Tweeters.

Yesterday, I spent the whole day birding the upper Nicola Valley near
Merritt, B.C. while taking part in the BC Interior Swan & Eagle Count.
(This was done with advance approval from Rick Howie, the count
organizer, because I have to drive to Vancouver today.) The weather
was good-- partly cloudy in the morning, high overcast in the
afternoon, with winds calm to light all day (maximum 10 km/hour on
Nicola Lake).

First of all-- the swan and eagle count results:

Trumpeter Swan-- 9 birds (8 adults, 1 imm.), all on Nicola Lake
Tundra Swan-- 3 adults, Nicola Lake near Harmon Estates

Bald Eagle-- total of 16 birds (10 adults and 6 imm.), as follows:

South end of Napier Lake-- 1 adult
Stump Lake-- 1 adult feeding on a large carcass (species?) on the
lake, with 6 Ravens
Nicola Lake-- 8 birds (5 adults, 3 imm.) at various points
Nicola River from Nicola Lake Dam to Merritt-- 6 birds (3 adults, 3
imm.)

No swans or eagles were seen in the Douglas Lake area, which I had to
cover in a bit of a hurry late in the day. Also, no MUTE SWANS or
GOLDEN EAGLES were seen.

Other birds of interest seen during the day:

EARED GREBE-- One still present on Nicola Lake near Harmon Estates,
where 3 were seen on the Merritt CBC. The small size, thin neck,
"smudgy" black cheek, and thin, upturned bill were noted. This is the
first January record for the Nicola Valley.

GADWALL-- Much larger numbers than I've ever seen in January before:
a flock of 53 at "Pennask Bay" (2 km E of Quilchena) and a flock of
30 near Harmon Estates, both with much smaller numbers of AMERICAN
WIGEON. Also, one with coots on Stump Lake.

RUDDY DUCK-- Three females present just off the Nicola Lake rest
area. Very rare in winter in the valley.

REDHEAD-- A group of 4 birds (two males, two females) present with a
few GREATER SCAUP at the north end of Nicola Lake. Also very rare in
winter.

AMERICAN COOT-- 180 still present on Stump Lake, in a tiny unfrozen
area; also, 2 flocks of 40 and 21 on Nicola Lake.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW-- At least three in shrubbery near the Nicola
River mouth on Nicola Lake. No sign of the HARRIS'S SPARROW I saw here
in December, but it is likely still in the area.

NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL-- One posed for me in a cottonwood along the Nicola
Lake shoreline, at the first pulloff west of Quilchena.

MOURNING DOVE--- 19 at Harmon Estates, near the feeders (probably
only a fraction of those in the area).

AMERICAN KESTREL-- One male on a telephone pole near the junction of
the Douglas Lake Road and Lauder Road. This appears to be one of only
2 Kestrels wintering in the valley (the other is near the Merritt
airport).

AMERICAN DIPPER-- Four present on the Nicola River just below the
dam.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING-- A flock of about 200 feeding on rose hips in the
grasslands a short distance west of Douglas Lake-- the biggest flock
I've seen this winter (and only my 4th sighting).


Mammal sightings were as follows:

RIVER OTTER-- 4 swimming far out in Nicola Lake near the north end.

COYOTE-- 3 seen sauntering across the ice on frozen Separation Lake
near Kamloops; one heard yapping at the "Rail pond" near the south
end of Napier Lake; one ran across the Douglas Lake road.


Nicola Lake was 100% open, except for the very shallow westernmost 4
km; Douglas Lake was 80% open; and Stump Lake still had some small
open areas, but was 98% frozen. This is more open water than normal in
mid-January.

Good luck and good birding to all, especially the swan and eagle
counters trying to contend with today's snowstorm!

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops, BC
contopus at shaw.ca