Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Feb 4 update
Date: Feb 4 23:00:08 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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


Sightings for Wednesday, February 4 - 11:00 PM update.


*RARE BIRD ALERT for GREAT GRAY OWL (Kelowna)


Other birds mentioned include:

ICELAND GULL
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


Sightings for February 4

A GREAT GRAY OWL was discovered along Mission Creek in Kelowna (HV,m.ob). To
find the bird walk upstream from the Casorso Road bridge to the viewing
platform. Turn left and follow the path by the portable washroom to the
large clearing and watch for the owl in the trees around the edge of the
clearing. To avoid disturbing the owl try looking for it from the back
parking lot at the Charles Garnier Church on Benvoulin Road. Interestingly,
this is the exact location that a Great Gray appeared in February 2001.


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).


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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; 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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