christmas Bird
Count included a CACKLING GOOSE, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 2 MUTE
SWANS, and a HUTTON'S VIREO.


No sightings reported for Friday, January 1st




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