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


Sightings for Wednesday, October 29 - 9:00 PM update.


**RARE BIRD ALERT for ICELAND GULL (Vernon)

The Featured Birds Include:

SHORT-EARED OWL (Vernon)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Vernon)
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (Vernon)

Other birds mentioned include:

Redhead
Ruddy Duck
Wilson's Snipe
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
Black-bellied Plover
DUNLIN
RED-THROATED LOON
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
Thayer's Gull
Trumpeter Swan
Sandhill Crane
Yellow-rumped Warbler
SNOW GOOSE
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Peregrine Falcon
Tundra Swan
Greater Yellowlegs


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).


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
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).


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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; EF - Elke Fischer; 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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