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12 May Aleutian Cackling Geese Questioned--Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival (5-11-08) ["lani.raymond" ] 11 May orange crowned warbler [seasidefarm ] 11 May orange crowned warbler [seasidefarm ] 11 May Talkeetna addendum OSFL ["ak_ambrose" ] 11 May Talkeetna Birding ["wax4fun" ] 11 May Standing Corrected ["akdouglloyd" ] 11 May Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 5-10-08 ["lani.raymond" ] 11 May Rusty Blackbirds ["akdouglloyd" ] 10 May Tufted Duck in Fairbanks ["Nick Hajdukovich" ] 10 May Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Birds: 5-9-08 ["lani.raymond" ] 09 May Bad Raven ["kbuesseler" ] 9 May Another Sapsucker in Cordova [Aaron Lang ] 09 May Kachemak Bay Bird Alert: 5-8-08 ["lani.raymond" ] 09 May 5 Whimbrel ["akdouglloyd" ] 08 May Emperor Geese photos. ["gary_rasmussen2002" ] 08 May ferry bird question ["Julie Coghill" ] 08 May Townsend's warbler ["Julie Coghill" ] 07 May Potter's Marsh Horned Grebe is back ["prentkiak" ] 07 May Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Information Line 5-6-08 ["lani.raymond" ] 07 May Posted A Couple ["akdouglloyd" ] 07 May Seward Report ["c_griz" ] 06 May Potter's Marsh ["Steve W." ] 06 May Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels ["Jim Johnson" ] 06 May Chickadee nest building ["kim" ] 06 May Geese in Homer, Monday, May 5th ["lani.raymond" ] 06 May i.d. 2 birds, please ["Rita Goshorn" ] 06 May Movement at the Talkeetna Sewage Lagoon ["wax4fun" ] 5 May Emperor Geese & Snow Goose in Homer [] 05 May Anchorage Potter's Marsh Area ["Steve W." ] 05 May Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Information Line (PEEP: 235-7337) ["lani.raymond" ] 04 May Eklutna Flats & Knik River Area Sunday @ noon ["Steve W." ] 04 May Potters Marsh on Sunday at noon ["pmleldridge" ] 04 May 17th Annual Talkeetna/Trapper Creek Birdathon ["wax4fun" ] 04 May Red-throated Loons, Fish Creek, Anchorage ["kesugiridge" ] 3 May Golden Plover [seasidefarm ] 03 May Bean Goose-Adak Island ["Isaac Helmericks" ] 03 May RCKI & YRWA [delestafox ] 3 May RBA Fairbanks Alaska May 3 2008 [] 3 May RBA Fairbanks Alaska May 3 2008 [] 3 May Red-breasted Sapsucker [Aaron Lang ] 02 May Emailing: Fishing 5-1-08 003 [Pam Collman ] 03 May Varied Thrush in Campbell Tract ["chickadeedv" ] 02 May Almost Shoebird Festival Time in Homer, May 2, 2008 ["lani.raymond" ] 02 May Dowitchers and Arctice Terns in Anchortown ["John Wenger" ] 1 May Prince William Sound by ferry [Aaron Lang ] 01 May Re: beach bums [M & M ] 01 May The Ospreys ["nevaehlee4755" ] 30 Apr beach bums [Beth Peluso ] 30 Apr beach bums [Beth Peluso ] 01 May Homer, AK update ["lani.raymond" ] 01 May Anchorage ["Steve W." ] 01 May Seward Sporadic Bird Report: Arctic Terns! ["c_griz" ] Subject: Aleutian Cackling Geese Questioned--Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival (5-11-08) From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 02:19:44 -0000 Beluga Slough: RUDDY and BLACK TURNSTONES, Brant There is a question whether the previous report of Aleutian Cackling Geese is correct. Several biologists are looking into this sighting, photos, etc. We will let you know what they say. Sorry for the confusion. (The geese were still in the slough as of mid-day on the 11th.) Bishop's Beach: Lapland Longspurs Mud Bay/Lighthouse Observation Platform: RED KNOT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers Beluga Lake: RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (upper end), CANVASBACK, Eurasian Wigeon, Bonaparte's Gull, Swallows (Tree, Violet-green and Bank) Old Tern Colony: AMERICAN KESTREL, ALEUTIAN TERN, Orange-crowned Warbler West of the Spit ˝ way out: PACIFIC LOON, COMMON EIDERS (also seen east of the Spit) East of Town (Fernwood Dr): RUFUS HUMMINGBIRDSubject: orange crowned warbler From: seasidefarm <seaside AT xyz.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:14:51 -0800 First orange crowned warbler of the year yesterday,singing on an alder branch for about 5 minutes, APril 10 th. No other warblers in sight! Lots of savannah , golden crowned and Fox sparrow finally arrived ! Also robins building nests. Mossy Kilcher,Subject: orange crowned warbler From: seasidefarm <seaside AT xyz.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:14:51 -0800 First orange crowned warbler of the year yesterday,singing on an alder branch for about 5 minutes, APril 10 th. No other warblers in sight! Lots of savannah , golden crowned and Fox sparrow finally arrived ! Also robins building nests. Mossy Kilcher,Subject: Talkeetna addendum OSFL From: "ak_ambrose" <ambrose AT mtaonline.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:45:01 -0000 FOS, new yard bird, excellent alarm clock, and seemingly a month early for this uncommon bird in the Talkeetna area, an Olive-sided Flycatcher spent the morning sounding off from various white spruce tops around a small, frozen lake.Subject: Talkeetna Birding From: "wax4fun" <cmannix AT mtaonline.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:16:45 -0000 Some new spring arrivals include rusty blackbirds and solitary sandpipers at the sewage lagoon, and whimbrels down by the river. Also saw posed next to one another at a small pond adjacent to the Jubilee Rd. airstrip a whimbrel, s.b. dowitcher and greater yellowlegs,which made for a nice comparative study. Chris MannixSubject: Standing Corrected From: "akdouglloyd" <douglloyd AT gci.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 14:16:03 -0000 You would think I would know after so many years. LOL My common snipe are really Wilsons snipe. Just when I thought I had it. Doug Between Wasilla and Palmer.Subject: Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 5-10-08 From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 05:26:52 -0000 Nearing the end of the Shorebird Festival but still many fantastic birds! Mud Bay: RED KNOT Beluga Slough: ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE Beluga Lake: CANVASBACK, Eurasian Wigeon, Bonaparte's Gull, Ruby- crowned Kinglet, Swallows (Tree, Violet-green and Bank) Miller's Landing: WHIMBRELS in grassy fields, YELLOW-BILLED LOON Old Tern Colony: ALEUTIAN TERN Louie's Lagoon: Semipalmated Sandpipers (forgotten in previous report) West of the Spit ˝ way out: PACIFIC LOON, COMMON EIDERSSubject: Rusty Blackbirds From: "akdouglloyd" <douglloyd AT gci.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 03:48:59 -0000 Saw one group of 3 Near rabbit Slu this morning and another group of 6 on Old Matanuska Townsite road. 1 Tree Swallow 1 Savannah Sparrow Lots of Yellowrumps White crowns everywhere The hairy and down woodpeckers were very active early. Lake Lucille was conspicious by the absence of ducks. One flock of Saup. Id unknown and the ever present Rednecked grebes. Will post a couple Common Snipe a Savannah and Rusty Blackbird in Dougs Pix. Good birding Doug Between Palmer and WasillaSubject: Tufted Duck in Fairbanks From: "Nick Hajdukovich" <upupa_epops200 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 10:37:52 -0000 Hey all, Today at around 3pm-5:30pm I, along with several other birders observed a nice male Tufted Duck in with some Cavasbacks at the South Cushman ponds in Fairbanks. I got a bunch of pictures, which I'll post on here. Nothing great, but it's IDable. Ok well if anyone is interested in coming up to see it, let me know and I'll give you an update and specific directions. Not much else in Fairbanks, had a Baird's Sandpipers yesterday at the floatponds at the airport and there were also two Redhead's in with the Canvasbacks and Tufted Duck. Ok, well that's it for now, it's turning out to be a decent spring! Bird on, Nick HajdukovichSubject: Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Birds: 5-9-08 From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 05:13:52 -0000 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is under way. Have we got birds!!! MARINER PARK LAGOON: Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitcher, Western Sandpiper, Yellowlegs, MARBLED GODWIT (2). MUD BAY and LOUIE'S LAGOON: MERLIN, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, MARBLED GODWIT (2), BRANT. WEST OF THE SPIT ˝ WAY OUT: PACIFIC LOON, COMMON EIDERS, all 3 Scoter sp., Long-tailed Duck, Red- necked and Horned Grebe, Red-breasted Mergansers. THE END OF THE SPIT: WANDERING TATTLERS, BLACK TURNSTONES (couple dozen), Rock Sandpipers (3), FORK-TAILED STORM PETREL, GLAUCOUS GULL. BAY: YELLOW-BILLED LOON, Marbled and KITTLITZ'S MURRELETS. Some Common Murres (fewer the last few days). Puffins sp. at Gull Island. 100's of Surfbirds at Cohen Island. (Interesting report that the water temperature in the Bay is 3 degrees colder than last year.) BELUGA SLOUGH: Greater White-fronted and Canada Cackling Geese, Violet-green Swallow. (The Emperor and Snow Geese have apparently left.) EAST OF TOWN: Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Shrike, Golden-crowned Sparrow, WHIMBREL and Harlequin Ducks. BAYCREST: BOREAL OWL, PEREGRINE FALCON.Subject: Bad Raven From: "kbuesseler" <kbuesseler AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 17:57:55 -0000 A thug got one of my homing pigeons yesterday evening while we were in my yard. Her mate is still on their nest and looking quite stressed. She was the only hen I had left. I've come to expect it occasionally from the local goshawk, but not the ravens. This is the second time a raven has gotten one of my birds. Perhaps my losses over the years were not always the goshawk.... Kathy Buesseler East Anchorage-College Gate areaSubject: Another Sapsucker in Cordova From: Aaron Lang <aaron_lang8 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:30:03 -0700 (PDT) I went out yesterday (5/8) with some folks from NM to look for the Cordova
Sapsucker and much to my great surprise and excitement we found a PAIR of
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS at the aforementioned location! They frequently perched
on the same branch and seemed to be getting along quite well. The habitat seems
suitable; maybe Cordova will get a new species on its breeding bird list this
year!
Spring seems to be progressing very slowly this year but yesterday there were
a few notable arrivals. On a lazy trip down the Eyak River out to the tide
flats yesterday we saw the first HERMIT THRUSH and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER of
the year. I have still not heard of a single warbler species in Cordova, and I
think this is the first year that I've seen a flycatcher before any warbler!
The boat trip also produced SPOTTED SANDPIPERS (4) and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS
(12), which are the first reports of the season for each. We saw one CASPIAN
TERN at the river mouth. There was a flock of 20+ TREE SWALLOWS at Alaganik
Slough.
Shorebirds diversity has definitely picked up and this weekend's festival
should be pretty good. The numbers at Hartney Bay may have peaked a few days
ago, but the variety of species should be better this weekend.
Good birding,
Aaron Lang
---------------------------------
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Subject: Kachemak Bay Bird Alert: 5-8-08From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 13:55:58 -0000 The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is happening now! New arrivals. BELUGA LAKE—UPPER END/AIRPORT OBSERVATION PLATFORM AREA HUDSONIAN AND MARBLED GODWITS. BELUGA SLOUGH American Pipit (flock of 15) and Brant at the mouth of the slough. Violet-green Swallows. MILLER'S LANDING Golden-crowned sparrows.Subject: 5 Whimbrel From: "akdouglloyd" <douglloyd AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 02:36:15 -0000 On the fields behind the State Fairgrounds in Palmer about 5 pm today. They were on the east side of paved road. Also saw my first of the year lesser yellowlegs on Old Matanuska Townsite road. Doug Between Palmer and WasillaSubject: Emperor Geese photos. From: "gary_rasmussen2002" <gary_rasmussen2002 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 02:27:18 -0000 I have posted a photo of the six Emperor Geese, at Beluga Sough, Homer, AK, taken yesterday May 6, 2008. It can be found in the new photos section. I observed them at different location in Beluga Slough, yesterday. They were moving with tidal changes. I didn't see them before I left this morning. Gary RasmussenSubject: ferry bird question From: "Julie Coghill" <photoalaska AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 00:40:35 -0000 After the big snow in Anchorage, I got the ferry from Whittier to Yakutat to Juneau. I actually ID'd some birds myself but lucked out because there was this super nice British bird guy and his wife who are just finishing the last month of a year-long overland world trip. But ... sometimes, way out in the open water, we would see a smallish songbird flitting about. Finally it seemed to disappear out over the water. We thought it might be catching a ride on the ferry but neither of us ever saw it land on the ferry. He didn't know what it was and was mystified by it. I'd guess it was 6-7 inches, and perhaps had a lighter or whitish area near its rump. Any ideas? Julie CoghillSubject: Townsend's warbler From: "Julie Coghill" <photoalaska AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 00:35:10 -0000 On Saturday Bob and I did the airport trail in Juneau. We froze. After all those years in interior Alaska, we just weren't prepared for how much colder Juneau actually is. So we went back Sunday in almost full winter gear. We were warmer than Saturday but still quite chilled for May. That said, on Saturday we saw a Townsend's warbler. It was a pretty cool sighting because it flew straight at us while we were looking at it in our binoculars. Most everything else we saw Beth Peluso just listed as having seen on Monday, except of course we didn't see everything she saw. We also on Saturday saw a fox sparrow, sooty Pacific, and a varied thrush. Sunday morning at home we had 3 varied thrushes. And Tuesday morning along the beach I saw American pipits and, out in the channel, one pair of Barrow's in with the common goldeneyes. I've seen the chestnut-backed chickadees a few times now and only recently realized that black-capped chickadees don't even live here. It's the first time in my life I've ever lived without them! Julie CoghillSubject: Potter's Marsh Horned Grebe is back From: "prentkiak" <prentki AT acsalaska.net> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 16:07:04 -0000 The summer resident Horned Grebe was back at south end of Potter's Marsh,on the railroad side of the Seward Highway this morning. Also 1 trumpeter swan; a pair each of sandhill cranes, greater scaup, canvasbacks, canvasbacks; red-necked grebes; bald eagle; plus dowitcher-like and phalarope-like sandpipers flying in the distance. Dick Prentki Anchorage prentki AT acsalaska.netSubject: Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Information Line 5-6-08 From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 06:41:11 -0000 The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival starts this Thursday! BELUGA SLOUGH 6 EMPEROR GEESE and one SNOW GOOSE were seen in with Greater White- fronted and Cackling Canada Geese. Also: Common Merganser, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bufflehead, N. Shoveler, N. Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, American and EURASIAN WIGEON, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Sandhill Crane, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northwestern Crow, Savannah and Fox Sparrows and Ring-necked Pheasant. BELUGA LAKE—LOWER END CANVASBACK (15), LESSER SCAUP (2), Greater Scaup, Bonaparte's Gulls, Barrow's and Common Goldeneyes, Red-necked Grebes, Bufflehead, N. Shoveler, N. Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Am. Wigeon, Trumpeter Swan (2), Fox Sparrow, Common Snipe, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper. MARINER PARK LAGOON Whimbrels (2). MUD BAY and LOUIE'S LAGOON Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Black- bellied and American Golden Plovers, Dunlins, Dowitchers, Lapland Longspur. BAY and FROM THE END OF THE SPIT Groups of Red-necked Phalaropes.Subject: Posted A Couple From: "akdouglloyd" <douglloyd AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 02:41:00 -0000 Pictures in my Album Dougs Pix. A Rubycrowned Kinglet displayin his crown and an Horned Lark. Both from last weekend. Doug Between Palmer and WasillaSubject: Seward Report From: "c_griz" <c_griz AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 02:09:47 -0000 Hello everyone, Robin, Carol, and I have been hitting the Seward airport ponds and tidal flats on a daily basis and things are getting interesting. Our shorebird numbers are steadily rising with new species arrivng almost everyday. Our list now includes w.snipe,gr yellowlegs,sb dowitcher,hudsonian godwit,whimbrel,west sandpiper,pac-gold plover and from earlier dunlin and rock sandpiper. We are seeing a lot of raptors there as well... bald eagle,peregrine,goshawk,merlin, and marsh hawk. So far no short-eared owls. Savannah sparrow and water pipit are on the beach. Hope your next bird is a lifer, Peregrine Joe, Seward AKSubject: Potter's Marsh From: "Steve W." <ak_zukes AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 23:06:19 -0000 Anchorage Potter's Marsh AT 2:30pm 2 pair of Canvasbacks near the south pullout pond Steve WaltzSubject: Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels From: "Jim Johnson" <chickamin AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 19:04:46 -0000 Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels Over the last two years, we have been color-flagging Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits on Chiloé Island, Chile. Over 20,000 each of godwits and Whimbrels spend the boreal winter in the vicinity of Chiloé. Using a canon-net, we have marked 323 Hudsonian Godwits and 135 Whimbrels. These birds will be sporting a red flag (the color for Chile) that is engraved with a unique two-letter/number combination on their upper left leg (tibiotarsus). Flag letters/numbers are read like we read a book, from left to right. They will also have a combination of a metal band and a color ring on their upper right leg. For godwits, this combination will be yellow/metal for 2007 and orange/metal for 2008. Combinations should be read as yellow color band over a metal band. For Whimbrels, the combination will be blue/metal for 2007 and yellow/metal for 2008. Remember that anatomical directions are the way the bird is facing, not necessarily the way you are looking at the bird. Re-sighting of flagged birds will help us determine their migration routes. Please report any flag and color-band observations to Jim Johnson jim_a_johnson AT fws.gov; 786-3423 or 317-4032). Last year we had a re-sighting of a Hudsonian Godwit near King Salmon, AK and a Whimbrel in southern California. Colleagues in Colombia have also color-flagged Whimbrels this past spring in the Sanquianga National Park. They marked 38 individuals with the following combination: metal/orange or black on upper right leg, nothing on lower right, inscribed medium green flag/yellow flag on upper left leg, and nothing on lower left. Please report these birds to Richard Johnston (calidris AT calidris.org.co or rjohnston AT calidris.org.co). Thanks in advance for the assistance. Jim Johnson AnchorageSubject: Chickadee nest building From: "kim" <kimbyahyah AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 15:52:21 -0000 Chickadees are gathering up dog fur that I've put out. See cute pic posted. -Kim/AnchorageSubject: Geese in Homer, Monday, May 5th From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 01:48:05 -0000 6 Emperor Geese were sighted in Beluga Slough mid-afternoon today. Also there with them were: one Snow Goose, several Greater White- fronted Geese and some Canada/Cackling Geese. Small groups of Red-necked Phalaropes were seen out in the Bay yesterday. Shorebird Festival this week! Great birds!!Subject: i.d. 2 birds, please From: "Rita Goshorn" <rgoshorn AT ak.net> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 01:03:24 -0000 i've posted two pictures of birds new to me that i can't name ..... the odd sparrow came around late fall just before i left on a trip and i forgot about it(long senior moment). from the front, this bird looks about like a juvenile white-crowned sparrow. the other sandpiper-type bird came yesterday -- it's got longish legs, it's body appears to be just bigger than a steller jay's.Subject: Movement at the Talkeetna Sewage Lagoon From: "wax4fun" <cmannix AT mtaonline.net> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 00:41:07 -0000 Birds are moving into the Talkeetna Sewage Lagoon. On my morning constitutional I flushed a flock of five s.b. dowitchers. While squatting behind a snow berm I saw several g. yellowlegs, a pair of Barrow's goldeneyes, mew, herring, and Bonaparte's gulls. A pair of hooded mergansers was reported in the area earlier this week.Finally some relief from the doldrums of winter. Chris Mannix, TalkeetnaSubject: Emperor Geese & Snow Goose in Homer From: Marianne_Aplin AT fws.gov Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 13:58:51 -0800 May 6th - Beluga Slough from the boardwalk of Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Five Emperor Geese and a Snow Goose mixed in with White-fronted GeeseSubject: Anchorage Potter's Marsh Area From: "Steve W." <ak_zukes AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 06:45:30 -0000 Villages Scenic Parkway...high above Potter's Marsh I was in search of Red Crossbills reported by a friend and saw the FOY swallows. Bald Eagle Hairy Woodpecker Black-billed Magpie Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Pine Siskin Potter's Marsh Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan American Wigeon Mallard Red-necked Grebe Mew Gull Herring Gull Steve WaltzSubject: Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Information Line (PEEP: 235-7337) From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 02:01:29 -0000 The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival starts this Thursday! OLD TERN COLONY Aleutian Terns (5/3) and Mew Gulls nesting. Sandhill Cranes, Pintails, Yellowlegs, Mallards and Bald Eagles. MUD BAY Western Sandpipers, Dunlins, Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers, Yellowlegs, Bonaparte's Gulls. AIRPORT OBSERVATION PLATFORM/BELUGA LAKE—UPPER END Snow Goose (5/1), Greater White-fronted Geese, Canada (or probably Cackling) Geese, Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Pintails, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Shovelers, Mallards, Yellowlegs. Common Snipe winnowing. BELUGA LAKE—LOWER END Bonaparte's Gulls, Barrow's and Common Goldeneyes, Red-necked Grebes, Greater Scaup. On the 4th there was a possible sighting of a Canvasback. BELUGA SLOUGH Eurasian and American Wigeon, Northern Shovelers, Yellowlegs, Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal; at times: Greater White- fronted and Canada (Cackling) Geese and Trumpeter Swans. EAST OF TOWN A Merlin has been spotted about 5 miles out East End Rd. Some nesting Northern Shrikes seen up Greer Road and near Kachemak Drive. A few American Robins were reported. HERRING ISLANDS 5 Blue herons were reported there on the 30th.Subject: Eklutna Flats & Knik River Area Sunday @ noon From: "Steve W." <ak_zukes AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 23:18:17 -0000 Knik River Marshes Canada Goose Mallard Northern Pintail Red-necked Grebe Sandhill Crane Mew Gull Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch a few hawks way off & up high. Eklutna Flats ponds....directly across from the northbound Old Glenn Highway exit sign Red-winged Blackbird Arctic Tern Steve WaltzSubject: Potters Marsh on Sunday at noon From: "pmleldridge" <pam AT akphotogrl.com> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 22:16:41 -0000 At Potters Marsh on Sunday at noon there were numerous Arctic Terns flying about or staking out nesting sites, FOS for me. Birds now readily seen at the Marsh: Arctic Terns Canadian geese Sandhill cranes Swans (a pair has been there a couple weeks but others fly through) American Widgeons Red-necked grebes Mallard ducks a dark hawk-like bird of some sort (lousy binoculars!) bald eagles Happy birding, Pam EldridgeSubject: 17th Annual Talkeetna/Trapper Creek Birdathon From: "wax4fun" <cmannix AT mtaonline.net> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 18:30:37 -0000 Our local 24hr birdathon concluded Saturday evening, May 3 at 6:00 pm. Held on the first weekend in May, about 30 participated in this year's event,during which birders count species within fifteen miles of beautiful downtown Talkeetna. 2008 proved to be a very slow year for birding as only 51 species were recorded by the group, down from a high of 75 several years ago. Two teams tied for most species with only 39 each, well off the team high of 65 set in 2005. The lack of open water and heavy snow cover seemed to be the culprits. Noticeably lacking were sparrows; only one savannah sparrow was reported. Except for gtr. & lesser yellowlegs no shorebirds were reported. Of duck species and numbers (I saw one pair of g.w. teal!) there were few and yellow-rumped was the only warbler. Several large flocks of tundra swans were seen heading towards the Alaska Range, and Saunders Field in Trapper Creek had perhaps one hundred sandhill cranes (but only one lonely canada goose). Owls present were n. saw whet, boreal, and great horned.One lucky birder had a close encounter with a gyrfalcon. Here in the Northern Susitna valley we're still waiting for spring (I went skiing on Friday). Chris Mannix, Talkeetna(cmannix AT mtaonline.net)Subject: Red-throated Loons, Fish Creek, Anchorage From: "kesugiridge" <kesugiridge AT mac.com> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 17:44:21 -0000 I and another (local, I believe) birder named Eric watched a red-throated loon in the waters off of Fish Creek this morning. With my binoculars I saw a pair land but we got only one through our scopes. That one floated quickly with the outgoing tide toward Earthquake Park. Before that while watching at the Audubon Bench (between Westchester Lagoon and Fish Creek) there were 3 Hudsonian godwits, plus green-winged teal, Bonaparte's gulls, a greater yellowlegs, red-necked grebes, American wigeons, northern shovelers, Canada geese, and a pair of sandhill cranes that were courting in front of the bench when I arrived. Carl Ramm AnchorageSubject: Golden Plover From: seasidefarm <seaside AT xyz.net> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 18:39:56 -0800 Golden Plover , about a dozen, on mudflats at the head of Kachemak Bay, Homer. Weather again getting stormy, not many shorebirds arrived yet ! Varied Thrush singing, finally, later than ever before, still only a few songbirds at Seaside Farm, but at least 75 sand hill cranes on the hay fields! Mossy KilcherSubject: Bean Goose-Adak Island From: "Isaac Helmericks" <isaac.helmericks AT alaskaair.com> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 14:57:57 -0700 2 pair of Tundra Bean geese ( Anser fabalis serrirostris) just arrived mid morning May 3rd here in Adak. The birds are a little wary but are still providing fabulous views. Isaac Helmericks Adak Island, AlaskaSubject: RCKI & YRWA From: delestafox <dfox AT ak.net> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 13:11:32 -0800 Walking the Volksport 10K today along the Campbell Creek Trail..of the nine species heard and seen: mega Dark-eyed juncos and FOS Yellow-rumped warblers. Taku Lake is still frozen. On April 29th, FOS Ruby-crowned kinglet seen and heard and I watched a Goshawk 'feast' on a pigeon..that was still trying to get away as the goshawk consumed its' head. delesta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: RBA Fairbanks Alaska May 3 2008 From: Ken_Russell AT fws.gov Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 10:48:18 -0800 hotline: Fairbanks and Interior Alaska date: May 3, 2008 number: (907) 451-9213 to report: (907) 451-9213 coverage: Fairbanks and vicinity Birds Mentioned Northern Harrier Sandhill Crane Slate-Colored Junco Varied Thrush Osprey American Kestrel American Tree Sparrow Welcome to the Birding Hotline for interior Alaska as of May 3. A NORTHERN HARRIER was seen flying over the ponds at Sheep Creek Road near University on May 1. SANDHILL CRANES were first reported flying over Chena pump Road on April 24. A SLATE-COLORED JUNCO was at a feeder on Birch Hill Road on April 25, and had appeared in large numbers by May 1. AVARIED THRUSH was heard along the Old Nenana Highway late in the week. An OSPREY was spotted at the SE corner of the airport on April 27. On April 22, the following birds were in the front fields at Creamer's Refuge: 1 HERRING GULL, 3 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 10 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 5 MALLARDS, 1 SNOW GOOSE, 5 TRUMPETER SWANS, AND 600+ CANADA GEESE. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was singing at the Creamer's Field farm house on April 25. An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen perched above the hay fields at 3 miles Chena Hotsprings Road on April 26. Upcoming events include: The following field trips are sponsored by Arctic Audubon Society: May 10 Waterfowl identification; May 17 Shorebird identification; May 24 Birding by Ear and Songbird identification All field trips meet at Creamer's Field Farmhouse at 9:00 am and usually last until noon. Bring binoculars, a snack, and rubber boots if you have them. Children are especially welcome. Information: Tom Green, 452-6370 or fftkg AT uaf.edu. If you plan to record a bird sighting, please include the date and place where the bird was seen along with your name and phone number. If you wish to become a member of the Arctic Audubon Society please call Mary Zalar at 479-4547. Thanks for calling the birding hotline. -End Transcript Visit Arctic Audubon Society's website: http://www.arcticaudubon.org/ Site includes information on birding locations in Interior Alaska as well As a calendar of Arctic Audubon programs. Also visit Alaska Bird Observatory's website: http://www.alaskabird.org/ Directions to the sites mentioned in the report can found in 'A Birder's Guide to Alaska' by George C. West; American Birding Association; 2002 ISBN 1-878788-19-1 Ken Russell and Laurel Devaney PO Box 71462 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: RBA Fairbanks Alaska May 3 2008 From: Ken_Russell AT fws.gov Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 10:48:18 -0800 hotline: Fairbanks and Interior Alaska date: May 3, 2008 number: (907) 451-9213 to report: (907) 451-9213 coverage: Fairbanks and vicinity Birds Mentioned Northern Harrier Sandhill Crane Slate-Colored Junco Varied Thrush Osprey American Kestrel American Tree Sparrow Welcome to the Birding Hotline for interior Alaska as of May 3. A NORTHERN HARRIER was seen flying over the ponds at Sheep Creek Road near University on May 1. SANDHILL CRANES were first reported flying over Chena pump Road on April 24. A SLATE-COLORED JUNCO was at a feeder on Birch Hill Road on April 25, and had appeared in large numbers by May 1. AVARIED THRUSH was heard along the Old Nenana Highway late in the week. An OSPREY was spotted at the SE corner of the airport on April 27. On April 22, the following birds were in the front fields at Creamer's Refuge: 1 HERRING GULL, 3 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 10 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 5 MALLARDS, 1 SNOW GOOSE, 5 TRUMPETER SWANS, AND 600+ CANADA GEESE. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was singing at the Creamer's Field farm house on April 25. An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen perched above the hay fields at 3 miles Chena Hotsprings Road on April 26. Upcoming events include: The following field trips are sponsored by Arctic Audubon Society: May 10 Waterfowl identification; May 17 Shorebird identification; May 24 Birding by Ear and Songbird identification All field trips meet at Creamer's Field Farmhouse at 9:00 am and usually last until noon. Bring binoculars, a snack, and rubber boots if you have them. Children are especially welcome. Information: Tom Green, 452-6370 or fftkg AT uaf.edu. If you plan to record a bird sighting, please include the date and place where the bird was seen along with your name and phone number. If you wish to become a member of the Arctic Audubon Society please call Mary Zalar at 479-4547. Thanks for calling the birding hotline. -End Transcript Visit Arctic Audubon Society's website: http://www.arcticaudubon.org/ Site includes information on birding locations in Interior Alaska as well As a calendar of Arctic Audubon programs. Also visit Alaska Bird Observatory's website: http://www.alaskabird.org/ Directions to the sites mentioned in the report can found in 'A Birder's Guide to Alaska' by George C. West; American Birding Association; 2002 ISBN 1-878788-19-1 Ken Russell and Laurel Devaney PO Box 71462 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707Subject: Red-breasted Sapsucker From: Aaron Lang <aaron_lang8 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 08:29:59 -0700 (PDT) Yesterday morning (May 2nd) at about 6:30 AM I found a beautiful, drumming
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER near the airport at 13 Mile, Copper River Highway,
Cordova. There are only a handful of records of this species for the area. To
get there turn north down Cabin Lake Road (mile 13 Copper River Highway) which
is exactly opposite the entrance to the airport. Go about 1/4 mile and take the
first right. Then go about a 1/3 mile until there is what looks like a small
driveway on your right and a marshy area on the left. The sapsucker was
drumming on a cottonwood behind this marshy area. Local birders call this spot
Goshawk Pond.
Lots of the expected migrants around yesterday and about 3000 shorebirds at
Hartney Bay, mostly Western Sandpipers. A few Dunlin and Least Sandpipers.
Good birding,
Aaron Lang
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Subject: Emailing: Fishing 5-1-08 003From: Pam Collman <collman AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 22:28:29 -0800 The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: Fishing 5-1-08 003 Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types of file attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Varied Thrush in Campbell Tract From: "chickadeedv" <chickadeedv AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 05:14:52 -0000 9:12 PM, May 2, 2008 Hello birders. Heard a Varied Thrush this morning in the western part of Campbell Tract, just east of Elmore Rd. This is the first-of-season for that area. Still no R-C Kinglets. My 15 years of record here on E.66th shows that the kinglets are always here by the last day of April. This will be the latest (GPS not working perhaps?). David VonderheideSubject: Almost Shoebird Festival Time in Homer, May 2, 2008 From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 14:07:18 -0000 Fantastic birds last evening at the end of the road by the airport and Airport Observation Platform! A Snow Goose in with hundreds of Greater White-fronted Geese; Canada (or Cackling) Geese, plus nearly 50 Sandhill Cranes, the pair of Trumpeter Swans and some Yellowlegs sounding off, too. Wonderful, noisy bunch!Subject: Dowitchers and Arctice Terns in Anchortown From: "John Wenger" <gowild AT ak.net> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 09:30:18 -0000 While checking to see if the town trails were bikeable (just barely), I saw some bird species that I don't think have been reported here yet this season. There were a handful of dowitchers (sp. unknown) and Arctic Terns along the Coastal Trail, near where Fish Creek dumps into the Mud Flats. Other than that, of interest, were mucho Bonapart Gulls and several American Robins singing (not my 1st. sign of spring...that is when the sump pump comes back on!). Hopefully, more sandpipers will arrive before Sundays Audubon outing around Westchester Lagoon. John Wenger AnchorageSubject: Prince William Sound by ferry From: Aaron Lang <aaron_lang8 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 23:00:50 -0700 (PDT) Today I took the ferry (F/V Chenega) across Prince William Sound from Whittier
to Valdez and then on to Cordova. Since I know a few folks will be taking the
same course in the next week for the Cordova shorebird festival I thought I’d
report a few of the birds.
By far the most exciting birds of the trip were 3 PARAKEET AUKLETS that flew
across in front of the ferry and plopped in the water a few hundred yards off
the port side. This happened a bit north and west of Lone Island, approximately
50 minutes after leaving Whittier (if you take the F/V Aurora the travel time
to Lone Island is much longer). There are very small numbers of Parakeet
Auklets that breed on nearby Knight Island, and possibly Smith Island (?), but
it’s a real hot one in the sound and I’ve never before seen them from the
ferry.
On the Whittier to Valdez leg, the most active stretch was from Lone Island to
Glacier Island, just before you turn into Valdez Arm. In this area I saw 2 dark
PARASITIC JAEGARS, TUFTED PUFFIN (4), and a PEREGRINE FALCON giving a
BONAPARTE’S GULL a very hard time. Valdez Arm was pretty quiet, but there were
many ARCTIC TERNS along the Valdez waterfront. I was kind of surprised that
these were the only Jaegars I saw the whole trip.
On the Cordova to Valdez leg the most activity was at the entrance to Port
Gravina, just past Knowles Head in Orca Bay. Often at this time of year there
are often big rafts of Pacific Loons and murres in this area. Today there was a
feeding flock of at least 4,000 gulls and conservatively 800 PACIFIC LOONS in
one very tight concentration! It looked like there was a big school of fish
near the surface that had them all in a tizzy. There were a few RED-THROATED
LOONS and COMMON LOONS in this stretch too and good numbers of COMMON MURRES
and LONG-TAILED DUCKS.
Saw about 500 geese (CANADA, WHITE-FRONTED and SNOW) migrating through at
various times.
A very fun trip today with 35 species seen from the boat. Lots of Dall's
Porpoise around today but saw no other species of whales.
It was not in operation today, but normally the Chenega has computer monitors
around the boat showing a map of the Sound and the boat's location. All of the
areas I mentioned are labeled on this map. Hopefully it’s up and running again
soon.
Good luck to anyone birding on the ferry this week.
Aaron Lang
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Subject: Re: beach bumsFrom: M & M <bigshaheen AT gci.net> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 15:00:27 -0800 We've had a female hummer at the feeder for two or three days (Douglas Hwy). Michael Fleischhauer ----- Original Message ----- From: Beth Peluso To: AK Birding Group ; eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 10:38 PM Subject: [Eaglechat] beach bums I saw a bit of a sparrow party while walking along the sidewalk between the bridge and the mouth of Gold Creek in Juneau. In the rocks at the edge of the mud (the tide was out) I saw a pair of song sparrows, one singing. I also saw my first of season savannah sparrows foraging among the seaweed, 4 or 5 of them. I think there were some American tree sparrows too, but they were gone before I could get my binocs on them. The most surprising beach bum was a brilliant male yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle) who appeared to be flycatching from the rocks. He'd dart out low over the mud, sometimes landing, sometimes zigzaging wildly. Must've been something tasty! At my home on Douglas I heard a male rufous hummer displaying this morning. Has anyone seen females around yet or is he being optimistic? Beth Peluso Juneau ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.Subject: The Ospreys From: "nevaehlee4755" <pdlicht AT mtaonline.net> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 16:43:37 -0000 Just letting everyone know. The Ospreys are back !!! The male arrived on Sunday, April 27th, same day as last year. The female arrived Tuesday, the 29th. They are busy adding to the nest and are also mating. This is the pair that nest in the gravel pit off the Glenn Hwy about mile 37 Glenn Hwy out here in Palmer. If anyone would like to come see them this summer, just e mail me. Also, I sure enjoy reading all the e mails and looking at the pictures. Have learned a lot ! dianaSubject: beach bums From: Beth Peluso <bpeluso AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:38:55 -0700 (PDT) I saw a bit of a sparrow party while walking along the sidewalk between the bridge and the mouth of Gold Creek in Juneau. In the rocks at the edge of the mud (the tide was out) I saw a pair of song sparrows, one singing. I also saw my first of season savannah sparrows foraging among the seaweed, 4 or 5 of them. I think there were some American tree sparrows too, but they were gone before I could get my binocs on them. The most surprising beach bum was a brilliant male yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle) who appeared to be flycatching from the rocks. He'd dart out low over the mud, sometimes landing, sometimes zigzaging wildly. Must've been something tasty! At my home on Douglas I heard a male rufous hummer displaying this morning. Has anyone seen females around yet or is he being optimistic? Beth Peluso Juneau ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJSubject: beach bums From: Beth Peluso <bpeluso AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:38:55 -0700 (PDT) I saw a bit of a sparrow party while walking along the sidewalk between the bridge and the mouth of Gold Creek in Juneau. In the rocks at the edge of the mud (the tide was out) I saw a pair of song sparrows, one singing. I also saw my first of season savannah sparrows foraging among the seaweed, 4 or 5 of them. I think there were some American tree sparrows too, but they were gone before I could get my binocs on them. The most surprising beach bum was a brilliant male yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle) who appeared to be flycatching from the rocks. He'd dart out low over the mud, sometimes landing, sometimes zigzaging wildly. Must've been something tasty! At my home on Douglas I heard a male rufous hummer displaying this morning. Has anyone seen females around yet or is he being optimistic? Beth Peluso Juneau ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Homer, AK update From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 06:01:05 -0000 The following were reported today. MUD BAY: Western Sandpipers and Dunlins and 100's of Black-bellied Plovers. Also some Northern Shovelers. HERRING ISLANDS: 5 Great Blue Heron.Subject: Anchorage From: "Steve W." <ak_zukes AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 03:04:37 -0000 Potter's Marsh AT noon Canada Geese Trumpeter Swans Red-Necked Grebes Bufflehead Pintail Mallards Four larger sandpiper style birds flying,.probably yellow legs Lot's of gulls, mostly Mew, Herring and glaucous winged. Westchester Lagoon AT 5pm Common & Barrow's Goldeneye Bufflehead Scaup Canada Geese Red-necked Grebe Downy Woodpecker Steve W.Subject: Seward Sporadic Bird Report: Arctic Terns! From: "c_griz" <c_griz AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 00:46:27 -0000 April 30, 2008 Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report Sunrise 5:55 am, sunset 9:55 pm, length of day 16 hours; tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 14 seconds longer. Weather: Rain forecast for the next several days. Look for more migrants with every storm. Thursday, April 24th: herring eggs on kelp at Lowell Point beach, tasty snacks for Black Oystercatchers and gulls. Friday April 25th: first rain above freezing in a long time and first earthworms anxious to get to the other side of the road. 30 PINE SISKINS with 5 gorgeous tropical orange RED CROSSBILLS landed in my Mt Ash in town for a brief visit. 75 CANADA GEESE at salt marsh pond and 20 SNOW GEESE feeding on sedge shoots along the edge. Saturday, April 26th: First of Season ARCTIC TERN spotted at tidelands, also 12 BRANT at mouth of the Resurrection River. About 250 CANADA GEESE and at least a dozen GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE salt marsh pond. Cranes flying over all weekend in flocks ranging from 12 to 300, thrilling all who saw and heard them. Sunday, April 27th: 125 SANDHILL CRANES floated in to lunch hungrily on newly emerged sedge shoots at salt marsh and when lunch break was over, took off and headed north up Resurrection River valley. One crane, spotted earlier, seems to enjoy being solo. FOS NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 2 pair. MERLIN, female, and later, a PEREGRINE hunting at airport. 12 SNOW GEESE and over 100 Canada Geese with Greater White-fronted geese remain at salt marsh pond. Dozens and dozens of N. PINTAILS, dozens of GREEN-WING TEAL, numerous MALLARDS, COMMON MERGANSERS, and smaller numbers of GADWALL and AMERICAN WIGEON. Gulls too numerous to count, just clouds of them. A small flock of about 12 Sandhills was reported heading north over Bear Lake, a slightly different route north. Monday, April 28th: 7 ARCTIC TERNS hovering and buoyantly flying over the tide flats, some with tiny fish in their beaks as a courtship offering (no flowers available yet). Their high, sharp chirping call alternates with a rasping sound like fishing line screaming off a reel. These elite fliers rule the skies fearlessly. Six FOS CANVASBACK stopped by the salt marsh pond, feeding among the 100s of Canada, White-fronted, and Snow geese, and dabbling ducks. A lone GREAT BLUE HERON stalked the shallow pond for sticklebacks while the solo Sandhill Crane fed along the bank. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS cried out from the shelter of last year’s sedges. Tuesday, April 29th: PEREGRINE FALCON dashed low across the sedge meadow and disappeared as quickly as it had come. Solo Sandhill still here, by itself. 100s of waterfowl dot the pond, feeding, sunning, and resting. Wednesday, April 30th: Salt marsh pond seems quiet compared to the past few days; a small flock of Canada Geese remain, one pair of Shovelers, single Great Blue Heron, crazy Arctic Terns overhead. A BALD EAGLE swooped up a clawful of sedges presumably to fortify the nest. Back in town, a pair of ROBINS poked through the soggy brown grass looking for worms. STELLER’S JAYS played with refound peanuts. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH is reported to be nesting in a swallow box already at Mile 6. GOSHAWK and MERLIN reported in neighborhood by high school. If you haven’t already done so, clean out your swallow nest boxes. Rub bar soap on the inside top to discourage paper wasps. Place wood shavings in the box to encourage the cavity nesting swallows/chickadees/nuthatches to think they are actually carving out their nest hole. Keep an eye on the hummingbird feeder sugar solution and change it often to keep it fresh. They will be here any day! Happy Birding! Carol Griswold Sporadic Bird Report reporter Seward, Alaska |