This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert (250-491-7738).


Sightings for Sunday, January 25 - 7:45 PM update.

The Featured Birds Include:

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Vernon)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
GLAUCOUS GULL (Kelowna)
EVENING GROSBEAK (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Boreal Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pine Grosbeak
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Three-toed Woodpecker
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Northern Harrier
Blue Grouse
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Rough-legged Hawk
Western Meadowlark
Northern Pygmy-Owl
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Winter Wren
Northern Goshawk
Bohemian Waxwing
Golden Eagle


Sightings for January 25

A female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was found, in Vernon on Okanagan Lake at
Okanagan Landing (CS).

SE. of Kelowna, a male THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and a flock of approx. 30
COMMON REDPOLLS were found along McCulloch Road, near it's junction with Hwy
33 (CC,CP). At nearby Idabel Lake, 3 BOREAL CHICKADEES were found (CC,CP).

On Jan 22, a trip to Vaseux Lake produced 46 TRUMPETER SWANS and 5 TUNDRA
SWANS (GW,m.ob). Also noted in the South Okanagan was a male NORTHERN
HARRIER along White Lake Road (GW,m.ob).

The adult GLAUCOUS GULL continues at Rotary Beach, along Lakeshore Road, in
Kelowna (CC,CP).

On Jan 24, the GYRFALCON was briefly seen at the Marshall's Feedlot in
Kelowna (TF). The feedlot is located along the W. side of Hwy 97, just S. of
McCurdy Road.

On Jan 20, a flock of 200 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were noted along McCulloch
Road, between Hwy 33 and the cross country ski trails (HV). Also noted in
this area was a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and 6 PINE GROSBEAKS (HV).

Along Philpott Road, off Hwy 33, E. of Kelowna, 3 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES
and 26 EVENING GROSBEAKS were noted near the green mailboxes at km 4 (HV).


Sightings for January 18

Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were in the horse pasture at the intersection of
Old Vernon Road and Lindley Road in the Ellison area of Kelowna (CC,RM).
Also there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (CC,RM). A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was also
seen at the W. end of Munson's Road, in Kelowna, on January 10 (LR).

A female BLUE GROUSE was found at the N. end of Duck Lake, on the north side
of Kelowna (JM).

On January 17, the GYRFALCON was again observed at the Marshall's Feedlot in
Kelowna (CS,TF). The feedlot is along the W. side of Hwy 97, just S. of the
intersection with McCurdy Road.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are plentiful in the sub-boreal forest along the
upper reaches of McCulloch Road, S. of Kelowna (JL). Numerous birds have
been frequenting the ski trails and the parking lot at the nordic cross
country ski area near McCulloch Lake (JL).

On January 9, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found, with CANADA GEESE,
along Lakeshore Road, in Kelowna, at Cedar Creek Park (RM). Also, further
down Lakeshore Road was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (RM).

3 GREAT HORNED OWLS were at the Ranch Park Mobile Home Park on Jan 17 (CC).
The birds can be seen and heard hooting on a nightly basis in the park.


Sightings for January 11

In Kelowna, the gray morph GYRFALCON continues at Marshall's Feedlot, which
is located along the W. side of Hwy 97 at McCurdy Road (CC).

At the N. end of Osoyoos Lake were 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS (LN,JS,JG) and
at the Southern Plus Feedlot in Oliver were 2 GOLDEN EAGLES and an AMERICAN
TREE SPARROW (LN,JS,JG).

Two GOLDEN EAGLES were also noted at the Vernon Dump on Birnie Road on Jan
10 (BC,TF,GW,HV). At Rose's Pond, on the Vernon Commonage, an imm. GOLDEN
EAGLE was seen on Jan 10 (CC). Also noted on the Vernon Commonage on Jan 10
were up to a dozen ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (TF,BC,GW,HV).

At Old Vernon Road and Lindley Road in Kelowna, 14 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were
feeding in the horse pasture (TF,GW).

Near the intersection of Stuart Road and Boucherie Road on Kelowna's
Westside, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on Jan 7 (TF).

The WINTER WREN was again reported at the Fascieux Creek Wetland, in
Kelowna, along Casorso Road (JL).

A massive flock of 1,000 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were feasting on unpicked grapes
at the Cedar Creek Winery along Lakeshore Road in Kelowna (CC,RY).

Along the Fletcher Challenge Trail at the McCulloch Cross Country Ski
Trails, S. of Kelowna, were 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES and 5 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS (JL).

----------------------------------------------------------


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; RT - Ryan
Tomlinson; CS - Chris Siddle; HV - Hank Vanderpol; TF - Trevor Forder; JG -
Jim Ginns; JS - Jim Shaver; LN - Laure Neish; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; RY -
Robin Yellowlees; BC - Bill Cutfield; JL - Judy Latta; JM - James MacGregor;
CP - Cheri Pillsbury.

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.

CHRIS CHARLESWORTH
AVOCET TOURS
725 RICHARDS ROAD
KELOWNA, BC, CANADA
V1X 2X5
WWW.AVOCETTOURS.COM
C_CHARLESWORTH at AVOCETTOURS.COM

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