Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Alaska Birding > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, July 3 at 05:38 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Lesser Jacana,©Tony Disley

03 Jul Re: Owl's in South Anchorage [Chris Maack ] 03 Jul Owl's in South Anchorage ["Travis" ] 3 Jul RE: a question about the Loons nesting? [Vicki Biltz ] 3 Jul RE: a question about the Loons nesting? ["Eddie Chapman" ] 03 Jul Eared Grebe at Kenny Lake ["alaskabirder" ] 2 Jul a question about the Loons nesting? [Vicki Biltz ] 02 Jul Re:Anchorage is beoming the Blue-winged Teal capital of the US. [John Wenger ] 02 Jul SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Homer ["bonzerrific" ] 1 Jul Sabine's Gull-Anchorage [] 01 Jul Townsend's Warbler w/ Fledgling ["stbirdnerd" ] 01 Jul Anchorage is beoming the Blue-winged Teal capital of the US. [] 01 Jul Red-winged blackbird at Potter's Marsh. ["gary_rasmussen2002" ] 01 Jul Adak bird report ["ksrskidoo" ] 01 Jul St. Paul Island RBA: June 22nd-28th ["sschuette01" ] 30 Jun Late post on Dowitchers and H. Godwits ["John Wenger" ] 30 Jun Re: Blue-winged Teal-Westchester ["kesugiridge" ] 29 Jun 2010 Aialik bay birding [joe staab ] 29 Jun Banded Blackpoll [] 29 Jun Blue-winged Teal-Westchester [] 29 Jun Red-throated Loon at Potter Marsh ["kesugiridge" ] 27 Jun Homer/Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Hot Line (235-PEEP): 6-26-09 ["lani.raymond" ] 25 Jun spending several days next week at Wilson Lake north of Anchorage [Vicki Biltz ] 25 Jun Ruddy Duck at Kenny Lake [] 25 Jun Franklin's Gull [] 25 Jun Fwd: Kenai Fjords Franklin's Gull [] 24 Jun (Very) Belated Barrow Killdeer [David Porter ] 22 Jun Re: dove [] 22 Jun UPLAND SANDPIPERS ON STAMPEDE TRAIL ["williamscotthuber" ] 22 Jun Birding the Dalton Highway ["wax4fun" ] 22 Jun Late Post ["Steve W." ] 22 Jun St. Paul Island RBA: June 15th - June 21st ["sschuette01" ] 21 Jun Seward Salt Water Birding Trip ["wkeys_99503" ] 20 Jun Re: Swallows [seasidefarm ] 20 Jun Also wondering where the birds are? ["pmleldridge" ] 19 Jun Re: Swallows [Delesta Fox ] 19 Jun Swallows [Chris Maack ] 18 Jun MERLINS! [Delesta Fox ] 17 Jun Upcoming Anchorage Audubon field trip ["Brownlee, Sirena" ] 17 Jun St. Paul Island RBA: June 8th - June 14th ["sschuette01" ] 16 Jun Loon chicks on Connors Lake ["jloonatic" ] 15 Jun Homer/Kachemak Bay Bird Hotline (235-PEEP): 6-14-09 ["lani.raymond" ] 15 Jun photos needed ["todd_eskelin" ] 15 Jun Collared Dove at Maclaren River ["Nancy DeWitt" ] 12 Jun The Ruff ["wkeys_99503" ] 12 Jun Ruff ["Jim Hailey" ] 11 Jun Hyder birds [joe staab ] 11 Jun error [] 11 Jun great birds [] 11 Jun Lack of Sabine Gulls`At high [] 11 Jun Red-Breasted Sapsucker in Anchorage ["Paul" ] 10 Jun Possible Little Gull in Soldotna ["benterbird" ] 9 Jun RBA Fairbanks Alaska June 8 2009 [] 9 Jun RBA Fairbanks Alaska June 8 2009 [] 08 Jun Eurasian Wigeon ["birding.geoffrey" ] 08 Jun Correction on Snipe. ["birding.geoffrey" ] 09 Jun St. Paul Island RBA: June 1st - June 6th ["sschuette01" ] 9 Jun High Tide [] 08 Jun Big Lake - MatSu [Delesta Fox ] 09 Jun Sabine's no; jaeger yes ["akredgreen" ] 08 Jun High tide at Westchester [] 08 Jun Resurrection trail birding ["tgreale" ] 08 Jun Chester Creek Bike Trail [Chris Maack ] 08 Jun Gambell Orca images [Phil Davis ] 08 Jun Sabine's ["wkeys_99503" ] 07 Jun The Birding Smackdown Report ["wkeys_99503" ] 07 Jun Sabine's Gulls ["akredgreen" ] 7 Jun RE: SABINE'S GULLS [Nat Drumheller ] 07 Jun Westchester Lagoon ["akdouglloyd" ] 7 Jun Re: SABINE'S GULLS [] 6 Jun SABINE'S GULLS [Bob Winckler ] 07 Jun Iceland Gull @ Kenai Flats ["todd_eskelin" ] 6 Jun More ANchorage gulls [] 5 Jun Hawfinch ["Dr. Forrest Davis" ] 5 Jun Tok cut-off owls,raptors [joe staab ] 05 Jun Alder Flycatchers ["ursus_8" ] 5 Jun Hawfinch in Nome [Luke DeCicco ] Subject: Re: Owl's in South Anchorage From: Chris Maack <cmaack AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:36:34 -0700 Boreal owls exist in the Anchorage area, but Western Screech-owl would be a "really good bird." I didn't know that there was a countable number of notes in a boreal's call. I'd never be able to count fast enough. Chris Maack Anchorage On Jul 3, 2009, at 2:07 PM, Travis wrote: > > > > Last night I heard two different owls "talking" to each other between > 1am - 2am. It was heard coming from the wetland flats, and wooded > areas > in Southport. There is two possibilities on what they could be. I am > thinking they were Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii), but > they > could also be Boreal Owls (Aegolius funereus). I will count the number > of notes tonight to rule out the Boreal owl. Has anyone else heard > either of these in Anchorage? > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Owl's in South Anchorage From: "Travis" <travis AT alaskastudio.com> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:07:47 -0000 Last night I heard two different owls "talking" to each other between 1am - 2am. It was heard coming from the wetland flats, and wooded areas in Southport. There is two possibilities on what they could be. I am thinking they were Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii), but they could also be Boreal Owls (Aegolius funereus). I will count the number of notes tonight to rule out the Boreal owl. Has anyone else heard either of these in Anchorage? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: a question about the Loons nesting? From: Vicki Biltz <vickibiltz AT msn.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:12:05 -0700 Hi Ed, They have nested there for years, and this is a first for these loons, both pacific and common...........it is a concern, big time! Thanks for your reply, and bty, the Red Necked Grebes are being successful there, I saw many feedings of the fledglings, while getting photos. The fact that the Loons (neither Pacific or Common) have not nested yet on this lake when they usually have young by now, and the fact the Red Necked Grebes are faring well??? As the plane that we were leaving on flew over the lake, I did notice what appeared to be nesting activity with one Common Loon, but the others inactivity, is very uncommon. Vicki Biltz Bonney Lake Wa. vickibiltz AT msn.com http:www.BirdsofEilat.com http://sawwhetsnew.blogspot.com/ To: AKBirding AT yahoogroups.com From: echapman AT online.no Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:34:50 +0200 Subject: RE: [AK Birding] a question about the Loons nesting? Hallo all, Vicki, do you know if the loons have previously nested at that locality? It is not unusual for loons to build their nests at lakes with no food source and fly to nearby lakes that have fish to feed on. Here in Norway, all of the loon breeding sites that I know of have no food source, but very stable water levels. As for the fight, maybe the fight was over feeding rights, but I have never heard of this between loons before. Regards, Eddie Chapman, Voss, Norway. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/Norway/ Fra: AKBirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:AKBirding AT yahoogroups.com] Pĺ vegne av Vicki Biltz Sendt: 2. juli 2009 20:56 Til: alaska birding Emne: [AK Birding] a question about the Loons nesting? Hi, First of all, it was the Willow area that I was needing information on, as the cabin I stayed at was on Long Lake. The owners of the cabin are wondering why the loons (common and pacific) are not on the nest, nor have indicated any nesting behaviour. I thought I would ask here. The Pacific Loon pair I was able to photograph (digiscope) ended up in a long battle with a lone Common Loon, who had invaded their little pond area. I found it fasinating to watch the battle unfold, with the swimming/flying across the top of the water, by both species, and yelping (as a whipped pup) of the Pacific Loon as the battle became more intense. The female Pacific Loon, joined in on occasion, but her man did most of the battle, and finally the Common who was huge in comparision. It was utterly fasinating. Only after the battle did I realize I could have video taped it with my Nikon which was mounted on my scope. Oh well............. I will be back next year, and have a better grip on the area that I will be birding. It was frustrating to head up to Hatcher's Pass, only to get hailed on, and find that the trail where the Ptarmigans were located was closed. Also too many dogs running loose at Summit. Plane is boarding, vicki Biltz Vicki Biltz Bonney Lake Wa. vickibiltz AT msn.com http:www.BirdsofEilat.com http://sawwhetsnew.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: a question about the Loons nesting? From: "Eddie Chapman" <echapman AT online.no> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:34:50 +0200 Hallo all, Vicki, do you know if the loons have previously nested at that locality? It is not unusual for loons to build their nests at lakes with no food source and fly to nearby lakes that have fish to feed on. Here in Norway, all of the loon breeding sites that I know of have no food source, but very stable water levels. As for the fight, maybe the fight was over feeding rights, but I have never heard of this between loons before. Regards, Eddie Chapman, Voss, Norway. http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/Norway/ Fra: AKBirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:AKBirding AT yahoogroups.com] Pĺ vegne av Vicki Biltz Sendt: 2. juli 2009 20:56 Til: alaska birding Emne: [AK Birding] a question about the Loons nesting? Hi, First of all, it was the Willow area that I was needing information on, as the cabin I stayed at was on Long Lake. The owners of the cabin are wondering why the loons (common and pacific) are not on the nest, nor have indicated any nesting behaviour. I thought I would ask here. The Pacific Loon pair I was able to photograph (digiscope) ended up in a long battle with a lone Common Loon, who had invaded their little pond area. I found it fasinating to watch the battle unfold, with the swimming/flying across the top of the water, by both species, and yelping (as a whipped pup) of the Pacific Loon as the battle became more intense. The female Pacific Loon, joined in on occasion, but her man did most of the battle, and finally the Common who was huge in comparision. It was utterly fasinating. Only after the battle did I realize I could have video taped it with my Nikon which was mounted on my scope. Oh well............. I will be back next year, and have a better grip on the area that I will be birding. It was frustrating to head up to Hatcher's Pass, only to get hailed on, and find that the trail where the Ptarmigans were located was closed. Also too many dogs running loose at Summit. Plane is boarding, vicki Biltz Vicki Biltz Bonney Lake Wa. vickibiltz AT msn.com http:www.BirdsofEilat.com http://sawwhetsnew.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Eared Grebe at Kenny Lake From: "alaskabirder" <akbirder AT eagle.ptialaska.net> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:48:01 -0000 On Thur July 2, 2009, an Eared grebe was observed by Ed Clark and James Levison on Kenny Lake. Kenny Lake is located at the intersection of the Edgerton Highway (AK state route 10) and the Old Edgerton Road. The grebe was not easily viewed from the standard pullout, but best viewed from the south side of the lake. There is private property in the area. Please be aware of posted property signs. The Ruddy Duck originally reported by Brad Meiklejohn on 6/24 was also still present. This message is being relayed and posted by Ed's wife, Judy, while Ed is at Kenny Lake. Please forgive errors. Subject: a question about the Loons nesting? From: Vicki Biltz <vickibiltz AT msn.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:55:49 -0700 Hi, First of all, it was the Willow area that I was needing information on, as the cabin I stayed at was on Long Lake. The owners of the cabin are wondering why the loons (common and pacific) are not on the nest, nor have indicated any nesting behaviour. I thought I would ask here. The Pacific Loon pair I was able to photograph (digiscope) ended up in a long battle with a lone Common Loon, who had invaded their little pond area. I found it fasinating to watch the battle unfold, with the swimming/flying across the top of the water, by both species, and yelping (as a whipped pup) of the Pacific Loon as the battle became more intense. The female Pacific Loon, joined in on occasion, but her man did most of the battle, and finally the Common who was huge in comparision. It was utterly fasinating. Only after the battle did I realize I could have video taped it with my Nikon which was mounted on my scope. Oh well............. I will be back next year, and have a better grip on the area that I will be birding. It was frustrating to head up to Hatcher's Pass, only to get hailed on, and find that the trail where the Ptarmigans were located was closed. Also too many dogs running loose at Summit. Plane is boarding, vicki Biltz Vicki Biltz Bonney Lake Wa. vickibiltz AT msn.com http:www.BirdsofEilat.com http://sawwhetsnew.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re:Anchorage is beoming the Blue-winged Teal capital of the US. From: John Wenger <gowild AT ak.net> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:52:56 -0800 I enjoyed Dave's Subject Title of Anchorage becoming the "Blue-winged Teal capital of the U. S.". It is great to see something different around here. However, about four years ago, I spotted five male Blue-wings on ponds alongside the scenic Denali Hwy. The best time to make that tour for birds is about the first week in June. John Wenger Anchorage Go, my Sons, burn your books. Buy yourself stout shoes. Get away to the mountains, the valleys, the shores of the seas, the deserts, and the deepest recesses of the earth. In this way and no other, will you find true knowledge of things and their properties. Peter Severinus, 16th. century Dane educator [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Homer From: "bonzerrific" <sealion AT xyz.net> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:14:08 -0000 One adult SPOTTED SANDPIPER was along the shore of Grewynk Glacier Lake on July 1 at 3:30 pm. It was near an noisy adult and a downy chick SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. Grewynk Lake is accessed from Homer by water and a short (1.5 mile), wildflower strewn, walk across the "Saddle Trail". Gary Subject: Sabine's Gull-Anchorage From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 23:21:49 EDT On the way home from work around 6:30 PM there was an adult Sabine's Gull on the mud flats north of Chester Creek. There were also some (expletives deleted) running their unleashed dogs on the mud flats. It would be nice if the city appreciated what they had and put up some signs explaining the need for the birds to rest and feed and asking people to stay on the trail, keep their dogs leashed, etc. Dave Sonneborn **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Townsend's Warbler w/ Fledgling From: "stbirdnerd" <scottie.thomas AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:59:04 -0000 Girdwood: Saw a Townsend's Warbler protecting at least one fledgling in some roadside willows on Tuesday. The fledgling was getting around pretty well and flying short distances. Scott Thomas Subject: Anchorage is beoming the Blue-winged Teal capital of the US. From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:24:26 -0400 This morning the male Blue-winged Teal was sitting in the same spot on the NE corner of Westchesr Lagoon still hanging out with a small group of Shovellors, Green-winged TEal, scaup,etc. There was a second male at Spenard? Crossing sitting on the south side about 50 feet from Spenard Road. Dave S. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-winged blackbird at Potter's Marsh. From: "gary_rasmussen2002" <gary_rasmussen2002 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:41:35 -0000 About 8:30PM this evening, 6/30/2009, a male Red-winged Blackbird was observed, by several birders, as it few in front of the large pull-out near the east end of Potter's Marsh. It was chasing a Mew Gull, and made quick circle in front of the parking area. Then it disappeared into the reeds, not to be seen again. But he is probable still in the march. Gary Rasmussen Anchorage, Subject: Adak bird report From: "ksrskidoo" <isaac.helmericks AT alaskaair.com> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:37:28 -0000 Adak decided to say goodbye to June with some new exciting birds today. A very photogenic drake Common Pochard is hanging out in some small freshwater ponds near Clam Lagoon. I look forward to finding his mate with all her ducklings. Then came the real excitement as I was driving home and had a small gray falcon zip by my truck. As I dove out of the truck with the camera it landed right in the middle of the road. Turned out not to be a falcon at all but a gray morph Common Cuckcoo! Nice! Unfortunately it was being mobbed by several Lapland longspurs and took off to the East and I was not able to relocate it. Happy birding! Isaac Helmericks Adak Island Subject: St. Paul Island RBA: June 22nd-28th From: "sschuette01" <SSchuette01 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:47:42 -0000 RBA * Alaska * St. Paul Island, Pribilofs * June 28, 2009 * AKSPI 09.06.28 Hello Birders, this is the St. Paul Island rare bird alert for the week of June 22–28, 2009 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note. Birds Mentioned: Cackling Goose (ssp. leucopareia) Mallard *RING-NECKED DUCK TUFTED DUCK White-winged Scoter Red-breasted Merganser RED-THROATED LOON Pacific Loon COMMON LOON Yellow-billed Loon Short-tailed Shearwater Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel COMMON SANDPIPER **BLACK-TAILED GODWIT RED KNOT Dunlin Red Phalarope Herring Gull (ssp. vegae) COMMON TERN (SSP. LONGIPENNIS) Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger **DOVEKIE ***PURPLE MARTIN Bank Swallow ***DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER *EYEBROWED THRUSH RED-THROATED PIPIT BRAMBLING The weather was dominated by a series of weak low pressure systems this week which brought winds from the west most days with a couple days this week having light or variable winds. The fog seemed to stay clear of the island this week but overcast skies and light rain most days created still gave a Bering Sea feel. WATERFOWL Last week's female RING-NECKED DUCK was last seen at Webster Lake on the 22nd while a male TUFTED DUCK was found on Webster Lake on the 22nd and a pair was present on Little Polovina Lake on the 27th. Other waterfowl this week included the flock of 20+ Cackling Geese which were last seen around Polovina Hill on the 23rd while the Webster Lake Mallard continued until the 26th, meanwhile a pair of White-winged Scoters were seen at Tonki Point and Marunich throughout the week while a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers arrived on the 23rd at Big Lake and remained around the island through the 28th. SEABIRDS & GULLS Headlining this group for the week was a DOVEKIE which was seen flying past Zapadni Wall on the morning of the 27th. Present in relatively large numbers for the week were loons with a RED-THROATED at Tonki Point on the 28th, a pair of COMMONS at Big Polovina Lake from the 24th-28th, a Yellow-billed at the Webster seawatch from the 24th-27th, and several Pacifics on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. Also appearing in larger than average numbers this week were jaegers with 6 Parasitics at Big Lake on the 27th, single Long-tailed Jaegers on the 22nd and 26th and 3 along the High Cliffs on the 28th, and large numbers of Pomarines with a single at Southwest Point on the 22nd, 4 at Big Polovina Lake on the 23rd, 1 at Reef Point on the 25th, 1 at Big Polovina Lake on the 26th, and 1 at Marunich on the 28th. In small numbers but still present this week were Short-tailed Shearwaters on most days, while a Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel was at Reef Point on the 28th, a few Vega Herring Gulls were at scattered sites through the week while a LONGIPENNIS COMMON TERN was seen in the harbor on the 23rd. SHOREBIRDS The season's second and a remarkably late BLACK-TAILED GODWIT was seen in the Little Polovina Lake area on the 27th while a COMMON SANDPIPER was found along the shoreline at Marunich on the 28th to highlight the week's shorebirds. Also of note this week was a RED KNOT at the Webster seawatch on the 23rd. Other migrant shorebirds this week included Dunlin at Antone Slough on the 23rd and Webster Lake on the 26th, several Red Phalaropes through the week on at Webster Lake, single Least Sandpipers in the Polovina Wetlands on the 24th and 27th, and the first Wandering Tattler in some time at Marunich on the 28th. LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES Passerine highlights from both sides of the ocean arrived this week with the first being a PURPLE MARTIN which was found along the harbor seawall on the afternoon of the 22nd, the second was a DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER which was found in the large cut at Polovina Hill on the evening of the 27th. Also arriving from the west this week were a Bank Swallow at the Kaminista Quarry on the 28th, a RED-THROATED PIPIT at the Webster House on the 27th, an EYEBROWED THRUSH at the Kaminista Quarry on the 28th, and a BRAMBLING at Little Polovina Lake on the 26th. Regularly occurring species currently present on the island: Northern Pintail Green-winged (and Common) Teal Greater Scaup King Eider Harlequin Duck Long-tailed Duck Red-necked Grebe Northern Fulmar Red-faced Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Semipalmated Plover Wandering Tattler Ruddy Turnstone Least Sandpiper Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis) Red-necked Phalarope Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Red-legged Kittiwake Common Murre Thick-billed Murre Pigeon Guillemot Parakeet Auklet Least Auklet Crested Auklet Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Common Raven Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis) Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina) For tour information or to make travel arrangements visit our website http://www.alaskabirding.com or call 1-877-424-5637. This is Scott Schuette (sschuette01 AT hotmail.com), Stephan Lorenz, and Sean Hegarty, the 2009 St. Paul Island Tour guides, wishing you good birding. Subject: Late post on Dowitchers and H. Godwits From: "John Wenger" <gowild AT ak.net> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:02:09 -0000 Sorry, this post is two days old. Sunday, I biked the Coastal Trail just before high tide at noon. The Hudsonian Godwits and Dowitchers are just returning from their breeding grounds in good numbers. I estimated 300-500 Hudsonians and 200-300 Dowitchers (sp. unknown but I suspect Short-bills)at first on the mud flats, then later when the tide erased most of the exposed land, on the little island near the north parking lot of Westchester Lagoon. John Wenger Anchorage Subject: Re: Blue-winged Teal-Westchester From: "kesugiridge" <kesugiridge AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:59:42 -0000 The male blue-winged teal was still at the NE corner of Westchester this (Tues.) morning around 6:00. Carl Ramm --- In AKBirding AT yahoogroups.com, davidsonne AT ... wrote: > > > The (a) male?Blue-winged Teal was sitting on the NE corner of the main part of the Lagoon today. It was with a Green-winged Teal and several shovelers. > David Sonneborn > > Anchorage > > Monday > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: 2010 Aialik bay birding From: joe staab <staabjoe AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:20:57 -0700 (PDT) Greetings all,   Maybe we should do it again,, but let all of us thank the behind the scenes people... OK ,let's do agian next year!  PJ   Joe Staab, Seward AK [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Banded Blackpoll From: Nursecate AT aol.com Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:23:31 -0400 If I'm not mistaken... there was just a banded Blackpoll Warbler in our yard.. it was taking a bath and looked quite the worse for wear... I had thought I had heard them since springtime, but since I doubt my calls sometimes wasn't sure. But I had an extra good look at this bird... (sorry no pictures)... also it had a white band on its right leg and a light green translucent band on its left leg with an aluminum ring that went around the middle of the band... I saw the number 0 but that was the only number I could discern. It had taken a bath and was preening in the sunshine very undisturbed by my presence... also, was breathing in a distressed manner? I wonder. It is warm today. Catherine Senungetuk Sand Lake area, Anchorage [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blue-winged Teal-Westchester From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:47:42 -0400 The (a) male?Blue-winged Teal was sitting on the NE corner of the main part of the Lagoon today. It was with a Green-winged Teal and several shovelers. David Sonneborn Anchorage Monday [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-throated Loon at Potter Marsh From: "kesugiridge" <kesugiridge AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:19:21 -0000 My apologies for posting this late, I thought it was probably old news to the list by the time I saw it. Liz and Alan, the caretakers at Potter Marsh, found a red-throated loon in the waters near the new boardwalk on Friday the 26th. I watched it for 45 minutes before the Saturday morning bird walk (including getting it to see it dive from a juvenile bald eagle that made 3 passes at it) and the entire group watched it for at least 15 minutes. Got to look at it from under 20 yards with a spotting scope, by far the best view I've ever gotten of a red-throated loon. Again, my apologies for not posting it sooner. Carl Ramm Subject: Homer/Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Hot Line (235-PEEP): 6-26-09 From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:09:10 -0000 An American Three-toed Woodpecker was seen on the Roger's Loop Homestead Trail, a quarter mile up the summer trail to the right. Semipalmated Plover broods were reported on the east side of the Spit near Louie's Lagoon this week. Semipalmated Plovers (no broods) were also seen on the west side of the Spit near Glacier Drive-in. At Green Timbers there have been several reports of a Merlin and one of a Wilson's Snipe there on the 16th. At the end of the Spit, Fox and Song Sparrows were heard. Concerning swallows, a bit earlier Seaside Farms reported no Cliff Swallows nesting; east of Miller's Landing, very few (like 10 or so) Bank Swallows are presently nesting where usually there are many, many more. In some parts of Homer, fortunately, there are reports of the usual numbers and species. (Some other parts of the state, Anchorage and McCarthy for example, report swallow numbers are down.) Out East End Road near McNeil Canyon School, a Northern Harrier and Pine Grosbeak was reported last week. Swallows are as expected out there, fortunately. Townsend's Warblers were reported at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. If you see cranes, especially colts or banded cranes, please call 235-6262 or email reports AT cranewatch.org Subject: spending several days next week at Wilson Lake north of Anchorage From: Vicki Biltz <vickibiltz AT msn.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:38:06 -0700 Hi, My husband is speaking in Anchorage, and I have been offered a flight to this lake, where I will be spending 4 days working on my birding and photography (digiscoping)I am hoping for all three ptarmigans, and some owls, and nesting birds. I will have access to a truck to get around in and a small boat. Is anyone familiar with this area? I did buy the book recommended a while back, but there is not much that I can see. I really need to work on my photography badly, but also want to see lots of birds, and am willing to drive a distance to get them, from this location. Thanks for any help you can offer! Vicki Biltz Bonney Lake Wa. vickibiltz AT msn.com http://sawwhetsnew.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ruddy Duck at Kenny Lake From: BradMeiklejohn AT aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:14:26 EDT A single male Ruddy Duck was present at Kenny Lake on June 24th, 2009. Brad Meiklejohn Eagle River, Alaska **************Shop Popular Dell Laptops now starting at $349! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222031056x1201446063/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.dou bleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215910283%3B38350812%3Ba) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Franklin's Gull From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:30:43 EDT Dave Stejskal and Megan Edwards e mailed me that they found a Franklin's Gull on the Kenai Fjords Tour with their group from Field Guides on Wednesday. The bird was at the left end of the leading edge of the glacier around noon with Glaucous-winged and Mew Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwakes. David Sonneborn **************Shop Popular Dell Laptops now starting at $349! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222031056x1201446063/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.dou bleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215910283%3B38350812%3Ba) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fwd: Kenai Fjords Franklin's Gull From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:56:30 EDT **************Shop Popular Dell Laptops now starting at $349! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222031056x1201446063/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.dou bleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215910283%3B38350812%3Ba) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: (Very) Belated Barrow Killdeer From: David Porter <davidkporter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:59:51 -0700 (PDT) Wilderness Birding Adventures trip to Barrow refound on 6/15 at a new location, not one, but two KILLDEER.  One bird was still present at the site on Cakeeater Road near Stevenson Street on 6/16.  Steller's eiders were particularly difficult this year but eventually found on our last day.  An eastern kingbird was reported by another group but unseen by us.   Dave Porter Trip Leader [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: dove From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:40:16 -0400 More Streptopelia. This from the Cordova area. ?Dave Sonneborn -----Original Message----- From: Gerald Masolini To: David Sonneborn Sent: Mon, Jun 22, 2009 12:05 pm Subject: dove Dave.......a friend of mine recently photographed a Eurasian Collared dove near his cabin on the Copper River Delta......he took the photo to Milo Burcham, the bird guy at the Forest Service.?? g [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: UPLAND SANDPIPERS ON STAMPEDE TRAIL From: "williamscotthuber" <greatscottwhatarealtor AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:46:19 -0000 Sorry for the tardy post. On June 15 we had six upland sandpipers calling during flight between mile 4 and mile 7 on the Stampede trail near Healy. Nice looks at one individual on a spruce top. Bird well, Scott and Liam Huber Forest Ranch, California Subject: Birding the Dalton Highway From: "wax4fun" <cmannix AT mtaonline.net> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:45:02 -0000 I am considering a trip up the Dalton Highway in early July and would be interested in hearing from anyone who has birded along the haul road, particularly on the Coastal Plain. Information regarding species, camping locales and any other beta beyond what's in West's book would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Chris Mannix Talkeetna cmannix AT mtaonline.net Subject: Late Post From: "Steve W." <swinak AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:49:00 -0000 Anchorage, Glenn Hwy, & Denali Hwy Sorry for the late post. Last Wed a White-fronted Goose was mixed in with Canada's downtown on the mud flats near Elderberry Park (west 5th ave) Fri - Myrtle version of a Yellow-rumped Warbler near Huffman & Birch Goshawk, Merlin, Swainson's thrushes, Olive-sided & Alder Flycatchers along the Glenn Hwy 2 Hawk Owls near Paxon Lake on the Richardson Hwy 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Surf Scoter, 1 American Golden Plover, 6 whimbrels, 3 Long-tailed Jeagers, 6 Arctic Warblers, many Gray-cheeked Thrushes along the Denali Hwy before Maclaren River. 1 White-winged scoter nearer Cantwell. Steve W. Subject: St. Paul Island RBA: June 15th - June 21st From: "sschuette01" <SSchuette01 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:45:13 -0000 RBA * Alaska * St. Paul Island, Pribilofs * June 21, 2009 * AKSPI 09.06.21 Hello Birders, this is the St. Paul Island rare bird alert for the week of June 15–21, 2009 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note. Birds Mentioned: Cackling Goose (ssp. leucopareia) *CANADA GOOSE (SSP. PARVIPES) Eurasian Wigeon Mallard *RING-NECKED DUCK RED-THROATED LOON Pacific Loon Short-tailed Shearwater Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Bald Eagle LESSER YELLOWLEGS Whimbrel (ssp. hudsonicus) Bar-tailed Godwit Dunlin COMMON SNIPE Red Phalarope Herring Gull (ssp. vegae) Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Rhinoceros Auklet Short-eared Owl Bank Swallow American Pipit (ssp. pacificus) Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll Low pressure which left the Asian mainland and moved across the Bering Sea directly onto the Pribilofs controlled much of the weather this week with strong to moderate North and East winds ahead of it and light SE changing to W winds in its wake as the week ended. As is typical rain fell nearly every day though in small amounts while the ever-present morning fog burned off most days with clear skies for much of the week. WATERFOWL The continuing LESSER CANADA GOOSE was seen amongst a flock of 24 Cackling Geese at Reef Point on the 15th and a female RING-NECKED DUCK was in the company of a male Greater Scaup at Webster Lake on the 20th and 21st to highlight the waterfowl this past week. The only other notable species to be seen were a pair of Eurasian Wigeons at Icehouse Lake that continued until the 15th and a Mallard at Webster Lake on the 21st. SEABIRDS & GULLS Loons were finally re-sighted on the island after a month long absence when a single RED-THROATED was seen at the Webster seawatch and two Pacifics were seen off Tonki Point on the 21st. Also showing up for the first time this year Rhinoceros Auklets, with a pair along the low cliffs west of Marunich on the 17th, and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, with a single along North Beach east of Marunich on the 17th and hundreds passing by East Landing during a strong SE wind on the 18th. Also seen from East Landing in the strong SE wind were numerous Short-tailed Shearwaters, which were seen most days this week, while a few Vega Herring Gulls continue to hang on through the week and small numbers of both Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers continue to be seen on occasion. SHOREBIRDS This week saw only a trickle of shorebirds reach the island with a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in Antone Slough on the 20th and a pair of winnowing COMMON SNIPES at Tonki Point on the 20th the highlights. Otherwise Webster Lake seemed to be the shorebird hotspot this week with a single American Whimbrel nearby on the 16th, a Bar-tailed Godwit on the 19th, two Dunlin on the 20th, and several Red Phalaropes on the 20th and 21st. LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES Land, and not water, associated birds were in short supply this week. The island's Bald Eagle seen on the 15th and the Short-eared Owl at Telegraph Hill was re-found on the 20th after a short absence. Appearing this week were 3 Bank Swallows that were seen around Antone Lake from the 15th-17th, an American Pipit on Zapadni Point on the 16th, and single Hoary and Common Redpolls at Reef Point on the 17th. Regularly occurring species currently present on the island: Northern Pintail Green-winged (and Common) Teal Greater Scaup King Eider Harlequin Duck Long-tailed Duck Red-necked Grebe Northern Fulmar Red-faced Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Semipalmated Plover Least Sandpiper Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis) Red-necked Phalarope Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Red-legged Kittiwake Common Murre Thick-billed Murre Pigeon Guillemot Ancient Murrelet Parakeet Auklet Least Auklet Crested Auklet Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Common Raven Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis) Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina) For tour information or to make travel arrangements visit our website http://www.alaskabirding.com or call 1-877-424-5637. This is Scott Schuette (sschuette01 AT hotmail.com), Sean Hegarty, and Stephan Lorenz, the 2009 St. Paul Island Tour guide, wishing you good birding. Subject: Seward Salt Water Birding Trip From: "wkeys_99503" <wkeys AT gci.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:35:59 -0000 Ahoy Maties, The Anchorage Audubon Seward Birding Trip to the Chiswell Islands and beyond is next Sunday, June 28 and there is still room for more birders. The field trip has evolved from one small boat to two small boats to one large boat. It's a chance to be on the high seas with over 40 other birders who are all scanning the North Pacific in search of anything with feathers. Full information is on the Audubon website at www.anchorageaudubon.org and any sailors who would like to sign on for the voyage can contact me directly: flybynightclub AT gci DOT net Avast Me Hearties, There's birds to be seen. w. keys Subject: Re: Swallows From: seasidefarm <seaside AT xyz.net> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:34:27 -0800 My observation here at Seaside Farm in HOmer. Fewer swallows than last year, and for the first time in 30 years no Cliff Swallows, which usually come to nest on my house. ALso little nesting activity so far, although we now have some insects. It is very disconcerting. Mossy Kilcher On Jun 19, 2009, at 3:44 PM, Chris Maack wrote: > > > Is it my imagination or are there fewer swallows around town this > year? Received a second or third hand report that in the McCarthy > area, at Cliff Collins place, none of their 85 nest boxes is occupied. > > Chris Maack > Anchorage > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Also wondering where the birds are? From: "pmleldridge" <pam AT akphotogrl.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:33:54 -0000 I've been wondering this, too. There are swallows in our neighborhood, but the overall numbers are down from last year. We have nesting swallows again this year and they have a full nest - sounds like four chicks are in there, but our neighbor's nest box is not used. Also Potter's Marsh seems like it's only sea gulls anymore. I miss seeing the goose and duck chicks paddling about. What's happening? PEldridge Subject: Re: Swallows From: Delesta Fox <dfox AT ak.net> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:21:54 -0800 chris...Not your imagination according to birders on the Deshka, at Big Lake and in town...not only reduction in swallows, but reports low on other species. On the lake last weekend I noticed a drastic reduction in Mallards, Scoters, Mergansers, Grebes, both Common & Pacific loons.. Next week I will do another count on the lake and compare w/previous years data. Maybe the large storms in the mid-west & coastal areas had their effect on the birds during migration (?) delesta ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris Maack To: AK Group Birding Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 3:44 PM Subject: [AK Birding] Swallows Is it my imagination or are there fewer swallows around town this year? Received a second or third hand report that in the McCarthy area, at Cliff Collins place, none of their 85 nest boxes is occupied. Chris Maack Anchorage [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Swallows From: Chris Maack <cmaack AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:44:15 -0700 Is it my imagination or are there fewer swallows around town this year? Received a second or third hand report that in the McCarthy area, at Cliff Collins place, none of their 85 nest boxes is occupied. Chris Maack Anchorage [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: MERLINS! From: Delesta Fox <dfox AT ak.net> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:37:38 -0800 Don't ever wish for Merlins in your neighborhood!!!! The young have hatched as evidenced by the two adults screaming their KKKKkEeeeeeee call as they carry birds in their talons to the nest site. delesta Stanford Dr. Anch. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Upcoming Anchorage Audubon field trip From: "Brownlee, Sirena" <sirena.brownlee AT hdrinc.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:45:04 -0500 Join Anchorage Audubon field trip leader Dianne Toebe for an evening birding walk at University and Goose Lake to observe nesting waterfowl and songbirds Date and Time: June 19, 7:00 PM Location: University Lake parking area Description: University Lake is an ideal location to observe nesting red-necked grebes and other waterbirds. A variety of waterfowl, gulls, and songbirds can be observed from the easy trail around the lake. After birding around University Lake we will drive over to Goose Lake to observe the nesting Pacific loons. Meet at the small unpaved parking area on the east side of Bragaw, across from the UAA dorms between Providence and Tudor. For more information call 337-0328. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: St. Paul Island RBA: June 8th - June 14th From: "sschuette01" <SSchuette01 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:01:22 -0000 RBA * Alaska * St. Paul Island, Pribilofs * June 14, 2009 * AKSPI 09.06.14 Hello Birders, this is the St. Paul Island rare bird alert for the week of June 8–14, 2009 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note. Birds Mentioned: Cackling Goose (ssp. leucopareia) **TUNDRA SWAN Eurasian Wigeon Northern Shoveler Black Scoter Bufflehead Short-tailed Shearwater Bald Eagle Sandhill Crane *AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER Pacific Golden-Plover RUFF Wilson's Snipe Red Phalarope Herring Gull (ssp. vegae) COMMON TERN (SSP. LONGIPENNIS) Arctic Tern Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Short-eared Owl Bank Swallow ***NORTHERN HOUSE MARTIN *BLUETHROAT GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH Yellow-rumped Warbler **RUSTIC BUNTING The beginning of the week was dominated by light to moderate East and Northeast winds while a weak low pressure system that formed over the Bering Sea brought light to moderate West and Southwest winds on the 12th and 13th. WATERFOWL As is typical waterfowl continue to be much less common around the island as the spring progresses with an unexpected TUNDRA SWAN appearing on Webster Lake on the 11th being the week's lone highlight. Only small numbers of geese and ducks were present otherwise with a flock of up to 17 Cackling Geese on the island through the 13th, a pair of Eurasian Wigeons at Icehouse Marsh on the 14th, a female Northern Shoveler at Webster Lake on the 8th, small numbers of Black Scoters continuing around Marunich through the 13th, and a female Bufflehead on Webster Lake on the 8th. SEABIRDS & GULLS The season's third LONGIPENNIS COMMON TERN was present at Antone Lake on the 13th in the company of an Arctic Tern while small numbers of jaegers continue to pass by the island with Parasitic on the 13th and 14th and a Long-tailed at Big Polovina Lake on the 13th. Also still around this week were several Vega Herring Gulls which continued from earlier this spring and a few passing Short-tailed Shearwaters on the 13th from Southwest Point. SHOREBIRDS This week saw only a trickle of shorebirds arrive on the island with the highlight being an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER in Novastoshna on the 12th. Also arriving late this week was a black and brown male RUFF in the Tonki Point wetlands on the 14th while a few Pacific Golden-Plovers were seen on the 8th and 11th, a Wilson's Snipe was at Webster Lake on the 9th, and a Red Phalarope was in Antone Slough on the 8th. LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES As seems to be the theme this season the week's highlight was once again provided by a passerine when pictures of a NORTHERN HOUSE MARTIN on Otter Island were shown to the guides by FWS personnel on the 14th, we can only hope the bird will make its way 8 miles to the north so that we may have a chance at seeing this bird. Present still this week were RUSTIC BUNTINGS with at least 4 on the island on the 8th (1 in Zapadni Ravine, 1 at the Kaminista Quarry, and 2 at Hutchinson Hill) with the Zapadni Ravine bird still present on the 12th. Other notable birds arriving this week were a BLUETHROAT near Marunich on the 10th and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH at the Webster House on the 13th. The continuing Bald Eagle was seen on several occasions around the island this week while the pair of Sandhill Cranes continued at Big Polovina Lake until the 12th and the Short-eared Owl at Telegraph Hill was still there on the 14th. The only other non-breeding passerines this week were a few Bank Swallows around Webster Lake and Little Polovina Lake on the 9th and 10th and a Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Webster House on the 8th. Regularly occurring species currently present on the island: Northern Pintail Green-winged (and Common) Teal Greater Scaup King Eider Harlequin Duck Long-tailed Duck Red-necked Grebe Northern Fulmar Red-faced Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Semipalmated Plover Wandering Tattler Least Sandpiper Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis) Red-necked Phalarope Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Red-legged Kittiwake Common Murre Thick-billed Murre Ancient Murrelet Parakeet Auklet Least Auklet Crested Auklet Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Common Raven Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis) Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina) For tour information or to make travel arrangements visit our website http://www.alaskabirding.com or call 1-877-424-5637. This is Scott Schuette (sschuette01 AT hotmail.com), Sean Hegarty, and Stephan Lorenz, the 2009 St. Paul Island Tour guide, wishing you good birding. Subject: Loon chicks on Connors Lake From: "jloonatic" <jtam AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:52:08 -0000 There are now two newly-hatched Pacific Loon chicks on Connors Lake in Anchorage. Let's hope they survive the Bald Eagles. Jean Tam Anchorage Subject: Homer/Kachemak Bay Bird Hotline (235-PEEP): 6-14-09 From: "lani.raymond" <lani.raymond AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:42:42 -0000 This is a good time of year to get out and about and go birding--interesting birds nearly everywhere! The first Horned Puffin reported this year was seen on the north side of Gull Island. On the 13th Brant (2) were seen on the south side of Hesketh Island. On the Eveline Trail the following were seen on the 10th: Alder Flycatcher; Savannah, Golden-crowned, Lincoln's, and Fox Sparrows; Orange-crowned Warblers, American Robin, Hermit Thrush and Ravens. On the 7th, two Red-tailed Hawks were seen on Baycrest Trail. At the City Reservoir on the 7th: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers, Wilson Snipe (was actually on a power line), Alder Flycatcher, Spotted Sandpiper (3), American Robin, and Violet-green Swallows. On the 7th the following were seen on the Hillcrest Trail: Golden-crowned, Fox and Savannah Sparrows; Olive-sided and Alder Flycatchers; White-winged Crossbills; Townsend's and Orange-crowned Warblers; Hermit and Varied Thrush; Dark-eyed Junco, Red-breasted Nuthatch. At Eagle Lake the following were seen last week: Pacific Loons, Ring-necked Duck, yellowlegs, a Northern Harrier, and Wilson's Snipe. Subject: photos needed From: "todd_eskelin" <t.eskelin AT acsalaska.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:33:00 -0000 I am posting this request for Brian Sullivan who is our contact for eBird. Please read it over and see if you can help. AK Birders I'm in the process of researching some questions about Red-tailed Hawk subspecies for a scientific paper. I'm very interested in seeing any photos of breeding Red-taileds from anywhere in AK, preferably taken between 1 May and 31 August. I'd also love to see any and all photos of Red-tailed Hawks taken in Alaska, regardless of the time of year. Please include date and location with the photos if possible. AK has the privilege of having some very interesting Red-tailed Hawk populations (especially Harlan's), and I'm trying to understand them better. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks Brian heraldpetrel AT gmail.com Subject: Collared Dove at Maclaren River From: "Nancy DeWitt" <arct1c_warbler AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:46:13 -0000 Audie Bakewell of Paxson just forwarded a photo of a Eurasian Collared Dove that was taken at Maclaren River Lodge this weekend. Susie Echols discovered and photographed the dove on Saturday, June 13. Maclaren Lodge is at Mile 42 of the Denali Highway. Nancy DeWitt Subject: The Ruff From: "wkeys_99503" <wkeys AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:43:52 -0000 Thursday evening about 7:30 we found the Ruff on the Island in Westchester Lagoon. It was first seen from the canoe launch where it remained for around 30 minutes. He then wandered out of sight to the backside of the island and was subsequently scoped from near the radio tower. He flew with 5-6 godwits over the tracks, and was later found by a gaggle of guys with scopes near the mouth of Chester Creek as the tide approached high. Also spotted from the trail were Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Dowitcher, and Kittiwakes. No Sabines or Jaegers were spotted, although there was a guy smoking cigarettes and relieving himself on the mud flats, presumably not realizing that a bunch of guys with great optics were enjoying themselves immensely at his expense. Distant photos of the Ruff will be posted in the Wkeys file. The guy on the beach will not be embarrassed further. w keys spenard Subject: Ruff From: "Jim Hailey" <greenj AT prontonet.net> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:10:32 -0000 Bob Metzeler and I relocated the Ruff about 9:30 on Wednesday night on the north side of Westchester Lagoon. He was with a large group of Hudsonians. He later flew south from there and was not found again by us. Jim Hailey Texas Ornithological Society Subject: Hyder birds From: joe staab <staabjoe AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:00:31 -0700 (PDT) Greetings all, Mary,Bob and I made it to Hyder on Sunday and we are now currently 'stuck' here due to a mud slide on the Cassiar Hwy. in northern British Columbia. So we are here for a few bonus days of birding.  Here is a list of some of the southeast birds we are seeing.   Barn Swallows  Nor.Rough-winged Swallow(1)  Black Swifts   Cedar Waxwings Warbling Vireos  American Redstarts  Red-winged Blackbirds  Chipping Sparrows Northern Flickers(red-shafted)  Red-breasted Sapsuckers  MacGillivray's Warblers Winter Wrens  American Crows  Chestnut-backed Chickadees  Rufous Hummingbirds Least Flycatchers  Common Yellowthroats   Since we left Tok,AK on saturday June 6th we have also seen 11 Black Bears and 9 Grizzly Bears, all so close to the road that one did not even need use binoculars! Also while birding the marsh north of Hyder, Mary and I watched a Kangaroo Mouse hop across the road, a very unique critter if you ever see  one. Their back legs are quite large and the tail must be 4 inches long.     Hope you see a lifer soon, Peregrine Joe         [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: error From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:20:43 -0400 I'm not an adequate typist. There should not have been a questionmark after the Pomarine Jaeger. This was not a questionable sighting at all. Dave S. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: great birds From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:49:10 -0400 I just heard from Megan Crewe and Dave Stejskal, two professional birding guides with Field Guides. THey had a male Ruff in breeding plumage? with Hudsonian Godwits on the flats at Westchester Lagoon (north side between the railroad tracks and Fish Creek) as? well as a Pomarine and a Parasitic Jaeger? feeding over the inlet. Davis Sonneborn [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lack of Sabine Gulls`At high From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:15:25 EDT At high tide this evening the number of gulls present were down and the Sabine's were not seen. Please post if you re-find them Dave S. Wed Anchorage **************Dell Deals: Don’t miss huge summer savings on popular laptops starting at $449. (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221770187x1201425153/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215566131%3B37864407%3B i) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-Breasted Sapsucker in Anchorage From: "Paul" <Paul99501 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:36:26 -0000 I am new to this group and only a novice birder so forgive me if this is inappropriate/wrong or whatever. I found a dead bird in my yard in downtown Anchorage today, and it appears pretty clearly to be a Red-Breasted Sapsucker. It also appears to have a defective beak, with the top curving left and the bottom curving right, so they form a hooked "X". I bagged it and froze it if for any reason anyone wished to examine it. Thanks, Paul Subject: Possible Little Gull in Soldotna From: "benterbird" <benterbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:29:03 -0000 I got a call from a "kinda into birding" friend this morning. He had a gull that was similar, but smaller than the Bonaparte's Gulls with black wing linings. He was on the Kenai River at Big Eddie Hole near Stewarts Landings. Brad Benter Brad_Benter AT fws.gov Subject: RBA Fairbanks Alaska June 8 2009 From: Ken_Russell AT fws.gov Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 16:51:02 -0800 hotline: Fairbanks and Interior Alaska date: June 8, 2009 number: (907) 451-9213 to report: (907) 451-9213 coverage: Fairbanks and vicinity transcriber: Ken Russell Birds Mentioned Red-Winged Blackbirds Tundra Swan Canvasback Alder Flycatcher Stilt Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Welcome to the Birding Hotline for interior Alaska as of June 7, 2009. On June 5, there were 4 TUNDRA SWANS and 3 CANVASBACK DUCKS in the airport ponds. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was calling at Eielson Airforce Base on June 3. On June 1, 2-4 STILT SANDPIPERS were seen at the South Cushman Ponds. Two RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are being seen at the Peat Ponds on S heep Creek Road. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were also seen at Eielson Airforce Base on May 29. On 28 May, a RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Eielson Air Force Base. Upcoming events:This year's Bird-a-thon fundraiser for the Alaska Bird Observatory and Arctic Audubon will continue through Friday, June 19. They are looking for prizes to award to winners. If you would like to donate a prize, please contact Nicole Pearce at 451-7159. Information packets and pledge sheets can be picked up at the ABO office. 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; Ken Russell and Laurel Devaney PO Box 71462 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707 Subject: RBA Fairbanks Alaska June 8 2009 From: Ken_Russell AT fws.gov Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 16:51:02 -0800 hotline: Fairbanks and Interior Alaska date: June 8, 2009 number: (907) 451-9213 to report: (907) 451-9213 coverage: Fairbanks and vicinity transcriber: Ken Russell Birds Mentioned Red-Winged Blackbirds Tundra Swan Canvasback Alder Flycatcher Stilt Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Welcome to the Birding Hotline for interior Alaska as of June 7, 2009. On June 5, there were 4 TUNDRA SWANS and 3 CANVASBACK DUCKS in the airport ponds. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was calling at Eielson Airforce Base on June 3. On June 1, 2-4 STILT SANDPIPERS were seen at the South Cushman Ponds. Two RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are being seen at the Peat Ponds on S heep Creek Road. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were also seen at Eielson Airforce Base on May 29. On 28 May, a RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Eielson Air Force Base. Upcoming events:This year's Bird-a-thon fundraiser for the Alaska Bird Observatory and Arctic Audubon will continue through Friday, June 19. They are looking for prizes to award to winners. If you would like to donate a prize, please contact Nicole Pearce at 451-7159. Information packets and pledge sheets can be picked up at the ABO office. 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; Ken Russell and Laurel Devaney PO Box 71462 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Eurasian Wigeon From: "birding.geoffrey" <birding.geoffrey AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:22:35 -0000 Hi, I thought you might be interested to know that an adult male Eurasian Wigeon was seen this morning (Monday) at the pond obliquely opposite to the Girdwood gas station. Also seen: Red-necked Phalarope American Wigeon Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Gadwall Greater Scaup Mallard Green-winged Teal Artic Tern Wilsons Snipe Geoffrey Gomes Anchorage www.birding-naturalist-trinidad.com Subject: Correction on Snipe. From: "birding.geoffrey" <birding.geoffrey AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:48:27 -0000 Hi again, Just a little correction to my last report regarding the male Eurasian Wigeon at Girdwood. The Snipes seen and listed should have been identified as Common Snipe not Wilson's Snipe as I mistakenly reported. These were actually listed as a single species according to the British Ornithological Union up to about five years ago. Completely irrelevant in the here and now of course. With apologies, Geoffrey Gomes www.birding-naturalist-trinidad.com Subject: St. Paul Island RBA: June 1st - June 6th From: "sschuette01" <SSchuette01 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:43:36 -0000 RBA * Alaska * St. Paul Island, Pribilofs * June 7, 2009 * AKSPI 09.06.07 Hello Birders, this is the St. Paul Island rare bird alert for the week of June 1–7, 2009 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note. Birds Mentioned: Cackling Goose (ssp. leucopareia) **CANADA GOOSE (SSP. PARVIPES) Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Short-tailed Shearwater Bald Eagle Sandhill Crane *COMMON GREENSHANK WOOD SANDPIPER Whimbrel (ssp. variegatus) Whimbrel (ssp. hudsonicus) BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW **BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Bar-tailed Godwit Western Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin **STILT SANDPIPER BLACK-HEADED GULL ***BLACK-TAILED GULL Herring Gull (ssp. vegae) Herring Gull (ssp. smithsonianus) Slaty-backed Gull Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Short-eared Owl Bank Swallow *EYEBROWED THRUSH Eastern Yellow Wagtail (ssp. tschutschensis) RED-THROATED PIPIT Savannah Sparrow **RUSTIC BUNTING Hoary Redpoll This week's weather was dominated by a large low pressure system which moved southeast to northwest across the Bering Sea. It brought with it mostly south, southeast, and east winds with heavy fog and rain most days this week. WATERFOWL For the second week in a row the waterfowl highlight was provided by a PARVIPES CANADA GOOSE (presumably the same bird as last week) which was seen at Saucer Lake on the 7th. Small numbers of Cackling Geese continued throughout the week as well as Eurasian and American Wigeons, White-winged and Black Scoters, Bufflehead, and Common Goldeneyes. Also seen this week was a group of 3 Mallards at Antone Lake on the 3rd and a group of 4 Red-breasted Mergansers at Tonki Point on the 7th. SEABIRDS & GULLS This week saw both a BLACK-TAILED (the island's third record) and a BLACK-HEADED GULL make one time appearances. The BLACK-TAILED was found at Marunich on the 3rd while the BLACK-HEADED flew over the harbor on the 2nd. Both Vega Herring and Slaty-backed Gulls remained in small numbers around the harbor and Salt Lagoon while a single Parasitic Jaeger was seen on the 4th and Long-tailed Jaegers made appearances on the 1st and 4th. Short-tailed Shearwaters were seen offshore on the 3rd and 7th from Southwest Point and Tonki Point. SHOREBIRDS A few Asian shorebirds continued into the week with the BLACK-TAILED GODWIT present in the Salt Lagoon until the 1st, a COMMON GREENSHANK present in the Polovina Wetlands until the 3rd, a displaying WOOD SANDPIPER which continued in the Polovina Wetlands through the week, and a pair of "Siberian" Whimbrels around the Salt Lagoon until the 6th. Also arriving this week was a BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW which delighted many as it fed along the side of Ridge Wall Hill on the 1st and a STILT SANDPIPER which was present at Webster Lake on the 6th. Of lesser note were a trio of "American" Whimbrels in the Salt Lagoon on the 7th, up to 12 Bar-tailed Godwits in the Salt Lagoon early in the week, a single Western Sandpiper at Antone Slough on the 6th and 7th, small numbers of Pectoral Sandpipers at Antone Slough, the Polovina Wetlands, and at Webster Lake, and single Dunlin at the Polovina Wetlands on the 2nd and at Webster Lake on the 6th. LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES Continuing into the early part of the week was an EYEBROWED THRUSH at Zapadni Ravine until the 1st and another hanging on near Hutchinson Hill till the 3rd. Also around this week were multiple RUSTIC BUNTINGS with the original male near Antone Slough seen until the 1st, another male found in the Kaminista Quarry on the 6th, and a female near the Webster Lake on the 7th. A few Trans-beringian migrants arrived this week with a RED-THROATED PIPIT at Ridge Wall on the 1st and an Eastern Yellow Wagtail along the Salt Lagoon on the 5th. Small numbers of American passerine migrants were also observed this week with Hoary Redpolls on the 2nd and 6th, a Savannah Sparrow at Webster Lake on the 2nd, a Bank Swallow duo which was seen at Marunich and Webster Lake between the 4th and the 6th. Appearing for the first time this year were a pair of Sandhill Cranes which were seen throughout the week in the Polovina Wetlands and small numbers of Short-eared Owls which were seen in the Telegraph Hill and Big Polovina Lake area on the 3rd, 4th, and 6th while the Bald Eagle re-appeared at Ridge Wall after a lengthy absence. Regularly occurring species currently present on the island: Northern Pintail Green-winged (and Common) Teal Greater Scaup King Eider Harlequin Duck Long-tailed Duck Red-necked Grebe Northern Fulmar Red-faced Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Semipalmated Plover Wandering Tattler Ruddy Turnstone Least Sandpiper Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis) Red-necked Phalarope Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Red-legged Kittiwake Common Murre Thick-billed Murre Pigeon Guillemot Ancient Murrelet Parakeet Auklet Least Auklet Crested Auklet Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Common Raven Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis) Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina) For tour information or to make travel arrangements visit our website http://www.alaskabirding.com or call 1-877-424-5637. This is Scott Schuette (sschuette01 AT hotmail.com), Sean Hegarty, and Stephan Lorenz, the 2009 St. Paul Island Tour guide, wishing you good birding. Subject: High Tide From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 03:24:14 EDT After Pat left there four Sabine's and probably 20 kittiwakes present at Westchester at High Tide.. Dave S **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221322977x1201367197/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JunestepsfooterNO62) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Big Lake - MatSu From: Delesta Fox <dfox AT ak.net> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:27:37 -0800 Big Lake: Common & Pacific Loons; Red-necked grebe (numbers drastically reduced from prior years) Mallard; Surf Scoter; Red-breasted Merganser; Bald Eagle; Sandhill Crane; Spotted Sandpiper; Bonaparte's , Mew & Herring Gulls; Arctic Terns; Belted Kingfisher; Olive-side & Alder Flycatchers; Violet, Tree & Bank Swallows; Boreal & Black-capped Chickadees; Red-breasted Nuthatch; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Swainson's & Hermit Thrush; American Robin; Black-billed Magpie; Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped, Wilson, Blackpoll & Yellow Warblers; Fox Sparrow; Dark-eyed Junco. Also, 2 very tame Trumpeter Swans that are being hand-fed by various ones on the lake..They ate cracked corn out of my hand.. The swans still have quite a few grey feathers throughout their wings and back and the 'Smile Line' is not fully developed. I am attempting to 'get the word out' not to feed the Swans bread. Just off Big Lake: Pot Hole #1 nesting pair of Pacific Loons Pot Hole #2 nesting pair of Red-throated Loons Jordon Lake, the small lake behind the Big Lake Library has a Trumpeter Swan on a nest. Delesta M. Fox [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sabine's no; jaeger yes From: "akredgreen" <pat AT pourchot.com> Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:17:53 -0000 Tonight at high tide at Fish Creek mouth, I didn't see any Sabine's gulls, but a dark-phase jaeger (appeared to be Parasitic) attracted a lot of gull attention as he flew by. pat pourchot anchorage Subject: High tide at Westchester From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:41:51 -0400 Sabine's Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwakes continue to be present at high tide both last night and this AM. There were also a pair of Red-throated Loons present in the Inlet off of Chester Creek this AM. Dave S. Anchorage [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Resurrection trail birding From: "tgreale" <tgreale AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:29:43 -0000 Hiked in from Hope on Friday to Fox Creek, to East Creek on Saturday, and back out to Hope on Sunday. Here's a list of as many of the birds we saw and heard as I can remember: Juncos, varied thrushes, hermit thrushes, ravens, golden eagles, bald eagles, female merganser, ruby-crowned kinglet, golden-crowned kinglet, golden crowned sparrow, Wilson's warbler, Townsend's warbler, yellow-rumped warblers, pine grosbeak. I think that's all. Subject: Chester Creek Bike Trail From: Chris Maack <cmaack AT gci.net> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:09:08 -0700 Walked from Hope cottages to Lake Otis this morning. Heard a ruckus near the Tekishla Park playing fields and tracked it down. Magpies, Steller's Jays and Robins were giving a Great Horned Owl a hard time, the robin even tagging it in the head as it flew over. Finally the owl was escorted from the neighborhood. Other birds seen or heard: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, White-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Violet-green Swallow, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Black-capped Chickadee (some gathering food for their nestlings, one very vocal group that might have been a recent hatch). Chris Maack Anchorage [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gambell Orca images From: Phil Davis <pdavis AT ix.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:00:22 -0400 Hi Alaska birders: Just got back from Gambell a few days ago. This was the second time over the years that we have witnessed an Orca attack at Gambell. This one was right at "the point." FYI ... some images are here ... http://birdimages.posterous.com/gambell-ak-spring-2009-orca-images Also, FYI, images of the Gambell Rustic Buntings and some other birds are here ... http://birdimages.posterous.com/gambell-ak-spring-2009-images Phil High Lonesome BirdTours ================================== Phil Davis Davidsonville, Maryland USA mailto:PDavis AT ix.netcom.com ================================== Subject: Sabine's From: "wkeys_99503" <wkeys_99503 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:16:52 -0000 A bad photo of the Sabine's is in the w keys file. He was way out there at 3:30pm, but he was finally there on my 4th trip. persistently yours, w keys spenard Subject: The Birding Smackdown Report From: "wkeys_99503" <wkeys_99503 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:16:42 -0000 Saturday's Potter Marsh-A-Thon was a squawking success! 23 birders on 6 teams showed up to cover the Potter Marsh area from 8:00am until noon. In addition to the unbridled hilarity, trash talk, and fabulous cuisine at the tailgate party, there was plenty to learn. 59 Species were found by the teams. Two teams tied for first place with 41 species each, and the "All for Knot" team (David Sonneborn, Pat Pourchot, & Eric Myers) defeated "The Twisted Listers" (Kenna Sue Trickey, Susan Westervelt, Karen Reed, Vivian Mendenhall, & Sirena Brownlee) for the trophy in a tie-breaking rocks-paper-scissors contest. Final certification of the winners is pending until the completion of drug testing for performance-enhancing substances. In Third Place with 40 species, was a team whose name cannot be printed on this family-friendly website (W. Keys, Judith Haggar, Carl Ramm, & Diane Toebe.) The Best Name award was given to "Quick, Three Broads" (Loretta Curgus, Hannah Frenier, & Betty Friest). 15 Species (~25% of those seen) were seen by ALL 6 teams: Red-necked Grebe, Canada Goose, Mallard, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Arctic Tern, Alder Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow. Another 16 species (~25% of those seen) were seen by ONLY ONE of the 6 teams. And EACH team saw birds that no other team saw: Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Northern Harrier, Short-billed Dowitcher, Rock Dove, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Western Wood Peewee, Boreal Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Wilson's Warbler, Song Sparrow, and White-winged Crossbill. The remaining 28 species seen were: Horned Grebe, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Sandhill Crane, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe, Herring Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Black-billed Magpie, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Dipper, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty blackbird, Common Redpoll, and Pine Siskin. One of the day's conclusions is that we often assume that we see all or most of what is there to be seen when we are in the field. Pat Pourchot summed it up by saying, "and then another team shows up five minutes later and finds an entirely different selection of birds." Three teams found 40 or 41 birds. For each team, the selection of birds was different, and each team only found ~66% of the birds found in the given area for the day. In the mammal department, two teams encountered a newborn moose calf with nearby mother, and the muskrats sighted did no harm whatsoever. Special thanks go to Kenna Sue Trickey for assembling the prizes, to Joe Meehan at the Dept. of Fish and Game for providing the giant photo map of Potter Marsh, to the Common Loonatics, The Wenge Nuts, and to all of the birders who participated. Stay tuned. There is talk about a sequel "Westchester Lagoon-A-Thon" later in the summer. Subject: Sabine's Gulls From: "akredgreen" <pat AT pourchot.com> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:55:11 -0000 At least three Sabine's today (Sunday) 11 AM around mouth of Fish Creek at low tide. Pat Pourchot Anchorage Subject: RE: SABINE'S GULLS From: Nat Drumheller <natdrumheller AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 05:28:32 -0800 In lower Glacier Bay there were two Sabine's Gulls on 6/1 and at least ten on 6/6. -Nat Drumheller, Southeast AK To: winckler AT mtaonline.net; akbirding AT yahoogroups.com From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 03:23:13 -0400 Subject: Re: [AK Birding] SABINE'S GULLS There were 4 tonight. There may have been an adult Ring-billed Gull but it was to far away to be sure. DS **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377042x1201454362/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jun eExcfooterNO62) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Westchester Lagoon From: "akdouglloyd" <douglloyd AT gci.net> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:16:25 -0000 I caught a quick blurp that the Costal Trail on the west end of Westchester Lagoon June 9-12, 2009 last evening. Sounded like they are going to be paving. Doug Subject: Re: SABINE'S GULLS From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 03:23:13 EDT There were 4 tonight. There may have been an adult Ring-billed Gull but it was to far away to be sure. DS **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377042x1201454362/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jun eExcfooterNO62) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: SABINE'S GULLS From: Bob Winckler <winckler AT mtaonline.net> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 21:34:44 -0800 Hi Birders, Many thanks to Dave Sonneborn for the heads-up over the last two days on the Sabine's Gulls. Today the gulls were in with a mixed flock of Bonaparte's, BL Kittiwakes, Glaucous-winged, and Mew Gulls off of Fish Creek, from about 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. I lost track of the them at 7:00 PM when the incoming tide forced the flock to move. Most headed to the Chester Creek outflow but, as of 8:00 PM, I wasn't able to relocate the Sabine's. When I first arrived at Fish Creek, I was lucky to run into James Huntington, a birding tour guide with Wilderness Birding Adventures, who had just returned from Gambell and was about to catch a flight home to the midwest. James had the Sabine's spotted when I arrived, which made finding this life bird easy. This is the third day that the Sabine's have been spotted. If you haven't seen this species before, I wouldn't wait much longer before trying to find them. I notice that the Anchorage Audubon checklist, "Birds of Anchorage , Alaska," has Sabine's as "AC" in Fall, with no abundance codes listed for spring, summer, or winter. Cheers, Bob Winckler Wasilla Subject: Iceland Gull @ Kenai Flats From: "todd_eskelin" <t.eskelin AT acsalaska.net> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 04:35:52 -0000 Ken and Connie Tarbox found a 1st year Iceland Gull at the Kenai Flats on Saturday. The bird was hanging around the Warren Ames bridge around noon. I thought I saw the bird upstream from the bridage while driving over, but didn't stop to look and they saw it about 40 yards downstream. Subject: More ANchorage gulls From: davidsonne AT aol.com Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 08:26:45 EDT Friday\ Checked with two friends from Trinidad and at the evening high tide there were about 50 Black-legged Kittiwakes at the Mouth of Ship Creek and 3 breeding plumaged Sabine's Gulls near the Mouth of Fish Creek. Dave Sonneborn **************Stay connected and tighten your budget with a great mobile device for under $50. Take a Peek! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100122638x1221845911x1201401556/aol?redir=http://www.getpeek.com/aol) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Hawfinch From: "Dr. Forrest Davis" <hilone AT hilonesometours.com> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 14:41:19 -0800 Hawfinch remains at Wooley Lagoon this AM about 10:00 AM. Reports from two other individuals about noon suggested two separate birds. We only observed one in the morning. Continues perching up for 30 - 60 seconds, and if not approached too closely, it seems content to stay in the area.. In my 14 years coming to Nome multiple times, I'm not aware of other records here, but I'd be happy to hear about any as well. Report from last night of two Curlew Sandpipers at Nome River bridge observed by Kim Rising. Not seen this morning, but water was very high. Forrest Davis President High Lonesome BirdTours 570 S Little Bear Trail Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 Toll-free (US & Canada): 800 743 2668 Cell Phone: 443 838 6589 Other: 001 520 458-9446 hilone AT hilonesometours.com http://www.hilonesometours.com Subject: Tok cut-off owls,raptors From: joe staab <staabjoe AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 22:37:16 -0700 (PDT) Greetings all,   Mary,Bob and I are on our way to Hyder,AK. We are driving so there is a lot of ground to cover and the Tok cut-off was very good to us on friday evening. At mile 55 we saw a northern hawk- owl on the powerline. We then had a nice fly over of both northern goshawk and peregrine falcon. Saving best for  last at mile 115 a great gray owl flew across the road close enough to force me to use the brakes! Will write an update about what birds we see in Hyder in a few days.   Hope you see lifer soon, Peregrine Joe [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Alder Flycatchers From: "ursus_8" <avocet AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:13:26 -0000 Two alder flycatchers were seen and heard in John's Park this morning. These were the First of the Season for me. Tom Evans Anchorage Subject: Hawfinch in Nome From: Luke DeCicco <akswallow AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 10:20:37 -0800 Hello, A Hawfinch was found by Aaron Lang's birding group (Wilderness Birding Adventures) along the Wooley Lagoon road in the rock/willow riverbed about 500m downstream of the Nome-Teller Road on 4 June 2009. Jim Johnson and I refound the bird along with Garret and Ben (guys from Cornell) around 6pm, the bird was originally found around 1pm. Any information on the number of previous mainland records of this species would be greatly appreciated. Good photos have been taken of this individual. Bird on, Luke DeCicco - currently in Nome! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Remember -- Be nice!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AKBirding/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AKBirding/join (Yahoo! 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