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

Sightings for Sunday, December 8th - 10:00 PM update

** RARE BIRD ALERT for LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Vernon)

Featured birds include:

LONG-TAILED DUCK (Vernon & Osoyoos)
HARRIS' SPARROW (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned:

Ruddy Duck
Cooper's Hawk
Eared Grebe
Trumpeter Swan
Blue-winged Teal
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
Thayer's Gull
Winter Wren
Great Horned Owl
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
GYRFALCON


Sightings for December 8th

A fist basic LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was discovered this morning at the
mouth of Vernon Ck in the OKanagan Landing area of Vernon (DC). The bird was
present in the morning, however, since the area is a favorite dog-walking
location, the bird was flushed not too long after its discovery. This is
just the second record of this species for the valley.

Also in Vernon, a LONG-TAILED DUCK was at the N. end of Swan Lake, a
TRUMPETER SWAN was at the S. end of the lake and an EARED GREBE was also
noted (DC).

The ad. winter HARRIS' SPARROW was reported at the Bishop Bird Sanctuary on
Coldstream Ck Road, in Vernon (MC).

Another LONG-TAILED DUCK was found, along with two female RUDDY DUCKS at the
Osoyoos Sewage Lagoons (DB). The sewage lagoons can be found by heading S.
towards the Oroville border crossing on Hwy 97. Then turn right on 62nd St
and take another right before the high school. Park by the tennis courts.

in Kelowna, a COOPER'S HAWK is being reliably seen in the gully along Old
Joe Rich Road, in the Black Mountain area (TF).


Sightings for December 6th

A male BLUE-WINGED TEAL, casual in the winter, was seen in the marsh at
Haynes Point Provincial Park, in Osoyoos (DB). Seen at the tip of Haynes
Point were two male RED-BREASTED MERANSERS, a THAYER'S GULL and a WINTER
WREN (DB).


Sightings for December 5th

In Kelowna's Ellison area, an immature HARRIS' SPARROW was seen at 2580
Lakha Road, where a bird also spent the winter last year (GW). Also in the
Ellison area, 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 1 MERLIN and an
AMERICAN KESTREL were tallied (GW).

At Marshall's Feedlot in Kelowna, along Hwy 97, S. of McCurdy Road, the
GYRFALCON and a MERLIN were again seen (GW).

A GREAT HORNED OWL was found roosting along Mission Creek, in Kelowna,
between Casorso Road and Gordon Drive (RM).


Observers: GW - Gwynneth Wilson; TF - Trevor Forder; RM - Richard Mooney; DB
- Doug Brown; DC - Don Cecile; MC - Mary Collins.


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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