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

Sightings for Saturday, October 19th - 9:00 PM update

** RARE BIRD ALERT for YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO in Castlegar

Featured birds include:

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Summerland)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Cawston)
SURF SCOTER (Kelowna)
PARASITIC JAEGER (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Bonaparte's Gull
Great Horned Owl
Chukar
Lewis' Woodpecker
Mountain Bluebird
Three-toed Woodpecker
Boreal Chickadee
Canyon Wren
CLARK'S GREBE
RED PHALAROPE
PACIFIC LOON
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
FRANKLIN'S GULL
Black-bellied Plover
Clark's Nutcracker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Evening Grosbeak
Northern Pygmy Owl
Lapland Longspur
Eared Grebe
Western Bluebird
Western Grebe
Snow Bunting


Sightings for October 19

A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was discovered on Oct 18, and was again seen on the
19th, at Waldie Island, near the Sewage Treatment Plant in Castlegar, in the
Kootenays (RW).

In Summerland, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at the Adams Bird Sanctuary on
Peach Orchard Road, on Tuesday, October 15 (LN).

Also on the 15th, 18 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were at the mouth of Power's Ck at
Gellatly Bay, in Westbank (EF). In the park, Rotary Trails Park, across the
road from the mouth of Power's Ck was a GREAT HORNED OWL (EF).

On October 18, a dozen EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were seen in the Similkameen
Valley at Cawston (DT,RT,JL).

A pair of CHUKAR were seen on the Richter Pass, West of Osoyoos and along
Black Sage Road, S. of Oliver, a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD and a LEWIS' WOODPECKER
were reported (DT,RT,JL).

Two CANYON WRENS were on the Vaseux Lk cliffs and on the Shuttleworth Ck
Road, E. of Okanagan Falls, a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and 3 BOREAL CHICKADEES
were seen at km 24 (DT,RT,JL).

Saturday, October 19, the PARASITIC JAEGER was again seen in Kelowna at
Rotary Beach (RM) and later at the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary (RT,DT,JL).
Also at Rotary Beach was a female SURF SCOTER (DT,RT,JL).


Sightings for October 14

In Salmon Arm, an imm. RED PHALAROPE was seen from the dog park at the foot
of Narcisse Road (DC,CC,RM). The bird was a considerable distance from the
park, so you will need to walk N. on the compacted mudflats for a decent
look. Also, two FRANKLIN'S GULLS and two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were
seen here (DC,CC,RM). Three juv. AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and 1 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER were seen from the pier in Salmon Arm (DC,CC,RM).

In Vernon, a CLARK'S GREBE was with 6 WESTERN GREBES on Swan Lake
(CC,RM,CS). These birds were seen from the trailer park on the SE shore of
the lake.

An imm. SURF SCOTER and an EARED GREBE were on McKay's Reservoir and a
LAPLAND LONGSPUR was heard overhead at Rose's Pond on the Vernon Commonage
(CC,CS,RM). A flock of 7 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the commonage, near
McKay's Reservoir as well (CC,RM,CS).

In Kelowna, the imm. PARASITIC JAEGER was again seen as it chased gulls at
the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary (CC,RM). The bird was first discovered on Oct
10.

The ecological reserve behind the Summerland Research Station had
WHITE-BREASTED, RED-BREASTED and PYGMY NUTHATCHES, as well as a calling
NORTHERN PYGMY OWL, 5 EVENING GROSBEAKS and numerous CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS
(LRo).

On Oct 13th, a PACIFIC LOON was seen flying past Crescent Beach, on
Lakeshore Rd, in Summerland (fide LRo).


Sightings for October 13

The immature PARASITIC JAEGER was relocated along Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna,
as it chased gulls at City Park (CG). This bird was first seen at the Maude
Roxby Bird Sanctuary on October 10.

In Vernon, a SNOW BUNTING was found in Kekuli Provincial Park (TF). The bird
was along the Grassland Trail which parallels Hwy 97.


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; LRo - Laurie Rockwell; TF - Trevor
Forder; CG - Calvin Gehlen; DC - Don Cecile; RM - Richard Mooney; CS - Chris
Siddle; RW - Rita Wege; EF - Elke Fischer; DT - Danny Tyson; RT - Rick
Tyson; JL - John Luce.


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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