This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Bird Alert (250-491-7738) sponsored by the
Central Okanagan Naturalists Club.

Sightings for Thursday, July 28 10:30 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT for LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Osoyoos) and WHITE-HEADED
WOODPECKER (Osoyoos)

Featured birds include:

CASPIAN TERN (Osoyoos)
GRAY PARTRIDGE (Ok Falls)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Vaseux)
SAGE THRASHER (Ok Falls)


Other birds mentioned:

Least Flycatcher
Northern Goshawk
DICKCISSEL
INDIGO BUNTING
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-backed Woodpecker
Lark Sparrow


Sightings for July 28

A pair of WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS are being seen regularly at Regal Ridge,
E. of Osoyoos (fide RC). From Osoyoos head E. on Hwy 3 for perhaps 8 km.
Turn right at the large bronze eagle and the entrance to the new Regal Ridge
Development and search for the woodpeckers in the pines around the sales
office.

On July 24, an adult LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen at km 2.7 on the Kobau Road,
W. of Osoyoos off Hwy 3 (DB).

At least one PEREGRINE FALCON was still being seen at Macintyre's Bluff, S.
of Vaseux Lake on July 28 (RC).

Up to three pairs of SAGE THRASHERS are nesting in the White Lake area and
can still be seen near the intersection of White Lake Road and the Twin
Lakes Road (RC, AB).

On the 26th, 30 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen near Park Rill at the White Lake
Ranch (BL,SO). On the 28th, 3 were seen along the E. side of White Lake
(RC).

CASPIAN TERNS are still being seen S. of Road 22 along the River Channel and
at the N. end of Osoyoos Lake (RC).

Along Ellis Creek Road, E. of Penticton, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen on July
23 (LN).

A LEAST FLYCATCHER was singing along the Okanagan River Channel, N. of Road
22 on the East Dyke on July 21 (LN).


Sightings for July 19

A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on the rocky slope just W. of Pebble Beach Park
in Westbank on July 17 (EF).

The DICKCISSEL was again along Peterson Road near Sorrento on July 17 (TH).
>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.

Also in the Sorrento area, a bird fitting the description of a male INDIGO
BUNTING was seen on July 16 (TG). Coming into Sorrento from Hwy 1 from the
west, you come to a Petro Canada gas station and turn for Passchondale Road.
This road loops around in a "C" and joins Hwy 1 again. The bird was seen
on this loop on the water side of the road.

On July 14, a male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen in the bushes along the
edge of the parking area at the Creston Wildlife Centre in the Kootenays
(TM).


Sightings for July 13

A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK was in the large cottonwoods at Sunoka Park in
Summerland (LRo).

In Vernon, 2 LARK SPARROWS were on a small gravel road off Bailey Road on
the Vernon Commonage (TF,RM). A short distance west from Hwy 97 on Bailey
Road look for a gravel road on the left signed for "western rock". The
sparrows were 300 meters up this road. In the aspen copse near the beginning
of the road was a singing LEAST FLYCATCHER (TF,RM).

On July 11, a male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen along the Gillard FSR,
south of Kelowna, shortly after it joins with the Kettle Valley Railway
(CC,CS).

Also on July 11, the DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was again at Antler's Beach,
south of Peachland (GW).


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

Observers Initials: CC - Chris Charlesworth; GW - Gwynneth Wilson; CS -
Chris Siddle; TF - Trevor Forder; RM - Richard Mooney; TH - Ted Hillary; EF
- Elke Fischer; TG - Trent Gluker; TM - Thor Manson; RC - Russ Cannings; AB
- Avery Bartels; SO - Steve Ogle; BL - Barry Lancaster; LN - Laure Neish.

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