Birders,

Inspired by the fantastic weather I did one of my favorite hikes in the
Kelowna region. I started at the top of Treetop and Swainson Road on the
Rutland bench, and followed the powerlines N. through the grasslands, to Day
Road.

Species numbers were few and the hike was much harder than normal since the
snow is still about a foot deep on any N. facing hills. Nonetheless, I did
get some great birds. A flock of 50-60 SNOW BUNTINGS fed on open patches of
ground, a short distance away from me. The flock was composed of both
breeding plumage and winter plumage birds. They were busily feeding,
calling, and chasing each other around. Overhead was a mid-sized flock of
calling GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES. Heard once and not seen, was a flock of
HORNED LARKS. Good stuff!

Chris Charlesworth
Kelowna, BC

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