Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Feb 3 update
Date: Feb 3 21:42:59 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert (250-491-7738).


Sightings for Tuesday, February 3 - 9:45 PM update.

The Featured Birds Include:

ICELAND GULL (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned include:

Glaucous-winged Gull
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
Pine Grosbeak
Gray Partridge
Bohemian Waxwing
Common Redpoll
Western Meadowlark
Evening Grosbeak
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
MEW GULL
GYRFALCON
Prairie Falcon
Northern Shrike
Golden Eagle
Canyon Wren
Northern Pygmy-Owl


Sightings for February 3

In Vernon, an adult ICELAND GULL was discovered on January 26 at the Mouth
of Vernon Ck in the Okanagan Landing area (DC). It was again seen on
February 3, along with a high of 22 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS (DC).


Sightings for February 1

An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and a female COMMON REDPOLL visited a feeder along
Herbert Heights Road in Kelowna's Poplar Point neighborhood. Also in the
vicinity was a small flock of AMERICAN ROBINS (GW).

COMMON REDPOLLS were also noted at two high elevation locations; 12 were at
Silver Star Mountain, E. of Vernon (TF), and 2 were near McCulloch Lake, S.
of Kelowna (CC,CoC). 45 PINE GROSBEAKS were also noted at Silver Star (TF).

Along Mission Ck, in Kelowna, the wintering RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was located
with a small flock of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES (CC,CoC). To find the birds
park at the Casorso Road bridge and walk upstream to the viewing platform.
The kinglet can usually be found in the woods near the platform with the
flock of chickadees.

Along Lakeshore Road in Kelowna, over 2000 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were enjoyed as
they swarmed berry bushes and Mountain Ash trees (CC,CoC).

Along Philpott Road, E. of Kelowna off Hwy 33, 20 EVENING GROSBEAKS were
again seen near the green mailboxes at km 4 (CC,CoC). Also here were 2
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. The observers of the Chestnut-backeds later
found 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES near Idabel Lake, giving them four species of
chickadee in a day (CC,CoC).

Nine WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were counted at the horse pasture at Lindley Road
and Old Vernon Road, near the Kelowna Airport (TF).

In Vernon, 7 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen near the Head of the Lake in the
Desert Cove Community (TF).


Sightings for January 31

At the Marshall's Feedlot, along the W. side of Hwy 97 at McCurdy Road in
Kelowna, the gray-phase GYRFALCON continues (CS,RM). A possible GYRFALCON
was also seen over Walburn Road in the Belgo area of Kelowna (PH).

An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was at the Rotary Marshes in downtown Kelowna, and
nearby at Sutherland Park was a first year MEW GULL (CS,RM).

Along Philpott Road, off Hwy 33, E. of Kelowna, 30 EVENING GROSBEAKS and a
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE were found at approx. km 4 (CS,RM). Along Hwy 33,
just E. of the Black Mountain subdivision, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported
(CS,RM).

A male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen on Osoyoos Lake from Haynes Point
(HV,TF).

Four CANYON WRENS were at the Vaseux Cliffs, on the E. side of Vaseux Lake
(HV,TF).

At the Southern Plus Feedlot in Oliver, a PRAIRIE FALCON was hunting pigeons
and other birds, and along Black Sage Road a second year GOLDEN EAGLE and a
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL were noteworthy (HV,TF).

A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was also reported on Jan 24, along Glenrosa Road in
Westbank on a powerline (RV).

----------------------------------------------------------


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; CS - Chris
Siddle; HV - Hank Vanderpol; TF - Trevor Forder; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; PH -
Paddy Hann; CoC - Connor Charlesworth; DC - Don Cecile.

If you have any questions about Okanagan birding call Chris Charlesworth, in
Kelowna at (250) 718-0335, Dick Cannings, in Penticton, at (250) 496-4019,
and Phil Gehlen, in Vernon at (250) 542-8053.

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

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