The weather is changing. As I write this, it is raining and the wind is howling. Today started out calm enough, but as the day went on the wind shifted around to the southeast and started to pick up strength. Gusts up to 55 mph are predicted tonight and tomorrow. But the morning and early afternoon were not too bad, just some light precipitation.
Up at Lake Jean, which is an arm of Andrew Lake, we had 2 Common Loons in breeding plumage — always a treat.
In the small ponds next to Andrew Lake, the Red-necked Phalaropes are setting up shop to nest. They started arriving last week or so and are still in small flocks before establishing territories.
The flock of 5 godwits that were on the beach yesterday, were on the Clam Lagoon flats this morning. We were looking for the Snow Geese, as this would be an Adak bird for Isaac when he gets back on Sunday. We did not see them today, but other birders on the island did report them. So we are hoping they will hang in one more day. The Brant was still in the same area as yesterday.
As we travelled around Clam Lagoon, a Black Oystercatcher crouched down near a rock in hope of avoiding detection.
The (or “a”) Wandering Tattler showed up at the Clam Lagoon Inlet and, unlike yesterday, posed in the open for all to see.
A lot of Aleutian Terns were feeding off of the inlet. There numbers are increasing every day. As we drove back around the lagoon, we spotted a different-looking duck. It was a female Northern Shoveler — an uncommon species on Adak.
When we got to the other side of the lagoon, we met Bob and Warren who stated they had a Dunlin along the marsh edge earlier in the day. So I decided to walk out there and try to see (and photograph) it. Of course, as soon as I got out on the flats, it started to rain. Not heavy, just a nuisance. However, I did find the Dunlin.
The Bramblings were not seen by Bob or me, so they must have moved on. We went down to the Hawfinch feeder and saw both Hawfinches. However, the one refused to come in while the other was nearby, so I couldn’t get a photo of them together, unlike last May.
While watching the Hawfinches, a Song Sparrow came in to feed. The Song Sparrows on Adak are not like the ones back home. These are larger and darker.
We are hoping the nasty weather over the next day or so blows in some goodies.