Subject: [Tweeters] Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Dec 10 update
Date: Dec 10 22:14:17 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Bird Alert (250-491-7738), sponsored by
Avocet Tours.

Sightings for Friday, December 10 - 10:00 PM update


Featured Birds include:

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Westbank)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (Westbank)


Other birds mentioned:

BOREAL OWL
MCKAY'S BUNTING
GLAUCOUS GULL
Northern Goshawk
PACIFIC LOON
EURASIAN WIGEON
HARRIS'S SPARROW
Rough-legged Hawk
American Tree Sparrow


Sightings for December 10

The adult basic LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL that has been in Vernon this winter
was found today at Shannon Lake in Westbank amongst other gulls (MF).
Overhead at this location was a small flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS (MF).

The GYRFALCON was again seen at Marshall's Feedlot on Hwy 97 in N. Kelowna
on the 8th of December (TF).


Sightings for December 5

A roosting BOREAL OWL was at the tree farm on Bench Row Road on the Vernon
Commonage (RM,TF,m.ob). It was in the coniferous trees near the entrance
gate. Also in the area were at least 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS.

At the Kelowna Landfill on Glenmore Road was a first year GLAUCOUS GULL
(CC).

An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was at Marshall's Feedlot along Hwy 97 in N.
Kelowna (CS).

In Vancouver, a winter plumage male MCKAY'S BUNTING was found near the tip
of the Iona Jetty (fide RTo). This bird was seen on the afternoon of the 4th
and again on the morning of the 5th. Call the Vancouver Bird Alert for more
information at (604) 737-3074.


Sightings for November 28

In Vernon, the adult winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again at the mouth
of Vernon Creek in Okanagan Landing (MF,DC).

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at the N. end of Duck Lake in Kelowna (JM).

A male EURASIAN WIGEON and a PACIFIC LOON were seen from the provincial
campsite at Vaseux Lake (TF,RT,CC,RM).

At Road 22, the imm. HARRIS'S SPARROW was again seen (RM,TF,RT,CC). It was
along the E. dyke, S. of Road 22, approx. 100 meters S. of the bridge.

Large numbers of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen along the S. end of Black
Sage Road near Osoyoos (CC,RM,RT,TF).



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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; DC - Don Cecile; MF - Mike
Force; RM - Richard Mooney; TF - Trevor Forder; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; JM -
James McGregor; CS - Chris Siddle; RTo - Rick Toochin;

If you have any questions about Okanagan birding call Dick Cannings, in
Naramata, at (250) 496-4019, Chris Charlesworth in Kelowna (250) 718-0335,
or Phil Gehlen, in Vernon at (250) 542-8053.

Chris Charlesworth
Avocet Tours
725 Richards Road
Kelowna, BC, Canada
V1X 2X5
(250) 718-0335
c_charlesworth at avocettours.com
www.avocettours.com