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

Sightings for Wednesday, December 11th - 10:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Osoyoos)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Great Horned Owl
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
HARRIS' SPARROW
LONG-TAILED DUCK
Ruddy Duck
Cooper's Hawk
Eared Grebe
Trumpeter Swan
Blue-winged Teal
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
Winter Wren


Sightings for December 11th

On December 9th, two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, a male and a female, were along the
W. dyke of the Okanagan River Channel, S. of Road 22, near Osoyoos (DB).

A female WOOD DUCK is at the Fascieux Ck Wetlands along Casorso Road in
Kelowna (DeB) and a GREAT HORNED OWL was again seen roosting along Mission
Ck in Kelowna, between Gordon Drive and Casorso Road (DeB).

The GYRFALCON was again at the Marshall's Feedlot, along Hwy 97, in Kelowna,
S. of McCurdy Road on Dec 10 (CC,DW).

On Dec 10th, a THAYER'S GULL and 6 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS were at the mouth
of Vernon Ck in Vernon (CC,DW,PB), however the Lesser Black-backed Gull seen
earlier in the week couldn't be relocated.


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).


Observers: TF - Trevor Forder; DB - Doug Brown; DC - Don Cecile; MC - Mary
Collins; DeB - Denise Brownlie; CC - Chris Charlesworth; DW - Don Wilson; PB
- Peter Blokker.


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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