Okanagan Birding Weekend

“Well you’re getting some winter now”

Frozen Lake to the Right

And so it was that I left Nakusp very early at 6-30am, still very dark, with a clean white sheen over the town. We were driving first south and then west for a weekend’s birding in the Okanagan Valley; the premiere birding location in all of BC. The snow was blowing wildly over the top of the car, well illuminated by our high beam lights,and no windscreen wipers were necessary. A strange precipitation this snow is. Soon we were crossing Arrow Lake via ferry before crossing over the Monashee Range [route 6] enroute to Kelowna where we were to meet local birding legend and tour guide Chris Charlesworth. The birding highlight of the journey was a flock of Redpolls – circa 25- feeding beside a frozen lake. The car’s external thermometer read a cool minus 8 degrees.

Big White Ski Village or at least part of it

We met Chris, somewhat unpatriotically at a Maccas at Kelowna. Sensibly he had already breakfasted at Tim Hortons so while Gary grabbed some brekky at Maccas I enjoyed a flock of Ring billed Gulls in the shopping centre. Soon we were heading east towards the Big White Ski Village and on the way I enjoyed my first lifer of the weekend a Northern Shrike. Here Gary decided to lock the keys in the car and we enjoyed a brief wait in the cool for first someone to stop and then the ‘Canadian RACQ’.  A male Kestrel plus my first 2012 Clark’s Nutcracker and good views of a roosting Rough legged Hawk helped the waiting. A Solitaire plus Northern Flickers, Red tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles plus ubiquitous crows and Ravens were also about.

Gray crowned Rosyfinch

At the Big White Ski Village, a fascinating locale in its own right, was dude birding at its finest. The target bird and sometimes a difficult one was  Grey-crowned Rosyfinches. Some 20 odd birds of both sub spp were in attendance at a feeder. Keeping them company were Pine Grosbeaks, Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Steller’s Jays, Gray Jays, American Crow and a couple of Redpoll.

Coffee thankfully followed and then a quick view around the car park where, while many enjoyed  ice skating, Chris copied Northern Pygmy Owl calls attracting Mountain Chickadees plus RB Nuthatches.

Two male Pine Grosbeaks

With snow falling heavily [on Cedars?] we persisted with owl calls for our other mountain target White winged Crossbills. We saw no White winged Crossbills.We did see Redpolls in a large flock of about a hundred birds plus a few more Pine Grosbeaks.

We tried for Tundra Swans by a Kelowna Lake but only Mallards, a few Herring Gull and some Ring billed Gulls were braving the cold at that point.   

Tea time called for Tim Hortons, a Canadian institution, and on the menu was Chilli and coffee [and donut].

From Osooyoos - a frozen Lake

Driving south our destination was Osooyoos Best Western and after a long bloody drive Gary has certainly earned his sleep and keep and it’s my hope that my snoring did not keep him awake too much…………….. Osooyoos Best Western was understandably desert themed and the room was both hot and dry. 

With Saturday seeing snow over much of Okanagan Sunday was predictably cold as well and a good breakfast was grabbed before the first bird of the day; House Sparrow. In the minus 6 or 8 or something there were good numbers of waterfowl;  Canada Geese and Mallards, Wigeon, Common Teal, Goldeneye, PB Grebe, Goosander, Greater Scaup, Redheads, Canvasbacks. Common Loon, Western Grebe, Horned Grebe, Bald Eagle plus Coot were also added.In addition California Quail, Red Tailed Hawks and some Magpies. Here also we dipped on owls that were rumoured to be roosting in these parts.

Vasceaux Lake - predictably frozen

A quick visit to Vaseaux Lake, largly iced up now  in contrast to my last spring time visit, produced calling Northern Pymy Owls high up on the slopes above the lake responding to Gary’s call. The sought after White breasted Nuthatches remained invisible. A single Mute Swan plus Trumpeter Swans plus some assorted waterfowl spread out on the remaining ice free water.

More good views of Northern Shrikes – an Adult and a sub adult – were seen soon after with Kestrel  and a striking Dark phase Red tailed Hawk. A good view of a Sharp shinned Hawk en route home completed the weekend’s birding.

Hooded Merganser

The drive home was reminiscent of our departure with some heavy patches of snow falling before the now customary meal with Gary and Maries' to complete a very good although too brief weekend!