Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - July 20 update
Date: Jul 20 22:06:21 2003
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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


Sightings for Sunday, July 20 - 10:00 PM update

The Featured Birds Include:

CLARK'S GREBE (Salmon Arm)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned:

Bonaparte's Gull
Rock Wren
Least Sandpiper
Wilson's Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Killdeer
Long-billed Dowitcher
Golden Eagle
Eared Grebe
Blue Grouse
Greater Yellowlegs
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
ACORN WOODPECKER
Boreal Chickadee
Pine Grosbeak
Three-toed Woodpecker


Sightings for July 20

In Salmon Arm, an adult CLARK'S GREBE was seen off Christmas Island
(CC,CoC). The bird was paired with a WESTERN GREBE and the couple had one
chick. Also seen from Christmas Island was an adult BONAPARTE'S GULL
(CC,CoC).

Shorebirds seen on the pond from the dog park at the foot of Narcisse Rd in
Salmon Arm included 7 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a LEAST
SANDPIPER, 4 WILSON'S SNIPE and numerous KILLDEER (CC,CoC).

An adult male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER heading into eclipse plumage was on Rose's
Pond on the Vernon Commonage (CC,CoC).

Two adult ROCK WRENS with 3 fledglings were seen along the Old Okanagan Hwy,
S. of Vernon (CC,CoC).


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).

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

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


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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