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

Sightings for Sunday, December 22nd - 9:30 PM update


Featured birds include:

ICELAND GULL (Vernon)
GLAUCOUS GULL (Vernon)
LONG-TAILED DUCK (Osoyoos)
SWAMP SPARROW (Kelowna)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (Kelowna)
HARRIS' SPARROW (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

MEW GULL
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
Varied Thrush
Black-backed Woodpecker
RUSTY BLACKBIRD
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
Ruffed Grouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Canyon Wren
Chukar
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
HARRIS' SPARROW
White-crowned Sparrow


Sightings for December 22nd

A first winter ICELAND GULL was found at the mouth of Vernon Ck, in Vernon
along with a second yr GLAUCOUS GULL (DC,CS,JL,DT), however, the Lesser
Black-backed Gull couldn't be found.

Three RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and a MEW GULL were at the Head of the Lake in
Vernon, and on the Commonage, a VARIED THRUSH was at the Tree Farm on Bench
Row Road (CS).

The LONG-TAILED DUCK continues on the sewage ponds near the Osoyoos Golf
Course (DB).

In Kelowna, the field behind Thompson-Brook Pond, was inundated with
sparrows. In total, 2 SWAMP SPARROWS, 6 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, 10
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and 80 SONG SPARROWS were found here (CC). This area
is found on the E. side of Gordon Rd, in Kelowna, south of Mission Ck. Walk
behind the wetlands in the weedy fields to find these birds.

An immature HARRIS' SPARROW was found at Munson's Pond in Kelowna (CC).

The male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE continues around the Orchard Park Mall, at the
intersection of Hwy 97 and Cooper Road in Kelowna (DT,JL).


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 and the preliminary total is 93 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).


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; DT - Danny
Tyson; JL - John Luce; DC - Don Cecile; 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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