Post by kestrel on Apr 21, 2022 20:12:14 GMT -8
I went on a 3-day guided group tour of the Central and South Okanagan last week. The weather was windy and chilly, but nice.
Although we dipped on Black-backed woodpecker along Philpott Road on day one, we did get a flyover Golden eagle. Beaver Lake Road had good numbers of both Western and Mountain bluebirds. We also had good views of Red-naped sapsuckers and Mountain chickadees.
Western bluebird (female) by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
At Robert Lake, we tried unsuccessfully for American avocet. We did, however, have amazing views of a Virginia rail. Say's phoebes and Ruddy ducks were also very cooperative.
Virginia rail by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Yellow-headed blackbird (male) by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
We then went down to Mission Creek Regional Park, where we managed to find a very well-hidden Western screech-owl. This was a Canada bird for me.
Later that evening, the guide, myself, and a few other participants went on an owling excursion in West Kelowna. Though we were unable to look for Boreal owls up in the hills due to a stiff wind, we did enjoy fantastic spotlight views of a second Western screech-owl. We even accidentally flushed a roosting Red-tailed hawk just before that.
Western screech-owl by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Near Okanagan Falls the following day, we had Williamson's sapsuckers at the Venner Larches (a lifer for me) along with a good-sized mixed flock of Red crossbills and Cassin's finches along Shuttleworth Creek Road.
Williamson's sapsucker (male) by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
When we went to Mahoney Lake, we had our first good views of some Pygmy nuthatches. We also had a very confiding Spotted towhee which, being an Interior race bird, had a lot more white on it than our coastal towhees.
White Lake was pretty quiet. Along Twin Lakes Road, we accidentally spooked several Gray partridges. All disappeared into the sagebrush, except for one that sat in an open area for about 20 minutes
.
Gray partridge by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
The third and final day of the trip began with a flyover Lesser goldfinch at the Lakeside Resort, where we had been staying for much of the trip. Over at Road 22, there was a lone American white pelican on a pond and an Osprey at its nesting platform. A muskrat also put in an appearance
The final highlight of the trip was a pair of unusually early, and skulky, Brewer's sparrows along Nighthawk Road near the American border.
Altogether we totalled 107 species as a group. Below is my trip report:
ebird.org/tripreport/43976
Although we dipped on Black-backed woodpecker along Philpott Road on day one, we did get a flyover Golden eagle. Beaver Lake Road had good numbers of both Western and Mountain bluebirds. We also had good views of Red-naped sapsuckers and Mountain chickadees.
Western bluebird (female) by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrAt Robert Lake, we tried unsuccessfully for American avocet. We did, however, have amazing views of a Virginia rail. Say's phoebes and Ruddy ducks were also very cooperative.
Virginia rail by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrYellow-headed blackbird (male) by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrWe then went down to Mission Creek Regional Park, where we managed to find a very well-hidden Western screech-owl. This was a Canada bird for me.
Later that evening, the guide, myself, and a few other participants went on an owling excursion in West Kelowna. Though we were unable to look for Boreal owls up in the hills due to a stiff wind, we did enjoy fantastic spotlight views of a second Western screech-owl. We even accidentally flushed a roosting Red-tailed hawk just before that.
Western screech-owl by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrNear Okanagan Falls the following day, we had Williamson's sapsuckers at the Venner Larches (a lifer for me) along with a good-sized mixed flock of Red crossbills and Cassin's finches along Shuttleworth Creek Road.
Williamson's sapsucker (male) by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrWhen we went to Mahoney Lake, we had our first good views of some Pygmy nuthatches. We also had a very confiding Spotted towhee which, being an Interior race bird, had a lot more white on it than our coastal towhees.
White Lake was pretty quiet. Along Twin Lakes Road, we accidentally spooked several Gray partridges. All disappeared into the sagebrush, except for one that sat in an open area for about 20 minutes
.Gray partridge by Joel Schmidt, on FlickrThe third and final day of the trip began with a flyover Lesser goldfinch at the Lakeside Resort, where we had been staying for much of the trip. Over at Road 22, there was a lone American white pelican on a pond and an Osprey at its nesting platform. A muskrat also put in an appearance
The final highlight of the trip was a pair of unusually early, and skulky, Brewer's sparrows along Nighthawk Road near the American border.
Altogether we totalled 107 species as a group. Below is my trip report:
ebird.org/tripreport/43976
