#5 Birds of April - Part 1 - Okanagan Birding Tour

April 2015 was another big month for new bird sightings. Part 1 details all the species seen on my annual Okanagan birding tour with Chris Charlesworth and Avocet Tours. Only one lifer on this tour, but it was a very good one.

Notes: 
Many of the photos here are from the tour, but in some cases the bird was seen again later in the year and a better photo was taken then. I visited the Okanagan again in late May when the weather was better for bird photography.

#89 Great Horned Owl Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

Our tour started in Kelowna and headed east towards Lake Country (formerly known as Winfield). We stopped at a school field adjacent to the local curling club. This was a known roosting location for this and another owl.


#90 Clark's Nutcracker Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

We headed up Beaver Lake Road and then Dee Lake Road. There was snow everywhere and Dee Lake was frozen over. Although we saw this bird, I did not get a photo. I expected to see it sometime later in the year at Manning Park, but never got a photo. This photo was shot at Manning Park in June 2014.


#91 Rough-legged Hawk Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant 
Spotted by Chris and tour assistant Logan, this hawk was only seen through binoculars high up on a hillside. The photo below was taken on Dec 31/2015 in Ladner. Talk about waiting for the last minute to get a photo for the year. This is a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk.



#92 Red-naped Sapsucker Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

This is a common woodpecker in the Okanagan, seldom seen on the coast. It is similar to our Red-bellied Sapsucker, but only has red on the throat, head and the back of the neck. 

I took some acceptable photos on this tour, but had much better luck in May near Oliver. On that occasion, the bird was hammering on a wooded power pole, probably trying to attract a mate.



#93 Hairy Woodpecker Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

My only sighting of this common woodpecker was on the tour. The bird did not get too close, so this photo was the best I could do.

#94 Common Raven Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

Ravens are very common in the Okanagan. The two photos below are both on the artistic side (if I do say so myself). The first was taken in Princeton on my way home from the Okanagan tour. It actually shows a chase, probably a family squabble.


The next photo was taken on the Tower Ranch Golf Course in Kelowna during our May golf trip. The Ravens were hovering on the wind, watching us struggle to make par on the golf course.



#95 Pacific Wren Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

As we were leaving Dee Lake, the cars in front suddenly stopped. The word was passed back that there was a Pacific Wren singing on the roadside. This was taken from inside the car through the rear window.


#96 Gray Jay Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

Although seen this day, no good photos. After the tour, I chose the Hope-Princeton highway for my homeward journey. When I reached Manning Park, I decided to drive up the road to the Manning Park Ski Resort for some possible high altitude birds. The road was closed about 2 KM from the resort so I parked and had a snack. I noticed a Gray Jay watching me eat. I had some bread left and used that to entice it to come closer. The resulting shot may be my best of the year. It was my desktop wallpaper for months.



#97 Turkey Vulture Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Abundant

These birds are quite common in the Okanagan and can now be seen as far west as Chilliwack. This photo was taken in October on Halloween Day at Redwood Shores, California.


#98 Northern Pygmy-Owl Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Common 

We stopped for lunch on Beaver Lake Road for about 30 minutes. Chris tried calling in a Pygmy Owl, a diurnal species that preys on small birds. He said that it could take up to 30 minutes for the bird to come close and respond. 

We finished lunch and decided that the owl was not coming. The other vehicles had departed, but the gentlemen I was riding with were a bit on the slow side. Suddenly I heard the response. I had them confirm what I heard and then called the others on the Walkie-talkie. They came back and everyone saw the Owl, which stuck around for a good 15 minutes. This was the first bird of the tour with Common status.


#99 Ruddy Duck Date - Apr 1. Location: Robert Lake, Kelowna BC.
Status: Abundant

Kelowna's Robert Lake is a good place to see Ducks and Shorebirds. Unfortunately, the access is very limited so you need a spotting scope for birds on the far side of the lake. The Ruddy Duck below was photographed in May at Birdie Lake at the Predator Ridge resort in Vernon. This male is performing a mating dance to attract a female.


#100 American Avocet Date - Apr 1. Location: Robert Lake, Kelowna BC.
Status: Abundant

This elegant shorebird is seen in the Okanagan and Prairies during breeding season. The first photo shows it in alternate (breeding) plumage on this day.


The next photo is a basic (non-breeding) plumage bird seen at Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park California. This was taken in October. The white background is salt, this park is showing signs of the drought in California.

#101 Boreal Owl Date - Apr 1. Location: Lake Country BC.
Status: Common
After dinner in Kelowna and a short rest, we headed up to Lake Country again in hopes of finding some owls. Chris decided to head up high immediately to try to find Boreal Owl. We'd then work our way down and look for the lower altitude owls as time permitted.
It was a cold crisp night with a full moon, I wore some of my winter gear, but could have used it all.


We stopped near Dee Lake, where we had been in the afternoon. Chris tried his Boreal Owl call and also played a recording. Everyone waited in silence to see if there was any response. Nothing so far. We headed further up the road and got out to try again. Once more nothing. I was ready to pack it in and head down.

Suddenly there was a response, but the call was different from what Chris had been trying. He put his guiding skills to work and imitated that response. We waited another 10 minutes with nothing. Then the response came from close by. Chris called again while young Logan tried to spot the owl. Suddenly he had it and we got a spotlight on it. Everyone got a look and the photographers each got a few shots. Here's my best effort:


The owl left and the group of us erupted into cheers and high-fives. I started shivering uncontrollably and didn't stop until I was back in the car with the heater going full blast. We decided that this could not be topped and headed back to Kelowna without stopping for any other owls.

This bird has common status, but you have to work very hard to see one.

So ended Day 1 of the Birding Tour.

#102 Black-billed Magpie Date - Apr 2. Location: Dilworth Inn, Kelowna BC.
Status: Abundant

Early morning on day 2, I headed out early to get breakfast at Starbucks. When I returned to my Hotel, there was a Magpie in a tree in the parking lot. I tried to get a photo but badly over-exposed it. The only other magpie I managed to photograph was in Calgary in July.
 

#103 Herring Gull Date - Apr 2. Location: Apple Bowl, Kelowna BC.
Status: Abundant

After breakfast, we met at the Apple Bowl stadium so that we could convoy to the South Okanagan. While waiting for others to show up I saw some gulls in the playing field. I got my scope out and identified them as Herring Gulls. These gulls are rare on the coast, but common elsewhere. The two photos below were taken in Newfoundland. The first shows two of them flying in unison near Ferryland in the Avalon Peninsula.

The second shows a gull on the hunt at St. Mary's Ecological Reserve in Southern Newfoundland in July. This is a breeding colony for shorebirds, and it was probably hoping to catch an unattended chick.



#104 White-throated Swift Date - Apr 2. Location: Okangan Falls Provincial Park, Okanagan Falls BC.
Status: Abundant

I only got a glimpse of these birds through binoculars on this day. However, I did get some photos
in May after my Golf trip at Gallagher Lake Lodge near Oliver.



#105 Barred Owl Date - Apr 2. Location: Dutton Creek Rd, Okanagan Falls BC.
Status: Abundant

Just like day 1, we took our lunch break and Chris used the time to try to call in an owl, this time a Barred Owl. He said that their territories are so huge that it can take them up to 30 minutes to respond. Since they can be diurnal at times, there was a good chance of a response. There must have been one nearby, as one appeared very quickly and offered very good photo opportunities.

#106 Williamson's Sapsucker Date - Apr 2. Location: Venner Meadows Rd, Okanagan Falls BC. Status: Abundant

The Williamson's Sapsucker is unusual among woodpeckers for the marked difference between the male and female. Originally, the female was thought to be a different species. I was not able to get a good photo this year. This one is a poor shot of the male that appeared.



#107 Mountain Chickadee Date - Apr 2. Location: Venner Meadows Rd, Okanagan Falls BC. Status: Abundant

As it's name suggests, this is a common chickadee at higher altitudes. It can be seen in many places in the Okanagan. I took this photo one day later at the Red Roost Gift Shop in Kaleden. It's one of my favourites for the year.



#108 Pygmy Nuthatch Date - Apr 2. Location: Irrigation Creek Rd, , Okanagan Falls BC.
Status: Abundant

This nuthatch is an Okanagan specialty, it's colouring is more subtle than the red-breasted and it does not have the eye-stripe. Unfortunately, they were high up in the trees. I did manage one good shot.

#109 Say's Phoebe Date - Apr 2. Location: Lakeside Resort, Oliver BC.
Status: Abundant

The Lakeside resort was where the entire group stayed on the second night. It featured a small lake and quite a few trees. I spotted this common Okanagan Flycatcher on a nearby chimney. These birds build their nests on rooftops and other convenient places. This photo was taken in the rain near Osoyoos in May.

This was my last bird on Day 2. Our Owling excursion that evening was  unproductive.

#110 California Quail Date - Apr 3. Location: Lakeside Resort, Oliver BC.
Status: Abundant

The first bird for Day 3 was a California Quail on a woodpile. These introduced birds are very common throughout the Okanagan. This photo was taken on my second visit in May on White Lake Rd. near Oliver.


#111 Killdeer Date - Apr 3. Location: Lakeside Resort, Oliver BC.
Status: Abundant

There were two killdeers hanging around the garbage strewn lake shore. Shortly after I took this photo, they mated. One of the other birder's caught the act on video with her phone.



#112 Osprey Date - Apr 3. Location: Osoyoos River Oxbows, Oliver BC.
Status: Abundant

Our first stop was Road 22 near Oliver. There is a road that runs along the river. Quoting Expedia: "An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water that forms when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off  creating a free-standing body of water"
There are several Osprey nesting platforms along the lake. These photos were taken on my second visit to the Okanagan in May. They were taken at the same location. The first shows an adult stretching its wings. The second is an IPhone digiscope photo that shows one on a nest. I assume it was an adult incubating.

#113 Long-billed Curlew Date - Apr 3. Location: Osoyoos River Oxbows, Oliver BC.
Status: Abundant

These shorebirds nest in dry grasslands, but are more commonly seen outside nesting season on coastlines and in marshes.We had already looked for them in the fields by the river with no luck. Then Logan, the young assistant guide pointed upwards and called out Curlew as a small group flew over. I took one shot but they were pretty high above for a good photo. This photo was taken in Redwood Shores CA in October.


#114 Violet-green Swallow Date - Apr 3. Location: Osoyoos River Oxbows, Oliver BC. 
Status: Abundant 
On the coast we see mostly tree swallows, in the Okanagan this is the predominant swallow. This photo was taken on Highway 3 near Cawston as I was heading home after the tour.

#115 Pied-billed Grebe Date - Apr 3. Location: Osoyoos River Oxbows, Oliver BC.
Status: Abundant

Unlike the other grebes we commonly see on the coast, this grebe prefers fresh water year round. On this day, I only got a glimpse of distant one through a scope. The photo below was taken in May at Colony Farms Regional Park. The downy plumage shows this is a very young grebe.


#116 Belted Kingfisher Date - Apr 3. Location: Osoyoos River Oxbows, Oliver BC.
Status: Abundant
Although commonly heard around lakes and sometimes salt water, this is a difficult bird to see and photograph. This day on the tour was no exception, I only got one very poor photo as it streaked by. My luck finally changed in late September when I captured this bird in action in rural Delta. Note that with this species, the female is more colourful than the male which is just blue and white. However, this one is likely a juvenile and could be male or female.

#117 Redhead Date - Apr 3. Location: Mahoney Lake, Okanagan Falls BC.
Status: Abundant
This is a common Okanagan duck, occasionally seen in the Lower Mainland. the photo below was taken at the first hole of the Predator Ridge golf course in May.


#118 Cassin's Finch Date - Apr 3. Location: Red Roost Gift Shop, Kaleden BC.
Status: Abundant
The last stop on our tour, this home/gift shop off of Highway 3 features many seed feeders and well as flowers and nectar feeders for hummingbirds. We were too early for the hummers, but there was the usual assortment of seed loving finches. The Cassin's Finch is similar to the more common House and Purple finches. It is not seen on the Coast. The first photo is of a female identified by the crisp streaks on the breast.


Next is the male with bright red crown and pinkish streaked back.


#119 American Goldfinch Date - Apr 3. Location: Red Roost Gift Shop, Kaleden BC.
Status: Abundant
The other finch present was this one. The first photo at Red Roost shows a likely juvenile, not sure what the red tinge on the breast indicates.



The next photo was taken on April 5th at Haynes Point Provincial Park in Osoyoos. This was a very recently fledged bird that stayed in the same spot for a very long time, not sure what to do next. Hopefully, it figured things out.

That end's the Okanagan tour and part 1 of the April blog. Part 2 details another 19 species seen in the Lower Mainland after returning home.