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

Sightings for Friday, August 20 - 10:30 PM update

** RARE BIRD ALERT for UPLAND SANDPIPER (Salmon Arm) and BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON(Oliver)

Featured Birds include:

SANDERLING (Salmon Arm)

Other birds mentioned include:

Yellow-breasted Chat
Greater Yellowlegs
American White Pelican
Common Tern
FRANKLIN'S GULL
STILT SANDPIPER
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Baird's Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Wilson's Phalarope
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Lewis's Woodpecker
Macgillivray's Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Golden Eagle


Sightings for August 20

Two UPLAND SANDPIPERS, an adult and a juvenile were seen in the tall grass
along the edge of the mudflats to the W. of the Nature Park at the foot of
Narcisse Road in Salmon Arm (DC). The best way to see the birds may be to
wear rubber boots and stalk through the grass. Also in Salmon Arm on the
mudflats was a SANDERLING, 9 juv. STILT SANDPIPERS and a completely albino
GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Offshore were up to 62 COMMON TERNS and amongst other
gulls were 7 juv. FRANKLIN'S GULLS (DC). Be on the watch for jaegers!

Seen flying over Deadman's Lake in Oliver were 4 juvenile BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS (DB) and at Vaseux Lake were 16 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (DB).
Also at the N. end of Vaseux Lake was the long staying TUNDRA SWAN (DB).
Banded at the Vaseux Banding Station was a first year YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
(BL).

Up to 12 STILT SANDPIPERS were seen at Robert Lake in Kelowna on Aug 19,
along with 2 juv. SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (CC,LR).

Six COMMON TERNS were flying near the SS Sicamous on Ok. Lake in Penticton
(LN).


Sightings for August 17

Shorebird numbers are up again at Robert Lake in Kelowna with the highlight
being undoubtedly 8 juvenile STILT SANDPIPERS. Also there was a WILSON'S
PHALAROPE and up to 150 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS (CC).

In the South Okanagan, a possible 8 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were at Mahoney
Lake, W. of Okanagan Falls. Also there were 5 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and 3
WILSON'S PHALAROPES (ED).

Also in the south Okanagan, a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen and heard in
Oliver (BL).

A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was calling at km 14 McCulloch Road, SE. of Kelowna
(CC).

Becoming an uncommon sight in the Kelowna area, a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was
seen E. of Kelowna along Hwy 33 (CC). Approx 5 km E. of the Black Mountain
subdivision stop at the sign for Penny's Garden Centre and look downslope
for two large Ponderosa Pine snags. The woodpeckers can be seen, best with a
scope, flycatching from this tree, which is their annual nest tree.


Sightings for August 16

At Kilpoola Lake W. of Osoyoos a STILT SANDPIPER and a SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER were observed amongst numerous other shorebirds (BL,DH,BM,DB). The
2 juv. STILT SANDPIPERS continue at Robert Lake in Kelowna (CC).

An adult and a third year GOLDEN EAGLE were seen soaring low over the Black
Mountain Grasslands E. of Kelowna (TF).

Migrants at the Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna included a NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH and a first fall male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (CC).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; BL - Barry Lancaster; TF -
Trevor Forder; DB - Doug Brown; ED - Eva Durance; DC - Don Cecile; LR -
Lesley Robertson; LN - Laure Neish.

If you have any questions about Okanagan birding call Dick Cannings, in
Naramata, at (250) 496-4019, Chris Charlesworth in Kelowna (250) 718-0335,
or 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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