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


Sightings for Tuesday, July 8 - 11:30 PM update


The Featured Birds Include:

PRAIRIE FALCON (Osoyoos)
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Northern Pygmy-Owl
Blue Grouse
Three-toed Woodpecker
Solitary Sandpiper
Spruce Grouse
Pine Grosbeak
Boreal Chickadee
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Goshawk
Chukar
Gray Flycatcher
GREAT GRAY OWL
Yellow-breasted Chat
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER
Least Flycatcher
Barred Owl


Sightings for July 8

In Okanagan Mountain Park, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was located, as it called
(CC). Also in the park was a female BLUE GROUSE with 2 chicks (CC).

A pair of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER were along
Hwy 33, E. of Kelowna on July 5 (CC). The birds were seen from the winding
section of hwy just before the turnoff to the Big White Ski Resort.

In a late report for July 3, two PRAIRIE FALCONS were seen over the
"Throne", N. of Osoyoos (HV). To see the birds walk in to the base of the
cliffs from the end of Meadowlark Road, off Black Sage Road.

Also on the 3rd, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at a small pond along the Chute
Lake Road, 2-3 km towards Kelowna, from the lodge (HV).


Sightings for July 3

Along MacIntyre Ck Road, E. of Vaseux Lake, a CHUKAR was seen near the
cliffs at the sheep feeding station (PL,DCa,CC,m.ob). Farther up the road,
beyond the narrow canyon were 2 GRAY FLYCATCHERS and a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL
(CC,PL,DCa,m.ob).

A female SPRUCE GROUSE with chicks was seen crossing Venner Meadows Road, at
km 15 (CC,DCa,PL,m.ob). Venner Meadows, at km 20, had a pair of SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS (BL,PL,CC,DCa,m.ob).

Two BOREAL CHICKADEES and 4 PINE GROSBEAKS were seen between km 23-25 on the
Shuttleworth Ck Road, E. of Ok Falls (CC,PL,m.ob).

At Three Gates Farm, on White Lake Road, 2 male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS
were seen (CC,PL,m.ob). A male and a female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD were
seen at feeders, along with 2 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and a dozen CALLIOPE
HUMMINGBIRDS, in the sub-division at St. Andrews Golf Course, on White Lake
Road (CC,PL,m.ob).


Sightings for July 2

In a late report, a GREAT GRAY OWL was seen along Camp McKinney Road, E. of
Oliver on the 28th (NH,JF). The bird was seen along the road at approx. km
14, just beyond the Shrike Hill Road turnoff.

On the 29th, in a spruce bog at km 7 on the Bata Forest Service Road,
accessed off Farmer's Drive, in the Ellison area of Kelowna, was a BOREAL
CHICKADEE, a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and a BARRED OWL (TF).

The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was again seen on Bailey Road, on the Vernon
Commonage, on July 1 (CC,KB). Bailey Road is located about 10 minutes S. of
Vernon on Hwy 97. From the hwy, turn W. on Bailey and procede about 700
meters to an area where aspens flank both sides of the road. The chat can be
heard on the brushy hillside to the W. Also at this location was a singing
LEAST FLYCATCHER (CC,KB).

The male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was heard at Scandia Golf and Games in N.
Kelowna on the 1st (CC,KB).

A WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen along Camp McKinney Road, between km
10-11 in early June, but unfortunately the report was late (DrC). The bird
may still be in the area, however, since one was in that area for over a
month in 2001.


--------------------------

Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; KB - Kenneth Burden; TF - Trevor
Forder; JF - Jamie Fenneman; NH Nathan Hentze; DrC - Drew Campbell; PL -
Paul Lehman; DCa - Dick Cannings; BL - Barry Lancaster; HV - Hank Vanderpol.


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
St. in Penticton.


CHRIS CHARLESWORTH
AVOCET TOURS
725 RICHARDS ROAD
KELOWNA, BC
V1X 2X5 CANADA
WWW.AVOCETTOURS.COM
TOURS at AVOCETTOURS.COM

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