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


Sightings for Sunday, February 21 - 7:30 PM update.


Featured bird is:

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Great Horned Owl
Northern Shrike
Pine Grosbeak
Golden Eagle
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Wood Duck
Wilson's Snipe
Trumpeter Swan
Prairie Falcon
GYRFALCON
GREAT GRAY OWL
HERMIT THRUSH
SNOW BUNTING
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD
Ruffed Grouse
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Cedar Waxwing
Western Bluebird
Common Redpoll
Spotted Towhee
Northern Goshawk


Sightings for February 21

Along Postill Lake Road NE. of Kelowna, two groups of WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS were noted in the upper elevation forest (TF). One group,
consisting of about 40 birds, was seen near the first clearcut encountered
along the road, while the next group was near the second clearcut. Also
along Postil Lk Road, 2 GOLDEN EAGLES were feeding on a deer carcass along
the lower reaches of the road (TF).

A small pond along Mission Ck, upstream from Casorso Road, in Kelowna,
housed a female WOOD DUCK and a WILSON'S SNIPE (CC). To get to the pond park
behind Charles Garnier Park and walk SE. into the woods. Cross a small
bridge and you'll see the pond to your left.

Gulls are beginning to move into the region on their spring migration. An
influx of CALIFORNIA GULLS has been noted at Rotary Beach in Kelowna, where
there were also two adult THAYER'S GULLS (CC).

On Feb 20 a flock of six TRUMPETER SWANS were seen in flight over Duck Lake
in the N. end of Kelowna (JM).

On Feb 19, a GREAT HORNED OWL was found in the tree farm on Bench Row Road
on the Vernon Commonage (CC,RM). Two more GREAT HORNEDS were found roosting
in the grove of aspens along Bailey Road, approx 300 meters from Hwy 97
(CC,RM). That location is also on the Vernon Commonage. An adult NORTHERN
SHRIKE was noted there as well (CC,RM).

Off Commonage Road, SW. of Vernon, up to 8 PINE GROSBEAKS were along
Hereford Road (CC,RM).


Sightings for February 15

In Kelowna, the PRAIRIE FALCON was again seen in the Ellison area (CC,RM).
It was sitting atop a large cottonwood along the E. side of the Kelowna
Airport. The bird was due west of the intersection of Old Vernon Rd and
Teasdale Road. The bird took flight and headed E. towards the Anderson Road
area. Also in the Ellison area were 4 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at Lindley Rd and
Old Vernon Rd (CC,RM).

The GYRFALCON continues at Marshall's Feedlot, along Hwy 97 at McCurdy Road
in Kelowna (CC,RM).


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).

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


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

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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