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

Sightings for Sunday, January 19th - 9:30 PM update.

Featured birds include:

GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
BOREAL CHICKADEE (Big White)
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (Joe Rich)

Other birds mentioned:

Pine Grosbeak
Varied Thrush
Evening Grosbeak
Three-toed Woodpecker
Barred Owl
GREAT GRAY OWL
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Red Crossbill
Northern Shoveler
Gray Partridge
Lewis' Woodpecker
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
GLAUCOUS GULL
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Bohemian Waxwing
Canada Goose
Hairy Woodpecker
Townsend's Solitaire
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Brown Creeper


Sightings for January 19th

In the Rutland area of Kelowna, a GYRFALCON was seen in flight over the
Chichester Bird Sanctuary, and was later relocated at the Marshall's Feedlot
on Hwy 97, S. of McCurdy Road (CC,CoC)

At the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary in downtown Kelowna, an adult TRUMPETER
SWAN was with 14 TUNDRA SWANS and at the Woodhaven Nature Conservancy in the
Mission area of Kelowna, were 4 VARIED THRUSHES and 2 WINTER WRENS (CC,CoC).

At Big White Village, a BOREAL CHICKADEE and a pair of PINE GROSBEAKS were
seen at a feeder and along Philpott Road, in Joe Rich, E. of Kelowna, 2
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, 13 EVENING GROSBEAKS and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
were seen (TF).


Sightings for January 18th

East of Okanagan Falls, at km 13.5 on the Venner Meadows Road, off the
Shuttleworth Ck Road, a BARRED OWL was seen at noon, while two hours later a
GREAT GRAY OWL was at the same location (DB).

The Lewis' Woodpecker was again on a wooden telephone pole at Powell Beach
Park in Summerland's Trout Ck (CC,CS,SS).

On the 17th, 10 GRAY PARTRIDGE were in the small grove of coniferous trees
on Allan Brooks Way on the Vernon Commonage (HV).

Twelve NORTHERN SHOVELERS were at the North Arm of Okanagan Lake, near Kin
Beach, in Vernon (HV).

Along Westside Road, between Kelowna and Vernon, four NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS
were tallied and in Fintry Provincial Park, 2 VARIED THRUSHES, 50 RED
CROSSBILLS and all three nuthatch species, including 2 WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES were seen (HV).

The male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was again at Cooper Road and Hwy 97 in
Kelowna, perched atop the Burger King sign (CC).


Sightings for January 16th

In Okanagan Mountain Park, near Kelowna, 5 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were seen
along the gravel road that runs through the park (CC,GW,m.ob). Other birds
noted in the park were a PILEATED WOODPECKER, 2 BROWN CREEPERS, a
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 9 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES and 3 HAIRY WOODPECKERS
(CC).

Ten BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were at a vineyard along Lakeshore Road, in Kelowna,
just S. of Avery Road (CC).

At the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
was seen with CANADA GEESE and an adult GLAUCOUS GULL was reported from
there as well (HV).

Four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were at the end of Penno Road in Kelowna (HV).

At Powell Beach Park, in the Trout Ck area of Summerland, a LEWIS'
WOODPECKER was observed as it inspected cracks and crevices on a wooden
telephone pole (CC).



Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; HV - Hank
Vanderpol; DB - Doug Brown; SS - Sonja Siddle; TF - Trevor Forder; CoC
-Connor Charlesworth.


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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