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

Sightings for Saturday, December 11 - 11:00 PM update


Featured Birds include:

GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Kelowna)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Wilson's Snipe
Lesser Scaup
Barrow's Goldeneye
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
White-winged Crossbill
BOREAL OWL
MCKAY'S BUNTING
GLAUCOUS GULL


Sightings for December 11

An adult WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at a feeder along Black Road in Ellison
(TF,RM,MF). Call Trevor at 870-6617 for permission to see the bird.

Also in Ellison, there were at least 4 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS along Lakha
Road at Lipkovitz Road (CC,RT).

At the Chichester Bird Sanctuary, 2 WILSON'S SNIPE were flushed from a ditch
at the E. end of the sanctuary (CC).

The GYRFALCON and the imm. NORTHERN GOSHAWK were again at the Marshall's
Feedlot on Hwy 97, S. of McCurdy Road in Kelowna (CS).

3 LESSER SCAUP were at Shannon Lake in Westbank (BC) and 2 were at Belgo
Pond in Kelowna (CC,RT). Also there were 3 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES (CC,RT).


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.


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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; MF - Mike Force; RM - Richard
Mooney; TF - Trevor Forder; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; CS - Chris Siddle; RTo -
Rick Toochin; BC - Bill Cutfield.

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