We piled into our cars and made the short trip. We joined Chris, who reported that the owl had flushed and he had not relocated it. However, someone in our group found it in a nearby cedar tree, fairly high up and very well blended into the tree trunk.
I was not able to focus on it with my camera, but Mike had set up his scope and I got this very poor IPhone photo through the scope. Although I had heard this bird before in 2014, this was my first look at one.
Western Screech Owl - Mission Creek Regional Park, Kelowna BC
We now headed south with a quick Starbucks/Tim Horton's stop in Penticton. Our first destination was the Three Gates Farm, which was a B and B at one time. Although the bird feeders were empty there, Chris and Mike were able to call in a good variety of birds. Mary-Jean got three lifers in less than five minutes.
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Three Gates Farm, Okanagan Falls BC
I was hopeful to see Cassin's Finch somewhere on the tour, but this female was the only one that was spotted. I was lucky to get a decent shot of it.
Cassin's Finch (F) - Three Gates Farm, Okanagan Falls BC
Another new one for Mary-Jean was this Mountain Chickadee.
Unfortunately, Chris discovered he had locked his keys in his Jeep and had to wait for a tow truck to come from Penticton. Mike Force was now the main guide.
We headed out along White Lake Road, which passes by the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory. It is also good Bluebird country, and I was able to photograph both Western and Mountain Bluebird males in full breeding plumage.
Western Bluebird - White Lake Road, Okanagan Falls BC
Mountain Bluebird - White Lake Road, Okanagan Falls BC
As we were driving to our next stop, we noticed significant raptor activity overhead. We pulled over and I managed to get this shot of a Golden Eagle being harassed by two Common Ravens (only one seen in this photo).
Golden Eagle and Common Raven - White Lake Road, Okanagan Falls BC
As we ate lunch, we were rejoined by Chris. Our next stop was Mahoney Lake, which was established as an ecological reserve to preserve a southern interior saline lake. Our quarry here was White-breasted Nuthatch, and we weren't disappointed. The only problem is it would not sit still and was very difficult to get a clear shot of it. This is the best I managed.
White-breasted Nuthatch - Mahoney Lake, Okanagan Falls BC
We now headed on to Green Lake Road to look for American Dipper, but no luck. Next stop was the McIntyre Bluffs above Vaseux Lake where we hoped to see Canyon Wren. Here's a shot taken by Mary-Jean showing the group on the Bluff, that's me on the left carrying my scope.
McIntyre Bluff by Mary-Jean Payeur
Chris deployed his amplified Iphone call and we did get some answers from high up on the rocks. A wren did finally appear and was briefly visible in the spotting scope. Mary-Jean got a view but it had moved on before I could get a look, but that was okay as I had seen one a couple of years before. There will be more on Canyon Wren in a later post.
While up on the Bluffs we did have a couple of fly-overs by the birds seen below.
Red-tailed Hawk - McIntyre Bluffs, Oliver BC
Turkey Vulture - McIntyre Bluffs, Oliver BC
The last stop for the day was on the Osoyoos River Oxbows at Road 22 in Oliver. We drove out onto the dike, parked and took a walk. Chris scanned the fields for Long-billed Curlew with no success. He was also hoping for Bewick's Wren but all was quiet.
As usual, the birder's were checking the sky as soon as they could. I got a few of them to pose. The curly haired gentleman in the centre is Mike Force.
I did spot a pair of Common Mergansers on the River and got this photo of the male:
Common Merganser - Osoyoos River, Oliver BC
The highlight of this stop were Ospreys, my first sighting for the year.
Osprey - Osoyoos River, Oliver BC
There are nesting platforms on the river and the Osprey's take advantage. They don't seem to have any fashion sense, as they will use whatever ugly materials they can find.
Osprey - Osoyoos River, Oliver BC
It was time to check in to our lodgings in Oliver and go for a nice dinner at a nearby golf course.
Mary-Jean had our server take this group photo. The woman to the left of Chris is his girlfriend Cindy who was 7 1/2 months pregnant at the time.
Group photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
Some of us returned to Road 22 for some late-night Owling. Chris was able to call in a Northern Saw-whet Owl, but we never were able to see it.
Mary-Jean had our server take this group photo. The woman to the left of Chris is his girlfriend Cindy who was 7 1/2 months pregnant at the time.
Group photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
Some of us returned to Road 22 for some late-night Owling. Chris was able to call in a Northern Saw-whet Owl, but we never were able to see it.
This ended Day 2 of the tour.
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