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

Sightings for Sunday, July 25 - 6:30 PM update.

**RARE BIRD ALERT for BROWN THRASHER (Salmon Arm)

Featured Birds include:

AMERICAN BITTERN (Salmon Arm)

Other birds mentioned include:

Blue Grouse
Solitary Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Sandpiper
CLARK'S GREBE
PEREGRINE FALCON
ALDER FLYCATCHER
SANDERLING
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
Long-billed Dowitcher
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover


Sightings for July 25

A BROWN THRASHER was found 6 km S. of Salmon Arm along Hwy 97B in the area
of Grandview Bench Road on July 21 (TH). The bird was on the S. side of the
road and anyone planning on searching for this great rarity should plan to
arrive as early in the morning as possible in case it is singing.

Also, in a late report, a male LARK BUNTING was in the Scotch Ck area near
Salmon Arm back on June 4 (TH). Perhaps the same bird that appeared in
Summerland earlier in July?

An AMERICAN BITTERN is being seen and heard regularly from the dog park at
the foot of Narcisse Road (TH).

At Robert Lake in Kelowna there was a single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and a
single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER amongst many more common species (CC).

A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was on a muddy pond in Sutherland Hills Pk in Kelowna
(CC).

On the Vernon Commonage, 3 BLUE GROUSE, most likely a grown up brood, were
seen along Howard Road (CS).


Sightings for July 23

The ALDER FLYCATCHER found in late June along the trail to Christmas Island
in Salmon Arm was found again on the 23rd (CC,NH). The bird was calling
along the trail beside the outhouse a short distance from the Christmas
Island parking area.

Two ad. CLARK'S GREBES were seen amongst many WESTERN GREBES from Christmas
Island also (CC,NH).

>From the dog park at the foot of Narcisse Road in Salmon Arm an adult
PEREGRINE FALCON was seen hunting low over the shore (CC,NH).


Sightings for July 19

Shorebirding was very productive today at Robert Lake in Kelowna. An adult
SANDERLING in the process of molting was observed amongst numerous LEAST
SANDPIPERS (CC). Also there were a few SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and a single
ad. WESTERN SANDPIPER (MF,CC). A single adult SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was
with a single ad. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER in the AM (MF). By the evening 3 ad.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were present (CC). A SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a
PECTORAL SANDPIPER were also of note.


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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; NH - Nathan Hentze; MF - Mike
Force; TF - Trevor Forder; TH - Ted Hillary; CS - Chris Siddle.

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

_________________________________________________________________
Take advantage of powerful junk e-mail filters built on patented Microsoft
SmartScreen Technology.
http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Start enjoying all the benefits of MSN Premium right now and get the
first two months FREE*.