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

Sightings for Tuesday, November 9 - 11:30 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Vernon)

Featured Birds include:

CATTLE EGRET (Kaleden)

Other birds mentioned:

Wilson's Warbler
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Brown Creeper
Bohemian Waxwing
Common Redpoll
GYRFALCON
BLUE JAY
Rock Wren
Golden Eagle
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Say's Phoebe
Common Yellowthroat
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Northern Saw-whet Owl
PACIFIC LOON


Sightings for November 9

An adult basic plumage LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was located amongst a large
gull flock on the sand bar at the mouth of Vernon Creek, on Lakeshore Road,
in the Okanagan Landing area of Vernon (DC).

In the south Okanagan town of Kaleden, a flock of 11 CATTLE EGRETS were seen
roosting on a dock along the shores of Skaha Lake (NH). The birds remained
through the morning but flew elsewhere later in the day.

At the Chichester Bird Sanctuary in Kelowna, a very late WILSON'S WARBLER
was seen foraging in a Russian Olive tree (BM).

A flock of COMMON REDPOLLS were feeding on birch catkins at Barski Pond on
Westlake Road in Westbank (MF).

At the Summerland Research Station a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, a BROWN CREEPER, a
PILEATED WOODPECKER and a BOHEMIAN WAXWING were reported (LR).


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).

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Observer Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; MG - Mark
Gardiner; AB - Andy
Buhler; MB - Marilyn Buhler; LR - Laurie Rockwell; NH - Nella Hinchcliffe;
DC - Don Cecile; MF - Mike Force; BM - Bob Mackay.

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