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

Sightings for Thursday, June 23 8:30 PM update

**RARE BIRD ALERT continues for DICKCISSEL (Sorrento)

Featured birds include:

CASPIAN TERN (Kelowna)
PRAIRIE FALCON (Kelowna)
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ok Falls & Sorrento)


Other birds mentioned:

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


Sightings for June 23

The male DICKCISSEL continues to be reported on Peterson Road E. of
Sorrento, BC and was last seen in the late afternoon of the 23rd singing
from telephone wires and roadside shrubs (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.

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).


Sightings for June 17

The male DICKCISSEL was again seen E. of Sorrento, just outside of the
Okanagan Valley (CC,RT,PG).

In Salmon Arm, two male AMERICAN REDSTARTS were seen and heard along Sandy
Point Road, just W. of town off Hwy 1 (CC,RT).


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


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; PG - Phil
Gehlen; 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;


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