This is the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Rare Bird Alert
(250)491-7738.

Sightings for Sunday, December 1st - 8:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

SWAMP SPARROW (Vernon)
HARRIS' SPARROW (Vernon)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Kelowna)
BLUE JAY (Kelowna)
LEWIS' WOODPECKER (Summerland)
TRUMPETER SWAN (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned:

Spotted Towhee
Tundra Swan
Greater Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Redhead
Thayer's Gull
Ruddy Duck
American Kestrel


Sighitngs for December 1st

A SWAMP SPARROW was discovered in the weeds and wetlands at the N. end of
Swan Lake in Vernon (CS). A possible SWAMP SPARROW was also heard, on Nov
30th, at Robert Lk (CC).

Three adult TRUMPETER SWANS were with 13 TUNDRA SWANS at the Head of the
Lake and two female RUDDY DUCKS were on McKay's Reservoir on the Vernon
Commonage (CS).

The adult winter HARRIS' SPARROW continues at the Bishop Bird Sanctuary, on
Coldstream Ck Road, near Vernon (MC).

The LEWIS' WOODPECKER has returned to winter along May St, in Summerland,
near Powell Beach Park (LRo). 24 CANVASBACKS and 5 RING-NECKED DUCKS were
seen on Okanagan Lake, from Lakeshore Drive, in Summerland and at Sun-oka
Provincial Park, also in Summerland, an estimated 1500-2000 REDHEADS and a
few GREATER SCAUP were present (LRo).

On Nov 30th, the male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was again at the Cooper Road, Hwy
97 intersection in Kelowna (CC,RM) and an adult THAYER'S GULL was at the
Kelowna Landfill (CC,RM).

An adult male SPOTTED TOWHEE was at 397 Herbert Heights Road, in the Poplar
Point area of Kelowna (GW,CC,m.ob) and the BLUE JAY continues on Kelowna's
Westside at 2700 Lakeridge Road (EF).


Sightings for November 28th

The GYRFALCON continues at the Marshall's Feedlot, located along the W. side
of Hwy 97 in Kelowna, S. of McCurdy Road (CC).

An adult TRUMPETER SWAN was with 22 TUNDRA SWANS at the Maude Roxby Bird
Sanctuary, at the foot of Francis Ave, in Kelowna (CC).

In Vernon, the HARRIS' SPARROW was again seen at the Bishop Bird Sanctuary
(MC).


Sightings for November 27th

The adult male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was again seen around the intersection
of Cooper Road and Hwy 97 in Kelowna (CC).

The HARRIS' SPARROW was again at the Bishop Bird Sanct. in Vernon (MC).

A single AMERICAN KESTREL was hunting in the fields along Byrns Road in
Kelowna (CC).



Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; MC - Mary Collins; LRo - Laurie
Rockwell; CS - Chris Siddle; RM - Richard Mooney; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; EF -
Elke Fischer.


If you have any questions about Okanagan Valley birding, contact Chris
Charlesworth, in Kelowna at (250)-718-0335, Dick Cannings in Penticton at
(250) 496-4019, or Phil Gehlen in Vernon at (250) 542-8053.

This update has been sponsored by the TUMBLEWEED NATURE STORE at 67 Front
Street in Penticton.

Thanks for calling the bird alert and happy birding.

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