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

Sightings for Sunday, February 23rd - 9:00 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Osoyoos)

Featured birds include:

PACIFIC LOON (Vernon & Kelowna)
BOREAL OWL (Ok Falls)
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Common Loon
Chukar
American Tree Sparrow
Red-breasted Merganser
Western Bluebird
Mew Gull
Trumpeter Swan
Wilson's Snipe
Virginia Rail
Western Meadowlark
Merlin
Boreal Chickadee
Gray Jay
Pine Grosbeak
Barred Owl
Great Horned Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Western Screech-Owl
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
Say's Phoebe
SNOW BUNTING
Canvasback
LONG-TAILED DUCK
GLAUCOUS GULL
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
SWAMP SPARROW
Tundra Swan
Glaucous-winged Gull
Thayer's Gull


Sightings for Feb 23

A YELLOW-BILLED LOON was discovered at the N. end of Osoyoos Lake. The bird,
which was associating with 2 COMMON LOONS was seen from a lookout on Black
Sage Road (CC,DCa,RCa).

At Haynes Point Park, in Osoyoos, at least 4 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were
seen (CC,RCa,DCa).

Spring arrivals at the "Throne" north of Osoyoos, included a WESTERN
MEADOWLARK and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (CC,RCa,DCa).

Along the McLean Ck Road, near Okanagan Falls, a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was
heard, while in the high elevation forests E. of Okanagan Falls, BOREAL,
NORTHERN SAW-WHET, GREAT HORNED, BARRED and NORTHERN-PYGMY OWLS were heard
(CC,DCa,RCa). The BOREAL OWL was at Rabbit Lake, which is at km 22 on the
Shuttleworth Ck Rd, while the BARRED OWL called at km 15 on the Venner
Meadows Road.

At km 23 on Shuttleworth Ck Road, 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES, a GRAY JAY and some
PINE GROSBEAKS were in the woods (CC,RCa,DCa).

CHUKARS were heard and seen at both the Throne and at the Vaseux Cliffs
(CC,DCa,RCa), while up to 5 VIRGINIA RAILS were heard at Hack's Pond on
River Rd, N. of Oliver (CC,RCa,DCa).

Very unusual in the valley, the RICHARDSON'S race of MERLIN, normally found
on the prairies, was along Orchard Grove Road, off Black Sage Road, S. of
Oliver (CC,DCa,RCa).

In Kelowna, at least 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were in the weedy fields
behind Thomson-Brook Ponds (CC,RCa,DCa), and a WILSON'S SNIPE was flushed
from the water's edge here on the 21st (DW,DK,BT).

In Vernon, a PACIFIC LOON was discovered on Okanagan Lake at Paddlewheel
Park (CG,PG), while on the 22nd, one was at the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary
in Kelowna (CC).

At the McCulloch Cross Country Ski trails, S. of Kelowna a RUFFED GROUSE was
encounted along the trails on the 22nd (DW), while a NORTHERN GOSHAWK made
an evening visit to the Black Road area of Kelowna (TF).


Sightings for Feb 20

At the mouth of Vernon Ck, in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon, the first
winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was again seen in the early AM (TF).

At Kinsmen Park in Kelowna, an immature MEW GULL and an immature TRUMPETER
SWAN were seen (BC).

One of the first true signs of spring, a SAY'S PHOEBE was observed along the
lower reaches of Kilpoola Road, W. of Osoyoos (fide DCa).

Three CANVASBACKS (2 males and a female) were on an almost ice-free Duck
Lake, N. of Kelowna on the 19th (SM).

On the 18th, a flock of 16 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the Black Mountain
grasslands E. of Kelowna (JB). The exact location from which to see these
birds can be obtained by phoning Joanne at (250) 765-6998. If you are not
able to hike in to the area and you wish to look in the general vicinity,
travel E. from Kelowna on Hwy 33 and scan the extensive grassland habitat
along the hwy between the Black Mountain subdivision and the Goudie Road
turnoff.


Sightings for Feb 18

North of Osoyoos, a SWAMP SPARROW was seen south of Road 22 along the dyke
on the E. side of the Okanagan River (BC).

A pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the Beaver Lake Road grasslands, E.
of Winfield, presumably prospecting for a nest site (ST).

On the 17th of Feb, 12 TUNDRA SWANS were reported on Okanagan Lake, in
Kelowna, at Poplar Point (JW) and at Kinsmen Park in Kelowna there were 6
THAYER'S GULLS, 5 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and a GLAUCOUS GULL (BC).

In a late report for Feb 15, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen along the
Esplanade Trails near the Penticton Yacht Club and the LONG-TAILED DUCK was
again at the Osoyoos Sewage Lagoons (DCa,RCa).


Observers - CC - Chris Charlesworth; JW - John Woodworth, ST - Scott
Thompson; DCa - Dick Cannings; RCa - Russell Cannings; JB - Joanne Beaulieu;
SM - Sue McGregor; DK - Don Knox; BT - Brenda Thomson; TF - Trevor Forder;
BC - Bill Cutfield; DW - Don Wilson; CG - Calvin Gehlen; PG - Phil Gehlen.

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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