Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Feb 14 update
Date: Feb 14 21:36:17 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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


Sightings for Saturday, February 14 - 9:30 PM update.


Featured bird is:

GREAT GRAY OWL (Kelowna)
PRAIRIE FALCON (Oliver)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
HERMIT THRUSH (Penticton)
SNOW BUNTING (Penticton)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Oliver)

Other birds mentioned include:

Ruffed Grouse
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Cedar Waxwing
Western Bluebird
Common Redpoll
Spotted Towhee
Northern Goshawk
Mew Gull
Western Meadowlark
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Virginia Rail
Northern Pygmy-Owl
White-winged Crossbill


Sightings for February 14

Birds were very active along the Esplanade Trails, behind the Penticton
Yacht Club, this morning. Up to 15 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen of both
the Audubon's and Myrtle races (CC,CS,TF,HV). The HERMIT THRUSH was heard
calling and good numbers of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and CEDAR WAXWINGS were
present (CC,CS,HV,TF). Heard calling overhead was a SNOW BUNTING and a
COMMON REDPOLL (CC,CS). Two imm. NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were taking advantage of
the abundance of birdlife in the area (CC,CS,HV,TF).

In Kelowna, the GREAT GRAY OWL was again seen along Mission Ck, upstream
from Casorso Road between the bridge and the viewing platform (RM,CS). A
RUFFED GROUSE was noted feeding high in a cottonwood in the same area on Feb
13 (LR,JC,MC).

The GYRFALCON was again seen at the Marshall's Feedlot along Hwy 97 at
McCurdy Road in Kelowna (RM).

Amongst large flocks of RED-WINGED and BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS at the Southern
Plus Feedlot, s. of Oliver, were at least three BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS
(CC,m.ob). A PRAIRIE FALCON was also seen briefly as it chased pigeons
(CS,HV).

The male SPOTTED TOWHEE was again seen along River Road, N. of Oliver, in
the brush near the green mailboxes (CC,HV,TF,CS).


Sightings for February 12

The GREAT GRAY OWL was again seen along Mission Ck in Kelowna (CC,SA). It
was seen along the N. side of the creek, half-way between the viewing
platform and Casorso Road. If you don't find the bird along the creek,
continue to the viewing platform, turn left and walk past the port-a-potty
into the open meadow. Search the trees surrounding the meadow for the owl.

At the intersection of Lindley Rd and Old Vernon Road in Kelowna, 3 WESTERN
MEADOWLARKS were found (CC,m.ob).

On Feb 11, an adult and a first winter MEW GULL were at the McDonald's at
the intersection of Hwy 33 and Hollywood Road in Kelowna (CC).


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).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; HV - Hank Vanderpol; TF - Trevor
Forder; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; JC - Janice Casling; SA - Scott Alexander; CS -
Chris Siddle; LR - Lesley Robertson; MC - Mike Casling; RM - Richard Mooney.

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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