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


Sightings for Thursday, March 25 - 7:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

RUDDY DUCK (Kelowna)
GREATER YELOWLEGS (Kelowna)
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Winfield)

Other birds mentioned include:

Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Ruffed Grouse
Turkey Vulture
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Shoveler
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
EURASIAN WIGEON
Williamson's Sapsucker
Western Screech-Owl
Chukar
Gray Partridge
Blue Grouse
Northern Goshawk
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Varied Thrush
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Evening Grosbeak


Sightings for March 25

Along Beaver Lake Road, E. of Winfield, the spring's first RED-NAPED
SAPSUCKERS were found in the aspen groves between km 5 and 6 (PL,DW,m.ob). A
RUFFED GROUSE was drumming at km 6 and a TURKEY VULTURE was soaring over the
grasslands (PL,m.ob).

At Robert Lake, 6 RUDDY DUCKS were amongst 15 other species of waterfowl. On
the E. shore of the lake was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS (CC). On the 23rd, a mixed
flock of TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS were at Robert Lake (GW,MB,RM).

A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at Goldy's Pond in Westbank on March 23 (LR).


Sightings for March 22

At the Chichester Bird Sanctuary, in Kelowna, a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
was reported (TF).

Good numbers of ducks were noted at Robert Lake, in Kelowna, including
NORTHERN SHOVELER (GW).

Along Lakeshore Road, in Okanagan Mountain Park, the first migrant
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET of the spring migration was reported (RM).


Sightings for March 21

On March 20, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and a male EURASIAN WIGEON were
at Munson's Pond in Kelowna (CC,CS,RM).

The WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was again seen roosting in the woodpecker cavity
along Mission Ck, in Kelowna, upstream from K.L.O Road (TM). From the bridge
follow the path upstream and walk about 50 yards beyond the first bench. On
the creek side of the path watch for a fallen cottonwood and search for the
well camoflaged bird over half way up a tree behind the fallen log.

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were seen and heard at various locations along
Shuttleworth Ck Road and the Venner Meadows Road, E. of Okanagan Falls on
the night of the 20th (CC,m.ob).

EVENING GROSBEAKS are visiting a feeder on Black Road in the Ellison area of
Kelowna (TF).

In Summerland, VARIED THRUSHES were heard singing behind the research
station on the 20th (LRock).

At the Vaseux Cliffs on the 20th, 2 CHUKAR were heard and seen on the rocks
near the base of the cliff (GW,LR,PL,m.ob).

On the 21st, Km 13-15 on the Venner Meadows Road, E. of Ok Falls had up to 6
male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS calling and drumming (CC,m.ob). Also soaring
overhead was an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK (CC,CS,m.ob).

Two BLUE GROUSE were heard "hooting" in the sage brush near White Lake on
the 21st (CC,m.ob) and another was heard at Blue Lake on the Richter Pass,
W. of Osoyoos on the 20th (CC,CS,RM).

Along the Twin Lakes Road, about 2 km from the White Lk Rd turnoff were 2
GRAY PARTRIDGE (CC).

NE. of Kelowna, an AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was found along Postill
Lake Road (TF).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; PL - Pam
Laing; CS - Chris Siddle; TM - Thor Manson; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; DW - Don
Wilson; MB - Margaret Bryan; LR - Lesley Robertson.

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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