Subject: [Tweeters] Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Nov 20 update.
Date: Nov 20 19:49:50 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 Satuday, November 20 - 10:00 PM update


Featured Birds include:

NORTHERN HAWK-OWL (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned:

MEW GULL
Barred Owl
GLAUCOUS GULL
CATTLE EGRET
Great Horned Owl
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
PACIFIC LOON
RED-THROATED LOON
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Wilson's Warbler
Prairie Falcon
Merlin
Lewis's Woodpecker
Wilson's Warbler


Sightings for November 20

A NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was found along Silver Star Road, E. of Vernon
(CS,MF,CC). The bird was found at the intersection of Silver Star Road and
Aspen Road (approx a third of the way up the mountain). It was actively
hunting along the road side and in open spaces in that area. Also there was
an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK (CC,CS,MF).

At the mouth of Vernon Creek was a first year MEW GULL (CC,MF,CS,MG).


Sightings for November 14

In Vernon, a first basic GLAUCOUS GULL was at the mouth of Vernon Ck (DC).
The Lesser Black-backed Gull was not seen, however.

A BARRED OWL and 3 GREAT HORNED OWLS were seen in the tree farm on Bench Row
Road on the Vernon Commonage (CC,CoC).

Outside of the valley, a flock of CATTLE EGRETS were seen along Hwy 5A near
Princeton (fide MS). Birders in the Okanagan should be on the lookout for
these birds which are appearing in good numbers across WA and BC.


Sightings for November 13

A PACIFIC LOON was seen off the Rotary Marshes in downtown Kelowna
(CC,MP,JG).

The adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again seen at the mouth of Vernon Ck
in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon on November 12 (DC).

In the Ellison area of Kelowna, two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were along Lakha
Road at Lipkovitz Road in the weeds on the W. side of the road on Nov 13
(CC).

On November 12, a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was seen along Black Sage Road, about 1
km N. of the Southern Plus Feedlot (CC,MP,JG). This woodpecker was chased by
a leucistic MERLIN!

At the Throne near Road 22, N. of Osoyoos, a PRAIRIE FALCON was seen on the
12th (CC,MP,JG). An immature YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen in the Road 22
area on Nov 13 (DB,ED).

On Vaseux Lake, the RED-THROATED LOON continues (CC,MP,JP), while along the
boardwalk, a male WILSON'S WARBLER was seen on Nov 10 (LN).

An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was along the Okanagan Lake shoreline in Penticton on
November 11 (RM,TF).

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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; DC - Don Cecile; MF - Mike
Force; LN - Laure Neish; ED - Eva Durance; DB - Doug Brown; JG - Jose
Gagnon; MP - Mireille Poulin; RM - Richard Mooney; TF - Trevor Forder; MS -
Madelaine Schouten; CoC - Connor Charlesworth; MG - Mark Gardiner;

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