This is the Okanagan Valley Rare Bird Alert, sponsored by Avocet Tours
(www.avocettours.com).

Sightings for Wednesday, February 9 - 11:30 PM update.

Featured Birds include:

ICELAND GULL (Westbank)
GYRFALCON (Westbank)

Other birds mentioned:

Western Screech-Owl
GLAUCOUS GULL
Barred Owl
Mew Gull
Red-breasted Merganser
PACIFIC LOON
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Canada Goose
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW


Sightings for February 9

An adult "Kumlein's" ICELAND GULL was again seen with other gulls roosting
on the ice at Shannon Lake in Westbank (MF,CC,RT,LRo,EF). Also there was a
gray-morph GYRFALCON, a different bird from the Marshall's Feedlot bird
(CC,RT,MF).


Sightings for February 8

An adult ICELAND GULL was discovered on Feb 7 at Shannon Lake in Westbank
(MF). On the 8th, a second adult ICELAND GULL, told from the first by subtle
wing differences was present. Also here was a first year GLAUCOUS GULL (MF).

On the S. side of the Kelowna Yacht Club an adult MEW GULL was seen (CC,RT).

This evening in Summerland, a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was heard at the Adam's
Bird Sanctuary and a BARRED OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL were found
roosting in town as well (LR).

On the 7th of February an after dark trip along McCulloch Road, near
Kelowna, produced a calling NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL (CC,RM). The bird 2 km
from the bridge over K.L.O Creek.


Sightings for February 7

In Osoyoos on Feb 5, a single VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and 2 BARN SWALLOWS were
seen at Road 22 (DB).

Two PACIFIC LOONS were seen on Osoyoos Lake from Lions Park (the N. traffic
light in town). (DB).

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was along Sawmill Road in Oliver with CANADA
GEESE (ED,DH).

Three female RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen from the mouth of Vernon Ck
in Okanagan Landing on Feb 6 (CS).

On Feb 4, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was at the Rotary Marshes in downtown Kelowna
(DW).

The GYRFALCON was seen at Marshall's Feedlot in Kelowna on Feb 6 (TF). The
feedlot is along the W. side of Hwy 97, in N. Kelowna, just S. of McCurdy
Road.

Trevor Forder's feeder on Black Road in Ellison had the continuing
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW on the 6th (TF).


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Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; TF - Trevor Forder; DB - Doug Brown; DW
- Doreen Wierenga; ED - Eva Durance; DH - Donna Heard; CS - Chris Siddle; RM
- Richard Mooney; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; MF - Mike Force; LR - Laurie
Rockwell.

If you have any questions about Okanagan birding call Dick Cannings, in
Naramata, at (250) 496-4019, Chris Charlesworth in Kelowna (250) 718-0335,
or 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