Dusky Flycatcher and Okanagan

[Dave]

I am thinking of driving up to the Okanagan May 18 to 19 in search of Dusky Flycatcher. Have some of you experience in the area? Am I too early? When is the best time to go? Where are the best locations? I have heard that McKinney Road often has Dusky and Gray Flycatcher about 1/3 up to Mt. Baldy. Are there other places? What are the odds?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

[b1schmor]

Hi Dave,
you don't need to go that far for Dusky Flycatcher. I got my life bird on Lindley Creek Road in Merritt on May 15 a couple of years ago. I was quite surprised by this road. It held a number of Okanagan specialties: lots of Nashville Warblers, Mountain Bluebirds, Lazuli Buntings and Western Meadowlarks.

Good luck,
Brent Schmor
Abbotsford

[Dave]

Thanks for your posting regarding Dusky Flycatchers around Merritt. The birder's trip from the east did not work out for the long weekend, so we won't be going after that bird together. I personally would still love to go up to the Merritt area, especially with the hopes of finding a Williamson's Sapsucker. I have heard they are around the junction of two roads near Nicola Lake. Anyone know anything about it? Where is Lindley Creek Road? Is that around the Nicola Area?

I have sometime this Saturday....a good early start....what are the odds?

Dave

[Gord]

Wish I could go with you Dave. Im not familiar with the Merrit area but am most interested. Dad fishes the lakes in the area and sees lots of cool stuff.

[tmanson]

Dave: I am 90% sure I saw a posting for Williamson's Sapsucker for the Merritt area in the last week. Unfortunatley, the posting has been deleted from my computer. Maybe, someone else saw it as well, and can remember where it was posted, and by whom.
I did see a posted sighting for this bird on bcintbird for the Okanagan in the last few days, and will forward that one to you, in case you didn't see it.
Had a good look for that White tailed Kite today on the way back from Vancouver, both in the area Gord's dad saw it, and where you did. No luck. My former secretary at Harrison lives in that area, and I have asked her to keep an eye out, as I am sure you are doing
There was a nice WESTERN KINGBIRD, however, on the wire on Banford, between Prairie Central, and whatever that other road is paralleling Prairie Centeal one long block to the south. Cheers, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Dave]

Thanks Thor,

I found a posting about Williamson's Sapsucker on NW Tweeters by googling it. It was from late April and gave good specifics. I think I will go there this Saturday early to poke around and learn the area a bit. I will post my findings. I believe it is a touch closer than the Oliver area.

About the White-tailed Kite. I check the area everyday on the way to work and on the way home. If it was in the same area early and late in the day, I will let you all know (The more eyes the better!)

Dave

[Deleted]

Hi, all.

I don't know of a specific location for Dusky Flycatcher in the interior, as it's a more established species and not limited to a few key sites.

Gray Flycatcher, however, is only recently expanding its breeding range into BC, and a few years ago at least could only be found in a couple of specific locations. One place is just past the cattleguard at about km 10 on the Camp McKinney Rd east out of Oliver. We couldn't find GRFL there a few years ago, but there were other empid species in the area, including probably Dusky Flycatcher. We also flushed a pair of Common Poorwills at the same location.

A more reliable site for Gray Flycatcher is about 5 km up the main logging road that ascends the south side of Shuttleworth Creek, accessed by turning east off Hwy 97 perhaps a mile or two south of Okanagan Falls at a large lumber mill. Don't confuse this with the road that goes up the north side of the same valley from OK Falls itself. The 5 km site is where a road goes south off the main Shuttleworth Ck road into a small sort of open bowl. This road soon becomes quite rough, and follows Irrigation Creek down eventually to the cliffs across Hwy 97 from Vaseux Lake where mtn sheep are sometimes seen.

Gray Flycatchers seem to be regular just a few minutes walk down this branch road from the main Shuttleworth Creek Rd. I note that someone reported seeing one there on April 25th on the BC interior bird list. We found one easily there a few years ago probably less than 2 minutes walk from the main road.

Further up Shuttleworth Ck Road at about km15 is probably the most reliable (at least the most popular for people doing Big Day searches, etc.) site for Williamson's Sapsucker in the area. They seem to nest there regularly. The same report on the interior list mentioned two pairs of WISA in dispute over a snag with good nesting possibilities at km 15.2. Also in the area were Black-backed Woodpeckers.

Unfortunately my memory fails me as to just where on this road the Venner Meadows Road turns right off Shuttleworth Creek Rd, but I think you reach this junction before reaching 15 km, and if you do, you should follow this right fork. It's the only major junction along this part of the logging main.

If you go for the woodpeckers, your chances are much better early in the morning. I've walked kilometres of that dusty road in frustration in the heat of the day after a long drive from the Fraser Valley before I learned this.

I hope this is helpful, and good luck.

Stan Olson
Abbotsford

[tmanson]

Dave: I know the discussion about various logging roads, and their branches can be confusing. It makes sense once you are there. Stan is right. This is the same site I saw Gray Flycatcher, except I approached the area from the highway 97 side south of Okanagan Falls. As I said in my private e-mail to you, this road gets rough before reaching the Gray Flycatcher side if you are coming in from the Vaseux end, as I said in my private e-mail to you. Your truck would have no problem, though. Washington, Merritt, the Okangan are all good sites for the birds you are looking for, although I agree with Stan that the area around Okanagan Falls is outstanding. Good luck whatever destination you choose. Cheers, Thor