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

Sightings for Monday, September 23rd - 11:00 PM update

The featured birds include:

SPRUCE GROUSE (Kelowna)
HORNED LARK (Kelowna)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

American Pipit
PEREGRINE FALCON
Northern Goshawk
PACIFIC LOON
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Black Swan (exotic)
Northern Harrier
American Kestrel


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).


September 20th

Excellent weather conditions (NW winds) produced another minor raptor
migration at Black Mountain, E. of Kelowna. Today an adult PEREGRINE FALCON
of the Tundra race was seen, as well as two imm NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 4
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 1 SWAINSON'S HAWK, 4 RED-TAILED HAWKS,
1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 1 TURKEY VULTURE and 1 OSPREY (CC).

An adult breeding plumage PACIFIC LOON was seen on Kelowna's Westside at the
mouth of Green Bay, visible from Boucherie Road (EF).

15 TURKEY VULTURES were seen along Swamp Road in Kelowna's Mission area
(RM).


September 17th

A minor hawk migration was noted at Black Mountain, E. of Kelowna. Included
in this flight was a PEREGRINE FALCON, 9 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 6 OSPREYS, 2
COOPER'S & 3 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2 SWAINSON'S HAWKS, 4 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2
NORTHERN HARRIERS and 1 TURKEY VULTURE (CC). These birds were seen over
Black Mtn from the top of Swainson Road on the Rutland Bench.

An imm. PACIFIC LOON was on Okanagan Lk, in Kelowna, at Rotary Beach on
Lakeshore Road, on Sept 16 (CC).

Up to 15 TURKEY VULTURES were roosting in the cottonwoods along Mission Ck,
in Kelowna, upstream from Casorso Road (CC,JR). Also along this stretch of
creek was a PILEATED WOODPECKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER and an OSPREY (CC,JR).

An exotic BLACK SWAN is feeding on Okanagan Lk in Kelowna at Sutherland Park
(LRo). This may mean there are two or three Black Swans present in the
southern interior, since single birds have been seen in Kelowna, Salmon Arm
and Vaseux Lake.


Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; JR - Jeff
Reddekopp; LRo - Laurie Rockwell; EF - Elke Fischer; HV - Hank Vanderpol; TF
- Trevor Forder; RT - Ryan Tomlinson.


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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