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


Sightings for Thursday, December 18 - 9:00 PM update.

The Featured Birds Include:

PACIFIC LOON (Kelowna)
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Kelowna)
SNOW GOOSE (Westbank)
ICELAND GULL (Vernon)
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Vernon)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Kelowna)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (Kelowna)


Other birds mentioned include:

Canada Goose
Eared Grebe
LONG-TAILED DUCK
Prairie Falcon
Glaucous Gull
Black-backed Woodpecker
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Thayer's Gull
Mew Gull
Virginia Rail
Western Bluebird
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Western Screech-Owl

UPCOMING CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

Kelowna - December 20 (call Chris Charlesworth - 250-718-0335)
Vaseux Lake - December 21 (call Dick Cannings - 250-496-4019)
Oliver/Osoyoos - December 27 - (call Dick Cannings " ")
Lake Country - December 28 (call Trevor Forder - 250-765-4082)


Sightings for December 18

In Kelowna, the GYRFALCON was again seen at the Marshall's Feedlot, which is
located along the W. side of Hwy 97, at McCurdy Road (RM).

A PACIFIC LOON was reported on Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, off Manhattan
Point (GW) and the EARED GREBE continues in Sutherland Bay (GW).

Two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were found in the weedy field at Burtch and Byrns
Road in Kelowna (MB,CD,ED).

In Westbank, a SNOW GOOSE was at Shannon Lake (HB) and a GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found with CANADA GEESE along Benvoulin Road in
Kelowna (RM).

The continuing ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD was seen at the feeder at 665 Drummond
Court in the Upper Mission area of Kelowna (DW).

In Vernon, the rare bird alerts continue for the LESSER BLACK-BACKED (3rd
yr) and the ICELAND GULLS (ad). Both of these birds have been reported at
the Mouth of Vernon Creek in the Okanagan Landing area in recent days (DC).


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).


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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; CS - Chris Siddle; RM - Richard
Mooney; DC - Don Cecile; 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; ED - Eileen Dillabough; CD - Cec
Dillabough; MB - Margaret Bryan; DW - Don Wilson; HB - Howard Bryan.

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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