May 2010

Note: We didn’t start keeping a daily blog of our trips to Adak until September 2011. So this is a brief summary of one of the previous trips. For more photos of birds, scenery, flowers, trip lists, etc., go to www.franklinhaas.com and click on Birding Adak.

May 13-27, 2010

We arrived on Thursday, 5/13.

After unpacking, we headed up to Adak National Forest, where Isaac told us there was a Common Redpoll hanging out. We got the redpoll.

Common Redpoll, May 13, 2010, Adak National Forest.

Common Redpoll, May 13, 2010, Adak National Forest.

At Clam Lagoon, we discovered a Greater White-fronted Goose.

Barb had not been feeling well prior to our arrival, but she had persevered and went anyway. By Friday morning, she was feeling terrible and so we went to the clinic, where she was diagnosed with “walking pneumonia.” She spent the next several days in the apartment, resting. I went out and birded on my own. By Monday, she felt well enough to go out birding with me in the afternoon, although I did all of the driving. Normally, she does all of the driving and I take pictures…

We continued this pattern for several more days until she felt well enough to go out all day. Fortunately, she didn’t miss any lifers.

On Saturday (5/15) I saw the Northern Wheatear that Isaac had found earlier in the day.

On Sunday (516) I saw the Smew that one of the other birding groups located at Shotgun Lake.

Smew, May 18, 2010, Shotgun Lake.

Smew, May 18, 2010, Shotgun Lake.

On Monday (5/17), while I and the other two tour groups were standing at Sweeper Creek checking out a Semi-palmated Plover (which I had thought might be a Ringed), a Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel flew by!

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, May 17, 2010, Sweeper Creek.

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, May 17, 2010, Sweeper Creek.

On Tuesday (5/18) we drove around the back of Shotgun Lake so I could crawl up the embankment and possibly get a closer photo of the Smew. While I was doing that, Barb had an Olive-backed Pipit pop up and promptly disappear. We could not relocate it. So another lifer for Barb, but not me.

John Pushock was on the island leading a tour group that was on its way to Attu. He had contracted the Puck-Uk to take them out to Attu for the first birding tour out there in several years. They left that afternoon.

Puck-Uk, May 18, 2010, heading to Attu.

Puck-Uk, May 18, 2010, heading to Attu.

On Wednesday (5/19) we found a Wandering Tattler on Finger Creek.

On Thursday (5/20), while birding on my own, I found a Least Sandpiper on Sweeper Channel.

Least Sandpiper, May 20, 2010, Sweeper Channel.

Least Sandpiper, May 20, 2010, Sweeper Channel.

Later in the day (with Barb), we found a Hawfinch at the Sandy Cove Bluffs Rock feeder.

Hawfinch, May 2o, 2010, Sandy Cove Bluffs.

Hawfinch, May 2o, 2010, Sandy Cove Bluffs.

We didn’t add anything new the next few days.

On Monday (5/24), Isaac took me out to try to get some more Whiskered Auklet photos (and maybe some other auklets as well). We were successful with the whiskered, but only had a distant view of some Parakeet Auklets.

Whiskered Auklet, May 24, 2010, Little Tanaga Strait.

Whiskered Auklet, May 24, 2010, Little Tanaga Strait.

Our trip list was 64. We added a couple lifers (Petrel for Frank, Pipit for Barb), but overall it was a disappointing trip – and Barb’s illness didn’t help.