Subject: [Tweeters] Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - July 6 update
Date: Jul 6 21:32:23 2005
From: Chris Charlesworth - c_charlesworth23 at hotmail.com


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

Sightings for Wednesday, July 6 9:00 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Naramata)
THE RARE BIRD ALERT continues for DICKCISSEL (Sorrento)


Other birds mentioned:

Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Veery
Bonaparte's Gull
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
Caspian Tern
Peregrine Falcon
Prairie Falcon
Grasshopper Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Pine Grosbeak


Sightings for July 6

An adult BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen at Dick Canning's residence on Debeck
Road in Naramata (DC,MH).

The DICKCISSEL was again seen on Peterson Rd, E. of Sorrento (DC,RC). 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.

At Robert Lake, in Kelowna, an imm. BONAPARTE'S GULL was present today
(BC,CC).

In Kelowna, along the Mission Creek Greenway in Scenic Canyon Regional Park
(the new portion of the greenway) a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, a female
CALLIOPE and a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, as well as a noisy VEERY were seen
about 100 meters down the trail from the parking area near a trickle of
water (CC).


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).

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).


--------------------------------

Observers Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; TH - Ted Hillary; RC - Russ
Cannings; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; GE - Gordon Ellis; JM - Jo Ann Mackenzie; HM
- Hue Mackenzie; JJ - Jukka Jantunen; DT - Danny Tyson; DC - Dick Cannings;
BC - Bill Cutfield.

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.


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