Post by paulos on Dec 24, 2018 5:40:00 GMT -8
On Saturday I took a little jaunt up to the Nicola Valley and nearby hills. My first stops were along Nicola Lake. There were lots of Bohemian Waxwings (and a single Cedar Waxwing), and a few ducks and swans. I was surprised by three Townsend's Solitaires. Further up I found a lone American Tree Sparrow along the shore (only my second sighting of one), and a lone calling Common Redpoll. I was about to turn up Pennask Lake Road into the grasslands when I saw some activity in a dead end road along the lake. Expecting them to be more Redpolls, I pulled onto the road. I was surprised to find they were dozens of American Tree Sparrows! One call stood out and I noticed a darker skulking sparrow in the bushes, which turned out to be a Swamp Sparrow. I got a count of 58 Tree Sparrows as they flew over a frozen pond in small groups (my third through sixtieth sighting).
I took some of the roads up into the grasslands east of Quilchena, near Douglas Lake. I was hoping to find some Sharp-tailed Grouse, but no such luck. There were lots of raptors, particularly Rough-Legged Hawks, and a Northern Shrike.
Around Merritt and the Coldwater Valley I found another Townsend's Solitaire, Mountain Chickadees, a Red Crossbill and some other usual suspects.
Peace!
I took some of the roads up into the grasslands east of Quilchena, near Douglas Lake. I was hoping to find some Sharp-tailed Grouse, but no such luck. There were lots of raptors, particularly Rough-Legged Hawks, and a Northern Shrike.
Around Merritt and the Coldwater Valley I found another Townsend's Solitaire, Mountain Chickadees, a Red Crossbill and some other usual suspects.
Peace!
