Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Sept 7th update
Date: Sep 7 20:26:49 2002
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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

Sightings for Saturday, September 7th - 8:00 PM update

The featured birds include:

PEREGRINE FALCON (Vernon)
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Vernon)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Black Swan (escapee)
Long-billed Dowitcher
Horned Lark
American Pipit
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Merlin
Virginia Rail
PACIFIC LOON
Sandhill Crane
Common Tern
WHIMBREL
BAR-TAILED GODWIT
American Avocet
SANDERLING
FRANKLIN'S GULL
Black Swift
Golden Eagle
American Redstart


September 7th

An adult PEREGRINE FALCON was seen N. of Vernon, along Otter Lake Road,
opposite the slaughter house (CS). Also in Vernon, a flock of 11 GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen from the trailer park at the Head of the Lake
(CS).

An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was present from Sept 4-6 at the mouth of Bellevue
Ck in the Mission area of Kelowna (fide MK). The bird was not seen on the
7th, however.

In a recently plowed field on the north side of Cornish Road, in Rutland,
were 30 AMERICAN PIPITS and a HORNED LARK (CC).

Interesting sightings at the Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Rutland included 2
MACGILLIRVRAY'S, 1 WILSON'S and 4 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 5 COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS, good numbers of SAVANNAH, LINCOLN'S and WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROWS, a MERLIN and a VIRGINIA RAIL (CC).

An exotic species, a BLACK SWAN was discovered in Mud Bay, at the foot of
Francis Ave in Kelowna (HV,JL,CC). Also at this location were two
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on September 5 (LN,LR).


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.


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; CS - Chris Siddle; DCa - Dick Cannings;
LN - Laure Neish; LR - Lesley Robertson; TF - Trevor Forder; HV - Hank
Vanderpol; DC - Don Cecile; RTo - Rick Toochin; MK - Michelle Kam; Judy
Latta.


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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