Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - December 13 update
Date: Dec 13 22:16:27 2003
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert (250-491-7738).


Sightings for Saturday, December 13 - 10:00 PM update.

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

The Featured Birds Include:

GLAUCOUS GULL (Vernon)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Kelowna)
DUNLIN (Kelowna)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Killdeer
Trumpeter Swan
Ruddy Duck
Western Meadowlark
Eared Grebe
Winter Wren
Northern Pygmy-Owl
American Dipper
Northern Shrike
Three-toed Woodpecker
Rough-legged Hawk
ICELAND GULL
GREAT GRAY OWL
Common Redpoll
Western Grebe
Yellow-rumped Warbler


-- Christmas Bird Counts

Although the Penticton and Vernon CBCs are on the 14th, don't forget to
report any rare sightings in these areas until the 17th, since they will
count as "count period" birds. The Kelowna CBC is on December 20, call Chris
Charlesworth at 250-718-0335 to take part.


Sightings for December 13

In Vernon, at the mouth of Vernon Ck, the third winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL continues, and today 2 ad. and 1 first year GLAUCOUS GULLS were present
also (DC,CS).

Northern Pygmy-Owls seem to be staging a mini-invasion into the valley
bottom as the snow begins to build at higher locations. On the 11th, one was
in Kelowna along Mission Ck (LR), and on the 13th, there was one on
Hollywood Road South, in Kelowna, at the first switchback S. from East
Kelowna Road (CC) and another was at the entrance to the BX Trails in Vernon
on Star Road. Also along BX Trail was a WINTER WREN (CS).

The GYRFALCON was again seen at the Marshall's Feedlot along the W. side of
Hwy 97 at McCurdy Road, in Kelowna (HV).

Three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen in flight over Enterprise Way in
Kelowna and another was with many CANADA GEESE in fields along Cornish Road
in Rutland (HV). Also along Cornish Road was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE (CC).
Other single NORTHERN SHRIKES were along Bulman Road, at the S. end of the
Kelowna Airport, and at Acland Rd and Hereron Road in Kelowna (HV).

The EARED GREBE continues at Sutherland Park in Kelowna's North End (HV).

On December 11, 2 DUNLIN were sighted at the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary in
Kelowna (LR) while a visit on the 13th produced just a KILLDEER (HV).

The ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD continues to frequent feeders along Drummond Court,
off Barnaby Road in the Upper Mission area of Kelowna. The bird has been
reported visiting feeders at 665 and 680 Drummond Court (fide CC).

Nine WESTERN MEADOWLARKS continue in the horse pasture at Old Vernon Road
and Lindley Road, near the Kelowna Airport (HV) and 2 AMERICAN DIPPERS were
along Mission Ck in Kelowna, at the East Kelowna Bridge (CC).

Along the Okanagan Lake waterfront in Penticton, 5 TRUMPETER SWANS were seen
near the SS Sicamous and a female RUDDY DUCK was reported at the marina on
Dec 12 (LRo,ED).


Sightings for December 10

In Vernon, a third year LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was discovered in the large
gull roost at the mouth of Vernon Creek in the Okanagan Landing area (DC).

In Kelowna, six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were reported along the Kelowna
waterfront, at both the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary and Rotary Marsh (HV).

A WINTER WREN was noted along Fascieux Creek in Kelowna, near Casorso Road
(JL).

Three AMERICAN DIPPERS were counted along Mission Creek in Kelowna, between
Gordon Road and Casorso Road (HV).

Along Gordon Road, just S. of Casorso Road, was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (HV).

At the McCulloch Cross Country Ski area, SE. of Kelowna, 3 THREE-TOED
WOODPECKERS were seen foraging in the woods near the main cabin (DW). In an
interesting mammal sighting, 4 LYNX were noted by observers while skiing the
trails (DW,m.ob).


Sightings for December 7

The GYRFALCON was again seen at the Marshall's Feedlot along the W. side of
Hwy 97, at McCurdy Road in Kelowna (HV).

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were noted at various locations around Kelowna.
Two were off Rotary Beach with CANADA GEESE, and single birds were noted at
Maude Roxby (HV) and in a field along Benvoulin Road at Laurence Road
(CC,RM).

On Dec 6, the adult ICELAND GULL was again seen with large numbers of gulls
at the Mouth of Vernon Creek in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon
(CC,CS,DW,RM). A late YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was in the trees along the creek
at the same location (CC,CS,RM,DW) and 8 WESTERN GREBES were counted
offshore also (CC,RM,DW,CS). Along the shore at the Mouth of Vernon Creek
was a single KILLDEER (CC,CS,RM,DW).

A small flock of COMMON REDPOLLS flew over the tree farm on Bench Row Road
on Dec 6 (CC,CS,RM,DW), while a single bird was heard overhead at
Thompson-Brook Pond on Gordon Road in Kelowna (CC,RM). Also at
Thompson-Brook Pond was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE (CC,RM).

In Kelowna, the EARED GREBE continues on Okanagan Lake at Sutherland Park
(HV).

In a late report for November 30, a GREAT GRAY OWL was seen at the McCulloch
Cross Country Ski Trails near Kelowna (fide DW). Also on the 30th, a GREAT
GRAY OWL was seen W. of Penticton near the Nickleplate Cross Country Ski
Trails (fide LRo).


----------------------------------------------------------


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; CS - Chris Siddle; RM - Richard
Mooney; DW - Don Wilson; HV - Hank Vanderpol; LRo - Laurie Rockwell; DC -
Don Cecile; JL - Judy Latta; LR - Lesley Robertson; ED - Eva Durance.

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.


CHRIS CHARLESWORTH
AVOCET TOURS
725 RICHARDS ROAD
KELOWNA, BC, CANADA
V1X 2X5
WWW.AVOCETTOURS.COM
C_CHARLESWORTH at AVOCETTOURS.COM

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus&pgmarket=en-ca&RU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin.msn.com%2f%3fpage%3dmisc%2fspecialoffers%26pgmarket%3den-ca