Subject: Birding on the Vernon Commonage - Feb 19
Date: Feb 19 18:07:21 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


Birders,

Richard Mooney and I birded along the Vernon Commonage today, and we enjoyed
awesome weather and some nice birding. We spent most of our time on the
Vernon Commonage, and also made a quick stop at the N. end of Okanagan Lake,
at Ok Landing.

Our first stop was along Bailey Road, in the aspens approx .4 km from Hwy
97. Soon after getting out of the van I located a GREAT HORNED OWL roosting
in a large willow. Not long after the second GREAT HORNED was located in an
aspen. An uncommon sound, a singing NORTHERN SHRIKE, was also enjoyed here.
The shrike eventually flew into the sky and hovered repeatedly before
chasing one of the GREAT HORNEDS up slope.

We then continued along Commonage Road, stopping at Thompson Lake where we
had good numbers of birds such as MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, SONG SPARROWS, DOWNY WOODPECKER,
NORTHERN FLICKER and STELLER'S JAY.
A brief stop about 1 km W. of Thompson Lake produced a male and female
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH!

We then explored some new roads that run to the S. of Commonage Road. Along
Charolaise Road we saw another probably NORTHERN SHRIKE. Along Hereford Road
we were surprised by a flock of 8 PINE GROSBEAKS. 6 were males, 1 was a
female and the other was not identified to sex. I was surprised to see these
birds at such a low elevation. They were feeding on the cones of a Douglas
Fir along with a small group of RED CROSSBILLS. Also along Hereford Road was
a BROWN CREEPER.

We backtracked to Rose's Pond where we spotted a cow carcass being eaten by
two BALD EAGLES. A second year BAEA was ripping into the carcass while a
fourth year watched from a few feet away. Moments later an adult came
ripping through and chased off the second year bird.

Our next stop was a brief one at the Mouth of Vernon Ck to scan the
waterfront. We added 18 species to the day list including CANVASBACK,
RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER SCAUP, HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS, AMERICAN
COOT, COMMON LOON, HORNED GREBE, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, HERRING,
GLAUCOUS-WINGED, CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, REDHEAD
etc.

A walk through the treefarm on Bench Row Road produced another GREAT HORNED
OWL, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, numerous RED-TAILED HAWKS a female DOWNY
WOODPECKER.

Richard got great photos of the Bald Eagle and the Great Horned Owl which
I've placed in the BCINTBIRD photo file.

Sincerely,

Chris Charlesworth
Avocet Tours
Kelowna, BC
www.avocettours.com

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