25 September 2018 - Rotary Marshes, Knox Mountain Park, Kelowna

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30-40 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Hooded Merganser, 2 Great Blue Herons, Red Crossbill, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pygmy Nuthach

This morning I opted for an early trip to Rotary Marsh.  It was cool and clear when I arrived, and the marsh was filled with wierd calls - lots of Red-winged Blackbirds waking up after their roost!  Managed to get some half-decent shots, and later came across the Hooded Mergansers again on the artificial waterway near the buildings.  A couple of Great Blue Herons were seen, as well as American Goldfinch and an Orange-crowned Warbler amongst the many Yellow-rumpeds. Also Song Sparrow here, and two Ring-billed Gulls on the beach.

I then went to Knox Mountain Park but had to wait for it to open, so a quick look on the water revealed a party of around 50 American Coot, as well as a Red-necked Grebe and 4 Horned Grebes.  When the park opened, I drove to the top and it was a little quiet; c.5 Red Crossbills, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet and 2 Pygmy Nuthatches were the highlight, with the usual Northern Flickers.

In the afternoon Sandra took us on a boat trip (which was cool and breezy, despite the sunshine).  Bird highlights were a party of around 20 Western Grebes, 1 or 2 Horned Grebes, c. 20 Ring-billed Gulls and 3 or 4 Bonaparte's Gulls which flew north; my only ones of the trip!

Red-winged Blackbird - Rotary Marsh

Ring-billed Gulls - Rotary Marsh

Hooded Mergansers - Rotary Marsh

American Coot - Knox Mountain Park

Pygmy Nuthatch - Knox Mountain Park