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

Sightings for Tuesday, August 24 - 9:30 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT continues for BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (Salmon Arm)

Featured Birds include:

RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Kelowna)
SANDERLING (Osoyoos)


Other birds

American Three-toed Woodpecker
Spruce Grouse
STILT SANDPIPER
Black Swift
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
UPLAND SANDPIPER
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
American Redstart
Red-necked Phalarope
American White Pelican
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
FRANKLIN'S GULL
MEW GULL
UPLAND SANDPIPER
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Peregrine Falcon
Baird's Sandpiper
CLARK'S GREBE
Red-necked Phalarope
Clay-colored Sparrow
Spruce Grouse


Sightings for August 24

One of the two juv. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS was again seen in Salmon Arm,
on the mudflats, from the Nature Park at the foot of Narcisse Road on Aug 23
(TF).

Two male RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found at the intersection of Hereron Rd and
Acland Rd in N. Kelowna (CC). The birds were feeding on seed with BREWER'S
BLACKBIRDS, in the drive way of the white trailer on the N. side of the
intersection.

A SANDERLING, first found on Aug 22, was again seen on the 24 in the ponds
along Kilpoola Lake Road, W. of Osoyoos (DB).

Up to 9 BLACK SWIFTS were seen, during a rain shower, flying low over the
Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna (CC).

A hike through the Myra Canyon end of the trestles, an area ravaged by last
summer's wild fires produced two AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS and a
number of other woodpecker species. A SPRUCE GROUSE was also seen in the
area (ST).


Sightings for August 22

Birding continues to be great in Salmon Arm, especially with the arrival of
a cold front. Two juv. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were seen on the mudflats
off the Nature Park at the foot of Narcisse Road
(DC,RH,SR,TH,EM,CC,DW,RT,JB,RM). Also seen far out on the flats from the
nature park was a juv. BLACK TURNSTONE (DC,m.ob). An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
continues on the flats as do up to 20 STILT SANDPIPERS, 2 SANDERLINGS, 7
FRANKLIN'S GULLS, an adult MEW GULL, and 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS
(DC,m.ob).

In Kelowna, an adult and a juvenile SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were at Munson's
Pond (CC), and migrant songbirds were dripping from the trees at the
Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna. Highlights were an AMERICAN REDSTART,
an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a LEAST FLYCATCHER and an UPLAND SANDPIPER
calling overhead (CC,RT).

Eleven RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were at Mahoney Lake in the South Okanagan
(LN).


Sightings for August 21

The two UPLAND SANDPIPERS were again seen from the Nature Park at the foot
of Narcisse Road in Salmon Arm (CC,RT,TF). The birds were last seen flying
SW. at approx 10 AM. Also seen on the mudflats from the Nature Park was a
SANDERLING, 150 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, nearly 300 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 2
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, 4 FRANKLIN'S GULLS and the completely albino LESSER
YELLOWLEGS. Up to 18 STILT SANDPIPERS were on the foreshore at this
location, with one more at Christmas Island. 16 juv. STILT SANDPIPERS were
at Robert Lake and 4 more were at Rawlings Lake E. of Lumby (CC). Migrant
songbirds in Salmon Arm included a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Nature Park
and a LEAST FLYCATCHER along the path to Christmas Island (CC,RT,TF). Two
ad. CLARK'S GREBES were visible from Christmas Island as well (CC,RT,TF).

A female SPRUCE GROUSE with 4 large chicks was seen along Dee Lake Road,
near the lake itself (CC,RT).

At the Vaseux Banding Stn. a PEREGRINE FALCON and the imm. DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT were reported (BL,LRock).


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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; BL - Barry Lancaster; TF
-Trevor Forder; DB - Doug Brown; DC - Don Cecile; LR - Lesley Robertson; LN
- Laure Neish; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; LRock - Laurie Rockwell; RH - Rick
Howie; RM - Richard Mooney; TH - Ted Hillary; EM - Ed MacDonald; JB - Jack
Bowling; SR - Syd Roberts; ST - Scott Thompson.

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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