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Alaska Birding

Updated on Friday, October 19 at 07:57 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Hi Birders,

Went by Snodgrass Field this afternoon in Palmer to check for  
Canadas.  There were 250+ Canada Geese and a single adult Sandhill  
Crane, feeding well away from the geese.

Snodgrass Field is on the right, just before you get to the  Palmer  
Airport on the Old Glenn Hwy, enroute to the Butte.  The crane can be  
seen best from Evergreen Road at the back south end of the field.
Cheers,
Bob Winckler
Mat-Su Birders 
  
  

There was an American Coot at 1:15 PM today feeding along the shore with a
few mallards on the second float plane canal (from the west) along Lakeshore
Drive.  This is the canal across the road from the light blue building
labeled "Alaska Aircraft Sales Hanger 2." 

 

Dick Prentki

Anchorage

prentki AT acsalaska.net



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On the way to meet an afternoon flight on October 17 (Wed) I saw a flock of 
60-70 starlings feeding on the shoulder just before entering the airport 
complex.

Hannah Frenier
Rabbit Creek
Anchorage, AK

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RBA 
* Alaska 
* St. Paul Island, Pribilofs 
* October 15, 2007 
* AKSPI 1510.07 
 
 
Hello Birders, this is the St. Paul Island rare bird alert for the week of 
October 7-15, 2007 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour.
 
This will be the final RBA for the 2007 season on Saint Paul Island. The island 
has mostly reverted to the brownscape that we see in early spring, and over the 
course of the last few days we have seen snow, hail, sleet and rain. Although 
birds are still on the move, and there will assuredly be a few more exceptional 
birds on the island this year we southerners know that when the snow starts 
falling it’s time to head south. 


2007 will go down as the best year for Asiatic strays ever for the Pribilofs. 
Our regular season (May 7-Aug 31) produced 137 species, and the fall survey 
(Sep 1-Oct 15) held 126 species. The year’s total was an amazing 175 species 
with the following additions to the Pribilof Checklist: Sooty Shearwater 
(spec.), Marsh Sandpiper, Whiskered Auklet, Brown Hawk-Owl, Yellow-browed 
Warbler, Pechora Pipit, Little Bunting, and Eurasian Bullfinch. Other 
exceptional species this year included Short-tailed Albatross, Gray Heron, 
Far-eastern Curlew, Great Knot, Long-billed Murrelet, Gray-streaked Flycatcher, 
Siberian Rubythroat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Eyebrowed Thrush, Olive-backed 
Pipit, and Rustic Buniting. The westerly flow across the central Bering Sea 
continued throughout the fall, and is likely responsible for many of our great 
finds. Further coverage, especially in fall will hopefully prove that we are 
just scratching the surface of the island’s birding potential. 


The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; an asterisk denotes 
a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note. 



Birds Mentioned: 
*EMPEROR GOOSE 
Cackling Goose (ssp. leucopaeria)
Eurasian Wigeon 
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Steller’s Eider 
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon
*ARCTIC LOON
Yellow‐billed Loon 
*SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS
Short-tailed Shearwater
Fork‐tailed Storm‐Petrel 
*NORTHERN HARRIER 
Gyrfalcon
Peregrine Falcon (ssp. pealei) 
Wandering Tattler
*GRAY‐TAILED TATTLER  
Pectoral Sandpiper 
*SHARP‐TAILED SANDPIPER 
Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis) 
Dunlin
Long-billed Dowitcher
*COMMON SNIPE 
*THAYER’S GULL
Slaty‐backed Gull 
Glaucous Gull 
Red-legged Kittiwake
Pigeon Guillemot
*MARBLED MURRELET
Ancient Murrelet 
Least Auklet 
Crested Auklet
Short-eared Owl
*EURASIAN SKYLARK 
*RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
*RUBY‐CROWNED KINGLET 
*ARCTIC WARBLER (ssp. borealis?)
*GRAY‐STREAKED FLYCATCHER 
Hermit Thrush
*EYEBROWED THRUSH 
*AMERICAN ROBIN 
*SIBERIAN ACCENTOR 
American Pipit (ssp. rubescens) 
American Pipit (ssp. japonicus) 
Yellow‐rumped Warbler 
Savannah Sparrow 
Fox Sparrow 
*SONG SPARROW 
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden‐crowned Sparrow 
MCKAY’S BUNTING 
BRAMBLING 
Common Redpoll 
Hoary Redpoll 
 

WATERFOWL 
Southbound migrant ducks continue to trickle in through the island’s lakes 
and shorelines this week. Highlights included a max count of 9 Eurasian Wigeon 
on Oct 14th, a lone Cackling Goose on the 13th, a drake Mallard on the 11th, a 
Common Goldeneye on the 11th, and a few Red-breasted Mergansers near the end of 
the week. The flocks of Black and White-winged Scoters at Marunich are nearing 
60 strong, with smaller groups scattered around the island. King Eider numbers 
are also increasing, mainly on the north shore, with a high count of 75 on the 
11th. Our lingering Emperor Goose remained on Antone Lake through the week, and 
4 Black Brant were found during the reporting period. 



SEABIRDS & GULLS
The highlight of this clade for the season occurred on the evening of the 8th, 
when a juvenile Short-tailed Albatross was seen checking out a fishing vessel 
close to Hutchinson Hill. Although the views were brief (the bird lingered for 
only two minutes), the bright pink bill and less bowed wingshape (compared to 
Black-footed Albatross) were clearly evident. Some quick research online 
revealed that several of the satellite-tagged birds from Torishima Island, 
Japan have wandered close to the Pribilofs over the last few years. Another set 
of great finds occurred on the 11th, an unusually calm day, which afforded 
excellent seawatching opportunities. An amazing three Marbled Murrelets (very 
rare here) were tallied, as were almost 50 Ancient Murrelets and several dozen 
each of Thick-billed and Common Murres. A staggering 1400 Glaucous-winged 
Gulls, along with 6 Slaty-backed Gulls, and several Herring and Glaucous Gulls 
were also seen that day. Two Thayer’s Gulls were found this week, an adult 
(likely the same individual as last week) in the harbor, and a first-year bird 
feeding at the Trident plant’s effluent pipe just off East Landing. 
Red-legged Kittiwakes have completely vanished this week, with no sightings 
over the last several days. Black-legged Kittiwake numbers are also declining, 
although there are still hundreds (mostly juveniles) remaining. Loon numbers 
are sharply increasing in early October, with dozens of Pacific Loons daily, a 
smattering of Yellow-billed Loons, and one or two Red-throated Loons daily by 
week’s end. A single alternate adult Arctic Loon flew by Northeast Point on 
the evening of the 11th. Red-necked Grebe numbers are increasing as well, with 
a max count of 12 birds on the 11th, and a few Horned Grebes were seen almost 
daily through the week. 


 
SHOREBIRDS 
The regularly occurring fall migrant shorebirds were all accounted for this 
week, 

with the following high daily counts: 
 
Pacific Golden‐Plover   		20 
GRAY‐TAILED TATTLER  	2			Last seen on Oct. 9  
Wandering Tattler   		2			Last seen on Oct. 11 
Ruddy Turnstone   			90 
Pectoral Sandpiper 		2			Last seen on Oct. 12 
SHARP‐TAILED SANDPIPER 	12 
Long‐billed Dowitcher  		5 
Red Phalarope    			600 

The highlight of the week’s shorebirding, and perhaps the year’s was a 
juvenile MARSH SANDPIPER (1st. Pribilof record) moulting into winter plumage, 
found at the north end of the Salt Lagoon on October 8. The bird allowed a 
close approach and was well photographed as it fed along the lagoon margin. Our 
lingering Common Snipe remained in the marshes of Pumphouse Lake until at least 
the 11th. Other noteworthy sightings include the complete lack of Rock 
Sandpipers after the 10th, and the disappearance of either Tattler by the weeks 
end. Although Pacific Golden-Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Sharp-tailed 
Sandpipers, and Red Phalaropes continue to move around the Pribilofs, I think 
that it is safe to say that by mid-October the shorebirding on the Pribilofs 
becomes rather slow. 

 
PASSERINES AND LANDBIRDS 
The fall raptor show continued this week, with the lingering Northern Harrier 
found along the western cliffs on the 8th, and a gray-morph Gyrfalcon coursing 
by Marunich on the 11th. A juvenile Pealei Peregrine Falcon was seen at several 
locations through the week. Oddly, we have not seen the “resident” Bald 
Eagle for almost two weeks, perhaps it heads to the Aleutians or somewhere on 
the mainland during the winter months. 


The winds continued to bring us a nice selection of passerines from both shores 
of the Bering Sea this week. The following totals represent the estimated 
number of individuals of each species that passed by this week: 


Eurasian Skylark     			3 	(2 were new on the 15th)
Arctic Warbler				       1
Gray‐streaked Flycatcher		1 	holdover from last week
Eyebrowed Thrush			       1 	holdover from last week
Siberian Accentor 		              1 	3rd for the fall season
Brambling      			         	4 
Eurasian Bullfinch		       	1 	

Red-breasted Nuthatch			2
Ruby‐crowned Kinglet   	       	11 
Hermit Thrush			       	1
American Robin    			       1 
American Pipit				       6	mostly rubescens, at least one japonicus
Yellow‐rumped Warbler   		1 
Savannah Sparrow    			2 
Fox Sparrow     				1 
White-crowned Sparrow		       1
Golden‐crowned Sparrow   		3
McKay’s Bunting			       1
Common Redpoll    			6 
Hoary Redpoll     			       2 
 
Without a doubt the star of the show this week was a gorgeous male Eurasian 
Bullfinch found above town on the 9th, It was skittish, and after about 15 
minutes took off to the east never to be seen again. Also present at the time 
was an American Robin – making for an odd combination indeed. A stocky Arctic 
Warbler with quite white underparts was found and photographed in the wild 
celery fields of Northeast Point on the 9th. It appears to represent one of the 
larger-billed Asian subspecies rather than kennecotti, the Alaskan breeding 
race. The 9th also brought us our third Siberian Accentor, flushed off the road 
near Polovina Rookery. 


North American finds were lead by two Red-breasted Nuthatches found at 
Hutchinson Hill on the 14th (with at least one remaining the next day). 
Watching nuthatches hanging upside down on a scoria overhang is a slightly odd 
experience. The relative calm of the 10th and 11th may have contributed to the 
influx of North American migrants this week. In that two-day span we found many 
Ruby-crowned Kinglets, the year’s only (surprisingly) Hermit Thrush, a lone 
White-crowned Sparrow, 2 Savannah Sparrows, a Fox Sparrow (Sooty), 3 
Golden-crowned Sparrows and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Clearly mid October is not 
too late for significant movements of southbound passerines. Lapland Longspur 
numbers have dropped to a trickle, with fewer than 10 birds seen daily by the 
week’s end. In contrast Snow Bunting numbers are increasing, with migrant 
flocks of 30-60 birds appearing around the island. It was with a group of Snows 
that we found a nice winter adult McKay’s Bunting at Polovina Hill on the 
14th, 


Regularly Occurring Species currently on the island: 
Northern Pintail 
Green‐winged (and Common) Teal 
Greater Scaup
King Eider
Harlequin Duck 
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long‐tailed Duck 
Pacific Loon
Red‐necked Grebe 
Northern Fulmar 
Red‐faced Cormorant 
Pelagic Cormorant 
Pacific Golden-Plover
Ruddy Turnstone 
Red Phalarope 
Glaucous‐winged Gull 
Herring Gull (ssp. smithsonianus) 
Herring Gull (ssp. vegae) 
Black‐legged Kittiwake 
Common Murre 
Thick‐billed Murre 
Horned Puffin 
Common Raven 
Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis) 
Snow Bunting 
Gray‐crowned Rosy‐Finch (ssp. umbrina) 
 
For tour information or to make travel arrangements please visit our website 
http://www.alaskabirding.com or call 1‐877‐424‐5637. This is Gavin Bieber 

(kingbird77 AT hotmail.com), Jake Mohlmann, Dylan Radin, and Rich Hoyer, the 2007 

St. Paul Island Tour guides, wishing you good birding. 
 


Gavin Bieber
Kingbird77 AT hotmail.com
Tucson, AZ
www.wingsbirds.com

_________________________________________________________________
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October 15, 2007 Hummer Shrike

Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report
Sunrise 8:37 am, sunset 6:48 pm, length of day 10 hours, 11 minutes;
tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 23 seconds shorter.

Weather: Last week dished out the first days of cold, clear, windy
weather that partially froze the salt marsh pond and local small
lakes. Ferns swooned to the ground, flayed by the frost, giving in to
winter all too easily. The wind stripped gold leaves off the
cottonwoods, while the alder threw its green leaves down without
bothering to change. Today, however, the temperatures rose to the mid
40s, and the sun shone pleasantly for a few hours before the gray
clouds returned. 

Driving away after a fairly quiet walk at the salt
marsh-with-an-airport-in-it, I suddenly veered off to the side of the
road and abruptly stopped. A medium sized bird was hovering over the
mowed field, wings beating frantically, a fair imitation of a very
large hummingbird. It hovered and swooped, hovered and swooped, and
then pounced into the short grass only to rise up quickly and repeat
the show. I leapt out with my binoculars and camera. It was a juvenile
NORTHERN SHRIKE, working the warm grass for small rodents.
Occasionally it would take a short rest, perching on an airport light
a few feet off the ground. Then, up again, hovering in fixed position,
its head looking all around, flashing the long black tail bordered in
white and a small white rump. It continued to hunt in this amazing
routine for a time, then flew off to a bordering cottonwood tree to
rest, and then headed out of sight. 

I received a report of a family flock of 5 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS seen last
week by the small pond at Mile 3 1/2. No sign of them today; they may
have been just passing through.

October 8th: Three AMERICAN PIPITS rose from the beach rye at the
tidelands at my approach and skittered away, flashing their white
outer tail feathers. Only 4 GREENWING TEAL remained on the unfrozen
portion of the pond. I can't help but wonder what the impact of recent
duck hunting has been on our "tame" duck population.

Back in town, a PEREGRINE FALCON flew purposefully from the bay just
south of the boat harbor several blocks inland where it seemed to
briefly attack another bird; they both rose up together and then
separated. The forest bird disappeared, and the peregrine returned to
harass the gulls feeding at the seafood processor's offshore bird
feeder. Unfortunately I did not have my binoculars and could not
determine exactly what this altercation was all about. The cranky
peregrine obviously didn't need binoculars to see its target. Lesson
for humans: ALWAYS CARRY YOUR BINOCULARS!

Twelve HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and ten HORNED GREBES in winter plumage dove
just offshore at Fourth of July Beach across the bay. The winter sea
birds are gathering.

October 6th: Walking home at 9:45 pm, I heard an odd squawking sound
and then watched two GREAT BLUE HERONS fly across the road in the dim
light of the streetlights, obviously distressed. I guess that
something very scary routed them from their spruce roost to make them
fly at night. I did not witness their return to the roost; it was
probably quite an undignified crash landing in the dark, long legs,
neck, and wings all akimbo.

October 7 and 9: SPRUCE GROUSE and VARIED THRUSH spotted at Two Lakes
Park in Seward. It's always a pleasure to see these birds; the one
lingers, the other leaves. In the early morning, the Varied Thrushes
are singing a wheezy, teakettle rendition of their normal song,
sounding quite dispirited about fall and maybe wondering why they
didn't migrate like the rest of their kind. But for a short time, the
red berries of the Mt Ash glow like beacons for them and the remaining
hungry ROBINS.

It's still too early to put up bird feeders. Today, October 15th, I
watched a very rotund black bear saunter across the road in broad
daylight to chomp on a rose bush in front of a home. I'm sure it would
rather have oil-rich sunflower seeds if garbage is not available.
(Many thanks to the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance for
providing low-cost bear-proof garbage cans!) To avoid feeding the
bears and wasting all that expensive birdseed, just wait a few more
weeks to be safe. 

As temperatures drop in the northlands, we should soon see more
migrants fleeing winter. 

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Sporadic Bird Report reporter 
Seward, Alaska


For more information on how to keep cats indoors, please refer to the
American Bird Conservancy website, Cats Indoors at
 and other informative sites listed
under a Google.com search.

It seems late to be seeing gulls in Anchorage.  I saw 3 glaucous-winged 
gulls flying north along Turnigan Arm on Saturday October 13th from 
just below Bird Point.  Today 10/15/2007, I saw a first summer Mew Gull 
walking around the parking lot between the Holiday Gas Station and the 
Regional Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

Tom Evans
Anchorage

There were a large number of gulls feeding off the spit. We went through them 
with my skiff and they seemed to be feeding on the surface. I estimated 5000 
gulls with 4500 Mew Gulls, 300 Kitiwakes and 200 Large gulls (about 30 Herring 
and the rest Glaaucous-winged). In the evening there were about 500 large gull 
at the end of the spit including a third winter Slaty-backed Gull. 

Dave Sonneborn
________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Sat Oct 13th, I had a lone Wilson's Warbler in the alley (R St) at 
the sw end of 9th Ave.  Across 9th Ave in the wooded north-facing 
bluffs were two Orange-crowned Warblers.  And there was a 2d yr 
Glaucous Gull flying over Spenard R parking lots near Fireweed Lane on 
Sat.  Apparently Buzz had two Glaucous Gulls at the mouth of Ship Creek 
on Sat AM.  On Sunday a small group (~9)of White-winged Crossbills flew 
over our Turnagain yard.

Thede Tobish 

Counted 39 buffleheads at Westchester a little after noon today (Sunday). The 
males were in their breeding plumage and stood out brightly from across the 
lagoon on a rainy day. Kind of sort of unusual were 3 white-winged scoters, a 
couple of gadwalls, and a lone juvenile horned grebe. I had a great time 
sketching the scoters and buffleheads. 


Also seen:

44      mallards
48 goldeneyes (those identified to species were common goldeneyes, but I didn't 
try to sort through them all) 

35      scaup sp. (didn't sort these either)
5        common mergansers
4        Am. wigeons
2        mew gulls

Carl Ramm
Anchorage

There was a Black Brant feeding in a shallow tidal pool this evening 
on the east side of the Homer spit.  It was next to a group of about 
30 resting mallards and the time was around 7 PM, halfway between high-
 tide and low-tide this evening.   The bird was in the tidal mudflat 
area at the intersection of Kachemack Drive and the Spit Road.

Sally Urvina

Hi Birders,

Running about a week late with most of this, but here goes.

Last Saturday (Oct. 6th), birded with Dave Sonneborn around some of  
the birding spots in the Palmer/Wasilla area.  Dave spotted an adult  
Glaucous Gull in with a flock of Glaucous-winged Gulls at the Palmer  
Landfill, but the only other item of interest were five River Otters  
working over spawning Silver Salmon in the stream at the bottom of  
the hill as you enter the old Matanuska town site.

Dave birded Lake Lucille Sunday and by scoping from the Best Western  
Motel waterfront, found quite a few waterfowl including Canvasback,  
at least a couple of Ring-necked Ducks and all three species of  
scoters (one Black).

I tried Lake Lucille on Monday morning, scoping from the Best  
Western.  I could see the scoters at quite a distance, but couldn't  
get close to them.  I did find two Horned Grebes in winter plumage,  
several RN Grebes (both adults and juveniles), a male Bufflehead, and  
a female C. Merganser.

Yesterday, I looked over Potter Marsh.  10 - 15 Trumpeter Swans were  
grouped at the rear of the Marsh, and one family group of Tundra  
Swans (2 adults & 3 juveniles) were feeding near the south  
pullout.    However, the Tundra S. were quite skittish and didn't  
stick around.  Most of the shallower parts of the Marsh were covered  
by a thin layer of ice but it was strong enough to support the swans  
that opted to land on it.  Both groups of swans were accompanied by  
several opportunistic Mallards and A. Wigeon, picking up food stirred  
up by the swans.

Checked Lake Spenard and found a Wilson's Snipe in the grass at  
Lake's edge at the SE corner, a single Ring-necked Duck is still  
feeding with the scaup behind the Millennium Hotel, where two winter- 
plumaged Horned Grebes were also found.  At the north side of Lake  
Spenard found a single immature N. Shoveler, a single H. Grebe in  
winter plumage, numerous C. Goldeneye and A. Wigeon, and at the  
western-most end of Lake Hood, seven Canvasback were feeding with a  
large group of A. Wigeon.

Windy but fun day.
Cheers,
Bob Winckler
Mat-Su Birders

On October 9 I encountered about 6 WHITE TAIL PTARMIGAN on the Summit 
Creek trail near Summit Lake on the Kenai Pen. The location on the 
trail is about four miles in at the "saddle", the trail begins to 
descend at that point. I have seen white tail ptarmigan several times 
on this trail, maybe 50% of the times I have hiked it. This trail is 
about 85 miles from Anch. and an easy hike.
/Gary

I had a Wilson's Warbler [Thurs 11 Oct] loosely associating with 
chickadees at the very west end of Iliamna Dr in the Turnagain 
neighborhood.  The road ends at a driveway and there is a foot trail 
going west and off the driveway edge that provides access to this very 
productive area.  There is a local feeder, a nice grove of 
chokecherries, and good cover on the south and west sides of the area.  
You can also access the site (and the coastal trail) from the north end 
of McKenzie Dr. I often find good late birds and winter specialies here 
and to the east on Iliamna in Lyn Ary Park.  10-12 years ago a mid-Oct 
warbler was very unusual but since then we seem to find (usually) 
singles, often with chickadee flocks, to the end of Oct and even into 
Nov.  So check those chickadee flocks.   

Thede Tobish

Friday, October 12

Dear Birders,

The only continuing Asian vagrant the past two days was a single 
BRAMBLING. Nevertheless, yesterday's birding was very exciting, with 
our highest one-day species total of 56 this fall. As might be expected 
with the E and SE winds we've had the last two days, new arrivals 
yesterday were from the east. The total tally of landbird vagrants just 
from the afternooon:

Gyrfalcon     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     3
Hermit Thrush     1
American Robin     1
Savannah Sparrow     2
Golden-crowned Sparrow     3

The day before we also had an additional Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a 
White-crowned Sparrow.

The seabirding was phenomenal. Besides a huge and sudden increase in 
the numbers of gulls (mostly Glaucous-winged), other species are 
filtering in, the two rarities being ARCTIC LOON (spotted by Gavin, a 
close fly-by seen well by all of us) off Hutchinson Hill, and two 
MARBLED MURRELETS (found by Jake and seen by everyone as well) near 
town at East Landing.

Helping out the species total was an influx of rarer waterfowl, which 
included:

Brant     3
Eurasian Wigeon     5
Mallard     1
Northern Shoveler     4

Unless we find something super rare today, this will be my last post 
from Saint Paul Island. Jake Mohlmann is here for two more days and 
Gavin and Dylan are here for three more.

Good Birding,

---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Friday, October 12

Dear Birders,

The only continuing Asian vagrant the past two days was a single 
BRAMBLING. Nevertheless, yesterday's birding was very exciting, with 
our highest one-day species total of 56 this fall. As might be expected 
with the E and SE winds we've had the last two days, new arrivals 
yesterday were from the east. The total tally of landbird vagrants just 
from the afternooon:

Gyrfalcon     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     3
Hermit Thrush     1
American Robin     1
Savannah Sparrow     2
Golden-crowned Sparrow     3

The day before we also had an additional Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a 
White-crowned Sparrow.

The seabirding was phenomenal. Besides a huge and sudden increase in 
the numbers of gulls (mostly Glaucous-winged), other species are 
filtering in, the two rarities being ARCTIC LOON (spotted by Gavin, a 
close fly-by seen well by all of us) off Hutchinson Hill, and two 
MARBLED MURRELETS (found by Jake and seen by everyone as well) near 
town at East Landing.

Helping out the species total was an influx of rarer waterfowl, which 
included:

Brant     3
Eurasian Wigeon     5
Mallard     1
Northern Shoveler     4

Unless we find something super rare today, this will be my last post 
from Saint Paul Island. Jake Mohlmann is here for two more days and 
Gavin and Dylan are here for three more.

Good Birding,

---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Once again we have adult and juvenile cedar waxwings in our mountain 
ash trees 7.5 miles out East End Road.  This is the fourth year in a 
row for cedars in the same trees.  It appears that a small flock has 
become established in the general area and they seem to be successfully 
reproducing. They were not seen this summer but ripe berries have 
brought them back.

Dave Erikson

Your yahoo address  bounced, Keys, so I'm going via akbirding, with 
apologies:
---

> Hiya Chris,
>    I've got enough mice to feed a blizzard of Snowy Owls.  Bring him
> to my house in Spenard.
>
> w keys
---
Thanks, Keys. You're not the first to make that offer. Maybe Anchorage 
is ready for Rent-an-Owl?

Chris Maack
Anchorage

Both Tundra & Trumpeter Swans at the marsh today in the same pool. 
Nice for comparison in the bright sun. 

Still some small flocks of chickadees & nuthatches around Huffman &
Birch Rd & a few Stellers Jays

Yesterday there was a thrush of some sort near the bike path at Bird
Creek Campground, probably a Robin.

Steve W.

I'm looking for suggestions about where - on the road system - a snowy 
owl would be able to find appropriate prey. Bird TLC has an adult male 
ready for release and no funds to ship him by air. He needs to get out 
there sooner rather than later.

Thanks,

Chris Maack
Anchorage

Hi All,

A difficult-to-pin down ARCTIC WARBLER created some excitement this 
evening as we tried to get good looks and photos of a small, greenish 
Phylloscopus warbler near Webster Lake. It simply seemed to big and 
thick-billed for the Arctic Warblers we know, but the field marks in 
the photos seem to bear out this identification. As it turns out, the 
Asian subspecies, which is the more likely one to show up here this 
time of year, are larger than the one that breeds in Alaska (and is 
already long gone to the winter grounds).

Then on the way back to town, Dylan spotted a small bird flushing off 
the roadside as he was driving. We stopped and confirmed our third 
SIBERIAN ACCENTOR for the fall.

Not a bad day out here in the Bering Sea.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Hi All,

A difficult-to-pin down ARCTIC WARBLER created some excitement this 
evening as we tried to get good looks and photos of a small, greenish 
Phylloscopus warbler near Webster Lake. It simply seemed to big and 
thick-billed for the Arctic Warblers we know, but the field marks in 
the photos seem to bear out this identification. As it turns out, the 
Asian subspecies, which is the more likely one to show up here this 
time of year, are larger than the one that breeds in Alaska (and is 
already long gone to the winter grounds).

Then on the way back to town, Dylan spotted a small bird flushing off 
the roadside as he was driving. We stopped and confirmed our third 
SIBERIAN ACCENTOR for the fall.

Not a bad day out here in the Bering Sea.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

On October 9th I counted 111 trumpeter swans in the Jim Lake/Swan Lake  area. 
 Most of the birds were clustered along the north shore of Jim  Lake.  This 
area is best accessed off of Maud Road which heads east off the  Old Glenn 
Highway in Butte.  
 
Brad Meiklejohn
Eagle River, Alaska
 
 





************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Birds Mentioned
Black-Billed magpie 
Short-Eared Owl
Rusty Blackbird

hotline: Fairbanks and Interior Alaska
date: October 9, 2007
number:

Welcome to the Birding Hotline for interior Alaska as of October 9, 2007.

A BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE was seen flying over the Richardson 
Highway between North Pole   and Fairbanks on October 8.

Also on the 8th, a SHORT-EARED OWL was at the Federal Building at 
12th and Noble Streets.

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at the transfer station on University Avenue
 on October 7.

Upcoming events include:
Important Bird Areas Program in Alaska will be presented on Tuesday,
 October 9, at 7:00 pm in the Noel Wien Library Auditorium. Dr. Iain 
Stenhouse, Director of Bird Conservation with the Alaska State Office 
of the National Audubon Society, will describe the Important Bird Areas 
that have local, continental, or global significance for birds. Prior to 
the 
program, there will be a very brief business meeting to elect this year's 
officers for Arctic Audubon Society.

October 12th and 13th: Bring your old unwanted electronic waste for 
shipment to a recycling facility to the Gavora building at south end of 
Shoppers' Forum, the side opposite Gottschalks. Hours are: 10 am to 4 
pm both days. Fees: There is a per item fee of up to $25 to cover the 
cost of recycling, depending on the size of the item and type of 
electronic device.

The Alaska Bird Observatory's annual Winter Bird Feeding Workshop 
will be held on Saturday, October 13th from 10 AM- Noon at the 
Alaska Feed Company.  Coupons for bird feeding supplies will be 
available to participants and door prizes will be awarded!  Cost: 
 $10/person ($5/person for ABO members).

The secrets to winter survival for birds will be held on Saturday, October 

13th at 10:00 at the UA Museum of the North. Learn about Alaska's 
resident birds and follow the journeys of those that migrate to warmer 
climates. Inspect study skins and museum exhibits to learn about bird 
adaptations and habitats. Make a bird-themed craft to take home. For 
ages 7-12 with an adult. $15 per child/adult pair.

Learn all about Creepy Critters with Friends of Creamer's Field at noon 
on October 27. Meet at the Creamer's Field Farmhouse.

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 .

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 

Ken Russell and Laurel Devaney
Fairbanks, Alaska



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tuesday, October 9

Dear Birders,

First thing this morning I flushed an AMERICAN ROBIN followed a few 
seconds later by a gorgeous male EURASIAN BULLFINCH above the Town 
Cliffs near the harbor breakwater. I was able to gather the rest of 
crew for everyone to see it well. Photos were obtained of both birds as 
well. This is the first record of Eurasian Bullfinch for the Pribilofs.

The rest of the morning's birding resulted in continuing EYEBROWED 
THRUSH, BRAMBLING, and SKY LARK.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Tuesday, October 9

Dear Birders,

First thing this morning I flushed an AMERICAN ROBIN followed a few 
seconds later by a gorgeous male EURASIAN BULLFINCH above the Town 
Cliffs near the harbor breakwater. I was able to gather the rest of 
crew for everyone to see it well. Photos were obtained of both birds as 
well. This is the first record of Eurasian Bullfinch for the Pribilofs.

The rest of the morning's birding resulted in continuing EYEBROWED 
THRUSH, BRAMBLING, and SKY LARK.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

I was glad I wore earmuffs and snow sneakers this morning, walking down 
to Hillstrand Lake from the Goose Lake area. Nice to scuff through all 
those fallen leaves. Enroute, I heard/saw the usual boreal and 
black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, and magpies. Heard distinct robin 
calls in more than one spot. At the lake, there was one herring gull on 
the rock and numerous mallards and green-winged teal in the water. A 
silent kingfisher flew across the pond. I saw a wading shorebird and 
thought ??!! Are yellow-legs still here? But when I got closer it 
turned out to be a snipe. Didn't know they waded around in water 
bodies. Maybe only when everything else has frozen up.

Chris Maack
Anchorage

On October 9th a gyrfalcon was present at a road-killed moose at  
approximately Mile 7 of Hiland Road. 
 
 

Brad Meiklejohn 
Eagle River,  AK



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Monday, October 8

Dear Birders,

We did not see the Marsh Sandpiper today. The day before yesterday we 
had a WESTERN SANDPIPER (extremely late), and yesterday also a DUNLIN. 
Both of these were also one-day wonders.

The best bird of the day was seen only by Gavin: a SHORT-TAILED 
ALBATROSS passing by a fishing boat off of Hutchinson Hill. The rest of 
us are very disappointed to have missed the bird, but maybe there are 
more out there.

Continuing are one EYEBROWED THRUSH and one BRAMBLING.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Monday, October 8

Dear Birders,

We did not see the Marsh Sandpiper today. The day before yesterday we 
had a WESTERN SANDPIPER (extremely late), and yesterday also a DUNLIN. 
Both of these were also one-day wonders.

The best bird of the day was seen only by Gavin: a SHORT-TAILED 
ALBATROSS passing by a fishing boat off of Hutchinson Hill. The rest of 
us are very disappointed to have missed the bird, but maybe there are 
more out there.

Continuing are one EYEBROWED THRUSH and one BRAMBLING.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

RBA
* Alaska
* St. Paul Island, Pribilofs
* October 6, 2007
* AKSPI 0610.07


Hello Birders, this is the St. Paul Island rare bird alert for the week of 
September 30- October 6, 2007 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. The following 
sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; an asterisk denotes a species of 
less than annual occurrence or one of particular note. 


Our series of low pressure systems continued this week, with a heavy SW and W 
flow for 5 of the 7 days. A very strong low passed to our NW on the 2nd, bring 
us a strong SE/S wind for about 12 hours and then incredibly strong (gusts up 
to 62mph) SW winds for a full day. This brief push of Easterly winds is likely 
responsible for the small influx of North American passerines. We also enjoyed 
rain/snow or hail on most of the days this week, often making birding nearly 
impossible for the survey team. 


Birds Mentioned:

EMPEROR GOOSE
Eurasian Wigeon
Greater Scaup
Pacific Loon
COMMON LOON
Yellow-billed Loon
Horned Grebe
Short-tailed Shearwater
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel
***GRAY HERON
*NORTHERN HARRIER
Peregrine Falcon (ssp. tundrius, pealei)
GRAY-TAILED TATTLER
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
Rock Sandpiper (ssp. tschuktschorum)
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-headed Gull
*THAYER�S GULL
Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Ancient Murrelet
Parakeet Auklet
Least Auklet
Short-eared Owl
*EURASIAN SKYLARK
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
***YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER
*GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER
*EYEBROWED THRUSH
*VARIED THRUSH
American Pipit (ssp. japonicus)
Yellow Warbler
*TOWNSEND�S WARBLER
Fox Sparrow (ssp. unalaschensis)
*SONG SPARROW (ssp. maxima)
Golden-crowned Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco (ssp. hyemalis group)
***LITTLE BUNTING
BRAMBLING
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll

WATERFOWL
The waterfowl story for the week involves largely holdover individuals from 
last week. The Emperor Goose on Antone Lake remained until at least the 5th of 
October, loafing with a flock of gulls and Pintails along the lake�s western 
shore. Eurasian Wigeon numbers held relatively steady through the week, with up 
to 5 birds daily between Webster and Antone Lakes. Three Greater Scaup remain 
in Webster Lake, with a lone female in Weather Bureau Lake rounding out the 
week�s total of four. White-winged and Black Scoters continue to build on the 
island�s north shore and in sheltered bays around the south shore. 


SEABIRDS & GULLS
Loons and grebes are becoming more regular around the island. Yellow-billed 
Loons were noted on nearly half the days, and a single Common Loon was found in 
English bay on the 3rd. Pacific Loon numbers are on the steep increase with an 
amazing concentration of 94 birds seen together feeding off East Landing on the 
5th, and at least a few individuals seen daily. Two Horned Grebes loafed around 
Webster Lake mid-week, and numbers of Red-necked Grebes continue to climb in 
the island�s more sheltered bays. An influx of winter plumaged Common and 
Thick-billed Murres, with a few male birds with chicks in tow was evident this 
week, as was an increase in numbers of feeding Horned Puffins. Ancient 
Murrelets continue to be seen in low numbers around the island. A very few 
Parakeet and Least Auklets were noted flying by Northeast Point mid-week during 
the storm. By weeks end finding a Red-legged Kittiwake among the continuing 
hordes of Black-legged has become an arduous task as virtually all the Red-legs 
have seemingly departed for the open ocean. A single Parasitic Jaeger was seen 
harassing a feeding flock of kittiwakes on the 5th from Hutchinson Hill. Our 
long-staying Black-headed Gull remains in the mixed gull flock at Big Lake. 
Small numbers of both subspecies of Herring Gulls, Slaty-backed Gull and 
Glaucous Gulls remain on the island. The larid highlight of the week was 
furnished by a nice adult Thayer�s Gull (casual in the Bering Sea) on Weather 
Bureau Lake on the 4th. This bird was found the next day on the Salt Lagoon. 


SHOREBIRDS
The regularly occurring fall migrant shorebirds were all accounted for this 
week, with the following high daily counts: 


Pacific Golden-Plover			60
GRAY-TAILED TATTLER		1	
Wandering Tattler			3
Ruddy Turnstone			100
Pectoral Sandpiper			6
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	8
Long-billed Dowitcher		4
Red Phalarope				500

A push of Pacific Golden-Plovers was noteworthy on the 6th, other daily counts 
for the week were around 10 birds per day. Pribilof Rock Sandpiper and Ruddy 
Turnstone numbers continue to decline, with a mere 20 Rocks and 75 Ruddies by 
week�s end. 

Mainland (tschuktschorum) Rock Sandpipers continue to pass through this week, 
with up to 2 in a day, these dark breasted and smaller migrants easily stand 
out amidst the larger and pale breasted Pribilof Rock Sandpipers. A few 
noteworthy shorebirds included a single Sanderling at Webster Beach on the 1st, 
and a very late Western on the Salt Lagoon on the 6th. 


PASSERINES AND LANDBIRDS
The mid-week storm shifted most of the lingering birds off the island, but also 
brought a few additional individuals to our shores. The following totals are 
estimates of the week�s (and seasons) total for each species: 


Eurasian Skylark					3 (9)
Gray-streaked Flycatcher				9 (11)
Eyebrowed Thrush					7 (16)
Japonicus American Pipit				2 (8)
Little Bunting (arrived on last weeks front)		1 (2)		last seen on Oct 1
Brambling						3 (12)

The strong mid-week West brought us two high-quality strays early in the week. 
A small and very furtive bird first found on the 31st and subsequently refound 
the next day proved to be the season�s second Yellow-browed Warbler. This bird 
was heard to give a call reminiscent of a Pacific-slope Flycatcher on several 
occasions. It would flush rapidly, and stay low in the celery patches around 
Webster Lake, never giving lengthy views. The second stellar find was of North 
America�s first photo-documented live GRAY HERON on October 1. Found circling 
over the Salt Lagoon by a local birder, Dustin Jones, the bird was well seen 
and studied over the course of the next few hours, and was also seen briefly 
the next day. The short legs, overall gray tone, lack of rufous in the wings or 
thighs and very obvious white leading edge to the wing were all noted. There is 
a previous sight record of this widespread Eurasian heron from Saint Paul, from 
the first week in August in 1999. 



North American passerines were few this week, but the overall diversity 
continues to be good. The following totals are estimates of the week�s total 
for each species: 


Ruby-crowned Kinglet			1		Oct 1
Varied Thrush					1		Oct 5
Yellow Warbler				1		Oct 1
Townsend�s Warbler (2nd this fall)		1		last seen Oct 2
Fox Sparrow					1		last seen Oct 2
Song Sparrow					1		through the week
Golden-crowned Sparrow			1		Oct 5
Dark-eyed Junco				1		Oct 5
Common Redpoll				5
Hoary Redpoll					3

The island�s fall raptor show is still on, with the continuing Northern Harrier 
seen on the 1st and 5th, and the local Bald Eagle on the 5th. A male tundrius 
and a female pealei Peregrine were seen harassing the local birds through the 
week, as was the fall�s first Short-eared Owl, which was resting around Webster 
Lake (possibly eating turnstones) from the 2nd to the 5th. 


Regularly Occurring Species currently on the island

Northern Pintail
Green-winged (and Common) Teal
King Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Black Scoter
Northern Fulmar
Red-faced Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Pacific Golden-Plover
Wandering Tattler
Ruddy Turnstone
Pectoral Sandpiper
Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis)
Long-billed Dowitcher
Red Phalarope
Glaucous-winged Gull
Herring Gull (ssp. smithsonianus)
Herring Gull (ssp. vegae)
Black-legged Kittiwake
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre
Horned 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 . This is Gavin Bieber 
(kingbird77 AT hotmail.com), Jake Mohlmann, Dylan Radin, and Rich Hoyer, the 2007 
St. Paul Island Tour guides, wishing you good birding. 



Gavin Bieber
Kingbird77 AT hotmail.com
Tucson, AZ
www.wingsbirds.com

_________________________________________________________________
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now. 


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Sunday, October 7

Dear Birders,

This morning there is a MARSH SANDPIPER on Salt Lagoon here at Saint 
Paul Island. This is the first record for the island and the first in 
North America away from the Aleutians (Adak and Buldir). It appears to 
be a juvenile with several winter feathers coming in. We had great 
views, got lots of photos and heard it call. It was hanging out with a 
GRAY-TAILED TATTLER.

Just before seeing the bird, we were watching a SONG SPARROW and a 
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET in the crab traps, but the first good bird of the 
day was a BRAMBLING flocking with the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches in 
town.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Sunday, October 7

Dear Birders,

This morning there is a MARSH SANDPIPER on Salt Lagoon here at Saint 
Paul Island. This is the first record for the island and the first in 
North America away from the Aleutians (Adak and Buldir). It appears to 
be a juvenile with several winter feathers coming in. We had great 
views, got lots of photos and heard it call. It was hanging out with a 
GRAY-TAILED TATTLER.

Just before seeing the bird, we were watching a SONG SPARROW and a 
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET in the crab traps, but the first good bird of the 
day was a BRAMBLING flocking with the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches in 
town.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Saturday, October 6

Dear Birders,

The big news from Saint Paul Island yesterday afternoon was a gorgeous 
VARIED THRUSH, presumably having arrived on the strong ESE winds on 
Wednesday that preceded the passing of the low. It was in Zapadni 
Ravine with a newly-arrived GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and three EYEBROWED 
THRUSHES. One of the Eyebrowed Thrushes was the juvenile that we found 
there on October 2, while the other two may be new arrivals or 
relocated birds in the W winds that followed passing of the low 
pressure area. A fourth EYEBROWED THRUSH was here in town, where we had 
seen one sometime last week.

Most of the GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHERS seem to have survived but are a 
bit more scattered about in the NE part of the island, and 2 to 3 SKY 
LARKS continue here and there almost anywhere on the island.

A DARK-EYED JUNCO at Polovina Hill was a new arrival yesterday morning. 
Continuing are single PEREGRINE FALCON (maybe two), NORTHERN HARRIER, 
and SHORT-EARED OWL.

Seabirding is becoming more interesting, with a return of  
winter-plumaged murres and other alcids, such as ANCIENT MURRELET, 
numbers of WHITE-WINGED and BLACK SCOTERS, and RED-NECKED GREBES. We've 
had a couple YELLOW-BILLED LOONS and one COMMON LOON over the past few 
days, but Amazing was a concentration of about 90 PACIFIC LOONS off of 
East Landing, 50 of them in a single raft.

Notably absent are the Siberian Rubythroats, the Little Bunting, and 
the Gray Heron. Numbers of Rock Sandpipers and Lapland Longspurs have 
plummeted as they migrate away.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Saturday, October 6

Dear Birders,

The big news from Saint Paul Island yesterday afternoon was a gorgeous 
VARIED THRUSH, presumably having arrived on the strong ESE winds on 
Wednesday that preceded the passing of the low. It was in Zapadni 
Ravine with a newly-arrived GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and three EYEBROWED 
THRUSHES. One of the Eyebrowed Thrushes was the juvenile that we found 
there on October 2, while the other two may be new arrivals or 
relocated birds in the W winds that followed passing of the low 
pressure area. A fourth EYEBROWED THRUSH was here in town, where we had 
seen one sometime last week.

Most of the GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHERS seem to have survived but are a 
bit more scattered about in the NE part of the island, and 2 to 3 SKY 
LARKS continue here and there almost anywhere on the island.

A DARK-EYED JUNCO at Polovina Hill was a new arrival yesterday morning. 
Continuing are single PEREGRINE FALCON (maybe two), NORTHERN HARRIER, 
and SHORT-EARED OWL.

Seabirding is becoming more interesting, with a return of  
winter-plumaged murres and other alcids, such as ANCIENT MURRELET, 
numbers of WHITE-WINGED and BLACK SCOTERS, and RED-NECKED GREBES. We've 
had a couple YELLOW-BILLED LOONS and one COMMON LOON over the past few 
days, but Amazing was a concentration of about 90 PACIFIC LOONS off of 
East Landing, 50 of them in a single raft.

Notably absent are the Siberian Rubythroats, the Little Bunting, and 
the Gray Heron. Numbers of Rock Sandpipers and Lapland Longspurs have 
plummeted as they migrate away.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

The large, nightly rafts of 200-400 male Surf Scoters seemed to have moved 
through. The smaller rafts of 50-100 female Surf Scoters are still moving 
through. They settle on the lake in early evening and, depending on the morning 
fog, fly off about 9 a.m. The female Scaups number about 50-70 and seem to stay 
on the lake to feed for a day or so, along with a very few Scoters. 


The fall migration of Horned Grebes remain on the lake to feed. Their numbers 
are about 25. 


Three Common Loons were successful in each raising a chick. One of the chicks, 
in size and actions, seem to be about a month behind the other two. This is a 
concern if it will be mature enough to fly off the lake before freeze-up. 


The Pacific Loons have moved through, with a few days of a count of 27 being on 
the lake. 


The pair of Red-throated Loons have migrated off the lake.

Delesta M. Fox


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thursday, October 4

Dear Birders,

No sign of the Gray Heron on Salt Lagoon so far today. But 50 mph wind 
and stinging mist (and blowing sand) don't make for the best of viewing 
conditions. We went out for just over 2.5 hours this morning before we 
had to just give up. Even then we managed to see single EYEBROWED 
THRUSH, GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER and SKY LARK. Also the SONG SPARROW 
continues in the crab traps, and a THAYER'S GULL was a rare find at 
Weather Bureau Lake.

The PenAir flight was canceled today due to the weather.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Thursday, October 4

Dear Birders,

No sign of the Gray Heron on Salt Lagoon so far today. But 50 mph wind 
and stinging mist (and blowing sand) don't make for the best of viewing 
conditions. We went out for just over 2.5 hours this morning before we 
had to just give up. Even then we managed to see single EYEBROWED 
THRUSH, GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER and SKY LARK. Also the SONG SPARROW 
continues in the crab traps, and a THAYER'S GULL was a rare find at 
Weather Bureau Lake.

The PenAir flight was canceled today due to the weather.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Wednesday, October 3

Dear Birders,

We did not relocate the Gray Heron today, but it's quite possible that 
the bird is still on the island; we didn't concentrate on searching 
every last nook.

Over the past couple days we continued to have W winds, which may have 
brought more of the same species. Yesterday we had additional 
individuals EYEBROWED THRUSH and GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER, with the 
other regulars continuing. The former was the first obvious juvenile 
bird we've had so far, with pale tips to the greater wing coverts and 
no contrast between the brown cap, nape and back -- and it was in a 
location that we check regularly, Zapadni Ravine. The flycatcher was in 
a spot that we don't check very often, so it could be an 'old' bird. 
And today we found yet another EYEBROWED THRUSH, but  the inner side of 
Lake Hill, which we don't check very regularly, and it's possible it's 
been there since the original fallout as well. And also today another 
GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER, this one about a mile away from ones we had 
seen previously, and along a road we drive at least twice a day. 
However, weather changed abruptly today, from light winds to a raging E 
gale and stinging sleet-rain in the afternoon, and this probably 
dislodged many of the rarities that had become comfortable in their 
usual wind-sheltered haunts.

A goose flew over our dorm in the mid-afternoon as the storm was 
arriving, but it did not get identified.

If there are breaks in the rain tomorrow, we should be able to find 
some new stuff.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Wednesday, October 3

Dear Birders,

We did not relocate the Gray Heron today, but it's quite possible that 
the bird is still on the island; we didn't concentrate on searching 
every last nook.

Over the past couple days we continued to have W winds, which may have 
brought more of the same species. Yesterday we had additional 
individuals EYEBROWED THRUSH and GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER, with the 
other regulars continuing. The former was the first obvious juvenile 
bird we've had so far, with pale tips to the greater wing coverts and 
no contrast between the brown cap, nape and back -- and it was in a 
location that we check regularly, Zapadni Ravine. The flycatcher was in 
a spot that we don't check very often, so it could be an 'old' bird. 
And today we found yet another EYEBROWED THRUSH, but  the inner side of 
Lake Hill, which we don't check very regularly, and it's possible it's 
been there since the original fallout as well. And also today another 
GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER, this one about a mile away from ones we had 
seen previously, and along a road we drive at least twice a day. 
However, weather changed abruptly today, from light winds to a raging E 
gale and stinging sleet-rain in the afternoon, and this probably 
dislodged many of the rarities that had become comfortable in their 
usual wind-sheltered haunts.

A goose flew over our dorm in the mid-afternoon as the storm was 
arriving, but it did not get identified.

If there are breaks in the rain tomorrow, we should be able to find 
some new stuff.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Lots of swans gathering at Potters Marsh near the large turnout. If you 
want to photograph them, bring a sturdy tripod because the wind is 
howling.

A juvenile N.GOSHAWK checked out the dog and me in our field today, the first 
one here in years. Funny, we use to have more when we raised chickens. 
Yesterday near mile 102, Parks Hwy., The Wife saw a first year GOLDEN EAGLE 
down low. 

   
  Dave (& Sondra) Porter
  Trapper Creek

       
---------------------------------
Building a website is a piece of cake. 
Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

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I depart Gambell in a couple hours, so this should be my last posting 
from here this year (unless some "mega" flies over me while I get on the 
plane!).

The Sedge Warbler here at Gambell on 30 September was not seen the next 
day, so a one-day bird. But on 1 October we found a new Little 
Bunting--in Old Town--the SEVENTH of this fall here. Excellent photo of 
it posted on surfbirds.com. And late this morning--3 October--as I 
entered the Far Boneyard, I was greeted by a FLOCK of THREE Little 
Buntings!! So that makes TEN! A bit silly, really.....

Also during the last couple days we've had two new, separate individual 
Bramblings show up, bringing the current village total back up to three 
birds, and the seasonal total to nine. Yesterday I had an adult THAYER'S 
Gull, casual in the Bering Sea, and my fourth here in fall over the 
years. Looking at large gulls here can be a bit of a pain in early fall 
due to some of the sub-adults being in worn, ugly condition, and due to 
the presence of a disturbing number of hybrid looking creatures of 
various combinations.

This morning's final seawatch had a flock of 17 Spectacled Eiders, a 
harbinger of things to come later, as the local residents say that 
thousands of Spectacleds pass by every autumn during late October and 
November. Still about 50,000 Short-tailed Shearwaters offshore, a couple 
each Slaty-backed Gulls and Red-necked Grebes. Also still lingering is 
an above-normal-for-October 28 Pacific Golden-Plovers. And there's been 
a new, gray-brown Gyrfalcon, single Golden-crowned and Savannah 
Sparrows, and the EYEBROWED Thrush is still present and setting some 
sort of record for staying such a long time.

Temps are now in the upper 30s, reaching the low 40s some days, and the 
mountains over in Russia have snow on them. So time for me to migrate 
south as well--except for the fact that I wonder (as I do every year...) 
what I'll be missing here over the next couple weeks, especially given 
how this year has been going! At least the folks at St Paul and Shemya 
will stay on their respective rocks until mid-month.

If anyone is interested in an electronic copy of my Gambell fall report 
for this year--once I finish compiling it in November--let me know. 
Also, I annually update the large paper I wrote on the fall birdlife at 
Gambell and on St Lawrence Island overall, and which was published (with 
data through 2004) in "Western Birds" magazine a couple years ago. So, 
also during November, I'll update that paper through the 2007 season, 
and I am happy to e-mail a copy to anyone who would like it. Just let me 
know.

Trees, here I come!

--Paul Lehman

Bill Tweit and I located two female-type Hooded Mergansers off the 
parking lot at the east end of Spenard Crossing, around 4:30 PM pm on 
Tuesday 10/2. There were otherwise good numbers of ducks on all the 
large lakes, including 6 Surf Scoters with the scaup hordes in Spenard 
Lake.  

Thede Tobish 

Tuesday, October 2

Dear Birders,

The GRAY HERON on Saint Paul Island continues on Salt Lagoon. This 
morning it was being harassed by our resident Bald Eagle, but the Eagle 
was later seen 10 miles away, apparently having given up.

Out at NE part of the island, three SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, a TOWNSEND'S 
WARBLER, a FOX SPARROW, and at least eight GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHERS 
also continue.

We did not relocate the Little Bunting or the Yellow-browed Warbler.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Tuesday, October 2

Dear Birders,

The GRAY HERON on Saint Paul Island continues on Salt Lagoon. This 
morning it was being harassed by our resident Bald Eagle, but the Eagle 
was later seen 10 miles away, apparently having given up.

Out at NE part of the island, three SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, a TOWNSEND'S 
WARBLER, a FOX SPARROW, and at least eight GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHERS 
also continue.

We did not relocate the Little Bunting or the Yellow-browed Warbler.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

A magpie and juvenile sharp shinned hawk got into a tussle outside the 
cabin.  The hawk flew up and landed on a dead tree branch and stayed 
for a few minutes before being chased off by the magpie. 

Kathy Buesseler
Ninilchik 

It must be late autumn in South/Central Alaska  - flocks of swans are 
moving out every day.

In Chickaloon Saturday 9/29 we saw flocks of 85+, 35, and 21 flying up 
the Matanuska River.  Heard more but could not find the groups.  This 
morning (10/2) from our home on Lazy Mtn in Palmer we heard 3 flocks 
before 6 a.m. - well before dawn.  One of the flocks heard this morning 
was Trumpeters but we were not certain about the other groups.

Also - 3 ruffed grouse seen in Chickaloon Saturday, two of them were 
with ruffs out and tails fanned.

FYI:  Deep snow hit the summit of Hatcher Pass over the weekend and it 
was impassable.  We suspect it is likely closed now for the winter 
season.

Cecily Fritz
Palmer

Soggy Sunday on the Rabbit Creek Greenbelt Trail between Rabbit Creek
Rd & Huffman Rd.  Very quiet. 1 Raven, 1 Black Billed Magpie, two
flocks of Black Capped Chickadees, a couple of Boreal Chickadees, 1
Yellow Rumped Warbler (kind of late) and two finchy type things I
couldn't id, binoculars kept fogging up. They were the size & shape of
crossbills, making crossbill type noises, but they were foraging
through the tops of a couple of birch trees.   

Steve Waltz

Hi Birders,

Checked out Potter Marsh, Lake Spenard and Lake Hood today.  Potter  
was about as quiet as I've seen it at the north and central  
portions.  But I was surprised to find two adult Tundra Swans within  
about 200 yards of the south pullout.  First time that I've seen  
Tundra Swans at Potter Marsh.

Also seen from the south pullout:
Trumpeter Swan: 6 (along the back side of the Marsh near the Old  
Seward Hwy)
Mallard, A. Wigeon, & G. Scaup working the same area as the Tundra  
Swans.

 From the north pullout:
Trumpeter Swan: 7
Ring-necked Duck:  8

 From the north observation platform by the parking lot:
GW Teal:  2 (in eclipse plumage)
B Eagle:  1
Wilson's Snipe:  Heard.

Lake Spenard including both sides of the center dividing island:
G. Scaup:  45 +
A. Wigeon:  14 (all immature)
C. Goldeneye:  9
Ring-necked Duck:  2
Horned Grebe:  2

Lake Hood:
A. Wigeon:  11
N. Shoveler:  1 (immature)
Canvasback:  1 (immature)
G. Scaup:  8
Goldeneye species:  7
Ring-necked Duck:  1
Horned Grebe:  1

Is it my imagination, or are RN Ducks becoming more common in Anchorage?

Fun day, despite the pouring rain!
Cheers,
Bob Winckler
Mat-Su Birders (website  AT : )

Dear Birders,

No fallout to report, but some really good birds made for an exciting 
day. Dustin Jones, a local who works for the Ecological Conservation 
Office, raced around the island to find us to tell us about a heron he 
had spotted flying into Salt Lagoon. We were able to confirm and 
photograph a GRAY HERON from about 3:30 to 4:15. Last we saw it, it 
landed on the beach between town and Tonki Point. We'll update as it's 
seen. By the way, Dustin had never seen a heron before.

Also a YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, our second this season, was in the 
Angelica patch by Webster Lake from about 12:15 to 1:00, not findable 
immediately after that.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Dear Birders,

No fallout to report, but some really good birds made for an exciting 
day. Dustin Jones, a local who works for the Ecological Conservation 
Office, raced around the island to find us to tell us about a heron he 
had spotted flying into Salt Lagoon. We were able to confirm and 
photograph a GRAY HERON from about 3:30 to 4:15. Last we saw it, it 
landed on the beach between town and Tonki Point. We'll update as it's 
seen. By the way, Dustin had never seen a heron before.

Also a YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, our second this season, was in the 
Angelica patch by Webster Lake from about 12:15 to 1:00, not findable 
immediately after that.

Good Birding,

Rich
---
Richard C. Hoyer
Tucson, AZ

Senior Field Leader, WINGS, Inc.
http://www.wingsbirds.com
---

Kathy Kuletz saw a bird quite well last Thursday which she was unfamiliar with 
on the Coastal Trail just South of ElderBerry Park ( in the memorial garden 
just south of the tunnel). When she got home and checked references she is 
quite sure it was a Brown Shrike. Subsequent efforts have failed to re find the 
bird. 

Dave Sonneborn

________________________________________________________________________
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