Birders,

Today, Chris Siddle, Ryan Tomlinson and I birded the Southern Okanagan
Valley. The day was fantastic with clear skies, little wind and warm
temperatures. We left Kelowna at 6 30 AM and returned home at about 5 30 PM.

>From my backyard we scanned through about 400 CALIFORNIA, 50 HERRING, 1
GLAUCOUS-WINGED and 10 RING-BILLED GULLS in the school field..our first
birds of the day.

In OKANAGAN LAKE PROV. PARK birding was fairly slow, although we did manage
a singing male SPOTTED TOWHEE.

Along the WHITE LAKE ROAD spring was in full effect. We had 4 SAY'S PHOEBES,
a count which grew to exceed 15 by the end of the day. Also seen along White
Lake Road were 2 VIOLET-GREEN and 2 TREE SWALLOWS, 6 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and 6
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, 5 SPOTTED TOWHEES, 15 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, a CANYON WREN
and 5 RED-TAILED HAWKS amongst other more common birds.

Our route then descended the GREEN LAKE ROAD, passing by Green and Mahoney
lakes. We found numerous WHITE-BREASTED, PYGMY and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
in the mixed pine/fir woods along this route, as well as a few BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE, CANVASBACK, and BUFFLEHEAD. At the Okanagan Falls Campground a
single AMERICAN DIPPER remained as well as a few COMMON GOLDENEYE.

At the VASEUX LAKE CLIFFS 2 CANYON WRENS were heard as was another SAY'S
PHOEBE. Soaring close to the rocks were two VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. An adult
GOLDEN EAGLE soared over the cliffs, followed by a single TOWNSEND'S
SOLITAIRE. On the lake itself were numerous ducks including 200 AMERICAN
COOTS, 50 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 15 GREATER SCAUP, 20 REDHEADS, 50 CANVASBACKS,
200 AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 CANADA GOOSE, 12 PIED-BILLED GREBE, and 6 COMMON
MERGANSERS.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS (15) were feeding busily along River Road, N. of
Oliver. Other birds seen along the road included a GREAT BLUE HERON, 3
RED-TAILED HAWKS, an immature BALD EAGLE and 2 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS.

The ROAD 22 area, N. of Osoyoos has a nice assortment of birds:

Northern Harrier 2
American Wigeon 4
Marsh Wren 3
Common Loon 1
Bald Eagle 2 ad.
Herring Gull 5
Gadwall 2
Barn Owl 1
White-crowned Sparrow 15
Killdeer 1
Tree Swallow 1
Violet-green Swallow 10
Northern Pintail 4
Mallard 10
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-necked Grebe 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 5
Western Meadowlark 1
Say's Phoebe 1
Canyon Wren 2
Western Bluebird 2
Steller's Jay 1
House Finch 1
American Crow 1
-- first Wood Tick of the year crawling on my hand --

We then headed for the RICHTER PASS. The various lakes held NORTHERN
PINTAIL, MALLARD, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, AM. WIGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, LESSER
SCAUP, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. Over the ridge at ELKINK RANCH were 3 ad. GOLDEN
EAGLES and a male NORTHERN HARRIER. Along the NIGHTHAWK ROAD was an adult
NORTHERN SHRIKE and another GOLDEN EAGLE.

We then saw a few EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES along Coulthard Road in Cawston
and continued over the NINE MILE CK ROAD to Oliver, seeing another GOLDEN
EAGLE along the way. A brief stop at Powell Beach Park in Summerland
rewarded us with great looks at a LEWIS' WOODPECKER.

Overall, an excellent day of birding. Our totals of approx 15 Say's Phoebes
and 6 Golden Eagles were impressive. Interesting lack in large numbers of
ducks...no Eurasian Wigeon yet this year.

That's all,

Chris Charlesworth
Kelowna, BC, Canada
Avocet Tours
www.avocettours.com





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