This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert (250-491-7738), sponsored
by The Land Conservancy of BC.


Sightings for Monday, April 5 - 9:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Osoyoos)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Kelowna)
BOREAL OWL (OK Falls)
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER (OK Falls)
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (OK Falls)
SANDHILL CRANE (Summerland)

Other birds mentioned include:

Long-billed Curlew
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Williamson's Sapsucker
Vesper Sparrow
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD
Barn Swallow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Golden Eagle
Chukar
EURASIAN WIGEON
Long-billed Curlew
White-throated Swift
PACIFIC LOON
Ruffed Grouse
Blue Grouse
White-winged Crossbill
Northern Goshawk
Lewis' Woodpecker


Sightings for April 5

In Vernon, a flock of SNOW GEESE were observed flying N. in formation over
the BX area of the city (HM).

An AMERICAN AVOCET was seen at Robert Lake in Kelowna on April 2 (EF) and 2
were present on April 5 (RM).

Three species of hummingbird are visiting feeders at Three Gates Farm near
OK Falls; RUFOUS, CALLIOPE and ANNA'S (fide LN).

At Haynes Point Ecological Reserve in Osoyoos, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
was noted on April 3 (TF,HV,SK,LL).

Along the Venner Meadows Road, E. of OK Falls, 3 WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS,
and 3 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were at km 14 on April 3 (CC,TF,m.ob).

On the night of April 2 a BOREAL OWL was seen along Shuttleworth Creek Road
at km 27 (CC,JH,BV,CV,TL).

Recent spring arrivals have included OSPREY (TF), VESPER SPARROW (BM),
SANDHILL CRANE (LRocK), LONG-BILLED CURLEW (TF,CS) and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED
SWALLOW (RM,TF,CS,m.ob).


Sightings for March 31

The hummingbird previously thought to be a Calliope, is now believed to be a
female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (DO,LN). It is visiting a feeder at Three Gates
Farm on White Lake Road, near Okanagan Falls.

An early BARN SWALLOW was at Robert Lake in Kelowna (BC). Also at Robert
Lake, a GOLDEN EAGLE was observed as it devoured a duck on the E. shore of
the lake (PM).

At the Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna, 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and
2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were reported (BC).

CHUKARS were heard and seen from the base of the Vaseux Cliffs along
Irrigation Creek Road (LN).

A BOREAL OWL was briefly heard at km 22.5 on the Shuttleworth Creek Road, E.
of Okanagan Falls on March 29 (CC,MF).


Sightings for March 28

New spring arrivals included numerous WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at the Vaseux
Lake Cliffs (DC,RC), a LONG-BILLED CURLEW in the fields N. of Swan Lake in
Vernon (TF,HV), a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER along Black Sage Road, N. of Osoyoos
(DC,RC).

Two PACIFIC LOONS were found on Kalamalka Lake offshore near Kekuli Bay
Prov. Park (HV,TF).

While birding along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, three BLUE GROUSE and
three RUFFED GROUSE were stumbled upon (HV,TF). The Ruffeds were in the
aspen grove at approx km 5, while the Blues were slightly farther up between
km 8-9.

Along Postil Lake Road, near Kelowna, an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was observed
and a small flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in the spruce woods
(HV,TF).

On the night of March 27, two BOREAL OWLS were heard calling at km 28, along
Shuttleworth Creek Road, E. of Okanagan Falls (RF).

Up to 5 male EURASIAN WIGEON are being seen at Munson's Pond in Kelowna
(GW,BC,RM).


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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; CS - Chris
Siddle; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; DO - Doreen Olsen; TF - Trevor Forder; HV -
Hank Vanderpol; RF - Roger Foxall; DC - Dick Cannings, RC - Russ Cannings;
PM - Peggi McMillan; LN - Laure Neish; BC - Bill Cutfield; MF - Mike Force;
TL - Tim Leahy; JH - Joel Herr; CV - Christine Vadai; BV - Brooke Vermeer;
LL - Laird Law; SK - Sandra Kinsey; BM - Bob Mckay; HM - Hylda Mayfield.

If you have any questions about Okanagan birding call Chris Charlesworth, in
Kelowna at (250) 718-0335, Dick Cannings, in Penticton, at (250) 496-4019,
and Phil Gehlen, in Vernon at (250) 542-8053.


CHRIS CHARLESWORTH
AVOCET TOURS
725 RICHARDS ROAD
KELOWNA, BC, CANADA
V1X 2X5
(250) 718-0335
C_CHARLESWORTH at AVOCETTOURS.COM
WWW.AVOCETTOURS.COM

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