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


Sightings for Tuesday, October 28 - 8:00 PM update.

**RARE BIRD ALERT for RED-THROATED LOON (Kelowna)

The Featured Birds Include:

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Penticton)

Other birds mentioned include:

Thayer's Gull
Trumpeter Swan
Sandhill Crane
Yellow-rumped Warbler
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
DUNLIN
SNOW GOOSE
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Peregrine Falcon
Tundra Swan
Greater Yellowlegs
Mew Gull
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Northern Shrike
Bonaparte's Gull


Sightings for October 28

A winter plumage RED-THROATED LOON was seen on Kelowna' s Westside, on
Okanagan Lake at Kalamoir Park (EF). The bird flew towards Westbank and may
be in the Gellatly or Green bay areas.

In Penticton, a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen at the SS. Sicamous
in Penticton on October 27 (LRo) and a flock of 30 SANDHILL CRANES were
flying S. over Okanagan Lake, in formation, E. of Summerland on the 28th
(LRo).

On the 28th, an imm. TRUMPETER SWAN was seen at the marina on Okanagan Lake,
in Penticton. Also at the marina was a lingering YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
(LRo).

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

With many gulls at Robert Lake, in Kelowna, were 2 adult THAYER'S GULLS
(CC).


Sightings for October 26

At Mud Bay in Kelowna, the juv. AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, the juv.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and 2 of the 3 DUNLIN remain (CC,CS). Also there today
was an adult MEW GULL (CC,CS). Mud Bay is accessed at the foot of Francis
Ave.

At the Rotary Marshes in Kelowna, was an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (CC,CS). The
bird was foraging on the path that leads to the tip of the small jetty.

Two adult THAYER'S GULLS were mixed in amongst other gulls at the mouth of
Power's Ck in Westbank (CC,CS).

A PEREGINE FALCON has been seen regularly in the fields at the S. end of
Spall Road in Kelowna (BD). Viewing is possible from the parking lot of the
Trinity Baptist Church, but do not ever the private farm fields.

In Salmon Arm, 4 SNOW GEESE, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 5 TRUMPETER
and 8 TUNDRA SWANS were seen from the pier area (DC). To the W. of the pier
on the mudflats were 12 DUNLIN (TH).

On the 25th, a lingering GREATER YELLOWLEGS was at the mouth of Vernon Creek
in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon (DC).


Sightings for October 23

The three DUNLIN were again at Mud Bay, at the foot of Francis Ave in
Kelowna, this AM (DW). They had disappeared by the afternoon, but the juv.
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and three BONAPARTE'S GULLS were there (CC,GW).

An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was along Cornish Road, in Rutland (CC) and
another was in E. Kelowna (GW).

The adult MEW GULL was at the McDonald's at the intersection of Hollywood Rd
and Hwy 33 in Rutland (CC).

Birders should keep their eyes open for EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in the
Okanagan. A probable Eurasian Collared-Dove was along Rutland Rd at Cornish
Rd on Oct 16 (CC) and another was on Heimlich Rd, off K.L.O Rd near Mission
Ck on the 23rd (EF,LR). These birds may be from the expanding Similkameen
population and any further sightings of this species in the valley should be
reported.




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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; DW - Don
Wilson; EF - Elke Fischer; LR - Lesley Robertson; CS- Chris Siddle; DC - Don
Cecile; TH - Ted Hillary; BD - Brenda Darchuck; LRo - Laurie Rockwell; EF -
Elke Fischer.

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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