Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Feb 5 update
Date: Feb 5 20:50:35 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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


Sightings for Thursday, Feb 5 - 9:00 PM update.


Featured bird is:

GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
MEW GULL (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

GREAT GRAY OWL
ICELAND GULL
Glaucous-winged Gull


Sightings for February 5

The wintering GYRFALCON was again seen at Marshall's Feedlot in Kelowna
(CC). The feedlot is located along the W. side of Hwy 97, S. of McCurdy
Road. The bird can often be seen perched on the telephone poles to the N. of
the feedlot.

A first winter MEW GULL was reported along the Kelowna Waterfront at Rotary
Beach, along Lakeshore Road (HV).


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).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; HV - Hank Vanderpol; 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.

_________________________________________________________________
Optimize your Internet experience to the max with the new MSN Premium
Internet Software. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200359ave/direct/01/