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

Sightings for Wednesday, March 19th - 9:30 PM update

Featured birds include:

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Kelowna)
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Kelowna)
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Kelowna)
CASSIN'S FINCH (Penticton)

Other birds mentioned:

Canyon Wren
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Tree Swallow
Mountain Bluebird
Golden Eagle
Say's Phoebe
Violet-green Swallow
Spotted Towhee


** 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 19

A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found in the marshes near Robert Lake, in
Kelowna (RT). Also in the Robert Lake area were up to 4 GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (RT).

A WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was heard along McCulloch Road, near Kelowna, on the
evening of the 18th (CC). The bird was at the first bridge encountered after
the road turns gravel. This bridge crosses K.L.O Ck. A trail heads upstream
from McCulloch Rd at K.L.O Ck, passing by large cliffs where a CANYON WREN
was heard last week (JM).

In the South Okanagan, 2 CASSIN'S FINCHES were at Max Lake on Penticton's
West Bench (LN).


Sightins for March 17th

TREE SWALLOWS were seen at various locations, including White Lake Road,
near OK Falls, the Vaseux Cliffs and at the bridge on Road 22, N. of Osoyoos
(CC,CS,RT).

Along the White Lake Road, 6 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were counted (CC,CS,RT).
SAY'S PHOEBES and GOLDEN EAGLES were noted in good numbers by a group of
birders who tallied 15 phoebes and 6 eagles, at such locations as the Vaseux
Cliffs, White Lake Road, Nighthawk Road, in the Similkameen Valley and the
Nine Mile Ck Road, near Cawston in the Similkameen (CS,CC,RT).

Three EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were along Coulthard Road in Cawston, in the
Similkameen Valley (CC,CS,RT).


Sightings for March 13th

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).


Observers - CC - Chris Charlesworth; TF - Trevor Forder; RT -Ryan Tomlinson;
CS - Chris Siddle; LN - Laure Neish.

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.

Chris Charlesworth
Avocet Tours
725 Richards Road
Kelowna, BC, Canada
V1X 2X5
www.avocettours.com
c_charlesworth at avocettours.com

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