Hello Mr and Mrs America and all the ships at sea. Broadcasting live from the Eurasian Sparrowhawk capital of North America…

It wasn’t a Lifer, but it felt like one!

Temps in the 40s, mostly cloudy, a few light showers, Wind SW switching to SE 10-20 mph

As I was headed down to Sweeper Cannel this morning, I heard Aaron’s group call about a “different” bird. They were at Sweeper Creek, so I joined them. It was a Hawfinch. I didn’t get a photo op. They later found 2 more.

I headed down to Finger Bay. A lot of Ancient Murrelets and a bunch of Red-necked Grebes and a Pacific Wren.

I roamed about with no other new birds and stopped for lunch at the Adak National Forest. After about 15 minutes, three Bramblings popped out into the willows. There are at least6 Bramblings on the island right now (probably more).

Up at the pond at the Elfin Forest, a mallard was escorting her brood to safety.

There was nothing new on the south end of Clam Lagoon (high tide).

I continued north and got to the Blue Building Feeder. I stopped as I usually do about 100 yads away and scan the feeder and the spruce trees. Not seeing anything, I slowly drove closer. When I was about 30 yards away, am Accipiter burst out of the largest tree, circled and flew south.

By the time I stumbled out of the car and got my camera into flight mode, all I got were “flying away” shots. But they were good enough.

It was a Eurasian Sparrowhawk! My second for Adak (remember, it was Barb and I who found the first one in 2016!). Notice on the photo below the strong white eyeline (supercilium).

And in the next photo, the strong barring all the way down the belly.

Was it one of those that wintered here? A new one? Aaron and I have both noticed a decline in the numbers of Rosy-Finches and Song Sparrows this year. Is this why?

I couldn’t reach Aaron, so I continued around the lagoon, through the breaches area to the Seawall. I got my Red-faced Cormorant for the trip and a Black Oystercatcher (Are they really “catching” oysters or just picking them up?).

At Lake Shirley, the Tufted Duck count was up to 4.

After checking Lake Ronnie (a Mallard and one American Goldeneye), I stopped at Candlestick Bridge and was finally able to reach Aaron. They were on their way up to Clam Lagoon. I met them at the Blue Building Feeder, but of course, no hawk.

Maybe a watch at the Sparrowhawk Grove tonight…

I headed home. The shorebird flock near the Landing Lights was Dunlins and Red-necked Stints today.

Down at Kuluk beach, I found the Black-headed Gull that had been hanging around.

And, to top it all off, when I got to my house, there were three Wood Sandpipers on the street in front of it!

The trip list is at 60.

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/525344?welcome=true