Eagle Chat, Alaska Birding

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Recent Postings from
Eagle Chat, Alaska Birding

Updated on Saturday, July 4 at 06:00 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

4 Jul perseverance trail/ granite basin/ juneau ridge July 2 and 3 []
04 Jul Juneau to Skagway 6/30 -7/2 ["Steve W." ]
02 Jul Haines Vireo Hat Trick [Paul Suchanek ]
29 Jun New exhibit at Juneau-Douglas City museum ["bwright1208" ]
29 Jun Re: more Bird Obs []
29 Jun Re: more Bird Obs []
29 Jun RE: summer geese ["Agler, Bev (DFG)" ]
29 Jun summer geese ["glacierdawg55" ]
27 Jun Bird Obs and early Audubon promo [1 Attachment] [Mark Schwan ]
23 Jun Deborah Rudis/R7/FWS/DOI is out of the office. []
23 Jun Juvenile brown creeper [Laurie Craig ]
22 Jun Least flycatcher up Perseverance Trail near Juneau this AM [Paul Suchanek ]
19 Jun Saturday Wild - Flower Identification walk [Mark Schwan ]
16 Jun Doves again [Laurie Craig ]
15 Jun River Road Tennessee Warbler (and Cassin's Vireo) - Juneau [Paul Suchanek ]
10 Jun Funky Nests Challenge from Cornell lab or ornithology ["bwright1208" ]
09 Jun last Saturday's bird walk [Mark Schwan ]
08 Jun Re: Eurasian collared-dove [Paul Suchanek ]
8 Jun Eurasian collared-dove [3 Attachments] [Patty Rose ]
05 Jun Eurasian Collared-Doves --- Kake ["pgbirder" ]
04 Jun Bird walk and other Audubon activities [Mark Schwan ]
29 May Saturday morning birdwalk [Mark Schwan ]
26 May Wandering Tattlers ["Pat Watt" ]
24 May Cinnamon Teal -- Kake ["pgbirder" ]
22 May Later at Eagle Beach ["glacierdawg55" ]
22 May Late afternoon at Eagle Beach ["Toi Gile" ]
21 May misc obs this morning [Mark Schwan ]
20 May ID [alan munro ]
20 May tufted puffin ["Toi Gile" ]
19 May trivia question [Deanna MacPhail ]
19 May Soras ["larrythefishguy" ]
19 May Cinnamon teal and other sightings [Paul Suchanek ]
19 May Re: Pioneer Home Marsh this AM [Mary Claire Harris ]
19 May Barn swallows, hermit thrushes and hooters [Laurie Craig ]
19 May Juneau Audubon birdwalk report ["jeffreysauer2007" ]
18 May RE: Cassins warbler [Deanna MacPhail ]
18 May Re: Cassins warbler []
18 May Re: Cassins []
18 May Found - Optic Cover - Wetlands "sewerline trail" ["slvreagle5" ]
16 May Eurasian Collared Dove ["Matt Goff" ]
15 May Mendenhall wetlands this morning - p falcon and pectoral sandpipers [Gwen Baluss ]
15 May Bird-banding event this Sunday [Gwen Baluss ]
15 May Trip to Pelican [Mark Schwan ]
15 May Scout Beach ["glacierdawg55" ]
14 May Old Squaw and Jaeger attack ["Toi Gile" ]
13 May Tuesday 5-12-09 wetlands ["Agler, Bev (DFG)" ]
12 May Mendenhall Lake ice moving out! [Laurie Craig ]
13 May teal family portrait ["glacierdawg55" ]
11 May White winged Crossbill and Snipe Conventions [Linda Shaw ]
10 May FW: Today's bird walk ["Agler, Bev (DFG)" ]
10 May Dunlins in breeding colors ["Toi Gile" ]
09 May I'm being received. [alan munro ]
09 May A test. [alan munro ]
09 May western wood-pewee ["Julie Coghill" ]
7 May random Barred owl [Gwen Baluss ]
7 May A plant pollinator question []
5 May Eagle releases [Pat Bock ]
5 May Migratory Bird Day Celebration this Friday [Gwen Baluss ]
05 May hummingbird--ID [alan munro ]
04 May a pair of pairs ["glacierdawg55" ]
4 May flock of shorebirds [Beth Peluso ]
04 May FOS orange-crowned warbler calling on Wren Drive - Juneau [Karla Hart ]
4 May wandering tattlers and beach clean-up [Gwen Baluss ]
03 May Re: Berners area [KIM TITUS AND DEB RUDIS ]
03 May Re: pipits [KIM TITUS AND DEB RUDIS ]
03 May Eaglechat - more yard notes [KIM TITUS AND DEB RUDIS ]
3 May Caspian Tern on the Mendenhall Wetlands [Patty Rose ]
03 May wood ducks ["E. Hill" ]
03 May Need ID help - fixed link ["Toi Gile" ]
03 May Need ID help ["Toi Gile" ]
02 May Re: Pioneer Marsh [Mary Claire Harris ]
01 May the continuing sparrow chronicals ["glacierdawg55" ]
1 May singing golden-crowned sparrow [Beth Peluso ]
1 May singing golden-crowned sparrow [Beth Peluso ]
01 May swallow warbler ["jeffreysauer2007" ]
30 Apr yard notes [alan munro ]

Subject: perseverance trail/ granite basin/ juneau ridge July 2 and 3
From: gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 15:59:59 -0700 (PDT)

I failed to find any Gray-cheeked thrushes, or Paul's Least flycatcher, but had some nice birds none-the-less. Macgillivray's warbler, pretty male singing and seen just above the parking lot. Young Harlequin ducks with mom in stream just below the road. Golden-crowned sparrow, singing repeatedly from the brushy patches on the slope above granite basin. What was possibly Mark's swainson's hawk, flying very high between Gold ridge and Juneau ridge.
Subject: Juneau to Skagway 6/30 -7/2
From: "Steve W." <swinak AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:48:19 -0000

Mostly typical species. Notable for me 2 Barn Swallows in Skagway, 1 Great Blue Heron, thought I saw a swift but it disappeared in the shadows of the trees. 2 Rufous Hummingbirds, 1 Kingfisher. The ferry ride produced a couple of Cassin's Auklets and many Marbled Murrelets, one Parasitic Jeager, Black & Surf Scoters, Common Loons, Red Throated Loons, Pigeon Guilimots, Common Murres, Black Turnstones, and other un-identified shorebirds (on the island with the Octagon Lighthouse?) One Townsends Warbler at the Brotherhood Bridge trail, in Juneau Steve W
Subject: Haines Vireo Hat Trick
From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net>
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:50:10 -0800

Just got back from Haines where I was checking out the local avifauna and hiking trails over the past couple days. There seem to be warbling vireos about every couple hundred yards along the Chilkat River, but on 6/30 also found a Cassin's vireo on the way to the Little Salmon River marsh (take the Wells steel bridge at about mile 26 or 27, hang a left just past the pond and it was in the line of cottonwoods right there before the old clearcuts as you go up the hill). The final addition was a red-eyed vireo which was singing last night (and early this morning) just across the road and slightly below the 2nd entrance to the campground in Chilkat State Park. Got a decent look at it by descending the gully a bit - as it sang, it did not move at all, but fortunately was able to pick it out in the (not too dense) tree. Had a nice time birding there in general, even if I had not found any rarities.
Subject: New exhibit at Juneau-Douglas City museum
From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:24:20 -0000

Hello, Addison Field, curator at JD city museum, is looking for a couple of bird experts. The museum is planning for next summer's main exhibit. In 2010, they plan to have the story of Raven and Eagle clans. What Addison would like is a couple of volunteers to help him with the biology and ecology of the birds themselves. He would like info on our birds in southeast. If anyone is interested in being a guest curator (planning and helping to make the exhibit), please call Addison Field at 586-3572. Thanks, Brenda
Subject: Re: more Bird Obs
From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:40:05 -0800

sorry - a bit more explanation was requested Skwy = Skagway. There I do two off-road routes for & with a staff member from the Klondike Goldrush Nat'l Historic Park. This was my tenth year doing surveys there for NPS. The first route is in Dyea, primarily in the open flats. The second starts after a 30 min hike up the Chilkoot Tr. There we find more passerines associated with the mixed deciduos-coniferous forest. These routes are 5 km in length w/~250 m between survey points which are 10 min in length. The other surveys are standard BBS routes w/ 50, 3-min. stops each. The stops are ~ 0.5 mi apart. The Skagway route starts at Dyea, goes around through Skagway and ends at the Canadian border. The JNU route starts south of the Shrine of St. Terese and ends in Thane. All these routes start ~ 3:20 - 3:30 am, and unfortunately mosquitos get up then too.... I have to do the JNU route on a Sunday as there is way too much traffic noise any other day of the week. This was my 20th year doing the JNU route. Deborah Rudis Juneau, AK
Subject: Re: more Bird Obs
From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:06:05 -0800

I did breeding bird surveys in Skwy (tues-thurs) & JNU (Sun) and nothing exciting to report. bummer.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deborah D. Rudis Environmental Contaminants Biologist US Fish & Wildlife Service Ecological Services Field Office 3000 Vintage Blvd. #201 Juneau, Alaska 99801 907/780-1183 fax 907/586-7154 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.' John Muir
Subject: RE: summer geese
From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" <bev.agler AT alaska.gov>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:37:44 -0800

Hi all, I saw a Sandhill Crane on the wetlands on Saturday afternoon. Also about 14 Le Yellowlegs and one greater. Otherwise, it was pretty slow. Sunday, there was a gray-cheeked thrush singing along the edge of Mendenhall Lake Also 2 imm male American Redstarts. Bev. Bev Agler Thermal Mark Lab Supervisor (907) 465-3498 ><((((К>`З.ИИ.ЗДЏ`З.ИИ.ЗДЏ`З...И><((((К> ИИ..ЗДЏ`З..И><((((К>`З.ИИ.ЗДЏ`З.ИИ.ЗДЏ`З...И><((((К> ________________________________ From: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of glacierdawg55 Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:29 PM To: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [Eaglechat] summer geese Sunday afternoon at Scout Beach, we observed a dozen brant on the tide flats for a good half hour. They appeared to be either 1st summer birds or very worn birds. A lone immature bald eagle spooked them up and they flew out towards Gull Island, turned and came back and landed on one of the sand bars. They then swam into the incoming tide and were eating what appeared to be eel grass. Fun to see something out of the ordinary... Merrill Jensen
Subject: summer geese
From: "glacierdawg55" <glacierdawg55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:29:07 -0000

Sunday afternoon at Scout Beach, we observed a dozen brant on the tide flats for a good half hour. They appeared to be either 1st summer birds or very worn birds. A lone immature bald eagle spooked them up and they flew out towards Gull Island, turned and came back and landed on one of the sand bars. They then swam into the incoming tide and were eating what appeared to be eel grass. Fun to see something out of the ordinary... Merrill Jensen
Subject: Bird Obs and early Audubon promo [1 Attachment]
From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:22:48 -0800

I thought I'd just mention a couple of bird observations. There have been several previous reports of Cassin's Vireos in Juneau this spring/summer. One of the birds, first reported in early to mid May near the end of River Road, was locatable up through last week but now seems to either have moved on or just stopped singing. But earlier today, Steve Zimmerman, a visiting birder, and I located a singing Cassin's Vireo at Moose Lake. The bird was initially along the Thunder Mountain side of the lake but then moved over to our side after we played a recording of their song (or else there were two there, but doubt it). We eventually zeroed in on it at the place where we often find redstarts, warbling vireos, waterthrushes etc. We did hear a redstart and warbling vireo too. Also, yesterday, Debi and I took the tram up Mount Roberts and hiked to Gold Ridge. We had good looks at a male Sooty Grouse, a female Rock Ptarmigan with chicks, a brief view of a Golden Eagle, and there was quite a bit of singing going on, especially since it was late afternoon. The highlight however was a good look at a circling Swainson's Hawk; quite rare for Juneau. I was able to get a few photos so have attached one here. This leads me to do an early announcement for Juneau Audubon's Saturday Wild outing on July 18, when Bob Armstrong will lead an outing from the tram terminal up to Gold Ridge to look at birds and wild flowers. There will be more on this as we get closer to the date of the outing. Thanks. Mark Schwan Juneau
Subject: Deborah Rudis/R7/FWS/DOI is out of the office.
From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:03:28 -0800

I will be out of the office starting 06/23/2009 and will not return until 06/25/2009. I am in Skagway working with the Nat'l Park Service through Thurs mid-day. I will be back in JNU late Thurs. I do not anticipate having email access during this time. For add'l assistance contact Steve_Brockmann AT fws.gov
Subject: Juvenile brown creeper
From: Laurie Craig <lauriecraig AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:53:13 -0800

P1030102.JPG P1030103.JPG This little fledgling hung onto the side on my Auke Lake house for a few minutes today until it could climb up the siding for a better launching position. Then it took off into the forest. I think I heard the parent cheeping encouragement from a nearby spruce. Ravens have fledged at the glacier. There's a nesting pair up the hillside from the second parking lot. The youngsters are certainly noisy! We hear the loud squawk then look up to see the shiny black feathers and a bright pink mouth. The parents have molted a few wing feathers so look ragged. Seems to match their bedraggled dispositions with such raucus and demanding offspring! Got a baby porcupine, too. It's smaller than a ball cap and has long hairlike guard hairs and a few white quills. Laurie Craig
Subject: Least flycatcher up Perseverance Trail near Juneau this AM
From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:58:56 -0800

There was a least flycatcher singing this morning (6/22) well up in Perseverance Basin. It was about 1/2 mile from the end of the main trail (up past the junction with the top end of Red Mill Trail). It alternated singing on either side of the trail, best heard about 30 - 40 feet in front of a spot where there are two good sized cottonwoods (side by side) on your right (as you look up the trail) and a small grove of cottonwoods on your left. I almost thought there were 2 as on the right it sounded like it was well down in a small valley and then a few minutes later it would call from the left up on the flats. I never did hear two at once, however. I did see it on the left side as it was calling from a top of a dead shrub, but it was very brushy to walk in there for a good look (at least without scaring the bird). I did record some of the vocals but no photos. Oddly enough, there weren't any grey-cheeked thrushes calling up there and I also did not hear the Cassin's vireo which has been around near the end of Basin Road.
Subject: Saturday Wild - Flower Identification walk
From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:52:23 -0800

Juneau Audubon is sponsoring a wildflower walk tomorrow (Saturday) morning at the Eagle Beach Recreation Area. I know this isn't a bird posting, so I hope the moderator won't axe me from the group. I'm sure people will be looking at birds also (does that give this legitimacy?). Mary Lou King and Pat Harris will lead the walk and it should be a fine outing. This is free and open to the public. The hike will be leisurely and not long. People should be at the Eagle Beach Rec. highway parking lot, the one just before the entrance to the developed camping ground, at 9.am. I hope to see you there. Thanks. Mark Schwan Juneau Audubon
Subject: Doves again
From: Laurie Craig <lauriecraig AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:16:05 -0800

I saw the pair of Eurasian collared doves along the airport dike trail at 8:30pm on Tuesday, June 16. Thanks to all of you smart birders who shared the news last week, I was able to know what I saw. Thank you! Laurie Craig
Subject: River Road Tennessee Warbler (and Cassin's Vireo) - Juneau
From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:56:25 -0800

This morning, there was a Tennessee Warbler singing roughly in between River Road and Wren Drive (Mendenhall Valley, Juneau). This is the same location where I reported one to Eaglechat on 6/12/2008 (and directions from that message are given below). Before you get to the turnoff to the Tennessee from the sewer line trail, I also could hear the previously reported Cassin's vireo (from about a month ago!). I didn't see either but I didn't make much of an effort to see them (it was raining and the mosquitoes were also out a bit). I also could hear an alder flycatcher in the far distance. Directions are as follows: As you drive in the last couple blocks to park at the trailhead at the end of River Road, you will note a small building off to your right which has a light on. After parking, you can follow a trail (or the road) back toward this building and then follow a sewer line trail/jeep road in the general direction of Wren Drive. You will pass a house or two and then a small playground on the right - at which point you take an obvious trail heading off to the left. Follow this trail for 100 to 200 yards until it dips down and mostly disappears in some tall grasses as it turns left (an unsightly old campsite off to your left is a new addition for 2009). The warbler was in this area, generally singing from near the tops of the scattered spruces (you also can hear it if you continue down the sewer line trail past the playground).
Subject: Funky Nests Challenge from Cornell lab or ornithology
From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:27:15 -0000

Enter the Funky Nests Challenge! Dear Birding Friend, You find them in hanging flower basketsan old boota garage shelfor under a bridgebirds build nests in the strangest places! That's the theme for the newest environmental challenge from our Celebrate Urban Birds project: Funky Nests in Funky Places! As you may know, Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, focused on birds in neighborhood settings. For the Funky Nests in Funky Places challenge, we want you to take photos, do a painting, write a story, or shoot a video showing a bird's nest built in some out-of-the-way or out-of-this-world place.When observing nests please be sure to avoid touching them or disturbing the birds. This one's going to be fun, I think. We usually receive hundreds of entries for each of our challenges, and I can't wait to see what your sent us this time and where birds have chosen to build their funky nests! I'm also attaching a PDF flier about the challenge you can print for yourself or pass along to others who might want to participate. We have some great prizes, includig a Leica C-LUX 3 compact camera, bird feeders, shrubs for planting, and more. The first 50 entrants will receive a copy of the "Doves and Pigeons" poster by Julie Zickefoose and we'll post selected images and videos on the Celebrate Urban Birds website. Here's how to enter: 1. Email your entry to urbanbirds AT cornell.edu. Links are acceptable for videos. 2. Write "Funky Nests" in the subject line. 3. Include your name and mailing address. 4. Explain why you submitted your entry--what's the story behind it? 5. One entry per person, please. Deadline for entries is July 31, 2009 Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds website for more information and to read the terms of agreement regarding all entries. Thanks for taking the challenge!
Subject: last Saturday's bird walk
From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:33:51 -0800

Last Saturday morning we had our last Audubon spring bird walk. I'll post just a very brief report. We had a beautiful morning and a large (23 people), enthusiastic group, including the presence of Rich McIntosh, who was visiting from Kodiak. We walked to Moose Lake from the Back Loop Rd, with our main goal to find American Redstarts. To that end, we were very successful in that we found one very cooperative adult male that was quite vocal and amazingly sedintary, such that everyone got excellent views of the bird. Beyond that, we really didn't find anything noteworthy. My bug repellent was in high demand though, as the cold blooded flying creatures were abundant, and we had plenty of close up views of them. Mark Schwan Juneau
Subject: Re: Eurasian collared-dove
From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net>
Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:59:37 -0800

Another Eurasian collared-dove was spotted this afternoon near Sandy Beach in Douglas (near Juneau) - first by Gus van Vliet and then refound by Rich MacIntosh. When last seen, it was spending most of its time in the area between Treadwell Arena and the Montessori School - often on the ground but sometimes in some small spruces in front of the arena or on fences. It was fairly tame and photos were taken.
Subject: Eurasian collared-dove [3 Attachments]
From: Patty Rose <p_rose_raven AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 10:32:16 -0700 (PDT)

On Friday, two Eurasian collared-doves were near the stables on Crazy Horse Drive. I saw one early in the morning, and others saw a pair later in the day. They were not seen again after Friday, but they could turn up in another location. This species was introduced in the Bahamas in the 1970s and has spread across North America. Photos are attached. Patty Rose
Subject: Eurasian Collared-Doves --- Kake
From: "pgbirder" <csusie AT excite.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:37:13 -0000

This evening we had a pair of Eurasian Collared-Doves in the yard at 491 Raven Dr. here in Kake. Good Birding, Chuck Susie Kake AK
Subject: Bird walk and other Audubon activities
From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net>
Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:41:11 -0800

I took a quick hike up Sheep Creek this morning to see if I could find any MacGillivray's Warblers and struck out. There were Warbling Vireos and common warbler types present in the zone where you hope to find them but no MacGillivray's. So, maybe the redstarts won't be in by Saturday for our birdwalk. We will have our last Audubon spring birdwalk on Saturday, June 6th, at Moose Lake in the Mendenhall Glacier Rec area. I will lead this walk. We will begin at the parking lot just next to the Mendenhall River bridge on the Back Loop Rd. Please note we will begin this walk at 7a.m., which is an hour earlier than all of our previous walks this spring. This is an easy stroll along the river and around Moose Lake and doesn't take very long. We mainly bird by ear and hope to get glimpses of birds. The main target species for going here now is to hopefully find American Redstarts, which is one of our latest arriving migrant nesting songbirds. However, there are a number of common species that we can listen for and get confused over, given the diversity in song exhibited by individual species. And, we can always hope for an oddity or two to show up. After this walk, Juneau Audubon shifts to a summer schedule of "Saturday Wild" outings. We will post announcements of these events on Eaglechat but people should go to the Juneau Audubon website through the summer to see what's happening, and there will be posters placed around town advertising these activities. Our first event will be a wildflower walk at Eagle Beach on June 20 at 9 a.m., led by Mary Lou King and friends; more details on this as we get closer to that time. That's all for now. Enjoy the weather and hope to see some of you on Saturday. Mark Schwan Juneau
Subject: Saturday morning birdwalk
From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net>
Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:19:37 -0800

Just a reminder for Juneau birders . . . Tomorrow the Juneau Audubon Saturday morning birdwalk will be up Perseverance Trail. Our leader will be Beth Peluso. Folks should be at the trailhead at the end of Basin Road by 8am. There will be binoculars available for those that need one. Maybe we can find a Gray-cheeked Thrush or MacGillivray's Warbler, or something else good! Hope to see some of you there. Thanks. Mark Schwan Juneau Audubon
Subject: Wandering Tattlers
From: "Pat Watt" <callipygia600 AT aol.com>
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 15:30:58 -0000

I went with Harborview 4th Graders on a field trip to Skagway over the weekend. While waiting for the ferry to come home yesterday I saw two Wandering Tattlers on the rocks below the container terminal dock. A new bird for me, but got a decent photo which led me to the identification.
Subject: Cinnamon Teal -- Kake
From: "pgbirder" <csusie AT excite.com>
Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 04:23:42 -0000

For the past two days there has been a pair of Cinnamon Teal on Boot Lake... about 4 miles SE of the city of Kake. Chuck Susie Kake AK
Subject: Later at Eagle Beach
From: "glacierdawg55" <glacierdawg55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 15:31:40 -0000

Nice shot of a Pectoral Sandpiper! I was out there while you were shooting the gulls passing by... Closer to sunset I was able to spend some time with a nice mixed flock of shorebirds that consisted of 2 - Red Knots, 1 -Surfbird, Dunlins, Golden Plovers, Black-Bellied Plovers (oh for a long lens for a side by side comparison...)Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Western Sandpipers. The huge rafts of scoters have diminished but large numbers of gulls and terns were filling the air with their calls. What a nice evening... Merrill Jensen
Subject: Late afternoon at Eagle Beach
From: "Toi Gile" <tazmans AT gci.net>
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 07:05:27 -0000

Got a couple of nice shots on what I think is a California gull. I am a poor judge of gulls and sandpipers so I am sending out an SOS for ID help. The gull has the red and black dots on the bill but the plumage does not look right. Immature? Also found a pair of American Golden plover's. I am never sure of what I have taken photos of so if you have any insight, please help a novice birder. Thanks, Ron First shots are of what I think is the California gull. http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=498 Next is a sand piper that I got a nice shot of in the late light. Is this a dunlin? http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=500 And the last shot here is the American Golden Plover http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=499
Subject: misc obs this morning
From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net>
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 16:50:31 -0800

There were 5 Caspian Terns and one Red Knot at Eagle Beach this morning, and just a bit north of there near the kayak launch there were 3 Wandering Tattlers. Also, all four species of loons were nearby in the canal. Mark Schwan Juneau
Subject: ID
From: alan munro <amunro AT gci.net>
Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 11:35:28 -0800

FYI: http://tundratantrum.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-bird.html
Subject: tufted puffin
From: "Toi Gile" <tazmans AT gci.net>
Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 14:52:28 -0000

Went to the entrance of Glacier Bay yesterday. I found this to be a very active area for wildlife. As you approach the area the bird life and marine mammals start to multiply. There were sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, and whales. The birds were in every direction you looked. Too many to list. The birds are fairly relaxed and allowed you to slowly move through the area with out alarm. I passed close to a couple of tufted puffin which allowed me a series of nice photos. I also have included a pacific loon that motored by me as I fished and a couple shots of a sea otter. Ron Puffins: http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=495 Pacific loon: http://www.pbase.com/tazman0895/image/112753165 Sea otters: http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=496
Subject: trivia question
From: Deanna MacPhail <bandmac AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:52:31 -0800

Birding trivia question lifted from the WINGS newsletter Trivia What notorious American murderer was an expert on the breeding habits of Kirtland's Warbler? Read our answer on line now at The Wingbeat: The WINGS Birding Blog Deanna Mac Phail
Subject: Soras
From: "larrythefishguy" <larrythefishguy AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 22:47:48 -0000

At Pioneer Marsh this afternoon, there were two Soras calling, and possibly three. I did see one swim from one tufted island to another, but could not get a pic. Several Ring-necked Ducks and Red-winged Blackbirds. Did not see the Blue-winged Teal spotted this morning.
Subject: Cinnamon teal and other sightings
From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 14:25:36 -0800

Another nice day and some nice sightings to go with it: 1) Male cinnamon teal with 4 green-winged teal near mouth of Mendenhall River 2) Pair of redheads inside dike trail along with 21 ring-necked ducks. Pair of canvasbacks still in Gazebo Pond. 3) Large flight of mainly Pacific loons on Stephens Passage at end of north Douglas Highway - counted about 135 on water at once and others flying by fairly continuously. Also saw at least 3 red-throated loons. 4) Heard my first Pacific-slope flycatcher and western wood-pewee of the season. A couple of days ago, I also saw the lesser black-backed gull near sand islands off mouth of Fish Creek.
Subject: Re: Pioneer Home Marsh this AM
From: Mary Claire Harris <mcharris AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 10:11:52 -0800

Marsh lovely this AM in warm sun. Lots of activity and songs about. Seen and/or heard Blue-winged Teal solitary male Red-winged Blackbirds seen and heard Crows just a few Mallards quite a bunch Violet-green Swallows flying about Ring-necked Ducks 3 males Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 female And the Sora is back! heard, but not seen yet Also found a new spot (for me) to bird earlier this morning. Duck Creek, just off Nancy Street in the Valley, meanders along beside a path with a few benches. Didn't stay long, but a slow walk up and back on the path brought: Mallard solitary male sunning on a log Spotted Sandpipers a courting pair seen and heard Red-winged Blackbirds seen and heard actually, their song filled the air as I walked along Robin just 1 seen Red-breasted Sapsucker flew in and stuck around for a bit...nice view...red glistened in the sunlight
Subject: Barn swallows, hermit thrushes and hooters
From: Laurie Craig <lauriecraig AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 07:08:12 -0800

Birds are returning to the glacier in greater numbers recently. I saw my first barn swallow yesterday but others saw the first bird last week. These are very chatty little birds, streaks of orange and blue zipping around the pavilion and other structures. I've been hearing hooters on the hillsides. The melodic song of the hermit thrush has returned to echo through the woods. We've had a very handsome pair of harlequin ducks paddling the ponds and a couple of merganser pairs. A female mallard probed the mud of the "zigzag" pond last night. She quacked each time she pulled her head up for air. A few times it sounded like she quacked under the water! Mountain goats are eating their way higher on Bullard Mtn. We'll expect to see the first kid born in a week or so. Bears have been gone for a few days; we think they are eating the emerging tips of devil's clubs now. There's a solid hillside of those spiky sprawly plants adjacent to the staircase on East Glacier Trail. (We've heard the steps still have ice; I'll let you know later today after I make my first hike of the year.) We see beavers in the evening as they swim and gather wood in the ponds beside the road. We have an abundance of porcupines in a wide variety of sizes. Often their pungent odor advertises their presence before we can see them. Please remember there's no food or beverages except water at the glacier. This is to prevent bears from becoming food conditioned -- a nice way to mean garbage eating. In our situation it's much more dangerous because we have thousands of people daily and most of them want to see a bear more than anything else. Gladly, Juneau residents have the same desire and have been our best allies in supporting this change to a no food policy. Thanks for your help! The reward is terrific free bear viewing. Cheers, Laurie Craig Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
Subject: Juneau Audubon birdwalk report
From: "jeffreysauer2007" <Jeffreysauer AT hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 05:33:54 -0000

The prospects for the Audubon birdwalk of Saturday May 16th sure looked dismal Friday night. But beautiful spring sunny conditions returned Sat morning and we had a very pleasant bird walk. Highlights included, out at the mouth of the river: a couple of Marbled Godwit, one Red Knot, and a large flock of Northern Shovelers. From the field we saw a Peregrine Falcon in the distance that went into a dive (and a Merlin at another point), and 4 species of geese (see below). Also of note were some 30 Bald Eagles standing together in the shallows of the river by the end of the runway (some were flying overhead). Fish was the obvious reason for the congregation, and some small fish were seen by some on the birders. Below is a list of what was seen, as compiled by Patty Rose. Jeff Sauer greater white-fronted goose snow goose cackling goose Canada goose American wigeon mallard northern shoveler geen-winged teal canvasback surf scoter white-winged scoter ring-necked duck greater scaup lesser scaup common merganser bald eagle - high numbers! merlin peregrine falcon black-bellied plover lesser yellowlegs whimbrel marbled godwit ruddy turnstone red knot semipalmated sandpiper western sandpiper least sandpiper pectoral sandpiper many! short-billed dowitcher Bonaparte's gull mew gull glaucous-winged gull arctic tern northwestern crow common raven tree swallow violet-green swallow bank swallow barn swallow ruby-crowned kinglet hermit thrush American robin American pipit yellow-rumped warbler (myrtle) Wilson's warbler savannah sparrow song sparrow Lincoln's sparrow Lapland longspur pine siskin
Subject: RE: Cassins warbler
From: Deanna MacPhail <bandmac AT gci.net>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:41:49 -0800

I'm thinking more along the lines of Cassin's Vireo. Still a good bird. Deanna From: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of deborah_rudis AT fws.gov Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 11:49 AM To: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Eaglechat] Cassins warbler Both Deanna & myself have heard/seen a Cassin's warbler in our neighborhood (River Rd area) since Sat. am. She got a good look at it and I have heard it singing the past few mornings. This is the first time we have had this species in our neighborhood, although they have been found in the Dredge Lakes area which is just down the road. Also a spotted sandpiper (foy) on Back Loop last Friday. Deborah Rudis 907/780-1183 fax 907/586-7154
Subject: Re: Cassins warbler
From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 11:49:19 -0800

Both Deanna & myself have heard/seen a Cassin's warbler in our neighborhood (River Rd area) since Sat. am. She got a good look at it and I have heard it singing the past few mornings. This is the first time we have had this species in our neighborhood, although they have been found in the Dredge Lakes area which is just down the road. Also a spotted sandpiper (foy) on Back Loop last Friday. Deborah Rudis 907/780-1183 fax 907/586-7154
Subject: Re: Cassins
From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 11:50:29 -0800

YEOW !!! Cassin's vireo - brain degeneration..... Deborah Rudis/R7/FWS/DOI To 05/18/2009 11:49 Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com AM cc Subject Re: [Eaglechat] Cassins warbler (Document link: Deborah Rudis) Both Deanna & myself have heard/seen a Cassin's warbler in our neighborhood (River Rd area) since Sat. am. She got a good look at it and I have heard it singing the past few mornings. This is the first time we have had this species in our neighborhood, although they have been found in the Dredge Lakes area which is just down the road. Also a spotted sandpiper (foy) on Back Loop last Friday. Deborah Rudis 907/780-1183 fax 907/586-7154
Subject: Found - Optic Cover - Wetlands "sewerline trail"
From: "slvreagle5" <slvreagle5 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 06:37:19 -0000

I found a black optic cover on the sewerline trail. It's marked Brunton "Lite-Tech" 8x25 -5037w and about an inch in diameter. Thought perhaps it may belong to a birder who suscribes to Eaglechat. If you would like to be reunited with this item, please let me know and arrangements can be made to get it to you.
Subject: Eurasian Collared Dove
From: "Matt Goff" <goff AT nawwal.org>
Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 13:47:05 -0800

A Eurasian Collared Dove was found in Sitka today. It's the first report from here. Marge Ward and Marlys Tedin noticed it feeding in their yard. It was a bit flighty, but I was able to get photos of it. http://www.sitkanature.org/wordpress/2009/05/16/eurasian-collared-dove/ Matt Goff Sitka ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Eaglechat/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Eaglechat/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:Eaglechat-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:Eaglechat-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Eaglechat-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Mendenhall wetlands this morning - p falcon and pectoral sandpipers
From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 16:14:39 -0700 (PDT)

More pectorals than I have ever seen, probably a couple hundred were cruising close to the dike trail. At one point a big bad Peregrine swooped on the flock, then headed over towards Fish creek. We still had at least 100 White-fronted geeese, at least 9 snow geese, and a selection of waterfowl including Canvasback. A nice show for the Sea week third-graders. Rich Gordon and Patti rose reported that 6 or more Marbled godwits were near the Mend river mouth and Fish creek yesterday!
Subject: Bird-banding event this Sunday
From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 16:06:38 -0700 (PDT)

Migration celebration continues! (Note thatТ steady pouring rain willТ make it impossible to net -small birds get too cold in the nets. There should be some good birds in the area to view whatever the weather). Т Т News Release TONGASSNATIONAL FOREST Т Т Т Т Contact: Gwen Baluss Email: Т Т Т Т gbaluss AT fs.fed.us Phone: Т Т Т 907-789-6254 Date: Т Т Т Т Т May 13, 2008 Т Т ForestService to give public up-close look at songbirds Т Т Т Juneau, AKтThe Juneau Ranger District invites the public to a live bird banding demonstration Sunday, May 17, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Juneau Community Garden large pavilion. Т U.S. Forest Service Wildlife Technician Gwen Baluss will give attendees an up-close look at how scientists study migratory birds. Songbirds will be captured in nets, fitted with light-weight tags and safely released. Т All ages are welcome to learn about the birds in Southeast Alaskaтs own backyard. Т Bicycling and car-pooling are encouraged due to limited parking. Т For more information or directions, contact Gwen Baluss at 789-6254.
Subject: Trip to Pelican
From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 09:16:59 -0800

I took the ferry to Pelican this past Tuesday and thought I would give a report. The weather was beautiful and there was a very light load of passengers. The birding was good, especially in central Icy Strait and Cross Sound. One bird of the day was Red-necked Phalarope, as there were countless birds in sizeable flocks throughout Icy Strait and a few scatterd small flocks in Chatham. I'm hardpressed to give a meaningful estimate. I photographed two flocks a short distance (4 minutes traveling) and later printed the pictures and counted the birds. The larger flock had about 950 birds and the other about 700. And, we passed through flocks similar to this for an hour or more??? Plus there were scattered smaller flocks out in Cross Sound. I really don't know how many birds there were and I wish I'd done a better job of tracking, but there were clearly many thousands of birds. The folks on the ferry kept asking me what they were and were fascinated by the abundance. I've never seen anything like it. Loons were very scarce, as I only saw 4 Pacifics, 1 Common, and 1 Yellow-billed. I saw 4 Parasitic Jaegers, with one bird close to home at South Shelter. Kittiwakes were in the thousands but no real count, mostly from Adolphus and to the west but small numbers througout eastern Icy Strait as well. No real count on murrelets but very abundant in central Icy Strait. I saw a few more puffins than I often see, both species, 6 Fork-tailed Storm Petrels, probably the most Rhinoceros Auklets I've seen on this run, with a count of 30 or more. Murres were common in Cross Sound and northwestern Icy Strait. The most intriguing observation I had was midway across Cross Sound, I had two smallish, all black Alcids fly along past me. I had a pretty good long look and was stumped, as they didn't fit any of the logical birds, and they didn't fit Parakeet Auklet either , which I have seen before out there. Size between murrelet and puffin, smaller than Rhinoceros Auklet and all black on belly, back, wing, and heat, with a small, short, conical stubby dull reddish bill. I grabbed my guide and the only species that made sense was Crested Auklet, likely still in basic plumage, with smaller, duller bill. This seems a bit out there but I don't know what else they could have been. Humpbacks were non-existent and Point Adolphus and I only saw about six all day, with two right at home near Shelter Island. There were sea otters scattered throughout Icy Strait, with my first one seen near Pleasant Island. We saw killer whales in Cross Sound and in Chatham Strait. I guess that's it. Hope this wasn't too long. Mark Schwan Juneau
Subject: Scout Beach
From: "glacierdawg55" <glacierdawg55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Thursday evening I took a stroll out to Scout Beach to see what was passing through. There were huge surf scoter rafts with thousands of birds feeding in the shallows. Canada geese, white-fronted geese and 2 snow geese were in the meadow along with black-bellied plovers and American golden plovers. The fun bird of the evening was a lone whimbrel that hiked along most of the beach with me. Judging from the amount of tracks, it probably had more friends earlier in the day. There were otter and mink tracks on the beach as well... Merrill Jensen
Subject: Old Squaw and Jaeger attack
From: "Toi Gile" <tazmans AT gci.net>
Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 04:59:15 -0000

Went over to St.James and found a lot of birds on the water today including an oldsquaw? in with a raft of scoters and a parasitic jaeger attack on a seagull that was amazing. See attached photo threads Other birds seen today at St. James. Harlequins Rafts of surf scoters a flock of about 60- 80 snow geese in a traveling V coming into the flats. Murrelets red necked grebe's red neck phalarope's in a raft Guillemot's two unidentified hawks flew over the boat. Couldn't ID Heard grouse and woodpeckers in the woods. First photos are the jager photos http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=252&pid=1009#pid1009 Next are the shots of the oldsquaw. Not too sure if that is what it is. Couldn't find it in Armstrong's book 5th edition?. Please let me know if I have these wrong. http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=486
Subject: Tuesday 5-12-09 wetlands
From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" <bev.agler AT alaska.gov>
Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 09:33:11 -0800

Hi all, I went out into the flats of the Mendenhall Wetlands yesterday afternoon at the high tide. It's a really low, high tide this week. Lots and lots of American pipits 8 Snow geese Fewer shorebirds than on the low tide last weekend, but still good numbers of BB plovers, sb dowitchers, peeps, least and western sandpipers, dunlin, also 5 Baird's sandpipers, a horned lark. Bev. Bev Agler Thermal Mark Lab Supervisor Mark, Tag, and Age Lab Alaska Department of Fish and Game 10107 Bentwood Place Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 465-3498 (907) 465-2765 fax PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL bev.agler AT alaska.gov ><((((К>`З..З`З..З`З...><((((К>...З`З..З`З...><((((К>.З`З..З`З...><((((К>.З` >З..З`З...><((((К>З.. ><((((К> >З`З..З`З...З..З`><((((К>.З`З..З`З...><((((К>.З`З..З`З...><((((К>..З`З..З`З.. >.><((((К>З.. З`З..З`З....З`З..З`З...><((((К>
Subject: Mendenhall Lake ice moving out!
From: Laurie Craig <lauriecraig AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 18:24:50 -0800

Greetings, birders, Below is a link to a web cam with a view of Mendenhall Lake. Wind began to blow the ice away from the glacier on Sunday and icebergs are on the move. I hope you can spend time there over the next two days or so because observing lake breakup is really fascinating. I'd guess you could kayak by Friday but perhaps there might be too many icebergs. The smaller bergs were moving off the terminus yesterday but not much movement from the big bergs yet. This web cam changes frequently so you can keep checking back. The camera is mounted on the roof of the visitor center and operates thanks to Ed Knuth and the university. The Forest Service's camera is stuck on April 14. Sorry, we're trying to get it fixed. http://www.wunderground.com/webcams/eknuth/2/show.html The nesting Arctic terns are becoming more active, too. Yellow-rumped warblers flit in the brush. Bears are climbing trees to eat the cottonwood catkins. Few leaves have emerged due to the colder temperatures at the glacier so you can see spring arrive easier near the ice versus in town where it's already green. Please remember there's NO FOOD at the glacier. Sorry about no picnics, or walking around with your cup of coffee, but the tradeoff is amazing bear watching. The brown and black juvenile siblings have been around a lot -- the ones featured on the cover of Mark Kelley/ Nick Jans' bear book. Haven't seen their mom yet to see if she has new cubs this year. We hope so because she is an amazing mother. This year's litter would be set four for her at the glacier! I write an email newsletter from work. If you'd like to be on the list, please send me your address to lcraig AT fs.fed.us Cheers, Laurie Craig
Subject: teal family portrait
From: "glacierdawg55" <glacierdawg55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 01:14:41 -0000

At Eagle Beach Tuesday afternoon was a once in a lifetime lineup... from left to right was a blue-winged teal, green-winded teal, cinnamon teal and a shoveler (all males). Oh to have had Bob Armstrong's 1000 mm lens! The scoter raft was pretty amazing also. Thousands of birds were off the north end of the beach. Shorebird wise were 7 short-billed dowitchers and 5 semipalmated plovers. A medium sized flock of small calidris sandpipers went rocketing by with a stiff tail wind with no chance for identification... Merrill Jensen
Subject: White winged Crossbill and Snipe Conventions
From: Linda Shaw <linda.shaw AT noaa.gov>
Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 06:50:28 -0800

Had a large flock of white-winged crossbills working the spruce trees at my house yesterday. Also saw three snipe flying together in the meadow between Brotherhood Bridge and Swampy Acres. -- Linda Shaw Habitat Biologist Habitat Conservation Division National Marine Fisheries Service 709 West Ninth Street (physical address) P.O.Box 21668 (mailing address) Juneau, AK 99802-1668 Phone: 907-586-7510 Fax: 907-586-7358 e-mail: linda.shaw AT noaa.gov
Subject: FW: Today's bird walk
From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" <bev.agler AT alaska.gov>
Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 12:31:04 -0800

Hi all, thanks to Laurie Lamm for keeping the bird list on the Audubon walk to the wetlands on Saturday, 9 May. We had ~20 people and quite a good number of species despite the chilly weather. The large #'s of surfbird in breeding plumage were still visible at the river mouth. Saturday Killdeer (heard only) Tree Swallow Savannah Sparrow Yellow-rumped warbler Ruby-crowned kinglet Hermit thrush Townsend's warbler Common raven Pine siskin Orange-crowned warbler Golden-crowned sparrow Canada Goose Mallard Bufflehead Green-winged teal Bald eagle Rufous hummingbird Scaup spp. Common goldeneye Ring-necked duck Northern pintail 200 Least sandpiper 15 Black-bellied plover 50 Ruddy & 150 black turnstone Arctic tern Bonaparte's gull 200 Dunlin 3000 Surfbird 1 Whimbrel (Patti also saw 6 in another spot) White-winged scoter Surf scoter Red-breasted merganser 500 Western sandpiper 10 Short-billed dowitcher Song sparrow Additional sightings included: Pectoral sandpiper (Bob Armstrong) 3 horned larks (Patti Rose) I was out today (Sunday) and took the long route to the river mouth. Although there were fewer surfbirds (~1000) there were more whimbrel (16), more ruddy turnstone (~200) and Rich Gordon saw a Hudsonian godwit right before I made it to the river mouth. Also today ~20 white-fronted geese were observed from the dike and I saw 3 horned lark and several Lapland longspurs on the sewer line trail. So the shorebird migration seems to be hitting a peak right now.
Subject: Dunlins in breeding colors
From: "Toi Gile" <tazmans AT gci.net>
Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 13:51:17 -0000

Out at Eagle Beach last night and found two flocks of Dunlins working the tide line. They have a couple of birds showing breeding colors. A first for me. Also on the flats are two pairs of Northern shovelers. Photo of Dunlins link. Scroll to the bottom photo for the breeding birds photo. Ron http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=352
Subject: I'm being received.
From: alan munro <amunro AT gci.net>
Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 12:41:30 -0800

I'm being received--my thanks to Steve and Dave for responding to test check on my messages. Alan Munro 586-3694
Subject: A test.
From: alan munro <amunro AT gci.net>
Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 12:06:11 -0800

Not sure my server is delivering--Pls let me know if this is received. Thank you. Alan Munro 586-3694
Subject: western wood-pewee
From: "Julie Coghill" <photoalaska AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 00:22:32 -0000

On Sunday, 3may09, out at the glacier, from one of the Steep Creek viewing platforms, I saw what I think is most likely a western wood-pewee. I've been hoping someone else would see one and post about it but no one has yet. My observations: 1--no eye ring 2--single light wingbar Armstrong says faint eye ring. Kaufman says no eye ring and faint wingbars. Sibley says eastern and western essentially identical, with eastern having weak eye ring, and on western he shows upper wingbar weaker than lower. I've seen western wood-pewees before, not often, and I also got a decent look at this. So I'm just wondering if there is something I'm completely missing and if any of you other birders have seen one? thanks, Julie Coghill 907.460.6147
Subject: random Barred owl
From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 16:59:18 -0700 (PDT)

Last night at about 10 30 I heard a clear "who cooks for you" hoot from (inside!) my house(near Wren drive off Back loop). Unless one of the neighbors was messing with me, this might be a good area to listen if you are seeking this species. I remember in previous years that they have been along Montana creek which, as the owl flies, is not very far off.
Subject: A plant pollinator question
From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 14:54:58 -0800

Hello, As I know many of you are very observant individuals, I am going to ask a primarily non-bird question to the group. I am interested in any observations on what type of pollinator species you have seen on the native plants listed below. I only need generalities, such as, bees, flies, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc. If you have more detailed info (i.e., what type of bee) that is welcome too. This info is for a SEAK pollinator project. Thanks! dwarf fireweed, Chamerion latifolium (we know this is bee pollinated, but any other species noted?) beach fleabane, Senecio pseudoarnica wild iris, Iris setosa Jacob's ladder, Polemonium pulcherrimum beach lovage, Ligusticum scotium boreal yarrow, Achillea millifolium. lupine (either native species) western columbine, Aquilegia formosa -deb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deborah D. Rudis Environmental Contaminants Biologist US Fish & Wildlife Service Ecological Services Field Office 3000 Vintage Blvd. #201 Juneau, Alaska 99801 907/780-1183 fax 907/586-7154 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.' John Muir
Subject: Eagle releases
From: Pat Bock <pbkritters AT hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 15:32:22 -0800

FYI: EAGLE RELEASES SCHEDULED (weather permitting)! All welcome; tell your family and friends: Thursday, May 7, 7PM, Brotherhood Bridge parking lot Monday, May 11, 7PM, Brotherhood Bridge parking lot Thursday, May 14, 7PM, Brotherhood Bridge parking lot Questions: 586-8393 (message phone) pat bock h: 364-3389
Subject: Migratory Bird Day Celebration this Friday
From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 13:30:54 -0700 (PDT)

See LaurieТ Craig'sТ PSA below.Т Please help us spread the word Thanks! -- Gwen Т Т MENDENHALL WETLANDS CELEBRATION COMMEMORATES GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA DESIGNATION Т In celebration of International Migratory Bird Day and a recent award for the Mendenhall Wetlands, a slideshow and booksigning by Robert Armstrong will be held at theТ MendenhallТ GlacierТ VisitorТ CenterТ on Friday, May 8 at 7:30pm. Т Juneauтs Mendenhall Wetlands recently achieved a significant distinction as a globally recognized тImportant Bird Areaт or IBA. The designation is based on several requirements established by an international committee. Т A book titled тThe Mendenhall Wetlands a globally recognized Important Bird Areaт by Bob Armstrong, Richard Carstensen, Mary Willson and Marge Hermans Osborn has just been published. Т Т тIn order to qualify for a globally or continentally significant IBA,тТ the authors write, тa site must support a significant portion of the flyway population of a particular species.т Generally, the site must support over one percent of the North American population of a species at one time, or more than five percent of the population for the season. Fifteen species contributed to the Wetlandsт qualification. Т The Wetlands provide a valuable resting and feeding area for 256 species of birds. Because ofТ Southeast Alaska тs rugged mountain and ocean terrain, flat grassy zones like the Mendenhall Wetlands are rare and vital to the survival of migrating birds. Т The May 8 event is sponsored by the Mendenhall Refuge Citizens Advisory Group of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau Audubon Society, SoutheastAlaska Land Trust and US Forest Service.Т TheТ new Mendenhall Wetlands book will be available at the visitor center's Alaska Geographic bookstore. The visitor center's fee will be suspended after 7pm on May 8. Т For details, call Laurie at 789-0097.
Subject: hummingbird--ID
From: alan munro <amunro AT gci.net>
Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 12:26:46 -0800

Got a "female" Rufus as a regular at my nectar bottle--that is sporting a very dark throat patch--Is this an immature or a...? Alan Munro 586-3694
Subject: a pair of pairs
From: "glacierdawg55" <glacierdawg55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 04 May 2009 20:14:49 -0000

this morning in the Arboretum there were a pair of red-breasted sapsuckers in a tree adjacent to a tree with a pair of hairy woodpeckers. they were no more than ten feet apart chatting amongst themselves. this past week has been interesting with multiple species interacting with each other... merrill jensen
Subject: flock of shorebirds
From: Beth Peluso <bpeluso AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 12:22:21 -0700 (PDT)

There's a flock of 200-300 shorebirds hanging out on a little spit behind the Dept. of Fish and Game Headquarters building (near the bridge, behind Dept. of Labor) right now, the corner closest to downtown. Mostly surfbirds, with maybe 20 or so black turnstones (some of them actually turning stones) and some dunlins. The bird are in mixed stages of changing from winter to breeding plumage. Beth Peluso Juneau
Subject: FOS orange-crowned warbler calling on Wren Drive - Juneau
From: Karla Hart <khart AT gci.net>
Date: Mon, 04 May 2009 10:37:33 -0800

How fun to have the air come awake with birds calling me out for a look. An orange-crowned warbler demanded my attention just now. FOS for me. Karla
Subject: wandering tattlers and beach clean-up
From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 10:23:53 -0700 (PDT)

Thanks to the birders who helped "observe" for the Channel Is. State Marine Park clean-up. What a great excuse to get out in the sun, see some migrants, and help a good cause. I had a lot of first-of-spring species that day, but the only less-common sighting was 5 Wandering tattlers on the south side of Portland Is. ________________________________________________________________________ "I am, I suspect, a basic American, a perpetual violation that loves the land and cannot kick the addiction of velocity. A person fated never to settle yet always seeking the place to settle." -Charles Bowden
Subject: Re: Berners area
From: KIM TITUS AND DEB RUDIS <akwildlife AT gci.net>
Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 18:32:05 -0800

And a flicker flew over out there as well. KIM TITUS AND DEB RUDIS
Subject: Re: pipits
From: KIM TITUS AND DEB RUDIS <akwildlife AT gci.net>
Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 18:25:13 -0800

We had 2 pipits near Berners- also working a combination of intertidal & alder edge. They were very salmon - breasted in color, quite vivid in the sun. ----- Original Message ----- From: Beth Peluso Date: Friday, May 1, 2009 9:48 am Subject: [Eaglechat] singing golden-crowned sparrow To: eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com, AK Birding Group > A singing golden-crowned sparrow woke me up this morning at my > apartment on Douglas Island--not a bad way to catch a first-of- > season bird, still cozy under the covers! > > I've also seen some American pipits by the AK Fish and Game office > by the bridge and just off the airport trail. By the airport trail > they were pretending to be shorebirds, picking around in the mud > with a group of yellowlegs and I believe least sandpipers. One of > them was such a golden yellow my non-birder friend asked what it was. > > Beth Peluso > Juneau > > >
Subject: Eaglechat - more yard notes
From: KIM TITUS AND DEB RUDIS <akwildlife AT gci.net>
Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 18:15:59 -0800

A Townsends Warbler was singing vigourously this am. We had a small flock of golden crowned sparrows come through the yard as well. (River Rd.) A neighbor recently had a dead female merlin in her yard (window strike). There is at least one avian predator around though as we found a fresh siskin feather pile (on a plucking spot on top of a snow pile) near our bird feeders. Sat am at our campsite near Berners Bay, we had a flock of white crowned sparrows and juncos move through. Not alot of bird song. Our south-facing beach was warm & sunny, so I had anticipated alot more bird activity. Other locations still had considerable snow. Deb Rudis & Kim Titus 789-4260
Subject: Caspian Tern on the Mendenhall Wetlands
From: Patty Rose <p_rose_raven AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 18:17:15 -0700 (PDT)

On Sunday morning, Jeff Sauer, Bev Agler, Gwen Baluss, and I saw a single Caspian tern on the Mendenhall Wetlands. It was among the gulls and arctic terns roosting near the mouth of the Mendenhall River on the outgoing tide. A spotting scope is useful for anyone trying to view this bird. Be careful about the tides. A good assortment of shorebirds was present, too. Also, Jeff, Bev and I saw two cackling geese in a flock of greater white-fronted geese on a pond on the airport dike trail on the Mendenhall Wetlands. They were smaller than the greater white-fronted geese, had short necks, stubby bills, and dark fronts. So perhaps they were minimas. A photo is attached. Patty Rose
Subject: wood ducks
From: "E. Hill" <edhill AT uas.alaska.edu>
Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 20:14:53 -0000

At the risk of discrediting myself as a birder, I'm reporting a pair of wood ducks in Pioneer Marsh. I stopped by at about 7 PM on Saturday evening and spotted them on the far side of the marsh beneath an overhanging tree. I walked around the marsh to get a better look and was unable to come up with any other convincing ID. Female had white "comma" around eye, male had all appropriate field marks. Distinctive head shape was obvious. I have asked one of the Audubon board members to go out and take a look to confirm. He told me that wood ducks are rare, but that they do appear here in SE on occasion. Ron--your mystery bird looks like an American pipit to me. Lovely shot of the bluebird! Erica on Fritz Cove
Subject: Need ID help - fixed link
From: "Toi Gile" <tazmans AT gci.net>
Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 06:07:36 -0000

Sorry about that. Here is the link to the unknown bird. Ron http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=465
Subject: Need ID help
From: "Toi Gile" <tazmans AT gci.net>
Date: Sun, 03 May 2009 05:59:20 -0000

I found and photographed a bird down by the Mendenhall river on the way out to the wetlands today that I can't place in the Birds of Alaska book. The only thing it resembles is a faded, pale, red throated pipit but they are not listed as being around here. Any ID help would be greatful. I also got a few shots of the mountain blue bird that was reported out there. I got pretty lucky when it flew right over to me to have its photograph taken. Ron This is the unknown bird http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/newthread.php Mountain Blue bird http://sealaskaphotographicsociety.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=464
Subject: Re: Pioneer Marsh
From: Mary Claire Harris <mcharris AT gci.net>
Date: Sat, 02 May 2009 17:22:30 -0800

Stopped by around 3 PM today. Saw my first Belted Kingfisher of the year. He was seriously fishing in the area to the left towards the highway. Not many ducks about...just one pair of Ring-necked and one pair of Mallards. Saw and heard a Song Sparrow. Also enjoyed watching a Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Myrtle's) move through the trees by the parking lot. Mary Claire Harris
Subject: the continuing sparrow chronicals
From: "glacierdawg55" <glacierdawg55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 23:56:30 -0000

To our delight, the assorted sparrow flock continues to mill about the Arboretum. It's been so fun to see two or three different species at one time in your binoculars field of view. With time comes the luxury of really getting to see the individuals of the different species and I've found two interesting regional color morphs present. There are one each of the Canadian Rocky Mountain variant of the fox sparrow and the slate-colored junco... Last night at Eagle Beach, we watched a small flock of violet-green swallows move through heading north and this morning an orange-crowned warbler was working the expanding buds on the Arboretum's mountain ash trees. merrill jensen
Subject: singing golden-crowned sparrow
From: Beth Peluso <bpeluso AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 10:53:38 -0700 (PDT)

A singing golden-crowned sparrow woke me up this morning at my apartment on Douglas Island--not a bad way to catch a first-of-season bird, still cozy under the covers! I've also seen some American pipits by the AK Fish and Game office by the bridge and just off the airport trail. By the airport trail they were pretending to be shorebirds, picking around in the mud with a group of yellowlegs and I believe least sandpipers. One of them was such a golden yellow my non-birder friend asked what it was. Beth Peluso Juneau [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: singing golden-crowned sparrow
From: Beth Peluso <bpeluso AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 10:53:38 -0700 (PDT)

A singing golden-crowned sparrow woke me up this morning at my apartment on Douglas Island--not a bad way to catch a first-of-season bird, still cozy under the covers! I've also seen some American pipits by the AK Fish and Game office by the bridge and just off the airport trail. By the airport trail they were pretending to be shorebirds, picking around in the mud with a group of yellowlegs and I believe least sandpipers. One of them was such a golden yellow my non-birder friend asked what it was. Beth Peluso Juneau
Subject: swallow warbler
From: "jeffreysauer2007" <Jeffreysauer AT hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 16:23:40 -0000

thur downtown swallows were there - Violet green, and were vocalizing thur evening at pioneer marsh Yellow- rumped Warbler Myrtle's more daily arrivals in Juneau! Jeff Sauer
Subject: yard notes
From: alan munro <amunro AT gci.net>
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:27:06 -0800

No Hummingbirds at my nectar feeding station yet--Last year they were here on April 15th. 2 White-Crowned and one Golden Crowned in yard today, Thursday--and were quite tame. I've also noticed this year that nesting Ravens appear to be displacing our usual nesting crows--something of a demographic shift in our immediate neighborhood--in and around the greenbelt above Calhoun. Also, I believe the GBHerons are not using the evergreens located here for nesting this year. Last year there were only a couple of nests, so I assume they have given up entirely this year. The young have been quite vulnerable to BEagle predation in past years. Alan Munro, 586-3694

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