This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Bird Alert sponsored by the Central
Okanagan Naturalists Club.

Sightings for Monday, July 4 11:00 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Osoyoos)
THE RARE BIRD ALERT continues for DICKCISSEL (Sorrento)

Featured birds include:

CASPIAN TERN (Kelowna)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Vaseux)


Other birds mentioned:

Prairie Falcon
Grasshopper Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Pine Grosbeak
Williamson's Sapsucker
Sage Thrasher
Least Flycatcher


Sightings for July 4

On July 3, a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was found in the Road 22 area, just N. of
Osoyoos (JJ). The bird was found along the E. dyke, south of Road 22 near
the large radio tower at 3:00 PM. Despite an extensive search on July 4 the
bird was not found again, but chances are it remains in the area.

The DICKCISSEL continues along Peterson Road near the town of Sorrento, N.
of the Okanagan Valley (DT,m.ob). From Hwy 1 head south on Notch Hill Road,
E. of Sorrento. Make an immediate left onto White Creek Frontage Road and
then another right onto Peterson Road. Follow Peterson a short distance and
the road becomes gravel. The Dickcissel is being seen 1-200 meters beyond
the end of the pavement.

A family group of PEREGRINE FALCONS was found on Macintyre Bluff, N. of
Oliver (RC,DC).

Along the river channel at Road 22 N. of Osoyoos was a CASPIAN TERN (RC).


Sightings for June 23

The DICKCISSEL was again along Peterson Road near Sorrento (TH).

At the same location there has been a singing male GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
(JM,HM,TH).

Another GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was at the S. end of White Lake on June 21
(CC,GE).

A PRAIRIE FALCON was seen at Black Mountain E. of Kelowna (RC). Access is
limited but try scanning cliff faces visible from Hwy 33 or from the top of
Treetop Road.

A pair of AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS and a few PINE GROSBEAKS were
reported today along the Sovereign Lakes Road off Silver Star Road, E. of
Vernon (GW,m.ob).

Also in the Vernon area, CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were at the intersection of
Bench Row and Commonage Roads (GW,m.ob).

On June 22nd, a CASPIAN TERN was seen on the log booms off Sutherland Park
in Kelowna's North End (GW).

At Robert Lake the first southbound shorebirds are already appearing with
recent sightings of GREATER and LESSSER YELLOWLEGS (GW,CC,GE) and a SOLITARY
SANDPIPER (GE).


Sightings for June 20

As of June 19, the male DICKCISSEL was still singing on territory E. of
Sorrento near the settlement of Balmoral (WW).

Four SAGE THRASHERS were seen today with two singing males at the
intersection of the White Lake Road and the Twin Lakes Road, near OK Falls
(CC,MP,RC,AK), a singing male between km 5-6 on the Camp McKinney Road, E.
of Oliver (CC,MP) and another along Nighthawk Road at the Chopaka Border
Crossing (CC,MP).

A CASPIAN TERN was feeding at the N. end of Osoyoos Lake, visible from the
S. end of Black Sage Road (CC,MP).

A pair of WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS are feeding large chicks in a nest in the
Venner Meadows area E. of Ok Falls. From the Shuttleworth Ck Rd take the
Venner Meadows Road fork at km 12. At km 15 turn right down the Browning Ck
Rd. A short distance down the road you'll come to a cattleguard. The birds
are nesting in the first large Western Larch behind the cattleguard (CC,MP).

A number of LEAST FLYCATCHERS were heard along the W. dyke N. of Road 22
(CC,MP).

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If you have any questions about birding in the Okanagan Valley call Chris
Charlesworth in Kelowna at (250) 718-0335, Dick Cannings in Naramata at
(250) 496-4019, or Phil Gehlen in Vernon at (250) 542-8053.

Observers Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; TH - Ted Hillary; MP - Mireille
Poulin; WW - Wayne Weber; AK - Andrew Keaveney; RC - Russ Cannings; GW -
Gwynneth Wilson; GE - Gordon Ellis; JM - Jo Ann Mackenzie; HM - Hue
Mackenzie; JJ - Jukka Jantunen; DT - Danny Tyson.


Chris Charlesworth
Avocet Tours
725 Richards Road
Kelowna, BC
V1X 2X5
Email: tours at avocettours.com
Website: www.avocettours.com
Phone: (250) 718-0335