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

Sightings for Friday, May 10th - 8:00 PM update


The Featured Birds include:

GREAT EGRET (Osoyoos)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Harlequin Duck
Bullock's Oriole
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Lark Sparrow
Wilson's Phalarope
Vaux's Swift
Golden-crowned Sparrow
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
FRANKLIN'S GULL
MEW GULL
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Bonaparte's Gull
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Virginia Rail
Cedar Waxwing
Cassin's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Spotted Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
White-throated Swift
Western Kingbird
Dusky Flycatcher
American Avocet
Solitary Sandpiper
Blue-winged Teal

Sightings for May 10th

A GREAT EGRET was discovered along Road 22, N. of Osoyoos (BL). The bird was
initially seen along the West Dyke, S. of Rd 22. It then flew to a meadow
along Road 22 itself. Also in the area were 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES and 2
VAUX'S SWIFT (BL).

Two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen at Robert Lake in Kelowna (LR).

Spring arrivals over the last couple days have included BULLOCK'S ORIOLE,
YELLOW WARBLER, LARK SPARROW (LN) and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (MF). The
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was at a feeder along Whitworth Road in Westbank.

The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues along Gellatly Road, in Westbank,
in the flooded field on the S. side of Rotary Trails Park (MF,EF). At the
mouth of Power's Ck, also in Gellatly Bay, a HARLEQUIN DUCK was present on
May 8th (EF).


Sightings for May 8th

A FRANKLIN'S GULL was reported flying N. over Osoyoos, in the company of
numerous BONAPARTE'S GULLS (BL).

The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues in the flooded fields along
Gellatly Road, in Westbank, on the S. side of Rotary Trails Park (MF).

At the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna there was an adult MEW GULL and
16 BONAPARTE'S GULLS in the bay, while 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS and a VIRGINIA RAIL
were in the marsh (CC).

Rare in the spring, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was with WESTERN and LEAST
SANDPIPERS at Robert Lake in Kelowna . Also there was a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
(CC).

The first SPOTTED SANDPIPERS of the season were found at Alki Lk, near the
Kelowna Dump, and at the Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Rutland (CC).

Along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, the spring's first WARBLING and
CASSIN'S VIREOS were discovered (CC).


Sightings for May 7th

At Robert Lake in Kelowna, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was observed (CC).

Thomson Brook Pond, located along Gordon Drive, S. of Mission Creek, in
Kelowna, had the first LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and BLUE-WINGED TEAL of the
season (CC).

Two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were seen over the Dilworth Cliffs at the Kelowna
Cemetery (CC).

At Robert Lake, 17 AMERICAN AVOCETS were present, and at Alki Lake, 2
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were seen on May 6th (HV).

Also on the 6th, a WESTERN KINGBIRD and a DUSKY FLYCATCHER were noted on
Poplar Point in Kelowna's North End (GW).

In Westbank, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen in the flooded fields on
the S. side of the Rotary Trails Park, on Gellatly Road on May 6th (MF).


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Observer Initials: GW - Gwynneth Wilson; HV - Hank Vanderpol; MF - Mike
Force; BL - B. Lancaster; CC - Chris Charlesworth; LN - Laure Neish; EF -
Elke Fischer; LR - Lesley Robertson.

For infomation on Okanagan Valley birding, contact Chris Charlesworth, in
Kelowna, at (250) 765-6048, 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.


Chris Charlesworth
Kelowna, BC, Canada
c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com

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