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

Sightings for Friday, December 20th - midnight update

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

Featured birds include:

GLAUCOUS GULL (Vernon)
HARRIS' SPARROW (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

White-crowned Sparrow
PACIFIC LOON
SWAMP SPARROW
Trumpeter Swan
Northern Shrike
Northern Pygmy Owl
"Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier
Western Grebe
Lesser Scaup
ROCK WREN


Sightings for December 20th

The first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again at the mouth of Vernon
Ck, in Vernon, along with an imm. GLAUCOUS GULL (AS,ES,TH). These gulls are
most reliable between 8 and 9 AM.

Along Lakha Road, in Kelowna's Ellison area, the immature HARRIS' SPARROW
was again seen with numerous WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS near the intersection of
Lakha and Latta Roads (CC,DW,ES,AS,TH).


Sightings for December 19th

While scouting areas for Lake Country's first CBC to be held on Dec 29th, an
observer discovered a SWAMP SPARROW in a tiny cattail marsh at the SE corner
of Wood Lake (CC). From the power plant at Oyama Rd and Woodsdale Road, walk
N. along the tracks. The sparrow was in the cattail marsh on the left, just
before the lake. Also here was an imm. NORTHERN SHRIKE (CC).

Seen from the railroad tracks at the extreme NE corner of Wood Lake was an
adult PACIFIC LOON and two WESTERN GREBES (CC). Three LESSER SCAUP were seen
from the boat launch off Clement Road, at the S. end of Wood Lake (CC).

A NORTHERN PYGMY OWL was reported at Middle Bench Road and East Hill Road in
Lake Country (CC).

In Kelowna's Ellison area, an adult "HARLAN'S" race RED-TAILED HAWK was
being harassed by a typical RED-TAILED HAWK and a NORTHERN HARRIER (CC).

An adult TRUMPETER SWAN was with 18 TUNDRA SWANS at Rotary Beach in Kelowna
(RM).


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).



Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; CS - Chris Siddle; RM - Richard Mooney;
AS - Andy Stepniewski; ES - Ellen Stepniewski; TH - Todd Heakes; DW - Don
Wilson.


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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