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

Sightings for Saturday, December 21st - 9 PM update

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

Featured birds include:

GLAUCOUS GULL (Vernon)
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER (Ok Falls)
RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Vaseux)

Other birds mentioned:

Ruffed Grouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Canyon Wren
Chukar
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
HARRIS' SPARROW
White-crowned Sparrow
PACIFIC LOON
SWAMP SPARROW
Trumpeter Swan
Northern Shrike
"Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier
Western Grebe
Lesser Scaup


Sightings for December 21st

In Vernon, the first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again at the mouth
of Vernon Ck in the Okanagan Landing area (PG,m.ob). The bird is best seen
between 8 and 9 AM. Also here was a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL (PG).

The Vaseux Lk CBC was held today and the preliminary total is 92 species.

A pair of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen on a private ranch S. of Vaseux Lk
along the Okanagan River (LRo,m.ob).

In a grassy field N. of Vaseux Lake, a SHORT-EARED OWL was found on the W.
side of the Okanagan River (RT,RC).

Along Dutton Ck Road, off Shuttleworth Ck Road, E. of Okanagan Falls, a
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was reported, and a BARRED OWL was at km 11 on the
Shuttleworth Road (DB).

A hike up Irrigation Ck Road, E. of Vaseux Lake, produced 14 WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES, a RUFFED GROUSE, 8 CANYON WRENS, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and 8
CHUKAR, which were near the Vaseux Cliffs (CC,RM,LN).


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).

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).


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; AS - Andy
Stepniewski; ES - Ellen Stepniewski; TH - Todd Heakes; DW - Don Wilson; PG -
Phil Gehlen; LRo - Laurie Rockwell; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; RC - Russel
Cannings; DB - Doug Brown; LN - Laure Neish; RM - Richard Mooney.


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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