Subject: Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - March 28 update
Date: Mar 28 20:01:43 2004
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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


Sightings for Sunday, March 28 - 8:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

PACIFIC LOON (Vernon)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Kelowna)
BOREAL OWL (Ok Falls)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Vernon)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Vaseux)
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Ok Falls)

Other birds mentioned include:

Ruffed Grouse
Blue Grouse
White-winged Crossbill
Northern Goshawk
Lewis' Woodpecker
Ruddy Duck
Greater Yellowlegs
Red-naped Sapsucker
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Turkey Vulture
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Shoveler


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), and a bird presumed to be a female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at 3 Gates
Farm, on White Lk Road, N. of Ok Falls (LN,DO).

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).


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).

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


Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; RM - Richard Mooney; PL - Pam
Laing; CS - Chris Siddle; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; DW - Don Wilson; MB -
Margaret Bryan; LR - Lesley Robertson; DO - Doreen Olsen; TF - Trevor
Forder; HV - Hank Vanderpol; RF - Roger Foxall.

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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