This is the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Rare Bird Alert
(250)491-7738.

Sightings for Saturday, February 1st - 8:30 PM update.

Featured birds include:

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Kelowna & Osoyoos)
SWAMP SPARROW (Osoyoos)

Other birds mentioned:

Western Bluebird
Wood Duck
Pine Grosbeak
Boreal Chickadee
Northern Pygmy-Owl
American Tree Sparrow
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
LONG-TAILED DUCK
BLUE JAY
BARN SWALLOW
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
"Harlan's" Hawk
American Kestrel
Northern Harrier
Varied Thrush
Ruby-crowned Kinglet


Sightings for February 1st

A pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were reported on Okanagan Lake, at Green
Bay, in Westbank (EF). Another pair were seen in the bay on the north side
of Haynes Point in Osoyoos, and a single female was at the N. end of Osoyoos
Lake (CC,CS,DW,TF).

Unusually common this winter, a SWAMP SPARROW was seen N. of Osoyoos, on the
E. dyke, S. of Road 22 in a tiny marsh at the N. end of the large cattle
pasture (CC,CS,DW). Also here were 3 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS (CC,CS,TF,DW). A
single AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, was at the end of the boarwalk at Haynes Point
Provincial Point in Osoyoos (CC,CS,DW,TF). On the pond at Haynes Point were
two WOOD DUCKS and with a large flock of AMERICAN ROBINS was a single CEDAR
WAXWING (CC,CS,DW,TF).

Fifteen or more WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were along Hwy 97, S. of Summerland
(CC,CS,DW,TF). The birds were perched on telephone wires on the W. side of
the Hwy just N. of the Pyramid Provincial Park.

East of Okanagan Falls, along the Shuttleworth Ck Road, 3 BOREAL CHICKADEES
were at km 23. Along Venner Meadows Road at km 15, up to 18 PINE GROSBEAKS
and a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL were seen. Along the Dutton Ck FSR an additional 2
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were found (CC,CS,DW,TF).


Sightings for January 28th

Two BARN SWALLOWS were present along Road 22, at the bridge over the
Okanagan River (DB).

N. of Oliver along the Okanagan River, 3 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were found
(DB).

The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues near the end of Lakeshore Drive,
on the E. side of Osoyoos Lk in Osoyoos (DB).

At the marsh at Haynes Point, in Osoyoos, a VARIED THRUSH was with AMERICAN
ROBINS in the Russian Olive trees (DB). From the end of Haynes Point, three
WOOD DUCKS were seen and on the N. side of Haynes Point, the LONG-TAILED
DUCK continues (DB).

In Kelowna, the male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was at the intersection of Hwy 97
and Cooper Road (TF) and a raptor survey in the Ellison area produced 2
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 16 RED-TAILED HAWKS, including 1 "HARLAN'S" HAWK, 1
NORTHERN HARRIER and 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS (BC).

A probable BLUE JAY was heard in the Glenrosa area of Westbank near the
intersection of Gorman Road and McIver Road (fide LB).

On the Westside of Kelowna, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was along Bear Ck Road, 100
yards S. of its intersection with Rose Valley Road, in an old orchard (TF).


Sightings for January 27th

An unseasonable BARN SWALLOW was seen along the Okanagan River at Road 22,
N. of Osoyoos (DB). This appears to be the first winter record for the
Okanagan, and possibly for the interior of BC.


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; DB - Doug Brown; TF - Trevor Forder; BC
- Bill Cutfield; Lisa Brown; CS - Chris Siddle; DW - Don Wilson; EF - Elke
Fischer.


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.

Thanks for calling the bird alert and happy birding.

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