This is the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Rare Bird Alert
(250)491-7738.


Sightings for Saturday, August 10th - 8:30 PM update.

The featured birds include:

FRANKLIN'S GULL (Kelowna)
SANDERLING (Kelowna)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Kelowna)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Bonaparte's Gull
Golden Eagle
Bufflehead
Solitary Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Hooded Merganser
Northern Waterthrush
Bullock's Oriole
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Swainson's Hawk
Merlin
Long-billed Dowitcher
GREAT EGRET
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper


Sightings for August 10th

A juvenile FRANKLIN'S GULL, present since August 8th (BL) was again seen on
the pond at the entrance to the Kelowna Landfill on Glenmore Drive as was a
juv. BONAPARTE'S GULL (CC,RT,BC,BL,CS). A HOODED MERGANSER, two BUFFLEHEADS
and a GOLDEN EAGLE were also at that location (CC,RT,BC,BL).

At Robert Lake in Kelowna an adult SANDERLING, molting into non-breeding
plumage was found (CC,DC,RT,CS,m.ob). Also there, a juv. RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE, up to 200 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 40 SEMIPALMATED and 150 LEAST
SANDPIPERS, 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and 3 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS amongst other shorebirds (CC,CS,DC,RT,m.ob) Ten WESTERN
SANDPIPERS and two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were at Thomson-Brook Pond on
Gordon Drive in Kelowna (CC,RT).

SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were noted in good numbers at various locations. Belgo
Pond in the Rutland area had 5, Thomson-Brook Pond on Gordon Drive had 3,
and a pond near Kelowna Springs Golf Course, as well as a pond in Sutherland
Hills Park each had single Solitary Sandpipers (CC,RT). Six SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS were seen on the sewage pond near Rose's Pond on the Vernon
Commonage (DCa,RC,GD). Also in Sutherland Hills Park, migrant passerines
included 10 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (CC,RT).


Sightings for August 6th

A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT has been present in the marsh area N. of Vaseux
Lake for some time now (LN).

In Kelowna, a juv. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and an adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
were seen at Thomson-Brook Pond (CC).

Shorebird highlites at Robert Lake included 3 BAIRD'S and 70 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS. An imm. HOODED MERGANSER was also there (CC).

A female MERLIN was along K.L.O Rd at Como Road in Kelowna (CC) and an ad.
SWAINSON'S HAWK was along Old Vernon Road, .5 km W. of Morrison Road (CC).


Sightings for August 5th

The first BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS of the fall migration were at Robert Lake
(CC). There were at least three present. Other shorebirds seen there
included 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 15 SEMIPALMATED and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 12 LESSER and 5 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, many KILLDEER and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS (CC).

East of the Okanagan, a GREAT EGRET was reported on a pond at the Kettle
Valley Golf Course, which is found about 10 km E. of Rock Creek on Highway 3
(JB).


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; LN - Laure Neish; RT - Ryan Tomlinson;
JB - Jeff Bates; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; BC - Bill Cutfield; BL - Barrie
Lancaster; DCa - Dick Cannings, CS - Chris Siddle; RC - Russell Cannings; GD
- Gabe David.


If you have any questions about Okanagan Valley birding, contact Chris
Charlesworth, in Kelowna at (250)-718-0335, Dick Cannings in Penticton at
(250) 496-4019, or Phil Gehlen in Vernon at (250) 542-8053.

This update has been sponsored by the TUMBLEWEED NATURE STORE at 67 Front
Street in Penticton.

Thanks for calling the bird alert and happy birding.

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