Temps in the 40s-50s, Partly sunny, Wind NW 5-10 mph
A beautiful day on Adak, but no new rarities.
All of us had few waterfowl yesterday (don’t know why). Today was the opposite, many birds, many locations.
We got to the “mystery bird” location at dawn, but could not find any bird. We searched nearby (State Park, National Forest) to no avail.
We walked the Clam Lagoon peninsula (no shorebirds). Then Tim and Andy walked the marsh edge while I ventured north.
They had the usual mix of Sharp-tailed/Pectorals.
All of the feeders are now active. Just hoping some Asian stray notices.
At the Seawall, a Pectoral Sandpiper preferred the roadway instead of the shoreline.
This was a banner year for Rock Ptarmigan breeding. They are popping up in large numbers all around the area. I counted 68 today!
Among the wigeon flock today, I spied two male American Wigeon (uncommon on Adak).
I checked most of the spruces/willows today multiple times (as did Tim and Andy), but no rare passerines were found.
Considering the number of rarities popping up on the Pribilof Islands (about 450 miles northeast of Adak), it is disappointing that we are not getting anything here. Check the ebird lists. We have had favorable winds for several days.
Unlike those islands, Adak is surrounded by nearby islands, affording vagrants multiple places to put down.
Oh well… We keep looking.
The trip list is 44. Year List is 85.
Today’s List: https://ebird.org/checklist/S196397304