Tweeters and Inland NW Birders,

Here is a message that I sent a few minutes ago to several E-mail
groups in BC.

I realize that the NORTHERN HAWK-OWL locality is about 90 miles (145
km) north of the US/Canada border, but it's not inconceivable that one
or more N. Hawk-Owls could show up this winter in N Idaho or E
Washington. Scan those treetops, birders!

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net

_____________________________________________________

Yesterday, Jan. 16, while I was taking part in the Southern Interior
Swan & Eagle Count, I got a big surprise while driving south from
Kamloops on Highway 5A. At the crossing of Droppingwater Creek,
just south of Napier Lake, I found a NORTHERN HAWK-OWL
perched about 20 metres up in a cottonwood, perhaps 100 metres
from the highway. It couldn't possibly have been more conspicuous.
The bird appeared to be scanning for prey, interspersed with short
bouts of preening. It was still in the tree when I left at about 10
AM,
after 15 minutes of wonderful views through the spotting scope.

Here are some more precise directions (in case you don't have a map
that shows Droppingwater Creek). Coming from the north (i.e., from
Kamloops), the spot was 4.2 km past the Jackson ranch, which is at the
north end of Napier Lake. As you continue south along Napier Lake, you
pass the "Empire of Grass" stop of interest near the south end of the
lake, then the highway makes a broad "S" curve, first turning right
(i.e., westward), then back to the left (i.e., southward). The bird
was seen closest just past the first curve, in a row of cottonwoods to
the south along the creek.

Coming from the south, the spot would be 2.3 km past the north end of
Stump Lake, or about 1.9 km past the turnoff to the Stump Lake Ranch.

There was a one-day sighting of a NORTHERN HAWK-OWL late
last year on the road up Mount Silver Star near Vernon. To my
knowledge, this sighting and the Droppingwater Creek sighting
(which are at about the same latitude) are the farthest south
sightings
in BC this winter, although I understand there are a few N. Hawk-Owls
near Williams Lake. However, we have had nothing like the outbreak
of N. Hawk-Owls that Alberta has had this winter, with 40 (yes,
forty!)
reported on one Christmas Bird Count.

I hope this bird sticks around for other birders to see-- it will be a
shame if it doesn't!

Good luck and good birding,

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net