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


Sightings for Sunday, December 14 - 9:15 PM update.

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

The Featured Birds Include:

LONG-TAILED DUCK (Vernon)
PRAIRIE FALCON (Vernon)
GLAUCOUS GULL (Vernon)
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER (Vernon)
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Summerland)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Penticton)
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Naramata)


Other birds mentioned include:

Eared Grebe
Thayer's Gull
Mew Gull
Virginia Rail
Western Bluebird
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Western Screech-Owl
GYRFALCON
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
DUNLIN
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD
Killdeer
Trumpeter Swan
Ruddy Duck
Western Meadowlark
Winter Wren
Northern Shrike


Sightings for December 14

Vernon and Penticton held their Christmas Bird Counts today. Vernon tallied
101 species, while Penticton tallied an unofficial 97 species.

In Vernon, the third winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was present at the
mouth of Vernon Ck (PG,TF). Also here were 3 GLAUCOUS GULLS (PG,TF).

Awarded the bird of the count, a PRAIRIE FALCON was found at the Vernon
Landfill on Birnie Road (CS,GD).

On the Mackay's Reservoir, on the Vernon Commonage, was a LONG-TAILED DUCK
(CS,GD).

Along the BX Trail, off Star Road in Vernon, a female BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER was found (CE).

In Penticton, two GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES were found in the Naramata area
(RC).

A probable Canadian high count for WESTERN BLUEBIRD was made, with over a
hundred seen, and near the Summerland Research Station was a MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRD (TL).

Stunning numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, both Audubon's and Myrtle races,
were tallied along the shore of Okanagan Lake, from the marina in Penticton,
northwards with a total of 18 counted (CC,RM,BM,DH,ES).

Along the Esplanade Trail system behind the marina in Penticton, a NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL was observed while it hunted in broad daylight
(CC,RM,BM,DH,ES). In the small ditch behind the tennis court in this area
was a VIRGINIA RAIL (CC,RM,BM,DH,ES). Another VIRGINIA RAIL was found in a
marsh along Munro Road in Summerland (DL).

NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were tallied in good numbers throughout the Penticton
count circle, and a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was found roosting on the West Bench
(DCa,MC).

Seen from the SS. Sicamous was a single EARED GREBE and on the beach between
the Sicamous and the big peach was an adult MEW GULL and an adult THAYER'S
GULL (CC,RM,ES,BM,DH).


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).


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


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; PG -
Phil Gehlen; TF - Trevor Forder; GD - Gary Davidson; CE - Candis Eikerman;
RC - Russ Cannings; TL - Tom Lowery; DH - Donna Heard; BM - Bob Mckay; ES -
Ernie Seronik; DL - David Lane; DCa - Dick Cannings; MC - Margaret Cannings.

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

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