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


Sightings for Friday, February 6 - 11:30 PM update.


Featured bird is:

SHORT-EARED OWL (Kelowna)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (Kelowna)
MEW GULL (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

American Crow
Ring-billed Gull
GYRFALCON
GREAT GRAY OWL


Sightings for February 6

A surprised observer watched a SHORT-EARED OWL flying high above the city of
Kelowna at the intersection of Hwy 97 and Burtch Road (CC). The bird was
being harassed by a dozen AMERICAN CROWS and was heading in a southerly
direction. Look for it in the fields along Benvoulin Road or near Munson's
Pond, two locations where this species have appeared in the past.

At the Rotary Marshes, in downtown Kelowna, the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was
relocated (CC). The bird was feeding on seed heads near a small pond by the
first bridge encountered when entering the park from Sunset Dr.

In Rutland, a first year MEW GULL was with RING-BILLED GULLS in the
McDonald's parking lot at the intersection of Hwy 33 and Hollywood Road
(CC).


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.


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

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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