This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Bird Alert (250-491-7738), sponsored by
Avocet Tours.

Sightings for Monday, November 8 - 11:00 PM update


Featured Birds include:

GYRFALCON (Kelowna)
BLUE JAY (Kelowna)

Other birds mentioned:

Rock Wren
Golden Eagle
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Say's Phoebe
Common Yellowthroat
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
PACIFIC LOON
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL
Tundra Swan


Sightings for November 8

A BLUE JAY was reported at a residence in the Lakeview Heights area of
Kelowna's Westside on November 7 (fide GW). The bird was at 2425 Collingwood
Road.

The GYRFALCON has been reported by various observers at Marshall's Feedlot
in Kelowna (m.ob).

In Vernon, a late SAY'S PHOEBE was along Bench Row Road at the PRT Vernon
Nursery and a male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was in the weedy field at Okanagan
Landing Road and Lakeshore Road on Nov 7 (CC,CS,RM).

On November 7, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was heard calling at km 9 on the
Shuttleworth Ck Road, E. of Okanagan Falls (CC,AB,MB). On the 8th, a
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was at km 15 on Venner Meadows Road and another was in
the steep canyon on the Irrigation Ck Road, E. of Vaseux Lake (CC,AB,MB). An
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER was heard in the heavily wooded gully on
Dutton Creek Road, off the Venner Meadows Road (CC,AB,MB). Many woodpeckers,
including HAIRY, DOWNY, PILEATED and FLICKERS were in the Vaseux burn area
along Irrigation Creek Road (CC,AB,MB). At the Vaseux Cliffs was a singing
ROCK WREN and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE (CC,AB,MB).


Sightings for November 6

The gray-phase adult GYRFALCON has returned to its winter headquarters at
the Marshall's Feedlot in Kelowna (CC). This bird has returned to Marshall's
Feedlot, which is found along the W. side of Hwy 97, just S. of McCurdy
Road, for 4 winters now.

On the 5th, an alternate plumage PACIFIC LOON was seen on Okanagan Lake
along the Penticton waterfront (MG).


Sightings for November 1

A NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was seen and photographed along the Little White Forest
Service Road S. of Kelowna on October 31 (MS). This is in fairly remote
country and a good four wheel drive, equipped with chains, is required. You
can access this road from the top of June Springs Road. The bird was at the
8 km point on this road. There is a 7 1/2 km marker, but no 8 km marker. The
location is in the Okanagan Mountain Park burn, near a small creek on a flat
area. Those who can use a GPS may find the coordinates useful. They are 11 U
E 331600 N 5516000.

A family of six TUNDRA SWANS were reported at Duck Lake in Kelowna on Nov 1
(JM).



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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; JM - James MacGregor; GW -
Gwynneth Wilson; MS - Murphy Shewchuck; MG - Mark Gardiner; AB - Andy
Buhler; MB - Marilyn Buhler;

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