Temps in the 40s-50s, partly sunny, wind switching from N to SW 5-10 mph

Mount Moffet had a little frosting on top this morning. But it had melted away by early afternoon.

I received an email from Aaron last night that his brother-in-law (with that group of three birders that arrived yesterday) had found a Song Thrush late in the day at the Andrew Lake Recreation Center area.

We agreed to be there at dawn today.

After spreading out and walking through the grasses where it had been seen the day before, it flushed. We flushed it a couple more times. It would not stay still for stationary photos. I got some really shitty photos (you can see better ones on eBird at https://ebird.org/checklist/S196843699 and probably better ones tonight).

Although not very good, you can still see some salient features in my photos. The buffy underwing and the distinctive eye-ring.

Lifer! First Adak record. Fourth Alaska record. Sixth North American record.

The rest of the day pales by comparison, but here goes.

I last saw the Brambling on Friday evening (much to the arriving birder’s woe). But herein lies a tale…

I was watching it sometime between 7 and 8 pm, when it took one last mouthful of seed, turned, and took off like a rocket! And I mean a rocket! It had afterburners on. It flew straight up and away. No zig, No zag. As direct as I have ever seen a bird fly. And as fast an ascent as I have ever seen a bird make. It flew directly east and I have not seen it since.

At the time, I thought it curious, but now i believe that once he had refueled (at my generous repast) he decided to continue on his errant way. He had no idea where he was going, but boy was he making good time.

I left the others still in pursuit of the thrush and on the way back towards town, I had a flock of about 20 Snow Buntings on the road near Palisades Lake. I had never seen a flock this size on Adak, so I assume it is a migratory flock, rather than the nesting pairs I regularly see. I studied the flock to see if any errant stray had joined them, but no.

Here are a few of the Rock Ptarmigan that are everywhere and in abundance this year.

The Trip List is 53. The Year List is 87.

Today’s List: https://ebird.org/checklist/S196989703

Trip List: https://ebird.org/tripreport/277586?welcome=true

Finally, a sunset.

PS: I placed a board on the ground (near the spruces that the thrush flew into at one point) and placed some mealworms on it. Hopefully, he will find it and give us some ground-shots…