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


Sightings for Friday, October 31 - 8:00 PM update.


The Featured Birds Include:


WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Penticton)
DUNLIN (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Varied Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Trumpeter Swan
ICELAND GULL
Lapland Longspur
Short-eared Owl
Redhead
Ruddy Duck
Wilson's Snipe
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
Black-bellied Plover
RED-THROATED LOON
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
Thayer's Gull
Sandhill Crane


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).


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).


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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; EF - Elke Fischer; LRo - Laurie
Rockwell; DW - Don Wilson; LN - Laure Neish.

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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