This is the Okanagan Valley Rare Bird Alert, sponsored by the Central
Okanagan Naturalists Club.

Sightings for Thursday, February 24 - 7:00 PM update.

Featured Birds include:

EARED GREBE (Kelowna)
GLAUCOUS GULL (Westbank)

Other birds mentioned:

Western Meadowlark
Cackling Goose
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Canada Goose
Golden Eagle
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
Black-backed Woodpecker
American Three-toed Woodpecker
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL
Hairy Woodpecker
Spruce Grouse


Sightings for February 24

A singing WESTERN MEADOWLARK was along Meadowlark Road off Black Sage Road,
north of Osoyoos (LN).

Two EARED GREBES were seen from the old ferry docks off Westside Road in
Kelowna (CC).

A second year GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at Gellatly Bay in Westbank (CC).


Sightings for February 23

A CACKLING GOOSE was with CANADA GEESE at Munson's Pond today (CC). The bird
was first seen in the field at the W. end of Munson's Road, where there was
also a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. The goose then flew to the ice on the
pond and preened (CC).

Two GOLDEN EAGLES were soaring over Mission Creek at Gordon Road in Kelowna
and another two were soaring over the grasslands on Beaver Lake Road, E. of
Winfield (CC).

In Penticton, 10 CEDAR WAXWINGS and a SPOTTED TOWHEE were feeding in a
Mountain Ash tree behind the rose gardens near the SS. Sicamous (LN).


Sightings for February 21

The NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was again seen today along Highland Park Drive, just
S. of Sleepy Hollow Road in Armstrong (TF,JV).

At the parking area for the Myra Canyon portion of the Kettle Valley
Trestles, SE. of Kelowna, a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, an AMERICAN THREE-TOED
WOODPECKER and numerous HAIRY WOODPECKERS were seen amongst the burnt trees
(TF,JV). Along the road up to the trestles a SPRUCE GROUSE was encountered
(TF,JV). To reach the area take McCulloch Road S. from Kelowna. Perhaps 4 km
beyond the Gallagher's Canyon Golf Course watch for a gravel road on your
right marked Myra Canyon FSR. Take this road up to km 6-8 to look for these
birds.



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Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; TF -Trevor Forder; JV - John Vooys; LN
- Laure Neish.

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