Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Feb 12 update
Date: Feb 12 21:00:50 2003
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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

Sightings for Wednesday, February 12th - 9:00 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT continues for LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Vernon)

Featured birds include:

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Kelowna)
BOREAL CHICKADEE (Big White)

Other birds mentioned:

Bohemian Waxwing
Pine Grosbeak
Ruffed Grouse
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
HARRIS' SPARROW
Mallard
Western Meadowlark
Wood Duck
Golden Eagle
Bald Eagle
Western Bluebird


Sightings for Feb 12

The first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL continues at the Mouth of Vernon
Ck in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon (DC).

E. of Kelowna, along the Big White Road, 5 km from Hwy 33 a BOREAL CHICKADEE
was found (CC,CP).

Along McCulloch Road, S. of Kelowna, two female PINE GROSBEAKS and a RUFFED
GROUSE were seen (CC,CP).

An adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was with large numbers of CANADA GEESE
at Munson's Pond in Kelowna (CC,CP).

The male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was again at the intersection of Hwy 97 and
Cooper Road in Kelowna (CC,CP).

Seventy BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were along Lakeshore Road, in Kelowna's Mission
area, near the intersection of Avery Road (CC,CP).


Sightings for Feb 11

The first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again present at the mouth of
Vernon Ck, in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon on Feb 10 (DC).

A HARRIS' SPARROW was discovered on Kelowna's Westside, in the bushes at the
Sunnyside entrance to Kalamoir Park (EF).

The female WOOD DUCK was seen with MALLARDS at the Fascieux Ck Wetlands on
Casorso Road in Kelowna (CC).

On the 10th, 5 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were in the weedy field behind
Thomson-Brook Pond, S. of Mission Ck, on Gordon Drive in Kelowna (CC,DW).

Three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at the traditional wintering location in a
horse pasture along Old Vernon Road, at Lindley Road in Kelowna's Ellison
area on the 9th (TF).


Sightings for Feb 9

In Vernon, the first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was relocated at the
mouth of Vernon Creek at approx. 8 AM (DC).

On Feb 8, 4 GOLDEN EAGLES and 7 BALD EAGLES were along Hwy 3 in the
Similkameen Valley, S. of Cawston (CC,m.ob).

Two WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were at the Haynes Lease Ecological Reserve, near Road
22, N. of Osoyoos (CC,m.ob).

At 4 PM on Friday, Feb 7th, 2 GREATER-WHITE FRONTED GEESE were in a field
near Robert Lake in Kelowna (LR,m.ob). The birds were in the field,
surrounded by a white wooden fence, on the W. side of Valley Road, just
before Robert Lake.



Observers - BC - Bill Cutfield; CC - Chris Charlesworth; DW - Don Wilson;
LR - Lesley Robertson; DC - Don Cecile; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; Elke Fischer;
CP - Cheri Pillsbury.

If you have any questions about Okanagan Valley birding, contact Chris
Charlesworth (250) 718-0335, Dick Cannings at (250) 496-4019, or Phil Gehlen
(250) 542-8053.

This update has been sponsored by the TUMBLEWEED NATURE STORE at 67 Front St
in Penticton.

Thanks for calling the bird alert and happy birding.

TRANSCRIBED BY:

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

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