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

Sightings forThursday, December 23 - 10:00 PM update


Featured Birds include:

HARRIS'S SPARROW (Kelowna)
SWAMP SPARROW (Kelowna)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Kelowna)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

BLUE JAY
Northern Goshawk
Wood Duck
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Pygmy-Owl
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
GYRFALCON
SABINE'S GULL
GLAUCOUS GULL
DUNLIN
BARN SWALLOW
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
RUSTY BLACKBIRD
American Tree Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Thayer's Gull
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Three-toed Woodpecker

Sightings for December 23

An imm. HARRIS'S SPARROW was found in the extensive weedy field on E. side
of the new Capital News Sports Centre on Gordon Road in Kelowna (CC). It was
in the company of about 20 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.

At Munson's Pond in Kelowna, the SWAMP SPARROW was again seen. From the west
end of Munson's Road, walk W. along the dyke, past the grove of willows then
turn N. and search for the sparrow along the dyke that backs on to the
housing complex.

On the 22nd, the imm. CHIPPING and the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were again
seen at the end of Aspen Road off Lakeshore Road in the Kelowna Mission
(MF).


Sightings for December 21

The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and the CHIPPING SPARROW were at the end of Aspen
Road off Lakeshore Road in the Okanagan Mission (CC,RT). The birds seem to
frequent the brushy hillside at the end of the cul-de-sac.

In Okanagan Mountain Park an imm. NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL
were found (CC,RT).

An adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 5 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and 2 WOOD DUCKS were
found along Mission Creek upstream from Casorso Road (DW,RT).

At Munson's Pond a SWAMP SPARROW was discovered (RT,DW). From the W. end of
Munson's Road walk W. along the ditch and you'll come to a large grove of
willows. The SWAMP SPARROW was in the weedy field on the N. side of these
willows.

A BLUE JAY has been frequenting the McIver Road area of Glenrosa (MF).


Sightings for December 19

A number of Christmas Bird Counts were held in the Southern Interior of BC
on the 19th. Most areas experienced high winds, undoubtedly bringing count
totals down from previous years.

The Vernon CBC tallied 90 species. Highlights included a CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEE on Silver Star Mountain (fide PG), an AMERICAN THREE-TOED
WOODPECKER in the BX Creek area and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near Swan Lake
(fide PG). A HARRIS'S SPARROW was also tallied at a feeder (fide RT).

The Penticton count, with 93 species, had a SABINE'S GULL on the Okanagan
River Channel (ED). Other highlights included a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE on
the West Bench (DCa), single THAYER'S and GLAUCOUS GULLS on the Okanagan
Lake waterfront (DB) and 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS at the Penticton Yacht
Club (DB).

The Salmon Arm count tallied 74 species, with highlights including a
LINCOLN'S SPARROW and 5 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS near the entrance gate to the
Christmas Island Trail (CC).

Kamloops had 77 species with a number of highlights including a
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, a GYRFALCON, 5 DUNLIN, 2 BARN SWALLOWS and a RUSTY
BLACKBIRD (fide RH).


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Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; MF - Mike Force; DCa -Dick Cannings;
ED - Eva Durance; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; PG - Phil Gehlen; RH - Rick Howie; DB
- Doug Brown; DW - Don Wilson;


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