Saturday, September 13, 2014

Posted on September 14, 2014 by frank

Birthplace of the winds…

Temp in the low 50s, mostly cloudy, occasional light rain, west wind 25-30 gusting to 50 (maybe more)!

Since it was so windy, we decided to go look for birds who don’t mind a little breeze — seabirds. So we drove out to the Loran Station (the northern tip of the island). However, the visibility was less than desired. We gave it a try anyway and were rewarded(?) with one Short-tailed Shearwater and a bunch of Black-legged Kittiwakes. Whoop-dee-do!

When we got back to Clam Lagoon, the tide had actually receded a bit and exposed some flats. A quick scan of the peninsula revealed a couple of shorebirds at the bend, so Frank headed out there. He quickly found a couple of Rock Sandpipers and two peeps. They turned out to be a Western Sandpiper and a Red-necked Stint. A little farther out, he found a Ruddy Turnstone, then a couple of Sanderlings and more Rock Sandpipers. Nice to see some shorebirds!

Ruddy Turnstone, Clam Lagoon, Sept 13, 2014.

Sanderlings and Rock Sandpipers, Clam Lagoon, Sept 13, 2014.

Western Sandpiper (left) and Red-necked Stint, Clam Lagoon, Sept 13, 2014.

Over at the seawall, a Gyrfalcon was hunting.

Peregrine Falcon, Clam Lagoon, Sept 13, 2014.

Gyrfalcon, Clam Lagoon, Sept 13, 2014.

If the wind dies down a bit tomorrow, Frank will walk Contractors Marsh and/or the Clam Lagoon marsh edge.

We drove around town a bunch, looking for “small hawks” to no avail.

We saw one adult Peregrine today, so we may have four here right now.

Remember the ONE shearwater mentioned above? When we got back down to the palisade overlook, there were thousands in Kulik Bay! Try as we might though, we could not find any albatross mixed in.

Here’s hoping these high winds dropped some other birds on the island that we will discover tomorrow.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Posted on September 13, 2014 by frank

Temp in the low 50s, mostly cloudy, occasional rain, west wind 25-40 mph.

The high winds and high water levels made birding difficult — passerines stayed low and there was little accessible shorebird habitat. There was practically no kelp (prime shorebird habitat) washed up on the seawall and very little mudflats around Clam Lagoon. Towards the end of the day we saw some lessening of the high water levels, but we have been here before when the water was virtually at high tide 24/7 for a week! We hope this is not one of those times.

The only shorebirds we could find today were three Rock Sandpipers. Here is this trip’s obligatory Rock Sandpiper photo…

Rock Sandpiper, Clam Lagoon, Sept 12, 2014.

The other highlight(?) of the day was at least three Peregrines scattered about the island — one in town and two up at Clam Lagoon (based on plumage and molt).

There is a partial-albino Pacific Wren at the Elfin Forest. It is paler than the others and has at least one completely white tail-feather. I got some so-so photos, but I will hold off posting them in hopes of better.

We have scattered birdseed at the usual locations. It usually takes a few days for the Rosy-finches and Song Sparrows to find it. Then we sit back and hope the feeding activity attracts passers-by — especially Asian ones!

Not much waterfowl around yet, mostly local breeders. One duck of note was a Northern Shoveler. at Sweeper Channel. On the last day of our May trip, we had a pair (M/F) of shovelers at that same location. Did they stay? Did they nest? There is at least one previous nesting record for Adak (2005).

Alas, no “small hawks.” We cruised around town looking for cuckoos or whatever, but no luck. Of course, the weather conditions didn’t help.

More tomorrow.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Posted on September 12, 2014 by frank

Arrival…

Our flights to Anchorage were uneventful. Birding in Anchorage on Thursday morning was also relatively uneventful. Best birds were a Dipper (a bird we don’t always get), a couple of Gray Jays, and a Belted Kingfisher. The kingfisher was a new Alaska bird for us!

The flight to Adak was delayed an hour because of a crew change, so we didn’t get there until near 6 pm. That gave us only a couple of hours before dark, so we headed up to Clam Lagoon, but the tide was so high, there were no mudflats.

The best bird of our quick run around the lagoon was a Peregrine Falcon, especially since we didn’t see any this past May.

Peregrine Falcon, Clam Lagoon Seawall, Sept 11, 2014.

However, the most intriguing note of the day was the comment from the local police chief that there were “several small hawks hanging around.” Back in June, John Pushock’s group found several Common Cuckoos in town. They look like accipiters when they fly. Could that be what is still here?

We will be looking tomorrow.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Posted on May 31, 2014 by frank

Wrap-up

Temp in the 40s, overcast over town, sunny up at Clam Lagoon, 10-25 mph west wind.

Our trip ended with a whimper. No new birds, so the trip list is 61. However, the Tufted Duck at Lake Shirley reappeared. Four new birders arrived today for a four-day visit, so the Tufted Duck’s re-emergence was great news and they rushed off to Lake Shirley. We expect a report from them after their trip and I will add an epilogue to this blog when I get it.

Northern Shovelers are uncommon on Adak. We have had them on 5 out of 7 May trips, but always only 2 to 4 birds. So it is unusual that a pair was still here today.

Northern Shovelers, Sweeper Channel, May 29, 2014.

We would rate this a “very good” trip, not a great one.

We added two new birds to our Adak list — Lesser Scaup and Tundra Swan (three, if you count Bewick’s Swan as a full species). We saw two new whales — Sperm and Hump-backed. The number of Tufted Ducks — at least 8 — was rewarding.

We haven’t seen a breeding-plumage Ruff in many years, so the black-and-rufous Ruff was a treat.

Best of all were the two Bristle-thighed Curlews, up-close-and-personal! Our previous experience with this species was very unsatisfying. This one was great!

Although the number of waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks, loons, and grebes) was a new record for us, the other categories were down. No falcons, no non-native passerines (even North American strays!), no Asian shorebirds — except the Ruff.

Species seen by other birders while we were there, but missed by us, include Gyrfalcon, Short-eared Owl, Horned Grebe, Surf Scoter, and a possible Common Merganser/Goosander.

I will update our trip list in a few days and it will be available under the Birding Adak link at my website www.FranklinHaas.com. (as well as general birding info on Adak)

We will be headed back in September.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Posted on May 29, 2014 by frank

Temp in the 40s, mostly cloudy, occasional drizzle, occasional sunshine, 10-20 mph WNW wind.

It was on this date in 2007 that John Pushock found a Spot-billed Duck at Clam Lagoon.

Oh, to be so lucky…

No such action today.

Apparently, the last lingering Tufted Duck left last night. We found a couple of Common Goldeneyes still hanging around and a few Bufflehead.

Otherwise, few migrants left.

Two godwits remain, but no other shorebirds of note. Still no Asian passerines at any of the feeders. After getting multiple Hawfinches and Bramblings during our May trips in 2010, 2011, and 2012, it was disappointing not to get any last year. And now, none this year (although tomorrow is another day…).

We had a couple of tantalizing moments today. While scoping for seabirds at the Seawall, I saw a congregation of gulls in what we call a “feeding frenzy.” This occurs when a few gulls find some rich food source and most gulls within sight-distance join in on the bounty. In this case, the birds were so far out as to make it difficult to see what they were after. However, I saw a grayish-white object surface, then submerge several times. It then vanished and the gulls dispersed. Was it a Beluga Whale? We will never know.

Then, while walking the Clam Lagoon marsh edge, I flushed a small bird that “had a lot of white on it.” By the time I got my binoculars up to my eyes, the bird had vanished over a small rise. I headed in that direction, but could not relocate it. It could have been a wagtail, a wheatear, or just an out-of-place Snow Bunting (although I have seen a lot of Snow Buntings up here and it did not strike me as one). Again, we will never know.

The list is still stuck at 61.

The plane leaves around 6 tomorrow afternoon (usually earlier). We will be birding until then. I expect our wrap-up blog will not be posted until Saturday.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Posted on May 28, 2014 by frank

Temp in the 40s, overcast, 15-20 SW wind

Elliot (our landlord) wanted to see what this birding was like, so we took him along this morning. Unfortunately for us, the birding was very poor. Fortunately for Elliot, some common birds were close and afforded nice views. We enjoyed his company and enthusiasm and he enjoyed the experience as well. We discussed a lot of the ins and outs of birding and some things that would attract more birders to Adak (better vehicles, a boat to go out and see the auklets, etc.).

We only found one Tufted Duck today and the two godwits were still here, but no curlews.

No new birds today, but I got another up-close-and-personal shot of an Aleutian Tern. They have never been so cooperative and their numbers seem way up from our experience.

Aleutian Tern, Clam Lagoon, May 27, 2014.

The UXO (unexploded ordnance) teams have been working out near the Loran Station, so our access has been limited. So today, we decided to try going out there after they had quit for the day (and stopped blowing things up!). We drove out there around 7:30 and discovered that all of the seabirds had gone to bed! We saw one gull and two eagles. No puffins, no cormorants, no terns, no other gulls, no ducks, no ravens. And certainly no pelagics. I don’t think we will try that strategy again.

List stuck at 61.

Monday, May 26, 2014, Memorial Day

Posted on May 27, 2014 by frank

Curlew redux!

Temp in the 40s, mostly overcast, winds southwest increasing to 10-20 mph, occasional drizzle.

We set out today with high expectations after yesterday’s windfall. However, it was not to be.

No new birds, but as we were driving south along the Seawall, Barb spotted the two Bar-tailed Godwits that had been on the Clam Lagoon mud flats. They were finally close enough for a photo.

Bar-tailed Godwits, Clam Lagoon Seawall, May 26, 2014.

We continued down towards Candlestick Bridge. A Tufted Duck was back with the scaup on Lake Shirley. Lake Ronnie just had a bunch of Red-breasted Mergansers and scaup.

On the way back up the Seawall, Barb spotted two large shorebirds flying into the escarpment. She exclaimed “godwits!” By the time I looked in that direction, the birds had disappeared. But suddenly, two birds took off from there and I quickly got on them. I exclaimed “curlews!” Then, as quickly they were joined by the godwits and they all flew onto the beach just up from us. I hopped out of the car in hopes of catching the curlews in flight for a nice diagnostic rump-and-tail shot. However, they were not concerned with me standing on top of the Seawall taking their picture and just continued casually walking and feeding along the beach. We waited about 20 minutes to no avail. But I did get some more nice photos, including one with much of the tail exposed.

Bristle-thighed Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit, Clam Lagoon Seawall, May 26, 2014.

Bristle-thighed Curlew showing the diagnostic rufous-barred tail, Clam Lagoon Seawall, May 26, 2014.

We continued around Clam Lagoon. We stopped at the west side flats overlook and I walked out the peninsula. The two Sanderlings were still there, but that was all.

While I was out there, a passing driver stopped and advised Barb that one of our tires was going flat! He graciously drove into town and notified our landlord (Elliot), who sent someone (Dustin) out to rescue us. After struggling with two jacks that didn’t want to work right, we finally managed to change the tire and move on.

While we were waiting for Dustin to arrive, a couple of pairs of Parasitic Jaegers were cavorting on the flats. One pair stayed long enough to be photographed.

Parasitic Jaegers, Clam Lagoon, May 26, 2014.

Three more days to go.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Posted on May 26, 2014 by frank

When it comes to shorebirds, quality is more important than quantity…

Temp in the 40s, mostly cloudy, south winds, occasional drizzle.

The change in the weather has brought a change in the birds.

Still three Tufted Ducks on the Airport pond — the only ones we found today. Nothing much else in the southern end, so we headed north to Clam Lagoon. Two Bar-tailed Godwits were on the flats.

On the peninsula, two Sanderlings (different than the ones I had last week) brightened my day.

Sanderlings, Clam Lagoon, May 25, 2014.

At Shotgun Lake, a lingering pair of Buffleheads afforded me a photo-op.

Bufflehead, Shotgun Lake, May 25, 2014.

We drove around to the Seawall and had three Ruddy Turnstones and a couple of Pacific Loons. The number of Black Oystercatchers has increased, with multiple sightings each day now. At Candlestick Bridge we found an Arctic Loon.

On the way back by the Seawall, just as the road drops down to a lower level, I saw two large shorebirds sitting atop the rocks, maybe thirty feet away. At first glance, I assumed they were the two godwits from the flats, but I was quickly disabused of that thought when I saw the long curved bills. My next thought was Whimbrel, but Barb thought they looked too buffy. It turned out Barb was correct. They were Bristle-thighed Culews!

We had seen a Bristle-thighed Curlew back in 2007, when one was found by another tour group. It was way out on one of the rocky outcrops off shore. Although it could be identified, it was hardly satisfying. These guys were more like it!

Bristle-thighed Curlew, Seawall, May 25, 2014. (One-legged variety)

Bristle-thighed Curlew, Seawall, May 25, 2014. (two-legged variety)

Bristle-thighed Curlew, Seawall, May 25, 2014. What a schnoz!

We continued around the lagoon and stopped at the south overlook to scan the flats again. The two godwits were still there. Barb saw another shorebird and pointed me in the right direction, I quickly saw that it was a Ruff — a black one. Male Ruffs come in a variety of colors — this one was mostly black and rufous. The namesake ruff around its neck gives these birds a very peculiar shape.

Ruff, Clam Lagoon, May 25, 2014.

We bid farewell to John’s group as they headed off to Attu. We wish them well.

Our trip list is now at 61. More to come.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Posted on May 25, 2014 by frank

Temp in the 40s, overcast, moderate south wind, occasional drizzle.

Although the weather is changing, no new birds have blown in. The next few days of predicted strong southwest winds gives us hopes of new arrivals.

The only bird we added to the trip list today was Horned Puffin (which nests nearby, so it was expected).

The swan left overnight and migrant waterfowl is diminishing rapidly. Only a few Buffleheads remain, one Common Goldeneye, one Shoveler, and we could only find four Tufted Ducks today.

The Short-eared Owl keeps making appearances for the other birders on the island, but not for us.

Sorry, no pictures today.

59 and counting…