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


Sightings for Tuesday, October 14 - 8:00 PM update.


The Featured Birds Include:

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Salmon Arm)
STILT SANDPIPER (Salmon Arm)
DUNLIN (Salmon Arm)
FRANKLIN'S GULL (Salmon Arm)
THAYER'S GULL (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Long-billed Dowitcher
Pectoral Sandpiper
Black-bellied Plover
Red-tailed Hawk (Harlan's race)
Northern Shrike
Sandhill Crane
Lapland Longspur
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
Evening Grosbeak
Red Crossbill
Horned Lark
Violet-green Swallow
Osprey
PARASITIC JAEGER
PACIFIC LOON
SURF SCOTER
Bonaparte's Gull
Golden Eagle


Sightings for October 14

A juv. GOLDEN-PLOVER was on the sandbar in Mud Bay, at the foot of Francis
Ave in Kelowna (CC,RT,HV). The identification of this bird is under review
and further reports and ideas are encouraged.

Three juv. AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were on the Salmon Arm Foreshore on the
E. side of the pier (CC,RT). With them was a juv. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
(CC,RT). A winter plumage FRANKLIN'S GULL was seen from the tip of the pier
with many other gulls and overhead, 4 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen and heard
in flight (CC,RT). A few shorebirds remain on the shoreline in Salmon Arm,
visible from the tip of the pier. Included were 70 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS,
10 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a DUNLIN and a winter plumage STILT SANDPIPER
(CC,RT).

In Vernon, an adult "Harlan's" race RED-TAILED HAWK and an adult NORTHERN
SHRIKE were at the N. end of Swan Lake (CC,RT). The two SANDHILL CRANES
continue to be seen in the fields along Hwy 97C, just S. of L & A Cross Road
in Vernon (CC,RT).

Large numbers of gulls were loafing on the logbooms off Sutherland Park in
Kelowna. Amongst the more common species were two adult THAYER'S GULLS
(CC,RT).


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).



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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; HV - Hank Vanderpol; 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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