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

Sightings for Tuesday, June 3 - 9:00 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Kelowna)

The Featured Birds Include:


Other birds mentioned:

Northern Pygmy-Owl
Blue Grouse
Long-billed Curlew
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
American White Pelican
Northern Goshawk
American Redstart
Yellow-breasted Chat
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Veery
Common Poorwill
Spruce Grouse
Gray Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
SAGE THRASHER
Grasshopper Sparrow
Black-backed Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker


** NOTE

I am sorry to inform you that birders will no longer be permitted to bird
from the trailer park access at the Head of the Lake in Vernon. As
unfortunate as this is, since the Head of the Lake has been a prime birding
spot for a hundred years, let's respect this request.

Sightings for June 3

A YELLOW-BILLED LOON was seen on Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, from 4856
Lakeshore Road (KA,LR). The bird was present all morning, but vanished in
the afternoon.


Sightings for June 2

17 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were found in the wet cedar forests along
Philpott Rd and Three Forks Road, which follow the Belgo Ck and Mission Ck
valleys (CC). The birds were noted between 940 and 1100 meters elevation.
Nesting behavior was observed. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was along Philpott Rd at
km 4 (CC).

On the grasslands on the S. side of Black Mountain, E. of Kelowna, a
LONG-BILLED CURLEW was heard calling (CC).

The Okanagan Mountain Park Bird Count was held on May 31st. Along the
Boulder Trail was a BARRED OWL, a NORTHERN PYMGY-OWL and a BLUE GROUSE
(CC,JC,m.ob).


Sightings for May 29

Seen flying near the N. end of Osoyoos Lake was a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
(fide.BL). On the 28th, ten AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were feeding near the N.
end of Osoyoos Lake (CC,BD,WD).

Also on the 28, a singing male AMERICAN REDSTART was at the S. end of the E.
dyke at Road 22, N. of Osoyoos. (CC). Also here were two VEERY (CC).

Numerous YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and the resident BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
have been reliable at River Road, N. of Oliver (CC,m.ob).

A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen singing on territory on the hillside NW. of
White Lake, in the South Okanagan (CC,m.ob). Near the lake was a calling
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (CC).

Although the SAGE THRASHER seen on the 26th could not be relocated at White
Lake, two possible SAGE THRASHERS were at Haynes Lease Ecological Reserve,
N. of Osoyoos on the 29 (fide.BL).

On the evening of the 27th, 2 COMMON POORWILLS were heard on the road to
Kilpoola Lake, W. of Osoyoos (CC,BD,WD).

LEAST FLYCATCHERS were noted along the Twin Lakes Road and at two locations
along the river channel, S. of Road 22 (CC,m.ob) and GRAY FLYCATCHERS were
at their traditional location along McKinney Road, E. of Oliver at km 10
(CC,BD,WD).

At km 15 on the Venner Meadows Road, E. of Okanagan Falls were two BARRED
OWLS calling in broad daylight. Attracted by the comotion the owls were
making was an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK (CC). At km 15.2 a female BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER was seen at km 13.5 a male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER was observed
(CC). On the 28th, a female SPRUCE GROUSE was seen feeding on spruce needles
at km 14 (BD,WD).


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

Observers: CC - Chris Charlesworth; BD - Brent Diakow; WD - Wayne Diakow; BL
- Barry Lancaster; JC - Janice Casling; MC - Mike Casling; LR - Lesley
Robertson; KA - Karin Arkinstall.


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

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