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


Sightings for Monday, October 13 - 8:00 PM update.

**RARE BIRD ALERT for PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVER

The Featured Birds Include:

CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (Kelowna)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Kelowna)
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Evening Grosbeak
Red Crossbill
Sandhill Crane
Horned Lark
Northern Shrike
Violet-green Swallow
Osprey
PARASITIC JAEGER
PACIFIC LOON
SURF SCOTER
Bonaparte's Gull
Golden Eagle


Sightings for October 13

A PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen and heard over Thomson Pond on Gordon Road,
in Kelowna (HV). The bird was first heard calling, then seen circling over
the disturbed fields near the pond, possibly landing.

A CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE was noted at the traditional km 4 location on
Philpott Road, off Hwy 33, E. of Kelowna (CC). Also along Philpott Road, at
approx km 6 where the pavement ends were 20 EVENING GROSBEAKS and many RED
CROSSBILLS (CC).

A late OSPREY was all that was seen at the "hawkwatch" at Swainson Rd and
Treetop Road in Rutland (CC) and surprisingly, 15 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were
feeding above Munson's Pond in Kelowna (CC).

Two SANDHILL CRANES have been seen, for the past two days, in fields along
Hwy 97C, just S. of L & A Cross Road in Vernon (PG,PB).

On Oct 12, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen in the weeds at the NE corner
of Alki Lake, at the landfill, in Kelowna (RT). Also at the Landfill was an
adult NORTHERN SHRIKE (RT). An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was at Robert Lake
in Kelowna on the 12th (RT).

Seen at Thomson Pond, in Kelowna, were 4 LAPLAND LONGSPURS and a HORNED LARK
(RT).


Sightings for October 11

An adult PARASITIC JAEGER was observed at lenght at the N. end of Osoyoos
Lake (BC,m.ob). The bird's behavior suggested that it may have been present
for a while at the location.

Presumably migrating, 5 GOLDEN EAGLES were seen N. of Oliver at Macintyre's
Bluff and a NORTHERN SHRIKE was along Black Sage Road, between Oliver and
Osoyoos (BC,m.ob).

In Kelowna, the adult male SURF SCOTER was again at Rotary Beach and a
PACIFIC LOON in winter plumage was seen from Sutherland Park (CC,MP).

A winter plumage BONAPARTE'S GULL was with many gulls on the sandbars at Mud
Bay, at the foot of Francis Ave in Kelowna (CC,MP).


Sightings for October 9

An adult male SURF SCOTER was seen on the Kelowna Waterfront at Rotary Beach
(GW,HV).

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found in the fields behind Thomson-Brook Pond on
Gordon Road in Kelowna (HV).


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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; HV - Hank Vanderpol; GW -
Gwynneth Wilson; MP - Mark Phinney; BC - Bill Cutfield; RT - Ryan Tomlinson;
PB - Peter Blokker; PG - Phil Gehlen.

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

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