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

Sightings for Wednesday, December 18th - 9:00 PM update

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

Featured birds include:

ROCK WREN (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned:

YELLOW-BILLED LOON
PACIFIC LOON
MEW GUL
GYRFALCON
PEREGRINE FALCON
SAVANNAH SPARROW
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
HARRIS' SPARROW
Western Bluebird
Boreal Chickadee


Sightings for December 18th

The first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again seen at the mouth of
Vernon Ck in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon (CS). The bird was seen in
the morning between 8 and 9 AM.

Also in Vernon, the ROCK WREN, found on the CBC on Dec 14, was again located
along the railroad tracks, just S. of Kickwillie Loop Road (CS).


Sightings for December 17th

In Vernon, the first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again seen at the
mouth of Vernon Ck in the Okanagan Landing area (MF).

A YELLOW-BILLED LOON, discovered on Dec 15 (JB) in Penticton, was again
reported on the 16th (DCa). It is on Skaha Lake right where the Okanagan
River Channel empties into the lake.


Sightings for December 15th

Both the Vernon and Penticton CBCs were held today, under mostly sunny
skies. Vernon tallied an unofficial 97 species while Penticton tallied
unofficially 90.

Vernon's best bird was the first year LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, which was
relocated at the mouth of Vernon Ck in Okanagan Landing (CC,PG,CG,RT,m.ob).
Other interesting gulls seen at the same location included a 2nd yr MEW GULL
and an adult THAYER'S GULL (CC,MF,m.ob).

Other highlites included a ROCK WREN, seen along the railroad tracks, S. of
Kickwillie Loop Road in Vernon (GD) and a PACIFIC LOON far off in the
distance on the lake at Okanagan Landing (PG).

In the commonage area, a BARRED OWL was observed in a backyard (DW), and at
the Bishop Bird Sanct in Coldstream the ad. winter HARRIS' SPARROW was again
seen (MC). Also in Coldstream, the Coldstream Ranch produced a RUSTY
BLACKBIRD (JQ).

In Summerland, a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen flying over Cartwright Mtn at
2:00 PM (LRock), and on Dec 12, an imm. female GYRFALCON was observed
devouring a MALLARD near Illahie Camp in Trout Ck (BD).

Two interesting sparrow species were tallied on the Penticton count,
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (AB) and SAVANNAH SPARROW (DB).

Over 100 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were counted within Penticton and on Reservoir
Road, E. of Penticton, 6 BOREAL CHICKADEES and 2 PINE GROSBEAKS were at km
11 (DCa).

In Kelowna, a MEW GULL was seen along Cameron Avenue, which represents a
count week record for their CBC (BC) and a HARRIS' SPARROW was found at 3390
East Kelowna Road (SB).


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; DW - Don Wilson; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; MF
- Mike Force; JQ - John Quirk; PG - Phil Gehlen; CG - Calvin Gehlen; BD -
Blake Dixon; LRock - Laurie Rockwell; MC - Mary Collins; GD - Gary Davidson;
BC - Bill Cutfield; SB - Sylvia Blackburn; AB - Andy Bezener; DCa - Dick
Cannings; JB - Jim Bryan; CS - Chris Siddle.


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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