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

Sightings for Thursday, March 13th - 8:30 PM update

Featured birds include:

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Kelowna)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Winfield)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Summerland)

Other birds mentioned:

Golden Eagle
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
HARRIS' SPARROW
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
Western Bluebird
Wilson's Snipe
White-crowned Sparrow
DUNLIN
Tundra Swan
Gray Partridge
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Pine Grosbeak
Bohemian Waxwing


** REMINDER **

The first "Birder's Night" will take place on Monday, March 24, at the
Eco-Centre along Mission Ck, on Springfield Road in Kelowna. The doors will
open at 7:00 PM. This meeting, which will be held monthly on the 4th Monday,
will feature a presentation on birds and is open to everyone.


Sightings for March 13th

Today was the first warm day of spring. The warm southerly winds brought in
6 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, which were seen in Kelowna, along Mission Ck, near
Casorso Road. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE also flew over this location (CC,m.ob).

Along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, 4 SAY'S PHOEBES were displaying
signs of territoriality along the grasslands (CC,m.ob).

On March 10, three SPOTTED TOWHEES were in Okanagan Lake Park, along Hwy 97,
N. of Summerland (CC).


Sightings for March 9th

An adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Munson's Pond in Kelowna, and
with WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS an immature HARRIS'S SPARROW was again seen
(CC,RT).

In the weeds behind Thomson-Brook Pond, in Kelowna, 3 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS
were seen (RT). A WILSON'S SNIPE was flushed from a ditch on the E. side of
the Gordon Road Sportsfields (CC,RT).

The male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was again seen at the intersection of Hwy 97
and Cooper Road in Kelowna (CC,RT).

On March 6, half a dozen WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were reported along Ward Road in
Kelowna (DA).


Sightings for March 1st

At the Head of the Lake in Vernon, the DUNLIN continues to be seen from the
trailer park (CC,JB). At the Desert Cove Community at Head of the Lake, a
pair of GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen and an immature HARRIS' SPARROW was found
in a brushy draw (CC,JB).

A trip up Silver Star Mountain, E. of Vernon, produced approx. 10 PINE
GROSBEAKS and a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (CC,JB).

E. of Winfield, a GOLDEN EAGLE was along the Beaver Lake Road grasslands at
km 3 (TF).

Four AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were in the weedy field behind Thomson-Brook
Pond on Gordon Drive in Kelowna and along Lakeshore Road at the St. Hubertus
Winery, S. of Kelowna, were 200 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (CC,JB).

On February 28, 4 TUNDRA SWANS were on Duck Lake, N. of Kelowna (JM).


Observers - CC - Chris Charlesworth; TF - Trevor Forder; JM - James
McGregor; DB - Denise Brownlie; JB - John Brighton; RT -Ryan Tomlinson; DA -
Doug Arthur.

If you have any questions about Okanagan Valley birding, contact Chris
Charlesworth (250) 718-0335, Dick Cannings at (250) 496-4019, or Phil Gehlen
(250) 542-8053.

This update has been sponsored by the TUMBLEWEED NATURE STORE at 67 Front St
in Penticton.

Thanks for calling the bird alert and happy birding.

TRANSCRIBED BY:

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

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