Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Posted on May 21, 2026 by frank

Temps in the 40s, mostly cloudy, rain in the morning, Wind S to SW to N to NW15-25 mph

Slow day today.

I found the Black-headed Gull down at Sweeper Cove this morning.

Wood Sandpipers continue in good numbers. On the road, in any little wet area, etc.

The shorebird flock near Landing Lights varies during the day. Sometimes it is all Rock Sandpipers, sometimes Dunlins and Red-necked Stints, etc.

I saw a Peregrine Falcon twice today at Clam Lagoon.

But the bird of the day was a Common Tern!

This is the longipennis subspecies, normally found in Asia.

Aaron (of course!) found it sitting (the bird, not Aaron!) on the Landing Lights structure.

Common Tern, Landing Lights, May 20, 2026

Notice the black bill and dark overall plumage.

This was an Adak bird for me!

There are at least 4 previous records for Adak, the most recent in 1987.

I was passing by there about an hour or so later, and noticed it was no longer sitting there.

However, there were two terns flying around, so I thought I might get a flight shot.

No such luck. The birds were Arctics.

Arctic Tern, Landing Lights, May 20, 2026

Aaron and his group from Wilderness Adventures left today, but another group from there came in, as did a High Lonesome tour group, and veteran Adak birder, Sam Brayshaw.

So I am not alone…

The trip list is at 62.

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

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Posted on May 20, 2026 by frank

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.

Mallard with ducklings, Elfin Forest Pond, May 19, 2026

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).

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Blue Building Feeder, May 19, 2026

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.

Black-headed Gull, Kuluk Beach, May 19, 2026

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

Monday, May 18, 2026

Posted on May 19, 2026 by frank

No lifers?? Oh my god! How will I survive?

Temps in the 40s, mostly overcast, occasional drizzle, wind SSW 15-20 mph

I checked Sweeper Channel first thing this morning, but the tide was so high that the only shorebird was a Dunlin at the creek’s mouth.

So I headed north, hoping to get the Falcated Duck at Clam Lagoon for photo ops. Aaron’s group had seen it closer to shore in the early morning.

As I passed the Landing Lights, I saw several shorebirds on the road. I quickly identified two of them as Siberian Sand-Plovers. The other one, I couldn’t make out and they soon flew away.

When I returned to the house later and reviewed my photos, I saw that it was a Temminck’s Stint (which Aaron’s group had there yesterday).

Temminck’s Stint (right, with Siberian Sand-Plover (left), on road near Landing Lights, May 18, 2026

As I passed the Marsh, a Wood Sandpiper flew up from the side of the road and posed.

Wood Sandpiper, Clam Lagoon, May 18, 2026

This is one of those “Wood Sandpiper years.” They are everywhere!

The tide was obviously high at Clam Lagoon, so few birds were out on the water (not sure why?). Especially the Falcated, which was staying out on the open water, rather than on the flats.

A typical sight on the lagoon are Sea Otters trying to enjoy their meals without interference…

Glaucous-winged Gulls waiting for scraps or hoping to steal from a Sea Otter, Clam Lagoon, May 18, 2026

I continued along Clam Lagoon, then over to the Andrew Lake Recreation Center.

No birds of note, but I did get the annual mandatory rainbow photo!

Rainbow over Andrew Lake Feeder, May 18, 2026

As I neared the Blue Building Feeder, a Gyrfalcon flew by in pursuit of a Rock Ptarmigan. They disappeared over the hill, so I didn’t see the outcome.

Other birds I picked up today around Clam Lagoon included American Green-winged Teal, Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Pacific Loon, and Arctic Tern.

On the way back to town, I had a flock of shorebirds at the Landing Lights Beach, including 9 Red-necked Stints, Dunlins, Rock Sandpipers, and Sanderlings.

Red-necked Stints, Landing Lights Beach, May 18, 2026

I then went down to Sweeper Channel (since the tide had ebbed). Nothing new, but a really nice photo-op of a Red-necked Stint.

Red-necked Stint, Sweeper Channel, May 18, 2026

Aaron was supposed to go on a boat trip today, but it was cancelled. So he agreed to meet me at the Breaches to try the new road.

I met him up there and we put our vehicles in 4-wheel drive and plowed through. We made it, but it didn’t feel like I was going to…

The road from the breaches to the Seawall was clear, but the road on top of the Seawall was littered with debris. Mostly logs, and other floatable stuff.

I cleared it off as I drove down the road (just enough to let vehicles through).

I continued down to Lake Shirley. I parked at a distance so as not to flush the ducks that were there. Besides the Greater Scaup and Eurasian Wigeon were 3 Tufted Ducks!

I turned around (so I wouldn’t flush them) and went back to Aaron’s group and alerted them.

I headed back home, checking hotspots as I did. Nothing new.

The trip list is 50.

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

This is a decent number considering no Seawall birding. I didn’t spend much time there today, as it was late in the day and I was waning. Tomorrow, I hope to do some serious birding there.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Posted on May 18, 2026 by frank

Keep em coming…

Today’s weather was intermittent. Intermittent clouds, Intermittent sun, Intermittent drizzle, Intermittent snow, Intermittent sleet. The only thing not Intermittent was the wind, SW 15-25 mph.

I started off my usual day by checking feeders and Sweeper Cove. I then headed to Sweeper Channel.

I first noted the usual Rock Sandpipers, but then a Wood Sandpiper appeared, then another one, and so on. Eventually I had 17 there.

Wood Sandpiper, Sweeper Channel, May 17, 2026

Then I saw a Common Greenshank!

Common Greenshank, Sweeper Channel, May 17, 2026

Later, when I got up to the end of the Sweeper Channel Road, I saw another one, but I think it was the same one I saw earlier. Later on, Aaron only had one Greenshank there.

The next thing I saw was a Red-necked Stint.

Red-necked Stint, Sweeper Channel, May 17, 2026

Then another…

Red-necked Stints, Sweeper Channel, May 17, 2026

In the afternoon, I returned to look for a Dunlin that Aaron had. I got it.

I headed north and stopped at the High School Spruces, where a freshly fed Short-eared Owl was perched.

Short-eared Owl, High School Spruces, May 17, 2026

I ran into Aaron’s group. I told him about the birds at Sweeper. He had been walking the marsh edge at Clam Lagoon and added Temmink’s Stint. He also had a Wood Sandpiper.

I headed up to Clam in hopes of getting better photos of the Garganey and Falcated Duck.

A tiny bit better on the Garganey, but couldn’t find the Falcated.

I next headed over to Andrew Lake, where I went through a snow squall. Hoever, I did find a Common Loon and two Great Egrets.

Great Egrets, Andrew Lake, May 17, 2026-

On my wat back from Andrew Lake, I got a call from Aaron that there were three Siberian Sand-Plovers at Landing Lights Beach!

I was only 3 minutes away.

Siberian Sand-Plover, Landing Lights Beach, May 17, 2026

By the time Aaron’s group left there, there were 4!

I visited a few more spots and called it a day.

At 7:15 PM, as I was editing these photos for this blog, Aaron called me and told me there was a Great Knot at Clam Lagoon!

Off I flew…

Sure enough, another lifer!

Great Knot with Black-bellied Plover, Clam Lagoon, May 17, 2026

There are two previous records for Adak: June 4, 1971 and June 9, 1982.

Also up at the lagoon were 10 or so Dunlin, 9 Red-necked Stints, a Temminck’s Stint, some Sanderlings, and who knows what else. I saw the Red-necks and Dunlins, but not the Temminck’s or Sanderings.

I haven’t updated my eBird list and trip list yet, but will add those stats to these blog posts once I do.

A side note: When I went to fill the Blue Building Feeder yesterday, there were pellets on it.

Owl pellets, Blue Building Feeder, May 17, 2026

I assume a Short-eared Owl, but maybe a Eurasian Eagle Owl…

One can dream!

Clam Lagoon Road

As some of you are aware, the Breaches on the east side of Clam Lagoon were breached last winter. The storm washed a lot of large rocks, sand, pebbles, and other debris over the road, making it impassable. So you couldn’t get to the Seawall, Lake Shirley, etc.

Upon hearing about this, I contacted some people on Adak in an effort to repair the road, enabling vehicles to drive through it.

I finally found an individual (Cody) who felt he could do it (for a fee). I agreed and asked him to proceed. I then created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for this project.

The fundraising was successful ($5000!) and Cody got to work. However, it was more daunting than he imagined. He was able to clear a lot of the large rocks, etc., but the sandy soil that was washed over has proven to be more difficult.

The problem is that a large puddle (when it rains) was created that you have to drive through. However, at the south end of this puddle is an embankment that you have to drive up to get back on to the old road. This embankment consists of that sand and pebbles I mentioned, making it very slippery and easy to get stuck in.

**Looking north**. **The old road was just to the right of my car.**

**Entrance to the puddle from the north. This is easy to enter and exit.**

**Exit from the puddle at the south end. This is where the problem is.** **You can see the old road just over the large boulders in the upper center of the photo. The photo doesn’t do it justice.**

**View of the area from the south.** **This photo was taken from the old road. You can see how you have to turn back up here to get to it.**

**Another view from the south showing more of the east side.** **The mounds on the right are the Seawall which was breached. Sitkin Sound is to the right of the Seawall.**

I have not yet tried to drive it, as I don’t want to try it alone. In the next day or two, Aaron’s group will try and I will join him. So if there is a problem, help will be on hand.

I am working with Cody to find a solution.

Meanwhile, the Aleut Corporation, who owns the road, has agreed to assay it for long-term improvements. Time will tell.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Posted on May 17, 2026 by frank

It is already 10 PM, so I will keep it brief and go into more detail tomorrow.

I found a breeding-plumaged Black-bellied Plover on Clam Lagoon. This was only my second on Adak, and the previous one was in winter plumage. So tis was nice.