Temp in the 40s, overcast with drizzle in the morning, a few breaks of sun in the afternoon, wind east 5-10 mph

All of the feeders now have some activity.

As I headed out this morning, Sam saw me and alerted me to a flock of Pine Siskins he was watching. They weren’t very photo-cooperative for me.

Here is the Annual Mandatory Bald Eagle Head Shot.

Today was a good day, although there were no surprises.

There is a flock of ten Aleutian Cackling Geese hanging around near Palisades Lake.

I had two Wood Sandpipers at the Marsh and two pairs of Tufted Ducks at the Airport Ponds.

I had both Common and Wilson’s snipes.

The interesting thing about this sighting is that it was calling the entire time I was there (only 10 or 15 feet away) and I recorded it on Merlin, yet Merlin couldn’t identify it!

The Red-necked Phalaropes are back.

I had several flocks of Ancient Murrelets, which were hard to find last year.

Of course, the elephant in the room are those rarities that showed up this past winter (Two (TWO!!!) Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Bullfinch, Rustic Bunting, and more…).

So far, they are not to be found. One or more of the accipiters were still harassing birds at the Kuluk Drive feeder just a couple of weeks ago!

The best birds so far this trip include at least 5 Tufted Ducks, Barrow’s Goldeneye (male), at least 6 Wood Sandpipers, Pine Siskins, Garganey (not yet seen by me), and Gyrfalcon (ditto).

The Kuluk Drive feeder reported Bramblings recently, but they have not yet been seen by the current crop of birders.

I’m beginning to wonder if that Garganey has become resident. It is a female and one or more Garganeys have been seen here every trip during the last two years. They were a one-in-ten-year bird prior to this run.

Today’s List can be seen at https://ebird.org/checklist/S240024043

The trip list is 43.

The Trip List can be seen at https://ebird.org/tripreport/372779