![\"\"](\"https:\/\/franklinhaas.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Weather_10072026.jpg\")
Woulda, coulda, shoulda…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On my Guide to Birding Adak, I mention that it is rare to have rain all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is one of those days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It started raining in the middle of the night and is still raining as I am writing this blog at 8 in the evening. And windy too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this weather, the birds need extra nourishment. The Seal Drive feeder was a little active.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/franklinhaas.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Feeder_10072026.jpg\")
Every once in a while, the passing stiff-wings get pushed (or voluntarily enter) into Kuluk Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last fall’s occurrence yielded shearwaters, petrels, jaegers, Fulmars, and albatrosses (including Short-Tailed), which I did not see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This morning, when I scanned the bay (I check every morning), I saw such an event was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It turned out not to be as productive as last year’s, but rewarding nontheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides the thousands of Short-tailed Shearwaters, there were about a dozen Black-footed Albatross. These events usually yield many Laysan Albatross, but I did not see any.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, I did see what appeared to be Short-tailed Albatross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I based my identification on the fact that they (three) appeared larger, were brown overall, but lighter underneath like an older juvenile. Unfortunately, I could not make out the color of the bill (light for a Short-tailed, dark for a Black-footed). That would have clenched it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After returning home, I researched it a bit and found the some Black-footeds can appear lighter underneath as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I feel fairly confident that they were Short-tails, but not enough to put them on my list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe one of these days I will see a sub-adult or adult which will make it easy…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The VENT tour group left today and Marc, Tim, and Bob arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trip list is at 53.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can see the total list at https:\/\/ebird.org\/tripreport\/576221<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Note: the eBird Trip List does not show the Gyrfalcon records for some eBird policy…)<\/p>\n\n\n\n My Fulmar and Black-footed Albatross took me to the magic 100 for my Year List!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Temps in the 40s, overcast, rain, Wind S 15-30 mph Woulda, coulda, shoulda… On my Guide to Birding Adak, I mention that it is rare to have rain all day. This is one of those days. It started raining in … Continue reading