Subject: [Tweeters] Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert - June 11 update
Date: Jun 11 23:25:51 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 Saturday, June 11 11:00 PM update

Featured Birds Include:

SANDHILL CRANE (Osoyoos)
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL (Kelowna)
SAGE THRASHER (OK Falls)
AMERICAN REDSTART (Vaseux)
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Kelowna)


Other birds mentioned:

Yellow-breasted Chat
Flammulated Owl
BROWN THRASHER
Clay-colored Sparrow
Willow Flycatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
American White Pelican


Sightings for June 11

A possible CUCKOO was heard in the Garnet Valley near Summerland (CC,RT).
The bird called repeatedly in the thick riparian habitat 2 km beyond the end
of the pavement. The bird responded briefly to tape but could not be seen.

At least 2 singing male SAGE THRASHERS were along White Lake Road, 200
meters S. of the Twin Lakes Road intersection this morning (CC,m.ob). In the
grass at the S. end of White Lake a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was heard
(YA,RT,m.ob).

A SANDHILL CRANE was at the N. end of Osoyoos Lake, visable from the
overlook at the S. end of Black Sage Road (DW,m.ob).

YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were seen briefly at River Road and along Sawmill Road
in Oliver (DW,m.ob).

Three fledgling NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were in the pine trees beside the
gravel pull out at Belgo Pond in Rutland in the evening (CC).

Two FLAMMULATED OWLS were heard on the evening of the 10th at the Bald Range
on Kelowna's Westside (RT,MM,m.ob).

A first year male AMERICAN REDSTART was singing along the Vaseux Boardwalk
on June 10 (YA).


Sightings for 8 June

Two SAGE THRASHERS, the first spring reports were again heard and seen at
White Lake, about 300 metres east of the T-intersection of the White
Lake-Fairview Roads (BL, LN). These bird have been present here since 6
June.

Sightings for 6 June

A LEAST FLYCATCHER AND WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were reported from the Mission
Greenway viewing platform, just upstream from Casorso Road, Kelowna (BC).


Sightings for 5 June

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW seen and heard and suspected of nesting was at
Kilpoola Lake in the South Okanagan (RC).

Sightings for 3 June

An interesting provincial rarity reported from out of the valley was a BROWN
THRASHER seen and photographed at Johnsons Landing in the west Kootenays
(GS).


Sightings for 2 June

Thirty AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were again seen on Duck Lake, just north of
Kelowna (GW, CONC). These birds have been present here for several days. Two
distant yellowlegs, believed to be GREATER YELLOWLEGS, were seen on Robert
Lake in Kelowna (MF). A CANYON WREN called briefly at the rock bluff at KM 1
on the Bear Creek FSR (MF).


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


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: RC - Russell Cannings; CC - Chris Charlesworth; BC
Bill Cutfield; MF - Michael Force;
LN Laurie Neish; LR - Laurie Rockwell; GS Gail Spitler; GW - Gwynneth
Wilson; CONC Central Okanagan Naturalists Club; YA - Yousef Attlia; MM -
Mike Mulligan; RT - Ryan Tomlinson; DW - Don Wilson;


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