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


Sightings for Wednesday, March 31 - 11:00 PM update

Featured birds include:

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Ok Falls)
BARN SWALLOW (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned include:

Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Boreal Owl
Golden Eagle
Chukar
EURASIAN WIGEON
Long-billed Curlew
White-throated Swift
PACIFIC LOON
Ruffed Grouse
Blue Grouse
White-winged Crossbill
Northern Goshawk
Lewis' Woodpecker
Ruddy Duck
Red-naped Sapsucker
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Turkey Vulture


Sightings for March 31

The hummingbird previously thought to be a Calliope, is now believed to be a
female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (DO,LN). It is visiting a feeder at Three Gates
Farm on White Lake Road, near Okanagan Falls.

An early BARN SWALLOW was at Robert Lake in Kelowna (BC). Also at Robert
Lake, a GOLDEN EAGLE was observed as it devoured a duck on the E. shore of
the lake (PM).

At the Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna, 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and
2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were reported (BC).

CHUKARS were heard and seen from the base of the Vaseux Cliffs along
Irrigation Creek Road (LN).

A BOREAL OWL was briefly heard at km 22.5 on the Shuttleworth Creek Road, E.
of Okanagan Falls on March 29 (CC,MF).


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).

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).


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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; DC - Dick Cannings, RC -
Russ Cannings; PM - Peggi McMillan; LN - Laure Neish; BC - Bill Cutfield.

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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