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


Sightings for Thursday, July 10 - 7:45 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Vaseux) and ACORN
WOODPECKER (Oliver)

The Featured Birds Include:


Other birds mentioned:

Boreal Chickadee
Pine Grosbeak
Three-toed Woodpecker
Prairie Falcon
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Blue Grouse
Solitary Sandpiper
Spruce Grouse
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Goshawk
Chukar
Gray Flycatcher


Sightings for July 10

An adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen this afternoon along the W. dyke
of the Okanagan River, N. of Vaseux Lake (AB, m.ob). To access the area,
take Green Lk Road, past the Okanagan Falls Campground and just as the road
begins to turn away from the river you'll see a parking area on the left.
Walk down the W. dyke and look for the bird half way between the pump house
and the lake.

In a late report, the valley's first ACORN WOODPECKER visited a feeder along
Secrest Road, in Oliver, between June 16-23 (KH,MH). Birders should keep an
eye open for this distinctive woodpecker, which may still be in the valley.
The bird was photographed and this constitutes the second record for the
province.

On July 9, up to 4 BOREAL CHICKADEES were seen in the Sovereign Lakes area
at Silver Star Mountain, near Vernon. Also present in the area were 5 PINE
GROSBEAKS, including 2 singing males, and a drumming THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
(WW). At the Silver Star Village were another 3 PINE GROSBEAKS (WW).


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).


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

Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; PL - Paul Lehman; DCa - Dick
Cannings; BL - Barry Lancaster; HV - Hank Vanderpol; KH - Kurt Hutterli; MH
- Marriane Hutterli; WW - Wayne Weber; AB - Andy Bezener.


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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