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


Sightings for Thursday, March 4 - 7:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
TREE SWALLOW (Kelowna)
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (Vernon)


Other birds mentioned include:

Say's Phoebe
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Western Screech-Owl
Snow Bunting
Canada Goose
Mountain Bluebird
Bohemian Waxwing
Horned Lark
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Mew Gull
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
GLAUCOUS GULL
Brown Creeper
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal


Sightings for March 4

Near Vernon, up to 200 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES were reported approx 1 km
S. of the Kal Lake Lookout on the Old Okanagan Highway (PL,m.ob).

After a brief absence, the wintering GYRFALCON was again seen at Marshall's
Feedlot in Kelowna (TF,RM,EF). The feedlot is along Hwy 97 at McCurdy Road.

In Winfield, 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were in a small wetland along Wood
Bottom Road (PL).

The first TREE SWALLOW was seen over Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, at Gyro Park
(HV).

A SAY'S PHOEBE was flitting along the shore at Gellatly Bay in Westbank on
March 3 (EF).


Sightings for March 2

A return visit to the Black Mountain grasslands again produced the 60 SNOW
BUNTINGS, a HORNED LARK, 2 male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS and 60 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS
(HV). Park at the intersection of Swainson and Treetop roads on the Rutland
Bench. Walk through the gate and follow the powerlines N. for approx. 1 km.
Please respect private property.

A nocturnal walk along Mission Ck produced the WESTERN SCREECH-OWL, just
upstream from K.L.O Road (CC,RM). The bird was calling in the woodlot just
beyond the first bench.

Along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, two NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were
heard; one was at km 6 and one was at km 7 (CC,RM).

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was with CANADA GEESE in the field along
Benvoulin Road, opposite Munson's Road (HV).

In the birches along Booth Road, off Anderson Road in Ellison, 4 COMMON
REDPOLLS and a PINE SISKIN were found (CC,RT).

A first year MEW GULL was at Rotary Marsh in downtown Kelowna (CC,RT).


Sightings for March 1

On Feb 29, a bird fitting the description of a third winter LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported with the gull flock on the N. side of the
Rotary Marshes in downtown Kelowna (RT). The bird was seen in the late
afternoon, but could not be found this morning. Please keep an eye out for
this dark backed gull and report it to the alert if found.

A hike through the grasslands in the Black Mountain area E. of Kelowna
produced 60 SNOW BUNTINGS, 20 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES and 5 HORNED LARKS
(CC). Park at the intersection of Swainson and Treetop roads on the Rutland
bench and walk through the gate to the powerlines. Follow the powerlines N.
for approx 1.5 km. Please respect private property.

Along Mission Ck, a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was found roosting in a Pileated
Woodpecker cavity, upstream from K.L.O Road (EC). The tree was on the W.
side of the trail, approx. 50 yards beyond the first bench. Also there was a
BROWN CREEPER (EC).

Ten NORTHERN PINTAILS were sleeping on the outer sandbars in Mud Bay, at the
foot of Francis Ave in Kelowna (CC). Feeding in the mud close to shore were
a dozen GREEN-WINGED TEAL (CC).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; TF - Trevor Forder; RM -
Richard Mooney; EC - Eileen Chappel; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; HV - Hank
Vanderpol; PL - Pam Laing; EF - Elke Fischer.

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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