Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - March 17 update
Date: Mar 17 20:10:00 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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


Sightings for Wednesday, March 17 - 8:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Kelowna)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Kelowna)
GREAT GRAY OWL (Oliver)
TURKEY VULTURE (Vernon)
GYRFALCON (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Western Screech-Owl
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chukar
Northern Pintail
ICELAND GULL
Rock Wren
Say's Phoebe
Northern Goshawk
Northern Shrike
American Tree Sparrow
Gray Partridge
Cassin's Finch


March 17

A GREAT GRAY OWL was found on Camp McKinney Road at the corall at km 11.5
(GN).

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was along Benvoulin Road, in Kelowna, in
fields with CANADA GEESE (RM).

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

At Rose's Pond, on the Vernon Commonage, a bird reported on the 16th as an
American Wigeon was presumably a male EURASIAN WIGEON (GC).

On March 14, the first TURKEY VULTURE of the year was seen on the Vernon
Commonage (LR).

A male EURASIAN WIGEON was at Munson's Pond, in Kelowna on March 13 (PL)
while another was at Robert lake on the 11th (JL,HV).

On March 12, the WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was again along Mission Ck, upstream
from K.L.O Road in Kelowna (DB). Look for the bird about 50 yards past the
first bench on the E. side of the path in an old woodpecker hole over half
way up the tree. Watch for a fallen cottonwood on the ground which is below
the roosting tree.

On March 11, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Munson's Pond, in Kelowna
(JL,HV).


Sightings for March 11

A male EURASIAN WIGEON was found in Penticton at the Sicamous with a large
number of AMERICAN WIGEON on March 9 (LR).

Large numbers of NORTHERN PINTAILS have been migrating through the region
over the last week, with approx 200 at Robert Lake in Kelowna (LRo) and up
to 59 off Sun-Oka Beach near Summerland (LRock).

The WESTERN SCREECH-OWL continues to be seen at its roost along Mission Ck,
upstream from K.L.O Road in Kelowna (CC,CS,m.ob). From the bridge walk
upstream to the first bench, and proceed a further 50 yards. On the right
hand side of the path is a downed cottonwood and in the tree behind it, over
half way up you can see the owl roosting in an old woodpecker cavity. I had
erroneously reported this cavity to be the W. or left hand side of the path.
At the same location was a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET on March 9 (RM). A second
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was being mobbed by STELLER'S JAYS at the Woodhaven
Nature Conservancy on Raymer Road in Kelowna (CC,CS).

On Monday, March 15, up to 3 calling CHUKAR were at the Elkink Ranch, W. of
Osoyoos on Hwy 3 (CC).


Sightings for March 7

A first winter ICELAND GULL was at the mouth of Vernon Ck in Okanagan
Landing (CS). Also in Vernon, an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was in the Desert
Cove Community at the Head of the Lake (CS).

The WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was again seen along Mission Ck upstream from K.L.O
Road in Kelowna (EC). Walk about 50 yards beyond the first bench and look
for a woodpecker cavity on the E. side of the path. The owl has been using
this cavity as a roost site.

In Summerland, a ROCK WREN, SAY'S PHOEBE and an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE were
observed at the research station on March 6 (LR).

On March 5, in the South Okanagan, CASSIN'S FINCHES, GRAY PARTRIDGE and
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were reported along White Lake Road (fide BM).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM -Richard Mooney; EC - Eileen
Chappel; PL - Pam Laing; EF - Elke Fischer; BM - Bob Mackay; LRock - Laurie
Rockwell; CS - Chris Siddle; LRo - Lesley Robertson; GC - George Clulow; GN
- Gwen Nicol; JL - Judy Latta; DB - Denise Brownlie

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.


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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