Birders,

I had an enjoyable night and day of birding in the South Okanagan with
Marilyn and Andy Buhler of Vernon. We began along Shuttleworth Creek Road
last night and despite a good effort only found one owl, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWL calling at about km 9. A consolation prize for our lack of owls,
however, was a stunning performance by the Aurora borealis.

This morning we awoke to partly sunny skies and ascended the Shuttleworth Ck
Road once again. The woods between km 22-25 produced one of the main target
species, BOREAL CHICKADEE. At least 3 came in close to investigate my
pygmy-owl imitation. Other birds found in the boreal forest included BROWN
CREEPER, GRAY JAY, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE and the omnipresent COMMON RAVENS.

We then tried for NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL with great success along the Venner
Meadows Road. One was found at km 15 and allowed great scope views as it
perched atop of snag.

A walk through the gully on Dutton Creek Road rewarded us with a calling
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER but little else. We then bumped and bounced
our way down the Irrigation Creek Road towards Vaseux Lake, enjoying another
cooperative NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, many MOUNTAIN and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES
and all three NUTHATCHES.

The Vaseux Lake Cliffs were rather productive with the highlights including
a number of calling CANYON WRENS, a late singing ROCK WREN, a hunting adult
GOLDEN EAGLE and 2 singing TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES. The lake itself was
covered in waterfowl including REDHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK,
RUDDY DUCK, PIED-BILLED GREBE, WESTERN GREBE, COMMON LOON and HOODED
MERGANSERS, etc.

We finished our 21 hours together with about 60 species

Chris Charlesworth
Avocet Tours
Kelowna, BC
www.avocettours.com