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

Sightings for Wednesday, April 16th - 8:30 PM update

Featured birds include:

GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Kelowna)
SANDHILL CRANE (Summerland)

Other birds mentioned:

Cinnamon Teal
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Avocet
Northern Shrike
American White Pelican
EURASIAN WIGEON
Barred Owl
Blue Grouse
Boreal Chickadee
Ruffed Grouse
Pine Grosbeak
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Vesper Sparrow
American Pipit
Horned Lark
Evening Grosbeak
Canyon Wren
Rock Wren

-- There will be no bird alert updates, unless something especially good
shows up, until April 23rd, since I will be out of town. Brief email updates
may still appear, however.


Sightings for April 16

The male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen at the Marshall's Feedlot, along Hwy
97, S. of McCurdy Road, in Kelowna (CC). The bird is most likely spending
his time at Scandia Golf & Games, just N. of the feedlot. He has spent the
past two summers at this location.

A number of SANDHILL CRANES were seen migrating over Okanagan Lake
Provincial Park, N. of Summerland, on the 12th (DW,LW). Also seen in the
park was a NORTHERN SHRIKE (DW,LW).

Birds reported at the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary, in Kelowna, included 5
CINNAMON TEAL (EF), a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and an AMERICAN AVOCET (TG).


Sightings for April 14

Four AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen on Osoyoos Lake on April 13 (BL) and
30 AMERICAN PIPITS were at Road 22, N. of Osoyoos (LN).

The male EURASIAN WIGEON was again seen at the Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary,
in Kelowna (MB).

On Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, a BLUE GROUSE was heard hooting at km
9.8 (CC). A RUFFED GROUSE was seen feeding in an aspen grove at km 5.2
(CC,HV). A single EVENING GROSBEAK was heard at km 6 (CC,HV). VESPER
SPARROWS were seen in good numbers on the lower reaches of the road and
small numbers of AMERICAN PIPITS and HORNED LARKS were also present (CC,HV).
Near Beaver Lake itself were 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES, 6 GRAY JAYS, 2 PINE
GROSBEAKS, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and a BARRED OWL (CC).


Sightings for April 13

On April 12, a BLACK-NECKED STILT was reported at Robert Lake, in Kelowna
(WC).

The LONG-TAILED DUCK was again seen at the Osoyoos Sewage Ponds, near the
Osoyoos Golf Course on the 12th (GW,m.ob).

Also on the 12th, both ROCK and CANYON WRENS were at the Vaseux Cliffs
(GW,m.ob).

A breeding plumage DUNLIN was reported at the Head of the Lake, near Vernon
(DC).


Observers - CC - Chris Charlesworth; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; HV - Hank
Vanderpol; WC - Wilma Coriveau; DC - Don Cecile; BL - Barry Lancaster; LN -
Laure Neish; MB - Margaret Bryan; TG - Terry Gage; DW - Doreen Wierenga; LW
- Lieu Wierenga; EF - Elke Fischer;


If you have any questions about Okanagan Valley birding, contact Chris
Charlesworth (250) 718-0335, Dick Cannings at (250) 496-4019, or Phil Gehlen
(250) 542-8053.


This update has been sponsored by the TUMBLEWEED NATURE STORE at 67 Front
St. in Penticton.

Chris Charlesworth
Avocet Tours
725 Richards Road
Kelowna, BC, Canada
V1X 2X5
www.avocettours.com
c_charlesworth at avocettours.com

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