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

Sightings for Wednesday, September 4th - 8:30 PM update

The featured birds include:

PACIFIC LOON (Kelowna)
SANDHILL CRANE (Penticton)

Other birds mentioned:

Common Tern
Horned Lark
WHIMBREL
BAR-TAILED GODWIT
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
American Avocet
SANDERLING
FRANKLIN'S GULL
Black Swift
Golden Eagle
American Redstart
Lincoln's Sparrow
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER
Mew Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Clay-colored Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow


Sightings for September 4th

The breeding plumage PACIFIC LOON continues to be seen on Okanagan Lake in
Kelowna, from the foot of Francis Ave (CC). Watch also for an immature type
Pacific Loon which has also been present. Also at the foot of Francis Ave
was a COMMON TERN and a HORNED LARK overhead (CC).

An unknown number of SANDHILL CRANES were heard overhead in the hills East
of Penticton (LN).


Sightings for September 2nd

The Salmon Arm area, N. of the Okanagan, is again proving to be a birding
hotspot this fall. A WHIMBREL was observed on the foreshore from the
dog-walking park at the foot of Narcisse Rd on September 1 (DC). Up to 12
SANDERLINGS and 5 FRANKLIN'S GULLS were also in this area (DC).

In Vernon, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was reported at the McKay's
Reservoir on the Commonage (CS) and 3 BLACK SWIFTS were seen flying over
Swan Lake (TF).

A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen over the Spallumcheen Golf Course, N. of Vernon
(TF).

At Robert Lake in Kelowna, a late AMERICAN AVOCET and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW
were noted (LR).

Up to 13 COMMON TERNS were seen on Okanagan Lk in Kelowna, from the foot of
Francis Ave on Sept 1 (HV) and three were in Penticton at the SS Sicamous on
the same day (LN).

At Vaseux Lake, a male AMERICAN REDSTART was observed on September 1 (DCa).

Out of town, on the Lower Mainland, an adult BAR-TAILED GODWIT of the
European race, was seen at Boundary Bay in Delta (RTo). Call the Vancouver
bird alert at (604) 737-3074 for details.


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).


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; CS - Chris Siddle; DW - Don Wilson; GN -
Gwen Nicols; DCa - Dick Cannings; LN - Laure Neish; LR - Lesley Robertson;
TF - Trevor Forder; HV - Hank Vanderpol; DC - Don Cecile; RTo - Rick
Toochin.


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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