Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Jan 5 update
Date: Jan 5 23:54:16 2003
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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

Sightings for Sunday, January 5th - 11:30 PM update.

Featured birds include:

HARRIS' SPARROW (Kelowna)
SWAMP SPARROW (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Northern Shrike
Marsh Wren
Three-toed Woodpecker
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
LONG-TAILED DUCK
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN
PRAIRIE FALCON
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Virginia Rail
Canyon Wren
Golden Eagle
Redhead
Canvasback
Greater Scaup


Sightings for January 5th

In Kelowna, the SWAMP SPARROW, a MARSH WREN and an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE
were seen in the weedy fields behind Thomson-Brook Pond on Gordon Road (HV).

The immature HARRIS' SPARROW continues to be seen at Munson's Pond in
Kelowna (HV).

The Princeton CBC, held on the 4th, tallied unnoficially 50 species,
including a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER at August (??) Lake (LRo,ED).


Sightings for January 3rd

In the South Okanagan, a PRAIRIE FALCON was seen along Black Sage Road, at
306th Ave (CC,CS,HB) and probably the same bird was also seen at Willow
Beach on the N. shore of Osoyoos Lake (DB).

Two SWAMP SPARROWS were found N. of Vaseux Lake, at the banding station
site. Also here was a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and a VIRGINIA RAIL (CC,CS,HB).
Another SWAMP SPARROW was S. of Road 22, along the E. dyke on the north side
of the cattle pasture (CC,CS,HB).

The female LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen on Osoyoos Lake, on the N. side of
Haynes Point, as was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (CC,CS,HB).

At the south end of Lakeshore Drive in Osoyoos, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE was with a large flock of CANADA GEESE (DB).

Along the lower reaches of Irrigation Ck Road, E. of Vaseux Lake, a GOLDEN
EAGLE and 5 CANYON WRENS were tallied (CC,CS,HB).


Sightings for January 2nd

While cross country skiing on trails W. of Penticton, near Apex Mountain, a
few lucky observers found a WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN (HB,ED).

Along Lakha Road, at its intersection with Latta Road in Kelowna's Ellison
area, the imm. HARRIS' SPARROW was again seen (CC,CS). Also along Lakha
Road, about 50 m. S. of Lipkovitz Road, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW was discovered
(CC,CS).

A SWAMP SPARROW, discovered on the Lake Country CBC on Dec 29 was again
present along the railroad tracks on the E. side of Wood Lake (CC,CS). From
the foot of Crawford Road walk S. about 500 meters along the tracks and
watch for a small marsh on the W. side of the tracks. Two were present here
on the 29th.

A large raft of ducks numbering approximately 1200 birds was seen off
Manhattan Point in Kelowna. The flock consisted of about 700 REDHEADS, 200
GREATER SCAUP, 50 CANVASBACKS and other mixed waterfowl (HV).


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; DB - Doug Brown; CS - Chris Siddle; HV -
Hank Vanderpol; HB - Heather Bryan; ED - Eva Durance; LRo - Laurie Rockwell.


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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