Temp in the low 50s, partly sunny, Wind WSW 10-20 mph

We went over to Lake Andrew early to see if that duck was still around, but all we found were 5 Common Teal. Out on the lake were two Common Loons — one in breeding plumage and one not.

Still no passerines at any of the willows, spruces, or feeders (other than locals).

At the Seawall, the number of grebes continues above average. We are seeing around 20 Horned and 25 Red-necked each day.

Horned Grebes, Seawall, Sept 30, 2018

At the Airport Creek Bridge, Barb spotted he Sanderling flock coming in. There were 29.

Sanderlings, Airport Creek Bridge, Sept 30, 2018

Sanderlings, Airport Creek Bridge, Sept 30, 2018

But the excitement of the day came as we were approaching the Lake Andrew Rec Center. We stopped to look at the ponds, and just as we did, a shorebird flew out. It was pale gray, had a white stripe up its back, a long bill, and orange/yellow legs that stuck out beyond the tail. We don’t know if our presence or the eagle or the ravens flying over agitated it, but it flew back and forth (too fast or me to photograph it) and finally landed in one of the ponds behind some reeds. I took the best photos I could and then it flew up again and circled around and disappeared.

Based on what we saw in flight and the head, bill, and neck markings seen in the photo, we believe it is a Spotted Redshank! Our second for the year (but different plumage)!

Spotted Redshank, Andrew Lake Rec Center Ponds, Sept 30, 2018

Good thing that we had the breeding-plumaged bird last May, as this was not very satisfying. This is the first Asian bird we have had on this trip, so we are optimistic that some others may show up. We have been in a westerly flow for several days, but the winds have not been very strong.

We subsequently searched all of the usual places that it might have gone, to no avail.

I usually do not like walking the Clam Lagoon marsh edge on consecutive days, but I had to in case the bird had settled there. I did not find it, but got a nice shot of the Long-billed Dowitchers.

Long-billed Dowitchers, Clam Lagoon, Sept 30, 2018

After dinner, we ventured out again and decided to use the western lighting to scan Kuluk Bay. We were rewarded with a nice Red-thoated Loon. The first one we have had within reasonable photo distance.

Red-throated Loon, Kuluk Bay, Sept 30, 2018

Red-throated Loon, Kuluk Bay, Sept 30, 2018

We also had some nice White-winged Scoters.

White-winged Scoters, Kuluk Bay, Sept 30, 2018

The Trip List is 53 (above average) and the Year List remains at 89.

Temp in the low 50s, mostly cloudy, occasional light rain, wind SW 10-15 mph diminishing as the day went on.

We added two trip birds today.

A Gyrfalcon flew by us near Haven Lake and a Common Loon was on Lake Andrew.

Also at Lake Andrew, a duck flew out of one of the ponds adjacent to the road and disappeared over a dike. It looked different. I slogged my way over to the dike and peered over. There were three ponds – 2 big and 1 little. I could not see all of each pond, but what I could see had no birds.

I noticed that there was a small building up on the hillside (that we had driven up to once before) which would provide a view of all three ponds – or so I thought. However, halfway up the road, there was a locked gate! We could see much of the larger pond from there, but not the other two.

So we will try again tomorrow.

The gulls at the fish factory outflow continue to squabble over the bits nd pieces being discharged there. Here is a short video of the gathering. (Note: I am still working on this, so it may not work.)

At the Seawall, we had 6 Pacific Loons today as well as continuing good numbers of Horned and Red-necked Grebes.

We went up to Clam Lagoon after dinner again, but this time there was only one Common Teal to be seen!

Later, coming back to town, we stopped at the Thrush Feeder where about 40-50 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches had been feeding earlier.

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Thrush Feeder, Sept 29, 2018

But by this time of day (sunset), they had gone to roost and two large rats were finishing up whatever the finches hadn’t eaten. This is why I fill the feeders in the morning, rather than the afternoon before.

Norway Rat, Thrush Feeder, Sept 29, 2018

The Trip List stands at 51. The Year List remains at 89.

Temp in the low 50s, mostly cloudy, rain in the morning, partly sunny in the afternoon, Wind WSW 10-20 mph diminishing in late afternoon.

We added a few trip birds and one year bird, but otherwise, pretty slow.

At the Seawall we saw a Crested Auklet (year bird). This is the third fall trip on which we have seen Crested Auklet close to shore. The other two were in Sweeper Cove and just outside Sweeper Cove. As were those previous sightings, this one also was an immature.

We also found one Ancient Murrelet there.

At the Landing Lights, I saw the flock of 25 Sanderlings on the beach at the Airport Creek Bridge. But, by the time I got back to the truck and we drove the thirty yards up to the bridge, they were gone. One of the birds looked darker than the others and was probably a bird that hadn’t finished molting yet, but it could also have been another sandpiper.

Earlier in the week when Jon, Jim, and I walked out the Clam Lagoon Peninsula, we found a Sea Otter carcass.

Sea Otter remains, Clam Lagoon, Sept 28, 2018They look a lot cuter like this…

Sea Otters, Clam Lagoon, Sept 28, 2018

I walked out the Peninsula this morning and had a small shorebird flush ahead of me before I saw it on the ground. It circled out over the lagoon and back behind me, but when I returned, it was nowhere to be found. Yesterday, when a Pectoral Sandpiper that I was trying to circle around so as not to flush it, flushed, it was soon joined by a smaller shorebird from farther up the marsh edge. They put down a hundred yards ahead of me, but when I got to that area, all I could find was the Pectoral. So there is a small shorebird hanging around — just have to get a look at it.

After dinner, we headed back up to Clam Lagoon. This time of year, the Common Teal hide most of the day in hidden ponds and channels (hiding from hunters and predators we suppose). Then, late in the afternoon, they venture out along the Clam Lagoon marsh edge to feed. So this is the best time to look through the flock for any Asian strays that might be hanging with them (although the lighting sucks at this time of day!).

As usual, they were out along the marsh edge, but we couldn’t pick out any oddities. Two Falcated Ducks were seen in June (after we had left!), and we hoped they somehow stayed around…

The Trip List is 49 and the Year List is 89.

Temp in the low 50s, mostly sunny, wind S 5-10 mph

It blew hard (up to 45 mph) last night and rained an inch, but this morning it was calm and sunny (but cool).

No new birds at Sweeper or the feeders. We checked Warbler Willows and Adak National Forest, but nothing there.

At Landing Lights, four Ruddy Turnstones and one Rock Sandpiper continue.

Ruddy Turnstone, Landing Lights, Sept 27, 2018

Because of the storm last night and the perfect conditions (no wind or rain), I decided to walk Clam Lagoon again today. I had the same mix of birds that we had previously (Pectorals, Sharp-tailed, Dowitchers).

Long-billed Dowitcher, Clam Lagoon, Sept 27, 2018

I didn’t see that many dowitchers when I was starting out birding, and when I did, they were hunched down like snipe doing their sewing-machine-feeding action. I am always caught a little off-guard when I see them like this — standing tall like a Tringa.

At the Seawall, a young Tufted Puffin was within camera range.

Immature Tufted Puffin, Seawall, Sept 27, 2018

At Lake Shirley we searched for the Redhead to no avail. It, and the American Wigeon, were gone. There were still plenty of Greater Scaup, pintails, and Eurasian Wigeon. We checked Lake Ronnie, but only found Mallards up there. Maybe it is on one of the more inaccessible ponds. We have had birds on Lake Shirley before which would disappear for a day or two and then reappear. We will see.

Further down along the east side of the lagoon, another Peregrine circled overhead.

Peregrine Falcon, Clam Lagoon, Sept 27, 2018

The sea was still calm as we came back up to the Seawall, so I spent some time scoping (usually, the sea is wavy or choppy, making it hard to get on distant birds long enough to identify them). Today yielded 2 Pacific Loons, 1 breeding-plumaged Yellow-billed Loon (of course, too far out for photos! One of these days…), a White-winged Scoter, 12 Horned Grebes, many Red-necked Grebes, and a lot of alcids. We could not pick out any pelagics going by.

The Trip List is 47, the Year List is 88.

Temp in the 50s, mostly cloudy, rain starting in late afternoon, Wind S 10-20 mph

The weather is finally changing. The winds are supposed to swing around to the west and get stronger the next few days. Just what we’re looking for.

The next two sightings are subject to change (gulls are not my forte)!

The fish factory has been busy all week — new boats coming in each day — so the waste outflow at the Sweeper Cove Breakwall has been attracting a lot of birds. Nothing new until today when we spotted a Herring “Vega” Gull.

Herring “Vega” Gull, Sweeper Cove Breakwall, Sept 26, 2018

Herring “Vega” Gull, Sweeper Cove Breakwall, Sept 26, 2018

Up at the Airport Creek Bridge we found a Slaty-backed Gull.

Slaty-backed Gull, Airport Creek Bridge, Sept 26, 2018

Slaty-backed Gull, Airport Creek Bridge, Sept 26, 2018

Slaty-backed Gull, Airport Creek Bridge, Sept 26, 2018

Jon, Jim, and I walked Clam Lagoon again this morning and found about the same as two days ago.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Clam Lagoon, Sept 26, 2018

But the excitement of the day was at Lake Shirley, where we found a Redhead — second record for Adak. It was all the way across and in very poor light, but I got some very poor photos.

Redhead (second from right — in back), Lake Shirley, Sept 26, 2018

We hope it will hang around and give me a better photo-op.

We had 25 Sanderlings on the lagoon and the flock of 25 Cackling Geese is still hanging around.

Only one Ruddy Turnstone and no Rock Sandpipers today (although Jon and Jim had 4 turnstones).

Jon and Jim left today, so we are birding alone for the next ten days.

The trip list is 43 and the years list is 87.

Temp in the 50s, mostly sunny, light NW winds (Horrible weather!!!!)

So far, most commentators on our crane say it is a Sandhill. We tend to agree.

Nothing new today (not even a trip bird). However, I did get some photos.

A flock of Cackling Geese near the Seawall took off as we tried to pass them.

Cackling Geese, near the Seawall, Sept 25, 2018

In the fall, there are many more Pacific Wrens around and they are very friendly.

Pacific Wren, Seawall, Sept 25, 2018

As are the song Sparrows.

Aleutian Song Sparrow, Landing Lights, Sept 25, 2018

There are usually more Peregrine Falcons around, too.

Peregrine Falcon, Clam Lagoon, Sept 25, 2018

Peregrine Falcon, Clam Lagoon, Sept 25, 2018

Peregrine Falcon, Clam Lagoon, Sept 25, 2018

At the Landing Lights today, I had a shearwater (probably Short-tailed) fly in just above the water (which was like glass) flap-flap-flap-glide, occasionally dropping his head to pick something off of the surface. It was too backlit and far away to get photos. but it was neat to watch.

There are Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches and Song Sparrows at several of the feeders, but nothing else so far.

The majority of Lapland Longspurs have left, but a few flocks remain.

Jon and Jim leave tomorrow, so we will be the only birders on the island for the next week-and-a-half. We hope they find a goodie before they leave.