Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - Nov 2 update
Date: Nov 2 20:25:57 2003
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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


Sightings for Sunday, November 2 - 8:30 PM update.


The Featured Birds Include:


EURASIAN WIGEON (Vaseux)
PACIFIC LOON (Kelowna)
DUNLIN (Kelowna)
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Vaseux)

Other birds mentioned include:

American Wigeon
Mew Gull
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Hooded Merganser
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Thayer's Gull
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Harrier
Bonaparte's Gull
Eared Grebe
Canyon Wren
Chukar
White-winged Scoter
Varied Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
ICELAND GULL
Lapland Longspur
Short-eared Owl
Redhead
Ruddy Duck
Wilson's Snipe
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
Black-bellied Plover


Sightings for November 2

An imm. male EURASIAN WIGEON, with a flock of AMERICAN WIGEON, was seen by a
few observers from the blind at Vaseux Lake (LN,ED). Also on Vaseux Lake
were both TRUMPETER and TUNDRA SWANS (LN,ED).

PACIFIC LOONS were reported from numerous locations today. An immature was
at Deadman's Lake, N. of Osoyoos (LN,HB), an adult in breeding plumage was
on the river channel at Road 22, N. of Osoyoos (LN) and 2 imm. were at the
Kelowna Yacht Club (RT,CC). Also at the Kelowna Yacht Club was a winter
plumage EARED GREBE (RT,CC).

In the Macintyre Bluff area, between Vaseux Lk and Oliver, the first
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were reported. A flock of 30 birds were noted (ED). Also
around the bluff were 2 calling CANYON WRENS, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a
NORTHERN HARRIER and a CHUKAR (ED).

>From the E. dyke S. of Rd 22, five BONAPARTE'S GULLS and 55 HOODED
MERGANSERS were seen on the large pond (LN).

In Kelowna, 2 ad. THAYER'S GULLS were on the log booms at Sutherland Park
(CC,RT) and a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was perched on top of a burnt tree along
Lakeshore Road in Okanagan Mountain Park (CC,RT). An adult MEW GULL and 5
DUNLIN were seen in Mud Bay, in Kelowna, at the foot of Francis Ave (RT).


Sightings for October 31

A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was reported from the S.S Sicamous in Penticton and a
tardy YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was at the rose gardens near the S.S Sicamous
(LN).

On Skaha Lake a small flock of TRUMPETER SWANS were noted (??) and a VARIED
THRUSH was in Okanagan Lake Provincial Park just N. of Summerland (LRo).

Mud Bay, in Kelowna, had 5 DUNLIN today, but no sign of the Black-bellied
and American Golden-plovers (LRo,DW).


Sightings for October 29

At the mouth of Vernon Creek, in the Okanagan Landing area, an adult winter
ICELAND GULL was found. This bird has a pale eye, while the bird present
last winter had a dark eye. Heard overhead at this location was a LAPLAND
LONGSPUR (CC).

Also in the Vernon area, a female type WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and 2 female
RUDDY DUCKS were with a large group of REDHEADS on Mackay's Reservoir on the
Commonage. A SHORT-EARED OWL flew over the reservoir and landed on a rocky
slope on the E. side. Flushed from the shore on the W. side of the reservoir
was a WILSON'S SNIPE (CC).

In Kelowna, the juv. AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, the juv. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
and the three DUNLIN continue in Mud Bay at the foot of Francis Ave (CC).


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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; LRo - Laurie Rockwell; LN -
Laure Neish; RT- Ryan Tomlinson; ED - Eva Durance; DW - Don Wilson.

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
Street in Penticton.


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

_________________________________________________________________