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


Sightings for Monday, July 14 - 7:45 PM update

The Featured Birds Include:

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Lumby)

Other birds mentioned:

Golden Eagle
Eared Grebe
Blue Grouse
Least Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
ACORN WOODPECKER
Boreal Chickadee
Pine Grosbeak
Three-toed Woodpecker
Prairie Falcon
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Solitary Sandpiper


Sightings for July 14

The first southbound shorebirds have begun to appear. Two LEAST SANDPIPERS
were at the S. end of Mahoney Lake, on Green Lake Road, W. of Okanagan Falls
on July 11 (LN). Habitat at Mahoney Lake appears to be ideal for shorebirds
so birders should check the area.

Rawlings Lake, E. of Lumby, also has excellent shorebird habitat. Three
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a number of LEAST
SANDPIPERS were there on the 14th (CC). A very healthy population of EARED
GREBES can also be seen at Rawlings Lake. An estimated 500 were seen today.
>From Vernon head E. on Hwy 6 to Lumby. About 5 km E. of Lumby turn left on
Rawlings Lake Rd and the lake can be found a short distance down the road.

On the W. side of Lumby, a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE was seen soaring along Hwy
6 (CC).

A BLUE GROUSE with 2 chicks was seen at km 9 on Beaver Lake Road, E. of
Winfield on July 13 (TF) and another female with 3 chicks was at the Cosen's
Bay end of Kalamalka Provincial Park, near Vernon on the 14 (CC).


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).

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

Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; HV - Hank Vanderpol; KH - Kurt
Hutterli; MH - Marriane Hutterli; WW - Wayne Weber; AB - Andy Bezener; LN -
Laure Neish; TF - Trevor Forder.


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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