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

Sightings for Wednesday, October 2nd - midnight update

The featured birds include:

SURF SCOTER (Penticton)
SANDHILL CRANE (Penticton)

Other birds mentioned:

Bonaparte's Gull
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Merlin
PACIFIC LOON
SANDERLING
Mew Gull
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Pectoral Sandpiper
Common Loon
Townsend's Solitaire
Spruce Grouse
Horned Lark
Great Horned Owl
American Pipit


Sightings for October 2nd

Four SURF SCOTERS were on Okanagan Lake, in Penticton (LN). The birds were
moving around so a check of all locations between the Sicamous and the
Penticton Yacht Club is worthwhile. Also in the area were 3 BONAPARTE'S
GULLS (LN). RED-NECKED, HORNED, PIED-BILLED and WESTERN GREBES were reported
from the Sicamous in Penticton on Sept 29 (LRo), while W. of Penticton, up
to 350 SANDHILL CRANES were seen high overhead at Macs Lake (LRo).

In Kelowna, a MERLIN was along Mission Creek between K.L.O Road and Mission
Creek Park (CC).


Sightings for September 29th

A PACIFIC LOON was reported on Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, from a lake access
on Bluebird Road, off Lakeshore Road on Sept 27 (HV).

Up to ninety COMMON LOONS are on Okanagan Lake, near Kelowna, off Okanagan
Mountain Park (LL,SK,HV). These birds annually congregate in this area to
feed on Kokanee. Watch also for possible Pacific and Yellow-billed Loons,
which often occur as well. The best viewing location is from Lakeshore Road,
in Okanagan Mtn Park, where the road turns to gravel. Also in Okanagan Mtn
Park were two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES (LL,SK).

A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and 500 BREWER'S BLACKBIRD were at the
Marshall's Feedlot on Hwy 97, in Kelowna, S. of McCurdy Road (LL,SK).

Two SANDERLINGS were at the mouth of Power's Ck, in Gellatly Bay (Westbank)
on the 24th and 25th of Sept (BC,LR). Also there were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS
and an imm. MEW GULL (LR).


September 23rd

Large numbers of HORNED LARKS are being noted in the Kelowna region, with
the largest flock being of 200 birds along Bulman Road in the Ellison area
(RT). Fifteen were seen in the weedy fields along Acland Road, along with 6
AMERICAN PIPITS (HV).

On September 22nd a female SPRUCE GROUSE was seen at km 4 on the Gillard
FSR, off Chute Lake Road in Kelowna's Mission area (TF).

The GREAT HORNED OWL is still frequenting the barn at the intersection of
Old Vernon Road and Bulman Road in Ellison (TF).



Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; HV - Hank Vanderpol; TF - Trevor Forder;
RT - Ryan Tomlinson; SK - Sandra Kinsey; LL - Laird Law; BC - Bill Cutfield;
LRo - Laurie Rockwell; LN - Laure Neish.


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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