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

Sightings for Friday, December 27th - 1 PM update.


Featured birds include:

EURASIAN WIGEON (Kelowna)
DUNLIN (Osoyoos)
RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Osoyoos)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Osoyoos)
HARRIS' SPARROW (Kelowna)


Other birds mentioned:

Trumpeter Swan
Killdeer
GLAUCOUS GULL
LONG-TAILED DUCK
SWAMP SPARROW
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
Black-backed Woodpecker
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
Ruffed Grouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Canyon Wren
Chukar
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl


Sightings for December 27th

In the South Okanagan, a single DUNLIN was with a KILLDEER at the N. end of
Osoyoos Lake, on a sandbar on the 26th (DB). Also on the 26th along the west
dyke of the Okanagan River, S. of Road 22, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was with a
flock of other blackbirds and LINCOLN'S SPARROW was S. of Road 21, along the
railroad grade (DB).

In Kelowna, two TRUMPETER SWANS and a EURASIAN WIGEON were at Kinsmen Park
on the 26th (BC).

The HARRIS' SPARROW was again seen at 3390 East Kelowna Road on Christmas
Day and on Boxing Day (SB).


Sightings for December 22nd

At the mouth of Vernon Ck, in Vernon was a second yr GLAUCOUS GULL
(DC,CS,JL,DT), however, the Lesser Black-backed Gull couldn't be found.

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).


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; 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; BC - Bill Cutfield; SB - Sylvia
Blackburn;


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.

_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail&xAPID=42&PS=47575&PI=7324&DI=7474&SU=
http://www.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/getmsg&HL=1216hotmailtaglines_addphotos_3mf