Temps in the 50s, overcast, Rain staring around 10 AM, wind SSW building to 40+ mph by late afternoon
The day started off with a bang (but not for me…).
As I was leaving Warbler Willows, Aaron called about a pipit near the Landing Lights. I got to his location within a few minutes, but the bird was gone and we could not relocate it. It appearred to be a Siberian Pipit (recently split from American Pipit). I have seen three pipits on Adak, but they were all the American race. Oh well…
I have mentioned other rare birds being seen by the other birders on the island. It’s not like I have been shirking. The Siberian Sand-Plover (why didn’t they leave the name Mongolian Plover alone???) was seen by Andy’s group after an all-morning hike down and back to Shagak Bay. The Skylark was found while I was assembling and distributing bird feeders and was gone by the time I arrived there. The Garganey was seen by Aaron’s group after they flushed the teal flock ffrom its hiding ponds and photograhed the flock as it flew away (I usually do this once each trip).
Such is birding on Adak.
After looking for the pipit, we all headed up to Clam Lagoon. A Bar-tailed Godwit was there and the Garganey was out on the mudflats with the teal.
I continued around to the Seawall while the others walked the peninsula and marsh edge. The group along the marsh edge flushed another (or the same) Skylark.
At the Seawall, I picked up some trip birds, including Pacific Loon, Ancient Murrelet, and Rock Sandpiper.
The rain started shortly thereafter and birding went downhill from there.
It just got rainier and windier as the day went on.
I stopped at the Thrush Feeder to refill it, but a young Rosy-Finch didn’t want to leave…
This photo was taken with my cell phone.
Sweeper Channel was somewhat sheltered from the wind and I got nice looks at Eurasian Wigeon and Rock Sandpiper.
A Brambling was also reported today up at Clam Lagoon.
The trip list is 35.
Today’s list can be viewed at https://ebird.org/checklist/S274992020
The Trip Report can be viewed at https://ebird.org/tripreport/413629?welcome=true