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

Sightings for Wednesday, March 26th - 8:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Vernon)
TURKEY VULTURE (Penticton)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Vernon)
DUNLIN (Vernon)
SNOW BUNTING (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned:

GYRFALCON
Boreal Owl
Williamson's Sapsucker
Boreal Chickadee
Pine Grosbeak
Gray Jay
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Eared Grebe
Ruddy Duck
Lesser Scaup
Cassin's Finch


Sightings for March 26

At the Head of the Lake, near Vernon, were 3 DUNLIN, a male EURASIAN WIGEON
and a SNOW BUNTING (HV). The bunting was feeding on sandbars, as were the
three Dunlin, seen from the beach at the trailer park.

On the Vernon Commonage a flock of 70 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen in flight,
over the Predator Ridge Golf Course (CC). On a pond at Predator Ridge was a
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (CC).

The first TURKEY VULTURE of the spring was reported near Penticton on March
25 (LN).


Sightings for March 23

A pair of adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were on a small pond on the E.
side of Hwy 97, S. of Oliver at Road # 20 (EF,CC,m.ob). The birds were
feeding in a field near the pond with CANADA GEESE and AMERICAN WIGEON.

Eight SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along Irrigation Ck Road, E. of Vaseux Lake
(LN).

An owling trip on the Shuttleworth Ck Road, E. of Ok Falls, produced a
BOREAL OWL and 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS (CC,m.ob). The Boreal was at the
traditional location at km 23. A daylight excursion into this area produced
3 BOREAL CHICKADEES, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and numerous GRAY JAYS and PINE
GROSBEAKS (CC,m.ob). Three male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS were drumming along
the Venner Meadows Road between km 14-15 (CC,HV,m.ob). The Venner Meadows
Road heads S. off the Shuttleworth Ck Rd at km 13.

In Kelowna, the gray-morph GYRFALCON, seen earlier this winter, was again
seen at the Marshall's Feedlot, on the W. side of Hwy 97, S. of McCurdy Rd
(CS).

Two EURASIAN WIGEON were in Vernon at the Head of the Lake, where 3 DUNLIN
were also seen (DC).


Sightings for March 21

A single SNOW BUNTING was at the intersection of Carmi Rd and Beaverdell
Road, E. of Penticton (LN).

On the 20th, a breeding plumage EARED GREBE was on Okanagan Lake, in
Kelowna, at Sutherland Park (GW). Another spring arrival, a RUDDY DUCK was
at Goldie's Pond, next to the Rose Valley Elementary School in Westbank
(GW,m.ob).

A pair of LESSER SCAUP were on Mahoney Lake, along Green Lake Road, W. of Ok
Falls and a pair of CASSIN'S FINCHES were near the Boy Scout Camp along the
Fairview - White Lk Road, W. of Ok Falls (LN) on the 20th.


Observers - CC - Chris Charlesworth; CS - Chris Siddle; LN - Laure Neish; GW
- Gwynneth Wilson; HV - Hank Vanderpol; EF - Elke Fischer; DC - Don Cecile.

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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