The tour itinerary included visits to various locations during the day where we hoped to encounter a variety of Okanagan specialties. After a break for dinner and a bit of rest, we then set out again looking for Owls.
The birding was quite successful, but the Owl part was a bit disappointing. We did see one Saw-Whet and one Great Horned Owl on the two nights we went out, but struck on the guide's other targets.
Other than Edith and I, and one fellow from Calgary, the tour group was comprised of birders from Kelowna who all knew each other from regular outings there.
The tour company was Avocet Tours and our guide was Chris Charlesworth, assisted by Chris Siddle. I have encountered both of them since the tour in the Lower Mainland.
On the tour I added 10 lifers and 35 to the 2013 list.
This post will cover the first 20 of those.
#96 American Dipper - Date: Apr 23. Location: Hardy Falls Provincial Park near Peachland.
This is a bird that lives on fast flowing streams, creeks and waterfalls. The one we saw had a nest right at the base of Hardy Falls.
#97 Pacific Wren- Date: Apr 23. Location: Hardy Falls Provincial Park near Peachland.
I could not get my camera focused on this quick moving bird.The only photo I have of this species was taken in 2004 on the Queen Charlotte Islands.
#98 Eared Grebe- Date: Apr 23. Location: Okanagan Lake at Okanagan Falls
This bird was seen through the scope far out on the lake, too far for cameras. It was my only sighting in 2013, so there are no photos from that year. Below is one of my favourites from 2012, taken at Frank Lake in Alberta.
#99 Williamsons Sapsucker - Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
An uncommon woodpecker, found in Pine and Fir forests. Our guide used his IPOD to broadcast the call, and one eventually responded and came to investigate. The photo is not great, but this was life list addition #359. The ethics of using recorded bird calls is an ongoing debate, but probably necessary for successful tour operators.
#100 Northern Goshawk- Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
Shortly after the Sapsucker, Chris Siddle pointed out a Northern Goshawk flying directly overhead. I got off one shot for life list addition #360.
#101 Ruffed Grouse- Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
As the group was leaving the area to walk back to our cars, Chris Charlesworth noticed a Ruffed Grouse close by. Most of the group had walked by it already. It was very cooperative and I got off a number of shots. This was life list addition #361, the third in about 15 minutes.
#102 Sharp-shinned Hawk - Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
This was another quick fly-over, I did not get a photo this time. the photo below is one of the few I have in my collection. It was taken looking out into our backyard on a snowy day in 2005. Not bad for a film based shot.
#103 Common Raven- Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
A less exciting discovery than the last three, but always nice to see. Not a great photo.
#104 Mountain Chickadee - Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
This is a relatively common Okanagan bird that I had not seen since 1988. We saw them in a few places. This photo was taken on April 25th on Gray Lake Rd near Okanagan Falls.
#105 Clark's Nutcracker - Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
An alpine bird we normally see at Manning Park at the Resort picnic area, and usually get close-up photos. The photo below is from the tour in a natural habitat, but not as close.
#106 White-breasted Nuthatch- Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
A reasonably common Okanagan bird that does not reside in the Lower Mainland. A good bird to finally see again after quite a few years.
#107 Cassin's Finch - Date: Apr 23. Location: Shuttleworth Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls
The third member of the red finch trio seen in North America. I had seen the House and Purple Finch many times, but never this one. It was #361 on the life list. The photo below was taken on April 25th at the Red Roost Gift Shop near Okanagan Falls.
#108 American White Pelican - Date: Apr 23. Location: Holiday Beach Motel, Okanagan Falls
The sighting of these pelicans was like a scene from the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings. While resting up after our first full day, the motel manager came out and announced loudly "Here come the Pelicans". All the birders scrambled as 36 American White Pelicans flew over our heads and gracefully circled Okanagan Lake. By the time I got my camera pointed upwards they were too close. But the photo shows a bit of what we saw. The next day our friend Blanca, located in Quesnel, posted on Facebook that their resident Pelicans had arrived. I'm certain they were the same ones.
#109 California Quail - Date: Apr 23. Location: Holiday Beach Motel, Okanagan Falls.
I saw this very common bird running around the motel grounds on our first night. The photo below was taken in July near the Nk'mip Winery Resort in Osoyoos.
#110 Barrow's Goldeneye - Date: Apr 24. Location: Okanagan River, Okanagan Falls.
Day 2 started out in the Provincial Campground in OK Falls. There was not much to see there, but we continued along until we reached the Okanagan River. We saw quite a few species of ducks, including the Barrow's Goldeneye. The photo below is a male (foreground) and female from that walk.
#111 Common Merganser - Date: Apr 24. Location: Okanagan River, Okanagan Falls.
Another duck seen on the river. The best photo I took (or the cutest) was at the Great Blue Heron Reserve in Chilliwack in May.
#112 Redhead - Date: Apr 24. Location: Okanagan River, Okanagan Falls.
I'm not sure how this duck got such a short name, but it is very descriptive. I usually see them every year on my Kelowna golf trips. I did not get a photo on the birding tour, but here is one of a male and female from Predator Ridge Golf Course near Vernon, taken in May.
#113 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Date: Apr 24. Location: Okanagan River, Okanagan Falls.
This was another case where one of our guides called out a bird as it flew overhead. I asked "Are you sure?" and Chris C. answered "Yes". This was life list addition #362. As it happened, I saw this species again in May at the Great Blue Heron Reserve in Chilliwack, and managed a few great shots of it.
#114 Osprey - Date: Apr 24. Location: Okanagan River, Okanagan Falls.
We saw an Osprey fly over, and later in the day saw one sitting on a nest near the river by Oliver. The best photo of the year was taken in July in Osoyoos at Haynes Point Provincial Park.
#115 Virginia Rail - Date: April 24. Location: Road 22, Oliver BC.
Our next stop was Road 22, a gateway to the Wine Vineyards of Oliver/Osoyoos, and a pretty good birding area. We stopped at a marsh right by Highway 97 and Chris C used his audio magic to summon up a Virginia Rail. This was lifer #363.
#116 Killdeer- Date: April 24. Location: Road 22, Oliver BC.
A familiar member of the plover family, the Killdeer is famous for its broken wing trick to lure predators away from its nest, usually a shallow depression on the ground. The photo below was taken at Shannon Lake Golf Course in West Kelowna in May. It may be sitting on a nest just in front of the #17 tee box.
That's the end of Part 2 of the April Blog.
The next post covers the remainder of the Okanagan birding tour, and the other birds seen in April in the Lower Mainland.
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