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

Sightings for Wednesday, August 28th - 10:30 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (Oliver)

The featured birds include:

PACIFIC LOON (Kelowna)
MEW GULL (Vernon)
HORNED LARK (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned:

Bonaparte's Gull
Clay-colored Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
STILT SANDPIPER
BLACKPOLL WARBLER
Boreal Chickadee
Merlin


Sightings for August 28th

A female WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at km 13 on the Camp McKinney
Road, E. of Oliver (GN). Watch for a Weyerheuser sign on the left side of
the road. Although there is a healthy patch of Mullein here, the bird was
observed foraging in Ponderosa Pines. Last August a White-headed Woodpecker
frequented the km 12 point on McKinney Road for over two months.

A basic-plumage PACIFIC LOON was seen on Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, from the
foot of Francis Ave, S. of the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary (CC,CS,DW). There
has also been a breeding plumage Pacific Loon here recently.

At the Head of the Lake, in Vernon, a breeding plumage MEW GULL was with
other assorted gulls, including a single BONAPARTE'S GULL (CC,CS,DW).

Numbers of CLAY-COLORED and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were in the weeds at
the N. end of Goose Lake Road, in Vernon (CC,CS,DW).

Two HORNED LARKS were seen at the McKay's Reservoir on the Vernon Commonage
(CC,CS,DW).


Sightings for August 27th

The breeding plumage PACIFIC LOON was again seen on Okanagan Lake, in
Kelowna, from the foot of Francis Ave (JL).


Sightings for August 26th

A BLACKPOLL WARBLER was banded at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory (GD).
This constitutes the third record for the Okanagan. The banding station is
located along Hwy 97 between Okanagan Falls and the N. end of Vaseux Lk.
Look for a white wooden gate on the west side of the hwy, just S. of a
gravel pulloff with a garbage can.

Two juv. STILT SANDPIPERS were discovered on McKay's Reservoir on the Vernon
Commonage (CS).

A MERLIN was at the intersection of Hwy 6 and Hwy 97 in Vernon (CC).

Five BOREAL CHICKADEES were seen along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, 15
km from Hwy 97 (CC).



Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; CS - Chris Siddle; GD - Gabe David; JL -
Judy Latta; DW - Don Wilson; GN - Gwen Nicols.


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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