Date: 5/8/25 9:44 pm From: Lani Raymond via groups.io <lanibirder...> Subject: [AKBirding] Shorebird Festival in Homer
*Excellent Festival with nice sunny days and we've already logged 115
species! Many more expected--even rumors of a jaeger flying south from
Kasilof as I write... Spring feeling in the air with now three warbler
species here and, for many of us, hearing our first hermit thrush today. *
*Hope many of you will come down and join us!*
*2025 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival: Species Tally*
*Species seen Thursday, May 8th **(**new species in BOLD)*
*Mud Bay:* MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT*,* WHIMBREL*, *BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER,
WESTERN SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN PIPIT, NORTHERN HARRIER.
*Mariner Park:* MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WESTERN SANDPIPERS
(1000), DUNLIN (1000) SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPER,
DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER,
*EURASIAN
WIGEON*, NORTHERN HARRIER.
*Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon:* PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER,
LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, SAVANNAH SPARROW
*End of the Spit** (Fishing Hole south): *SURFBIRD (end of the Harbor
jetty), BLACK TURNSTONE, *BRANT,* DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, COMMON
MERGANSER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, AMERICAN PIPIT, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, HERRING GULL
*Beluga Slough**: RUDDY TURNSTONE,* BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER,
WESTERN SANDPIPER, CANADA GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANE, BELTED KINGFISHER,
AMERICAN PIPIT, FOX SPARROW, MERLIN
*Beluga Lake East/Platforms:* PECTORAL SANDPIPER, WILSON’S SNIPE, LEAST
SANDPIPER, AMERICAN PIPIT, TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, TRUMPETER SWAN,
VARIED THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, LINCOLN SPARROW, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, *RED-TAILED HAWK*, NORTHERN HARRIER
*Calvin and Coyle Trail**:* *DOWNY WOODPECKER,* AMERICAN THREE-TOED
WOODPECKER, SPRUCE GROUSE, HERMIT THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER, YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER, VARIED THRUSH, PACIFIC WREN, TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW,
NORTHERN HARRIER
*Other Areas in Homer:* Kachemak Drive: *COMMON REDPOLL, *MARBLED GODWIT*.
*East End Rd on past Fritz Creek:* ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, *RED-TAILED HAWK
(Harlan’s?)
*Anchor River:* RED KNOT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BLACK TURNSTONE, BLACK
OYSTERCATCHER, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, WHIMBREL, WESTERN and LEAST
SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LONG- and SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER, *OSPREY,
ALEUTIAN TERN*, ARCTIC TERN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, SAVANNAH
SPARROW, NORTHERN HARRIER, *ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER* (by campgrounds), *WILSON’S
WARBLER* (by campgrounds). *AMERICAN DIPPER* (south end of North Fork Rd at
“Dipper Bridge” 2 miles in from Highway).
Date: 5/7/25 11:23 pm From: Lani Raymond via groups.io <lanibirder...> Subject: [AKBirding] Shorebird Festival in Homer
Our Shorebird Festival began with a sunny day and many birds. A RED KNOT
was seen at Mariner Park today and so many other birds! As we always say,
It Was A Great Day To Bird!
To follow the eBird reports generated by the Festival, you can go to
kachemakbaybirders.org and click on the eBird Sightings Map icon in the
right column, or on a phone, go to the bottom of the page to find it.
*2025 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival: Species Tally*
*Species seen Wednesday (May 7th)*
*Mud Bay:* MARBLED GODWIT (3), SANDERLING, WHIMBREL*, *BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER,
WESTERN SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN PIPIT, CACKLING GOOSE,
NORTHERN HARRIER.
*Mariner Park:* RED KNOT, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (2), WESTERN and LEAST
SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, PACIFIC
GOLDEN-PLOVER, NORTHERN HARRIER.
*Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon:* MARBLED GODWIT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER,
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER (450), SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER,
DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, SAVANNAH SPARROW
*End of the Spit** (Fishing Hole south): *BLACK TURNSTONE, DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT, COMMON MERGANSER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, AMERICAN PIPIT, LAPLAND
LONGSPUR, HERRING GULL
*Beluga Slough: * PECTORAL SANDPIPER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LEAST
SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, SANDHILL CRANE, AMERICAN PIPIT, FOX SPARROW,
MERLIN
*Beluga Lake East/Platforms:* GREAT BLUE HERON, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, SANDERLING, WILSON’S SNIPE, LEAST SANDPIPER, AMERICAN PIPIT,
BELTED KINGFISHER, TREE and BANK SWALLOW, TUNDRA SWAN, VARIED THRUSH,
LINCOLN SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, NORTHERN HARRIER *(Chestnut-backed
Chickadee report being confirmed.)*
*Calvin and Coyle Trail**:* AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, SPRUCE GROUSE,
HERMIT THRUSH, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, VARIED THRUSH, PACIFIC WREN, TREE and
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, CANADA and CACKLING GOOSE, NORTHERN HARRIER
*Anchor River:* HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, BLACK TURNSTONE, BLACK
OYSTERCATCHER, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, WHIMBREL, WESTERN and LEAST
SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LONG- and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER,
ARCTIC TERN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, SAVANNAH SPARROW, NORTHERN
HARRIER
Date: 5/6/25 9:58 pm From: Lani Raymond via groups.io <lanibirder...> Subject: [AKBirding] Shorebird Festival Preliminary Report
*2025 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival: Species Tally*
*PRELIMINARY REPORT (May 5-6th)*
(Homer, AK) The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is May 7th-11th. We're off
to a great start! The weather forecast has promised warmer spring
temperatures with some sunshine and less wind for the rest of the week.
Sunshine is a great beginning for a Festival.
Many shorebirds and other species are already here. A list of species seen
May 5-6th is below. SANDHILL CRANES can be found all over town. Sparrows
singing, one warbler so far. Snipe winnowing, VARIED THRUSH, PACIFIC WREN
and FOX SPARROWS heard singing.
A large number of shorebirds was seen in Mud Bay the evening of May 2nd: up
to 2500 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and around 700 mixed DUNLIN, DOWITCHERS,
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, etc.
*Mud Bay:* *RED KNOT (1), MARBLED GODWIT (3), RED-NECKED PHALAROPE,
WHIMBREL, SURFBIRD, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK TURNSTONE,* BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER (100), SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER,
WESTERN SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN PIPIT, GREATER and LESSER
YELLOWLEGS.
*Mariner Park:* *SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (2*), *WHIMBREL*, WESTERN and
LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS,* GADWALL*, EURASIAN WIGEON,
LAPLAND LONGSPUR, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, NORTHERN HARRIER,
*Beluga Lake East/Platforms:* *MARBLED GODWIT, PECTORAL SANDPIPER (2),*
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WIILSON’S SNIPE, LEAST SANDPIPER, AMERICAN PIPIT,
BELTED KINGFISHER, BONAPARTE’S GULL, NORTHERN HARRIER, TREE SWALLOW, TUNDRA
SWAN, VARIED THRUSH, LINCOLN SPARROW, BOREAL CHICKADEE, *OSPREY,
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, *NORTHERN HARRIER
*Portlock/Fernwood Rds.* *(~8 miles East End Rd): *WILSON’S SNIPE,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.
*Some other species seen over the weekend: HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Slough),
SANDERLING (Green Timbers), BLACK OYSTERCATCHER and TUFTED PUFFIN (Gull
Is.), PEREGRINE FALCON (Spit), RED-TAILED HAWK (East End Rd), SHARP-SHINNED
HAWK (Lake)*
Date: 4/29/25 10:30 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Sunday, April 26, 2025 Wild Goose Chase
Sunday, April 26, 2025 Wild Goose Chase
Seward, Alaska
All seemed peaceful at the Mile 1 Nash Road pond. The female TRUMPETER SWAN lay drooped over her nest like a wet white dishrag. The male serenely plucked emergent vegetation from the depths. MALLARDS hovered near the Swan; BUFFLEHEAD dove in the middle. GREATER YELLOWLEGS called as they landed in formation in the water horsetail mats at the edges of the pond.
Then a flock of 28 delighted GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE descended from the rainy skies and landed at the far edge of the wetlands. And began eating.
At first, nothing changed. But after a few minutes in which an inaudible timer was counting down, I heard an angry “smack, smack, smack!” The male Trumpeter unfurled his mighty wings and raced across the water on his huge black webbed feet towards the Geese.
The gob-smacked Geese fled into the air, gabbling in panic as the Swan hurtled after them, circling around in tight spirals, gaining altitude. The Geese booked it back towards the bay, the Swan in hot pursuit, trumpeting in fury. They almost disappeared in the distance, likely far over saltwater, before the ghostly white figure of the Swan reappeared unaccompanied.
By this time, the lady whose territory was so fiercely defended, had strolled off the nest and was languidly preening. Unlike a previous territorial defense against their own once-beloved cygnets, she did not cheer or even look interested.
The male, Bond-like, descended at full speed, splashed down with landing gear extended and expertly water-skied to a stop. As he turned around to check on his true love, he must have felt a trifle disappointed with the tepid response. Meh.
With that, the unappreciated hero stoically got a cold one, and thus refreshed, resumed eating salad. Mission accomplished.
Date: 4/29/25 9:26 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Sunday, April 27, 2025 Kingfisher courtship
Sunday, April 27, 2025 Kingfisher courtship
Seward, Alaska
The wetlands and pond at Mile 1 Nash Road attract more than nesting Trumpeter Swans. A noisy female BELTED KINGFISHER stridently announced her presence as she zoomed in and landed on a favorite dead tree perch. She quietly sat motionless in the rain for many minutes, then abruptly dove into the pond and back to her station with a fish. After a short time to “drown” and subdue the fish, she gulped it down. After a few more successful forays, she shot off, rattling.
Not long after, another Kingfisher landed on a nearby perch, this time a male. He too had great success catching fish before he rattled off.
The next afternoon, while watching the Swans, my attention was again diverted to the Kingfisher on his perch in the rain. This time he scored on a particularly large coho salmon, almost at smolt stage. But instead of enjoying the feast, he flew down to a nearby log and waited expectantly. He had bigger plans than lunch. The lively fish flopped in his bill, trying to escape, but he held firm.
“Chirrr!” announced the female as she landed on the log about a foot away. “Chirrr!, big, handsome fella with a fat fishy feast!”
Still, her gorgeous suitor held the fish, almost chivalrously, waiting for the glittering gift to stop wriggling around. If birds could drool, she did. He waited patiently; she waited, barely contained.
Finally, as he backed away to the end of the log, he expertly flipped the fish to face her head-first. She sidled up, bill open. Tenderly, he placed it in her bill with the utmost care. She clamped down on the fish as he beamed with love, his adorable spiky crest sticking straight up, and immaculate white collar puffed out.
After many long minutes of holding the fish, switching positions on the log this way and that, she finally deemed it safe to eat and chugged it slowly down her throat. I was impressed that she could eat such a large, long fish without choking. It took a while, and she sat there afterwards stupefied, full to the top.
I hope these two beautiful Kingfishers will soon dig a snug, long tunnel for their future family and raise many phenomenal babies together.
Thanks to fisheries biologist John for the salmon ID.
Date: 4/28/25 11:12 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, April 26, 2025 Cranes! Geese! Godwits! Dowitchers!
Saturday, April 26, 2025 Cranes! Geese! Godwits! Dowitchers!
Seward, Alaska
A tremendous surge of long-awaited feathered migrants pulsed through the cloudy skies today, thrilling onlookers with their joyous cries. Skeins of SANDHILL CRANES, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, CACKLING GEESE and ducks stroked northwards high overhead. It seemed the flocks took turns; as soon as one flock shrank to specks to the north, another flock announced its arrival from the south, grew in size and volume, passed overhead, and again diminished.
Some chose to land, much to our delight. At least a hundred Sandhill Cranes fed ravenously on the long-vacant sedge wetlands, these giant, unbelievable birds. Serving as decoys, more and more Cranes spiraled down, bugling loudly with long legs outstretched, to a high count of 239. (Thanks to Tasha for the exact count.)
Nearby, flocks of similarly hungry Cackling and Greater White-fronted Geese mowed through the vegetation like machines. NORTHERN PINTAILS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL, and MALLARDS dabbled in the shallow pond. A single BONAPARTE’S GULL growled from the middle of the pond. Whenever a BALD EAGLE cruised overhead, pandemonium ensued as all took flight with loud cries of alarm.
After feasting on the sights and sounds of the Cranes and Geese, I further scrutinized the pond scene. Five FOS HUDSONIAN GODWITS probed the pond mud with their long bills. Five FOS SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS stitched the mud nearby. Three DUNLIN in their distinctive breeding plumage shared the pond edge with two LEAST SANDPIPERS. Noisy GREATER YELLOWLEGS dashed thither and yon on their long legs, heads jerking. A WHIMBREL called. Eight BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS flew overhead.
A juvenile AMERICAN GOSHAWK added to the excitement, escorted away by ARCTIC TERNS and SHORT-BILLED GULLS, all screeching. A male and female NORTHERN HARRIER cruised the fields. Almost invisible, several SNIPE peacefully winnowed from the sky.
What a show stopper day!
Later, another surprise awaited at Two Lakes Park. At 5:15 pm, I recorded that lonely little SAW-WHET OWL beeping for a few minutes as I passed below his mountainside bachelor pad. Then the recently arrived VARIED THRUSHES resumed the more expected daytime serenade.
Date: 4/26/25 10:48 pm From: John M. via groups.io <akjohnm...> Subject: [AKBirding] New arrivals in Seward
Several FOS (to my knowledge) worth celebrating in Seward today.
- 2 Lesser Yellowlegs. More than 2 dozen Greater Yellowlegs in recent days too. - 3 Short-billed Dowitchers - 3 Dunlin - 5 Hudsonian Godwits - 2 Pacific Golden-Plovers - 2 Least Sandpipers
125+ Sandhill Cranes and much of the usual waterfowl including Cackling and Greater White-fronted Geese.
Cheers!
--John M.
*John M. Maniscalco, Ph.D., Capt.* Senior Research Scientist, Alaska SeaLife Center Owner/Operator, Alaska Seabird Charters www.alaskaseabirds.com PO Box 1675 Seward, AK 99664
Date: 4/24/25 11:31 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, April 24, 2025 Black-bellied Plover, Cranes, Whimbrel
Thursday, April 24, 2025 Black-bellied Plover, Cranes, Whimbrel
Seward, Alaska
Cool and cloudy conditions persisted this week with scattered showers.
On Sunday, April 20, I first heard a clear whistle then located my FOS BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, a very dapper and distinguished-looking male in full breeding plumage. He steadily foraged in the mudflats and shallow puddles. When he turned towards me, his body outline was a perfect circle. I don’t get to see them every year, so it was a real treat. On April 19, 2020 I saw several; they are right on time.
On Monday, April 21, I counted 15 LAPLAND LONGSPURS diving towards the bleached grass in the distance. I heard a familiar growl of a BONAPARTE’S GULL. Ten SANDHILL CRANES flew high overhead, bugling excitedly as they stroked northwards.
Tuesday, April 22 was Crane Day as wave after wave passed overhead, some in strings of over 100, others in small flocks, and one all by itself. One large flock was so high, they looked like tiny stitches in the clouds, their voices floating to earth. So exciting! Happy Earth Day!
Wednesday, April 23, seven GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE landed to feast on sedge corms and other vegetation. Two CACKLING GEESE circled around and around and landed out of sight. Seven GREATER-YELLOW LEGS cried out, “ridley, ridley, ridley!” as they flew across the sky. More Cranes flew ahead of the glowering clouds and kept going.
Today, while watching a GREAT BLUE HERON stalk fish for brunch, I heard a call that seized my attention. A large brown shorebird landed in the grass in the distance. I watched and waited until it finally flew far away to the west.
I resumed walking and to my joy, it again called, and landed much closer. Finally, I could verify my FOS WHIMBREL! I have many, many favorite birds, but I am especially fond the these long-billed, long-legged, exotic-looking shorebirds.
37 laughing GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew overhead in a well-organized “V”. And later, I received reports of more Cranes that I was sorry to miss.
Date: 4/20/25 8:10 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, April 19, 2025 Swan on nest, Kingfishers, Dipper, Crows
Saturday, April 19, 2025 Swan on nest, Kingfishers, Dipper, Crows
Seward, Alaska
The rainbow’s promise of sunshine came with a thin veneer of morning ice on puddles as the overnight low dipped to 27. Brrr! It felt like winter all day with a chilly south wind, though the thermometer read a high of 40.
For the first time, I saw the TRUMPETER SWAN sitting on her nest. The water level is unusually high at the Mile 1 Nash Road wetlands; she’s been dredging nest materials from the water to the water. But now, it looks like the nest and future babies are above the flood zone.
Out in the bay, HORNED GREBES are exchanging their plain black and white winter outfits for outrageously gaudy gold “horns” and chestnut brown suits. This process takes a while, so don’t embarrass them during the seedy-looking molt.
Salmon fry are hatching out of their hidden eggs in the numerous anadromous streams around the bay. These tiny fish fuel many birds, including ARCTIC TERNS, BELTED KINGFISHERS, and DIPPERS. I marveled as a Dipper added variety to its meal and dove for a caddisfly larva, shook it out of its case, and tossed it down the hatch.
An unexpected, long song of a PACIFIC WREN at Two Lakes Park delighted me, though the singer was concealed in the woods. Though these tiny Wrens sometimes stay the winter, this is the first I’ve heard this year.
Nest-building continued in earnest for two resident AMERICAN CROWS. They industriously gathered bits of dried grass, last-year’s horsetails, and small twigs from the gravel drive and grass near the Waterfront. More and more, cramming in one treasure after another to an already over-flowing bill.
I don’t know how they kept going and suspect they picked up the same building supplies more than once. Finally, possibly realizing the items were starting to look familiar, they both flew off towards a grove of small spruce. Biodegradable, affordable homes almost ready for occupancy!
The finale tonight around 9:45 pm was not the lonesome Saw-whet Owl, but a phenomenal male ROBIN, serenading the whole neighborhood with his sweet, melodious song. Wow!
Friday, April 18, 2025 Northern Harrier, Arctic Terns, Canada Geese
Seward, Alaska
Another crazy, squally day with tantalizing moments of sunshine, ending in a spectacular rainbow.
I refound that handsome NORTHERN HARRIER hunting the fields but missed the Short-eared Owl cameo appearance. A distant AMERICAN GOSHAWK perched at the top of a spruce tree, resting. More ducks have arrived in small numbers including NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and MALLARDS.
Two CANADA-type GEESE flew in with the rain and quickly disappeared.
The ARCTIC TERNS, who arrived on April 15, have increased from four to about ten. Rather than coexist harmoniously at the long-sought breeding grounds, two Terns duked it out high in the sky, fluttering furiously and screaming, beak to beak, grabbing feathers and fighting foul. Even in the midst of battle, they remained graceful, acrobatic, and stunning. All pointy: bills, wingtips, tails.
Incredibly, the sun came out. I took a chance during the brief weather window to ebike Exit Glacier Road, still gated at Box Canyon. I only heard one VARIED THRUSH near the beginning of my ride and no Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Still early.
Though the road was very wet, (and I got rained on) there was no ice or snow on the road until just before the 1894 marker where I turned back.
A single TRUMPTER SWAN floated in Resurrection River upstream of the bridge. I briefly heard distant Gulls high above but no other birds. So peaceful and silent. Soon, soon!
On my way home, a BALD EAGLE flew to the side of the road accompanied by two excited RAVENS and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES. I pulled into the nearby Chamber of Commerce parking lot to watch. It seemed the Eagle was interested in a birdy bath in a rain puddle, but the raucous company wouldn’t allow five minutes peace. The Eagle stalked around as they do, and shot a most piercing glare at the Ravens…if looks could kill! Pretty amusing to watch, though I’m sure the Eagle did not find it one bit funny.
Later, in early evening along the Waterfront, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS announced its presence and flew in low from the bay. It landed along the shore in front of a noisy campsite with campfire smoke, but didn’t seem to mind. Behind it, across the bay, a spectacular double rainbow arched from the clouds in front of snowy mountains and glaciers, down to the water.
For a finale, around 10 pm, the SAW-WHET OWL steadily beeped in the forested lower slopes of Mt Marathon as luminous Jupiter set behind the peak far above.
Date: 4/20/25 8:06 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, April 17, 2025 Northern Harrier, Pelagic Cormorants
Thursday, April 17, 2025 Northern Harrier, Pelagic Cormorants
Seward, Alaska
Another stormy, squally day with snow showers, temps in the mid-30s, and south wind 4-10 with gusts to 27 mph. Winter just won’t give up, having missed most of February.
In between squalls, I enjoyed watching a GREAT BLUE HERON stealthily stalk small fish, almost invisible. A bright male NORTHERN GOSHAWK cruised over sodden fields looking for voles. Small flocks of recently arrived NORTHERN PINTAILS circled overhead.
After driving through another squall of pelting rain, I found a pair of stunning PELAGIC CORMORANTS preening on a piling. They have replaced their boring black non-breeding plumage for a glossy greenish-purple ensemble with dashes of white on the neck and flank patch. Two jaunty crests adorned their heads front and back. Red outlined their eyes and the base of their slender dark bills. Dressed for success!
At Afognak Beach, I watched an outraged and courageous SHORT-BILLED GULL chase an adult BALD EAGLE across the beach. As the rain and wind resumed, the undeterred Eagle swept around a spruce tree and reappeared clutching a small, lichen-covered branch in its talons. Off she flew with her prize to add to the large nest, just down the beach.
These birds are all on schedule in the rain, snow, sleet, and squalls. I went home to dry out and get warm. Lucky me!
Date: 4/14/25 9:59 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Monday, April 14, 2025 Yellowlegs, Surf, Humpback Whale
Monday, April 14, 2025 Yellowlegs, Surf, Humpback Whale
Seward, Alaska
After an overnight dusting of 1-3” snow, the clouds retreated and offered a day of welcome but chilly sunshine. Temps ranged from 25 to 38 with a brisk north wind.
Spring arrivals seem slow, though I enjoyed watching two GREATER YELLOWLEGS fishing at Afognak Beach, darting through a shallow intertidal stream to nab small fish with great accuracy and satisfaction.
Fourth of July Beach featured green surf pounding against the shore and a few hardy surfers. A smattering of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, SURF SCOTERS and HARLEQUINS dove in less dramatic water farther down the beach.
Off Lowell Point, a small fleet of fishing boats accompanied by the giant orange M/V Ross Chouest utility tug participated in SERVS, the Alyeska oil spill training response for fishing vessels.
In the middle of the bay all by itself, without any fanfare or flash, a magnificent Humpback Whale exhaled misty plumes then gracefully, leisurely, disappeared down into its ocean universe.
Although it’s very hard to wait, the Seward spring migrants are on their way.
For photos, edits, and updates, please visit my blog at https://sporadicbird.blogspot.com
Date: 4/13/25 11:00 pm From: George Matz via groups.io <geomatz41...> Subject: [AKBirding] Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Session #1
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project
2025 Session #1
It’s a Start
On Saturday, April 12 the Kachemak Bay Birders had its first of nine
scheduled shorebird monitoring sessions for this year. Our sessions last
two hours. Starting time is when the outgoing tide approaches 15.0 feet.
This session started at 5:30 pm. This is our 17th consecutive year of
monitoring following the same protocol each year. Because our monitoring
dates try to bracket the spring shorebird migration, the first and last
sessions tend to have few shorebird sightings. All observations are
submitted to eBird and the ISS portal.
It was a tough day to be birding. According to the Homer Airport NOAA
weather station located at the base of Homer Spit (
https://forecast.weather.gov/data/obhistory/PAHO.html ) at 4:53 pm winds
were out of the NE at 20 mph, with gusts to 31 mph, pelting wet snow and
rain were persistent, the temperature was 37°, and the barometric pressure
was 29.59 inches. At 7:53 pm winds were still out of the NE at 18 mph with
gusts to 25 mph, there was still a mix of snow and rain, the temperature
was 36°, and the barometric pressure was 29.52 inches. Winds out on the
water were more severe with small craft warnings. In Homer, the average
high for this date is 45° and the average low is 31°.
The MyRadar view of the April 12th weather is interesting. Attached is a
screenshot which shows that the counterclockwise wind circulation of an
approaching low-pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska is almost an exact
overlay of the Pacific Flyway. These conditions provide a welcome wind
assist to migrating birds all the way from BC through SE Alaska, taking a
sweeping left turn around Yakutat, then west to Prince William Sound,
across the Kenai Peninsula, into Kamishak Bay, across Lake Iliamna, and
into Southwest Alaska, the nesting grounds for many shorebirds. In other
words, migrating birds that follow the Pacific Coast, like shorebirds, not
only fly to their breeding grounds, but get blown there. This wind pattern,
which is typical for this time of the year, helps the birds arrive on their
breeding grounds in good shape. But it also makes me wonder how vulnerable
the Pacific Flyway is to shifting jet streams, induced by climate change,
that bring these low-pressure systems further north because of weaker
high-pressure conditions over Interior Alaska.
Another interesting thing that this screenshot shows is that the coastal
temperatures from BC all the way to the Kenai Peninsula are in the 40’s.
There isn’t much of a temperature gradient along this part of the Pacific
Flyway. Many of you know of the classic study with robins and tracing their
short-distance spring migration to following a 37° isotherm (a line
connecting points on a map that have the same temperature). Similar studies
have been done with other species that have a continental rather than
coastal migration. But, as the screenshot illustrates, the isotherm theory
isn’t applicable to coastal Gulf of Alaska.
Despite the weather, the hardy Kachemak Bay Birders were there to begin
this season of shorebird monitoring. We had a total of 28 volunteers this
session. The Homer Spit had 13, Beluga Slough had 3, the Anchor River had
9, the Kasilof River had 2, and there was 1 volunteer in Seldovia. The boat
trip to Islands and Islets was cancelled due to small craft warnings.
The only shorebirds seen this first session was a flock of Rock Sandpipers
that visited both Mud Bay, which had a count of 50, and Green Timbers,
which had a count of 40. Typically, about 2-3,000 Rock Sandpipers
overwinter in Kachemak Bay. Apparently, most of them began their migration
last week when we had springlike conditions. Mixed in with the Rock
Sandpipers were some Dunlin. The Mud Bay count was 8. These Dunlin are not
yet in full breeding plumage. On April 10, Randy Weisser reported a flock
of 107 Rock Sandpipers and 84 Dunlin at the Spit. His eBird report had some
nice photos. If you want to see the report, go to
https://ebird.org/checklist/S224465385
Listed below are non-shorebird species seen during session #1. All of the
species seen are what could be expected for this time of the year. Only one
Eurasian Wigeon was seen, which is probably less than normal.
*Homer Spit*
Waterfowl: Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail,
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Common Goldeneye,
Red-breasted Merganser.
Loons and Grebes: Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Common Loon.
Gulls: Black-legged Kittiwake, Short-billed Gull, American Herring Gull,
Glaucous-winged Gull, American Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid),
Waterfowl; Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Black Scoter,
Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser.
Gulls; Short-billed Gull, American Herring/Glaucous-winged Gull.
Raptors; American Goshawk, Bald Eagle.
Songbirds; Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Comon Raven, Lapland
Longspur, Song Sparrow.
*Kasilof River*
Waterfowl; Brant (record early for this site), Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan,
Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye.
Gulls; Short-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull.
Raptors; Bald Eagle
Songbirds; Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven.
Details, including photos, of these birds can be seen via eBird. Go to
Explore, enter Kenai Peninsula, and then to More Recent Visits and scroll
down to April 12.
In addition to Kenai Peninsula Birders, this report is being sent to Alaska
Shorebird Group and AKBirding to solicit anyone who wants to continue to
receive our session reports. If interested, send me an email and I’ll add
you to a list of subscribers. The remainder of the session reports will go
only to the Kenai Peninsula Birders email as well as anyone else who wants
to subscribe.
Date: 4/12/25 3:54 pm From: David Sonneborn via groups.io <davidsonne...> Subject: [AKBirding] The new check list
The current 2025 Checklist of the Birds of Alaska is available through the Museum of the North Website. Click on Research and Collections and than Ornithology, There is a link to an excellent article:BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS UNION Checklist of the avian diversity of Alaska: subspecies, breeding status, and taxonomy
Date: 4/12/25 10:41 am From: Lynn Fuller via groups.io <lfuller56...> Subject: Re: [AKBirding] Thursday, April 10, 2025 Greater Yellowlegs, Eurasian Wigeons, snow
FOS (for me) Ruby-crowned Kinglet today outside of Palmer.
On Thu, Apr 10, 2025 at 9:39 PM rainyday via groups.io <c_griz=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Thursday, April 10, 2025 Greater Yellowlegs, Eurasian Wigeons, snow
>
> Seward, Alaska
>
>
>
> Sunrise 6:55 am, sunset 9:04 pm, for a total day length of 14 hours and 9
> minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.
>
>
>
> Last night, I again heard the SAW-WHET OWL beeping from the Mt Marathon
> mountainside.
>
>
>
> More snow squalls today, interspersed with sunny intervals. Temperatures
> remained cool with a low of 28 and a high of 35, and a northerly breeze.
> More of the same for the next week. Don’t put away that snow shovel yet!
>
>
>
> Today, I refound the FOS GREATER YELLOWLEGS and EURASIAN WIGEONS that
> Robin C found yesterday. Among them were several pairs of recently arrived
> GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAILS, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, and many
> MALLARDS. I did not find the Canada Goose fly-over.
>
>
>
> At the Mile 1 Nash Road ponds, a male BELTED KINGFISHER joined the
> resident TRUMPETER SWANS and the HOODED MERGANSERS. The only drama was the
> Swans’ much-heralded fly-over from the east side to the west, their wild
> bugling once again ringing off the mountainside. Just beautiful.
>
>
>
> Spring snow, more wintry than winter. Just as we anticipated during our
> snow-free February, the other shoe dropped but with the joy of migration
> mixed with the snowflakes.
>
>
>
> For photos, edits, and updates, please visit my blog at
> https://sporadicbird.blogspot.com.
>
>
>
> Happy Birding!
>
> Carol Griswold
>
> Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/10/25 10:39 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, April 10, 2025 Greater Yellowlegs, Eurasian Wigeons, snow
Thursday, April 10, 2025 Greater Yellowlegs, Eurasian Wigeons, snow
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 6:55 am, sunset 9:04 pm, for a total day length of 14 hours and 9 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.
Last night, I again heard the SAW-WHET OWL beeping from the Mt Marathon mountainside.
More snow squalls today, interspersed with sunny intervals. Temperatures remained cool with a low of 28 and a high of 35, and a northerly breeze. More of the same for the next week. Don’t put away that snow shovel yet!
Today, I refound the FOS GREATER YELLOWLEGS and EURASIAN WIGEONS that Robin C found yesterday. Among them were several pairs of recently arrived GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAILS, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, and many MALLARDS. I did not find the Canada Goose fly-over.
At the Mile 1 Nash Road ponds, a male BELTED KINGFISHER joined the resident TRUMPETER SWANS and the HOODED MERGANSERS. The only drama was the Swans’ much-heralded fly-over from the east side to the west, their wild bugling once again ringing off the mountainside. Just beautiful.
Spring snow, more wintry than winter. Just as we anticipated during our snow-free February, the other shoe dropped but with the joy of migration mixed with the snowflakes.
