This is the Okanagan Valley (BC) Rare Bird Alert (250-491-7738) sponsored by
the Central Okanagan Naturalists Club.
Sightings for Sunday, April 2 - 2:00 PM update
Featured birds include:
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Westbank)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Kelowna)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Kelowna)
Other birds mentioned include:
Long-billed Curlew
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red Crossbill
Brown Creeper
GREAT GRAY OWL
Barred Owl
Cassin's Finch
Turkey Vulture
YELLOW-BILLED LOON
PACIFIC LOON
Peregrine Falcon
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Harlequin Duck
Northern Shrike
Rough-legged Hawk
Cackling Goose
Western Screech-Owl
VESPER SPARROW
Sandhill Crane
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Mountain Bluebird
Say's Phoebe
Sightings for April 2
On Friday, March 31, a pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen at the
mouth of Power's Creek near the Westbank Yacht Club in Gellatley Bay
(JL,m.ob).
On the 31st of March, an imm. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen along Mission
Ck at Scenic Canyon (CC,RT,MF).
Two male EURASIAN WIGEONS, first seen on March 23, continue at the Gordon
Road Sportsfields in the Mission area of Kelowna (MB).
On March 30th, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was in the fields along L & A Road, N.
of Swan Lake in Vernon (PB).
On April 1, a dull male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was in the willows along
Munson's Road near Munson's Pond in Kelowna (MF).
TURKEY VULTURES have been reported throughout the valley, including one
along Munson's Road in Kelowna on March 20th (BC) and 5 in the Penticton
industrial area on March 24 (LN).
An owl survey along Postill Lake Road on March 20 produced a BARRED OWL
(TF).
Recent sightings at the McCulloch Cross Country Ski area include a GREAT
GRAY OWL on March 22 and a male CASSIN'S FINCH on the same day (DW,JL), as
well as a pair of RED CROSSBILLS and a pair of BROWN CREEPERS on the
previous day (DW,JL).
Sightings for March 18
On March 17, an imm. YELLOW-BILLED LOON and a PACIFIC LOON moulting into
alternate plumage were seen on Kalamalka Lake S. of Vernon (CS). The birds
were seen far out on the lake from the Kekuli Park area.
Two male EURASIAN WIGEON were at the S. end of Swan Lake in Vernon on March
17 (CS).
On March 15, a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen soaring over Hack's Pond on River
Road. It was later seen chasing RED-TAILED HAWKS away from the S. face of
Macintyre's Bluff (CC,CS,MF,NK).
The male HARLEQUIN DUCK was again on the Okanagan River at Ok Falls
Campground on March 15 (CC,CS,MF,NK).
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a few NORTHERN SHRIKES were highlights at White Lake
on March 15. Seen in a large open field along the W. side of the Twin Lakes
Road, perhaps 2 km from White Lake Road was an elusive AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
(CC,CS,MF,NK).
On the 14th of March, a pair of WOOD DUCKS were at the Fascieux Ck Marsh in
Kelowna (DB).
Sightings for March 13
Along Dunsmuir Road in the Hall Road area of Kelowna, a WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW continues in the thick understory near the W. end of the road
(CC,DW,NK).
Found roosting in a cedar near the waterfall at the Scenic Canyon portion of
Mission Ck in Kelowna was a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL. Also in the area were
VARIED THRUSHES, WILSON'S SNIPE and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (CC,DW,NK).
Behind St. Charles Garnier Church on Benvouling Road in Kelowna, an
extremely early, or possibly a wintering VESPER SPARROW was found
(CC,DW,NK). It was in the weeds along the fence on the N. side of the field
immediately behind St. Charles Garnier Church.
At Munson's Pond in Kelowna there were a number of CACKLING GEESE including
some very tiny individuals of the minima race (CC,DW,NK).
The GYRFALCON was at Marshall's Feedlot along the W. side of Hwy 97 at
McCurdy Road in N. Kelowna (CC,DW,NK).
Recent spring arrivals in the valley have included SAY'S PHOEBES, MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRDS, and VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS, SANDHILL CRANES, NORTHERN
PINTAIL and NORTHERN SHOVELER (m.ob).
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Observers: RT - Ryan Tomlinson; CC -Chris Charlesworth; TF - Trevor Forder;
DW - Don Wilson; NK - Nancy Krueger; DB - Denise Brownlie; MF - Mike Force;
CS - Chris Siddle; JL - Judy Latta; LN - Laure Neish; BC - Bill Cutfield; GW
- Gwynneth Wilson; MB - Margaret Bryan; PB - Peter Blokker.
If you have questions about Okanagan birding call Chris Charlesworth, in
Kelowna at (250-718-0335), Dick Cannings in Naramata at (250-496-4019).
AVOCET TOURS
725 Richards Road
Kelowna, BC
V1X 2X5
Canada
Phone (250) 718-0335
Fax (250) 765-6019
Email: tours@avocettours.com
Website: www.avocettours.com
the Central Okanagan Naturalists Club.
Sightings for Sunday, April 2 - 2:00 PM update
Featured birds include:
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Westbank)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Kelowna)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Kelowna)
Other birds mentioned include:
Long-billed Curlew
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red Crossbill
Brown Creeper
GREAT GRAY OWL
Barred Owl
Cassin's Finch
Turkey Vulture
YELLOW-BILLED LOON
PACIFIC LOON
Peregrine Falcon
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Harlequin Duck
Northern Shrike
Rough-legged Hawk
Cackling Goose
Western Screech-Owl
VESPER SPARROW
Sandhill Crane
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Mountain Bluebird
Say's Phoebe
Sightings for April 2
On Friday, March 31, a pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen at the
mouth of Power's Creek near the Westbank Yacht Club in Gellatley Bay
(JL,m.ob).
On the 31st of March, an imm. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen along Mission
Ck at Scenic Canyon (CC,RT,MF).
Two male EURASIAN WIGEONS, first seen on March 23, continue at the Gordon
Road Sportsfields in the Mission area of Kelowna (MB).
On March 30th, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was in the fields along L & A Road, N.
of Swan Lake in Vernon (PB).
On April 1, a dull male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was in the willows along
Munson's Road near Munson's Pond in Kelowna (MF).
TURKEY VULTURES have been reported throughout the valley, including one
along Munson's Road in Kelowna on March 20th (BC) and 5 in the Penticton
industrial area on March 24 (LN).
An owl survey along Postill Lake Road on March 20 produced a BARRED OWL
(TF).
Recent sightings at the McCulloch Cross Country Ski area include a GREAT
GRAY OWL on March 22 and a male CASSIN'S FINCH on the same day (DW,JL), as
well as a pair of RED CROSSBILLS and a pair of BROWN CREEPERS on the
previous day (DW,JL).
Sightings for March 18
On March 17, an imm. YELLOW-BILLED LOON and a PACIFIC LOON moulting into
alternate plumage were seen on Kalamalka Lake S. of Vernon (CS). The birds
were seen far out on the lake from the Kekuli Park area.
Two male EURASIAN WIGEON were at the S. end of Swan Lake in Vernon on March
17 (CS).
On March 15, a PEREGRINE FALCON was seen soaring over Hack's Pond on River
Road. It was later seen chasing RED-TAILED HAWKS away from the S. face of
Macintyre's Bluff (CC,CS,MF,NK).
The male HARLEQUIN DUCK was again on the Okanagan River at Ok Falls
Campground on March 15 (CC,CS,MF,NK).
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a few NORTHERN SHRIKES were highlights at White Lake
on March 15. Seen in a large open field along the W. side of the Twin Lakes
Road, perhaps 2 km from White Lake Road was an elusive AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
(CC,CS,MF,NK).
On the 14th of March, a pair of WOOD DUCKS were at the Fascieux Ck Marsh in
Kelowna (DB).
Sightings for March 13
Along Dunsmuir Road in the Hall Road area of Kelowna, a WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW continues in the thick understory near the W. end of the road
(CC,DW,NK).
Found roosting in a cedar near the waterfall at the Scenic Canyon portion of
Mission Ck in Kelowna was a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL. Also in the area were
VARIED THRUSHES, WILSON'S SNIPE and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (CC,DW,NK).
Behind St. Charles Garnier Church on Benvouling Road in Kelowna, an
extremely early, or possibly a wintering VESPER SPARROW was found
(CC,DW,NK). It was in the weeds along the fence on the N. side of the field
immediately behind St. Charles Garnier Church.
At Munson's Pond in Kelowna there were a number of CACKLING GEESE including
some very tiny individuals of the minima race (CC,DW,NK).
The GYRFALCON was at Marshall's Feedlot along the W. side of Hwy 97 at
McCurdy Road in N. Kelowna (CC,DW,NK).
Recent spring arrivals in the valley have included SAY'S PHOEBES, MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRDS, and VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS, SANDHILL CRANES, NORTHERN
PINTAIL and NORTHERN SHOVELER (m.ob).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Observers: RT - Ryan Tomlinson; CC -Chris Charlesworth; TF - Trevor Forder;
DW - Don Wilson; NK - Nancy Krueger; DB - Denise Brownlie; MF - Mike Force;
CS - Chris Siddle; JL - Judy Latta; LN - Laure Neish; BC - Bill Cutfield; GW
- Gwynneth Wilson; MB - Margaret Bryan; PB - Peter Blokker.
If you have questions about Okanagan birding call Chris Charlesworth, in
Kelowna at (250-718-0335), Dick Cannings in Naramata at (250-496-4019).
AVOCET TOURS
725 Richards Road
Kelowna, BC
V1X 2X5
Canada
Phone (250) 718-0335
Fax (250) 765-6019
Email: tours@avocettours.com
Website: www.avocettours.com