Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Feb 10 update
Date: Feb 10 20:20:13 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 10 - 8:00 PM update.


Featured bird is:

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Osoyoos)
PRAIRIE FALCON (Kelowna & Osoyoos)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL (Kelowna)
HERMIT THRUSH (Penticton)

Other birds mentioned include:

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Virginia Rail
Northern Pygmy-Owl
White-winged Crossbill
Spotted Towhee
Common Redpoll
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
GREAT GRAY OWL
Wood Duck
Mew Gull
Western Bluebird
Cedar Waxwing
Townsend's Solitaire
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH
ICELAND GULL
Short-eared Owl
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Bohemian Waxwing
Northern Shrike
Canyon Wren
Great Horned Owl


Sightings for February 10

In Kelowna, a PRAIRIE FALCON was seen near the S. end of the airport along
Bulman Road (TF). A PRAIRIE FALCON was also noted soaring over the
traditional location at the "throne" N. of Osoyoos (CC,RT).

The wintering GYRFALCON was again seen at the Marshall's Feedlot in Kelowna
(HV).

Along Mill Creek, in Kelowna, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was found roosting
(HV). The bird was 200 ft. N. of Fenwick Road. Also in this area were 2
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (HV).

A flock of 30 COMMON REDPOLLS were found feeding in a birch tree near the
end of Miller Road in the June Springs area of Kelowna (JC).

In the boreal forest along Shuttleworth Ck Road, E. of Okanagan Falls, a
female WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was found at km 21.5 (CC,RT).

The HERMIT THRUSH was again seen along the Esplanade Trails, behind the
Penticton Yacht Club (RT).

Along River Road, N. of Oliver, a VIRGINIA RAIL was heard at Hack's Pond and
a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL allowed close approach (CC,RT). Also along the road was
a male SPOTTED TOWHEE (CC,RT).

Although most of Osoyoos Lake is frozen, waterfowl are gathering on small
open areas at the N. end of the lake, where there were 2 RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS, a male and a female (CC,RT).


Sightings for February 8

The GREAT GRAY OWL was seen again today along Mission Ck in Kelowna (m.ob).
The fastest way to find the bird is to park in the back of the Charles
Garnier Church on Benvoulin Road. Follow the trail in the snow SE towards
the cottonwoods. Look for the owl in the trees at the edge of the fields. In
a nearby pond 12 WOOD DUCKS were reported (RT).

In Penticton, a HERMIT THRUSH was seen along the Esplanade Trails behind the
Penticton Yacht Club (CC,CoC). Also in this area were 2 YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE were seen (CC,CoC). Along the water
front at the yacht club were 50 CEDAR WAXWINGS and 15 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS
(CC,CoC).

One of the first winter MEW GULLS that have frequented the Kelowna
Waterfront this winter was seen at Rotary Beach, along Lakeshore Road (RT).


Sightings for February 7

At the Mouth of Vernon Ck in Vernon, the adult ICELAND GULL was again seen
with hundreds of other gulls (CC,RM,CS).

A flock of 150 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES were along the Old Okanagan Hwy,
just S. of Vernon (PB). An evening search of the area failed to produce the
finches but did reveal a SHORT-EARED OWL (CC,CS).

The GYRFALCON continues at the Marshall's Feedlot in Kelowna, located along
the W. side of Hwy 97, S. of McCurdy Road (CC,RM).

A roosting GREAT HORNED OWL was seen in the old barn at the intersection of
Old Vernon Road and Bulman Road in Kelowna's Ellison area (CC,RM). The bird
was perched in the large opening on the N. side of the barn.

Six AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were found along the Road 22 dykes, N. of Osoyoos
(TF) and 2 CANYON WRENS were on the bluffs along Green Lake Road, near the
Okanagan Falls Campground (TF).

Along White Lake Road, in the South Okanagan, 15 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a
NORTHERN SHRIKE and a CANYON WREN were tallied (LN). A NORTHERN SHRIKE was
also noted near the Head of the Lake in Vernon (CC,CS,RM).

At the end of Lakeshore Road, in Osoyoos, near the US border, was a mixed
flock of 15 CEDAR WAXWINGS and 6 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (TF).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; HV - Hank Vanderpol; LN - Laure
Neish; CS - Chris Siddle; RM - Richard Mooney; TF - Trevor Forder; CoC -
Connor Charlesworth; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; JC - Janice Casling;

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.

CHRIS CHARLESWORTH
AVOCET TOURS
725 RICHARDS ROAD
KELOWNA, BC, CANADA
V1X 2X5
(250) 718-0335
C_CHARLESWORTH at AVOCETTOURS.COM
WWW.AVOCETTOURS.COM

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