Kristine Sowl, trip leader reported that they “had a very pleasant morning birding. Weather was good, winds calm, trail was very muddy…We had excellent views of orange-crowned and yellow-rumped warblers, Lincoln’s sparrows, and spruce grouse. We glimpsed one large mystery bird that none of us were able to pin down what it was. But may have been a harrier or a large owl.” There were 9 participants.
The following species were seen or heard: SPRUCE GROUSE, WILSON’S SNIPE, BALD EAGLE, BLACKBILLED MAGPIE, AMERICAN CROW, COMMON RAVEN, BOREAL CHICKADEE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, VARIED THRUSH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, FOX SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, Woodpecker sp. drumming.
A big thanks to Kristine for leading this trip. Photos of birders thanks to Jim Herbert; photos of birds thanks to Kristine.
It Was A Great Day To Bird!!
Bay Crest TripBay Crest Trip
TRIPS/CITIZEN SCIENCE
MEETINGS/PRESENTATIONS
May 22nd at 5:30 pm. Meeting and Slides by Members
AND Finger Food!!
Will be in the Seminar Room. Bring a “finger food” snack to share (snack, dessert, anything that can be eaten on a paper plate without utensils). Be thinking of slides you’d like to share! This is our last meeting until the end of August.
All Kachemak Bay Birding trips, meeting and activities are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. All events are free and everyone is welcome to attend. All events will comply with FWS covid-safe practices.
There were 132 species seen during the Shorebird Festival, and this list will be posted here soon. The average number of species in the last 15 years is 130, so we were just about average this year.
We started off a bit slow but it was nice to have the sparrows, swallows and other songbirds by the end. Wonderful to have had the BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW, OSPREY, GREAT-GREY OWL… I heard about two amazing sightings later than my last report. One was a POMARINE JAEGER seen across Cook Inlet on a Festival trip. The other was a RED-NECKED STINT seen across the Bay on a hike to Glacier Lake; according to the story from an impeccable source: a PEREGRINE FALCON killed it as the group watched!
The largest group of WESTERNS that we heard of so far was over 3000, but that was the day after the Festival ended.
Thanks to Janet Fink and Sabine Simmons for helping me this year and to everyone who sent us reports. And a huge thanks to Jason Sodergren for the eBird system on our website and the forms we use.
Our Motto summarizes it well: It Was A Great (several) Days To Bird!
UPDATE OF SPECIES SEEN MAY 6th (Saturday)
All three Godwits were seen in Mud Bay and Lighthouse Village. OSPREY and NORTHERN HARRIER in many places.
There were no larger flocks of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and other peeps than the one reported yesterday (1000). And there were no new reports of the BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW on Saturday.
The following are *new species that were seen Saturday (and just a few others). For previous sightings in an area, please check the Thursday and Friday reports.
A BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW was seen at the Anchor River! A dozen new species were seen on Friday!
A Storm Wigeon was photographed in Beluga Slough, (a rare color morph of the AMERICAN WIGEON). And wanted to note a very interesting observation: MARBLED GODWIT (4) standing on the rocks at the entrance to the Harbor.
The following are *new species that were seen Friday and just a few others. For previous sightings in an area, please check Thursday’s report.
In town: *FOX SPARROW, *COMMON EIDER (4th was missed; seen a little ways north from Bishop’s Beach)
SPECIES SEEN MAY 4th (Thursday)
Wonderful species showing up…all three Godwits were at the Anchor River Thursday. Amazing report of a Rufous Hummingbird near the end of the spit! Interesting Teal hybrid seen in Mud Bay.
The largest group of Western Sandpipers reported so far was 1000, seen on the beach just east of Miller’s Landing on Thursday afternoon
Anchor River
BAR-TAILED GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, SURFBIRDS, WHIMBREL, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, PARASITIC JAEGER, RED-THROATED LOON, GLAUCOUS GULL, TRUMPETER SWAN, BONAPARTE’S GULL, BELTED KINGFISHER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, SAVANNAH SPARROW
Mud Bay
MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, GADWALL, AMERICAN PIPIT, BRANT, BONAPARTE’S GULL, HERRING GULL, GREEN-WING TEAL, Eurasian X American Teal (hybrid)
Mariner Park/Lighthouse Village
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SANDHILL CRANE (nesting, one egg)
Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BRANT,
End of the Spit
SURFBIRDS (4 at Harbor entrance), WESTERN SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, COMMON LOON, HERRING GULL, PELAGIC CORMORANT, HARLEQUIN DUCK, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, SONG SPARROW
Out on the Bay
PIGEON GUILLEMOT, MARBLED MURRELET, HARLEQUIN DUCK, COMMON LOON. Gull Is: SURFBIRDS (46), TUFTED PUFFIN (10); Peterson Bay: BELTED KINGFISHER, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER
ROCK SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER (340), BRANT, Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)
End of the Spit
WESTERN SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, COMMON LOON, HERRING GULL, PELAGIC CORMORANT, HARLEQUIN DUCK, PELAGIC CORMORANT, SONG SPARROW
Lampert Lake and Old Tern Colony (off Kachemak Drive past Lampert Lake on
TRUMPETER SWAN, GREAT HORNED OWL, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE
Calvin and Coyle
GREAT GREY OWL, MERLIN, PACIFIC WREN
Out on the Bay
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (Gull Island)
Seldovia
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, DOUBE-CRESTED CORMORANT, RED CROSSBILL, BROWN CREEPER, MERLIN
PRELIMINARY REPORT (April 30-May 1st)
Mud Bay/Mariner Park/Lighthouse Village
SANDERLING, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, GADWAL, EURASIAN WIGEON, Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)
Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon/Lower end of the Spit
EMPEROR GOOSE (seen 4/30 in Green Timbers), BRANT, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, ROCK SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (120 seen from Land’s End on the 1st), Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid),
Meetings at Islands and Ocean Visitor Center start at 5:30 pm and will be in the Auditorium unless otherwise noted.
May 22nd Meeting and Slides by Members AND Finger Food!!
Will be in the Seminar Room. Be thinking of slides you’d like to share! This is our last meeting until the end of August.
All Kachemak Bay Birding trips, meeting and activities are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. All events are free and everyone is welcome to attend. All events will comply with FWS covid-safe practices.
TRIPS/CITIZEN SCIENCE
Mid-April/May: Shorebird Monitoring
Coordinator is George Matz (geomatz41@gmail.com or 907-235-9344) for more information or to volunteer.
Attention Shorebird Festival 2023 Volunteers – it is time to sign up to assist with programs, hikes, and activities. You sign up online like we did in 2022 or at the AK Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center hallway (as was done previous to the pandemic). The visitor center is open Wed-Sat noon to 4 pm through March. If you physically come in, we will enter you on the online list and vice versa so keep both up to date.
If you have questions, please reach out to us (Lora, Marisa or Kate) at info@islandsandocean.org and one of us will get back to you.
Please review the available slots and click on the button to sign up. I have simple descriptions for each job/role. This is a great way to attend a program/activity for free! However we do recommend you sign up as a participant for the festival once it open in March 22 – that fee helps cover basic costs of the festival.
Ten birders came to the morning’s birding trip to Seaside Farm. It was a bit blustery but there were lots of birds including a NORTHERN HAWK OWL–excellent views at the beginning and ending of the trip–and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK zipping by!
Some of the group later went to the overlook above the mouth of Fritz Creek and saw several hundred MALLARDS, 70 AMERICAN WIGEON and a few pairs of EURASIAN WIGEON.
A big thanks to the leader, Jim Herbert, and to Sabine Simmons and Jim for the photos.
A total of 22 species were seen (at Seaside Farm):
4 American Wigeon 142 Mallard 12 Greater Scaup 3 Surf Scoter 40 scoter sp. 2 Long-tailed Duck 3 Bufflehead 6 Common Goldeneye 1 Horned Grebe 1 Northern Goshawk — Zipped by as we stood observing feeder birds 4 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Hawk Owl — Has been seen in this area past few days. Saw at the start of our walk and the end as well 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Black-billed Magpie 1 Common Raven 9 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 American Robin 2 Pine Siskin 5 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow
Trip to the Spit: 1-21-23
It was a Great Day to Bird! A dozen Kachemak Bay Birders birded the Spit this afternoon and found 25 species including a SHORT-EARED OWL. The owl was seen flying and perched at Green Timbers and at Louie’s Lagoon. SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at Louie’s Lagoon.
Beautiful sunshine and not too cold, but did get a little breezy after a while. A big thanks to Jim Herbert, the leader, and all the sharp-eyed birders who went along. The following species were recorded though not everyone may have seen them all.
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Rock Sandpiper (2000)
Common Murre
Short-billed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Loon
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Short-eared Owl—Green Timbers and Louie’s
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (200)
Snow Bunting (25)–Louie’s Lagoon
Song Sparrow
Trip to the Spit: 11-5-22
I received this report about the birding trip today (5th) out on the spit. It was quite windy with whitecaps even in the Bay–quite the wind chill factor. Most birds were seen on west side of Spit due to the wind and waves. Nice to see the ROCK SANDPIPER numbers have increased to 1700 and that they saw a DUNLIN in amongst them also. Possibly the first Eider around here for a while?
Thanks to Dave Erikson for leading this trip.
Comments: Sunny with strong NE wind 25kts. Temperature about 30F. Number of Taxa: 26 1 Steller’s Eider — Female. Seen by all fairly close to shore. Wedge shaped head. Chocolate brown. Eye ring 3 Surf Scoter 2 White-winged Scoter 210 Black Scoter 11 Long-tailed Duck 14 Bufflehead 11 Common Goldeneye 2 Common Merganser 3 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Horned Grebe 1 Red-necked Grebe 27 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1 Dunlin — At edge of ROSA flock 1700 Rock Sandpiper — Usual location in harbor (in the NE corner down from the Boat Launch ramp area) 4 Common Murre 2 Pigeon Guillemot 65 Short-billed Gull 6 Glaucous-winged Gull 2 Pacific Loon 5 Common Loon 5 Pelagic Cormorant 3 Bald Eagle 1 Steller’s Jay 2 Black-billed Magpie 135 American Crow — Likely an undercount. At all locations on the Spit 1 Song Sparrow*
Fishline Cleanup: 9-17-22
Over a dozen Kachemak Bay Birders helped clean up fishline at the Fishing Hole today. Amazingly it was a very sunny day (note all the sunglasses!) with just a little breeze. Maybe the best weather we’ve ever had?
A goodly bucket of fishline was collected and some trash also. That fishline is no longer a danger to birds and it will be recycled via CACS in the Reel In and Recycle program. Thanks to you all!
Photo by Gary Lyon. (Note: not all helpers are pictured.)
Beluga Slough: 9-3-22
On Saturday (9-3), several Kachemak Bay Birders–in full rain gear, of course!–walked down the trail from the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, along the Slough, and then also birded from Bishop’s Beach. Almost 30 species were seen and/or heard, and starting down the hill to the slough, wonderful to hear the kingfisher overhead and then the yellowlegs sounding off down in the slough. A big thank you to the leader Lora Haller, the Visitor Center manager for Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge of Islands and Ocean Visitor Center.
Species seen and/or heard:
Greater White-fronted Goose 4
Northern Pintail 6
White-winged Scoter 5
Surf Scoter 18
American Wigeon 14
Mallard 30
Northern Pintail 6
Green-winged Teal 2
Black-legged Kittiwake 5
Glaucous-winged Gulls 3
Short-billed Gulls 10
Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 8
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Common Loon 4
Red-necked Grebe 3
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Ring-necked Pheasant 1
Northern Goshawk 1
Merlin 3
Bald Eagles 1
Rock Pigeon 35
American Crow 45
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 2
Orange-crowned Warbler 9
I attended the first part of the trip and have to relate that in the first 5 minutes there was maybe a possible Anna’s Hummingbird that flew across the parking area and into the alders. No one got a good enough look to ID it confidently, but…no other bird is so small and no insect flies that fast. Not sure enough to make a valid ID, but what a great beginning to our trip!
If I missed any species, please let me know. Thanks to Kathy Eagle for the photo.
Anchor River: 8-6-22
On Saturday (9-3), several Kachemak Bay Birders–in full rain gear, of course!–walked down the trail from the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, along the Slough, and then also birded from Bishop’s Beach. Almost 30 species were seen and/or heard, and starting down the hill to the slough, wonderful to hear the kingfisher overhead and then the yellowlegs sounding off down in the slough. A big thank you to the leader Lora Haller, the Visitor Center manager for Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge of Islands and Ocean Visitor Center.
Species seen and/or heard:
Greater White-fronted Goose 4
Northern Pintail 6
White-winged Scoter 5
Surf Scoter 18
American Wigeon 14
Mallard 30
Northern Pintail 6
Green-winged Teal 2
Black-legged Kittiwake 5
Glaucous-winged Gulls 3
Short-billed Gulls 10
Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 8
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Common Loon 4
Red-necked Grebe 3
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Ring-necked Pheasant 1
Northern Goshawk 1
Merlin 3
Bald Eagles 1
Rock Pigeon 35
American Crow 45
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 2
Orange-crowned Warbler 9
I attended the first part of the trip and have to relate that in the first 5 minutes there was maybe a possible Anna’s Hummingbird that flew across the parking area and into the alders. No one got a good enough look to ID it confidently, but…no other bird is so small and no insect flies that fast. Not sure enough to make a valid ID, but what a great beginning to our trip!
If I missed any species, please let me know. Thanks to Kathy Eagle for the photo.
Lani
Despite the windy weather, the skies were blue and the sun was shining. The Kachemak Bay Birders’ August trip to the Anchor River drew eight intrepid birders, including birders from Minnesota and Washington, D.C. A total of 27 different species observed. Not too bad considering the weather. Unfortunately song birds were hunkered down in the wind and not singing. Or at least I couldn’t hear them over the wind.
Gulls and crows were in abundance. At the start of the trip there were at approximately 40 crows in two spruce trees near the parking lot. Both the crows and the eagles were not happy birds as it was too windy for the boats to launch. The wind made it difficult to see most birds out on the water, unless they were fairly close in. Shearwaters were spotted, but they were too far from shore to identify to species.
On this trip, most of us birders walked to the mouth of the Anchor River, which if any of you walked it recently may have noticed that the mouth of the river keeps moving north. The group walked a total of 4.0 miles. But it was worth it as most of the shorebirds we spotted were at the mouth of the river. There has been a lot of kelp buildup and several yellowlegs were feeding within 10-20 feet of us.
Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Red-breasted Merganser (female and four hatch year birds) Pacific Golden-Plover Whimbrel Black Turnstone Surfbird Least Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Horned Puffin Black-legged Kittiwake Bonaparte’s Gull Short-billed Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) Pacific Loon Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater Bald Eagle Black-billed Magpie American Crow Savannah Sparrow
If anyone in attendance would like me to share my eBird list, please send me an email.
Thanks to my co-leader Jim Herbert and all those who attended. It’s always a great day to bird.
Michelle
Anchor River: 7-9-22
It Was A Great Day to Bird at the Anchor River on the 9th! Michelle Michaud reported the following birds seen by the group:
1 Brant
1 Green-winged Teal 11 Surf Scoter 1 White-winged Scoter 3 scoter sp. 49 Whimbrel — Estimate. Flock flying just beyond the surf line. 12 Black Turnstone 7 Surfbird 1 peep sp. 16 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Short-billed Gull 197 Glaucous-winged Gull — Estimate 3 Common Loon 2 loon sp. 1 Pelagic Cormorant 7 Bald Eagle 1 Merlin 1 Black-billed Magpie 7 American Crow 6 Bank Swallow 3 Hermit Thrush 1 White-crowned Sparrow 5 Savannah Sparrow 1 Orange-crowned Warbler
Lots of birds and lots of territory! Carla Stanley and Eleanor Sarren also found these additional species:
Mallard
Common Merganser
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Hudsonian Godwit
Herring Gull
Glaucous Gull
Alder Flycatcher
Violet-green Swallow
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
What wonderful birding at the Anchor! A big thank you to Michelle Michaud and Jim Herbert for leading the trip. And thanks to our cosponsors, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
North Fork Road/”Dipper” Bridge: 6-11-22
This morning an amazing number of early bird Kachemak Bay Birders enjoyed fantastic birding on the North Fork Rd near the “dipper bridge”. And the dippers did put on a great show for us–singing their beautiful complex song for us for a long time and showing us the white of their eyelids (the nictitating membrane which they use so they can see adequately when they are underwater foraging). Check out George Matz’s photos that he posted on eBird, (https://ebird.org/checklist/S112691837). The dipper’s eye would flash white off and on as he was blinking as he was singing away.
Many loud NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH were singing and nice to hear the ALDER FLYCATCHERS also (in some areas of town they have just arrived). The area was alive with birds and bird song. Plus no rain and no mosquitoes! What a Great Day to Bird!!
The following species were seen and/or heard: MALLARD, WILSON’S SNIPE, BALD EAGLE, BELTED KINGFISHER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, ALDER FLYCATCHER, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, COMMON RAVEN, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, AMERICAN DIPPER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, AMERICAN ROBIN, VARIED THRUSH, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, PINE SISKIN. (If anyone had other birds on their list, please let me know?)
A very hardy thank you to the trip leader, Gary Lyon, and the official eBird recorder, Carol Harding, and our co-sponsors the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Our next trip will be to the Anchor River on July 9th. Check out our website (kachemakbaybirders.org) for details soon plus other information including the eBird Sightings Map on the right-hand column for the latest birds seen in the Homer area.
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival May 4-8th
Final Report for the 2022 Festival Species Tally
*A few more species were tracked down and we ended up with a total of 134 species, and of these, 27 were shorebird species.
*One species is listed as “Accidental”, the MANX SHEARWATER. Some species listed as “Rare” were SNOW GOOSE, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, ICELAND GULL, SABINE’S GULL, CASPIAN TERN, YELLOW-BILLED LOON.
*The maximum peeps reported was 4000 on Sunday night.
*Error correction: COMMON MURRE numbers should have been 3500 on the 6th. (Not 35,000!)
A big thanks to everyone who turned in reports to eBird or to me. What a great Festival we had!!
FESTIVAL SPECIES TALLY(Almost) Final Report
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 2022
A fantastic array of species with all three GODWIT species and RUDDY TURNSTONE here so early. Nice to see the SNOW GOOSE, CASPIAN TERN, ICELAND GULL, TUNDRA SWAN, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, CANVASBACK, POMARINE and LONG-TAILED JAEGER, and many others.
Fewer than usual songbird species but there were two warblers: YELLOW, ORANGE-CROWNED; two SWALLOW species; a HERMIT THRUSH finally; and SAVANNAH, LINCOLN and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS. Many hawks and falcons: NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON.
A total of 129 species were seen at the Festival and of those 27 were shorebird species. (A couple other reports are being tracked down so possibly one or two more species will be verified.)
The total number of “peeps’ went from a couple hundred to 450 on Friday, 2000 on Saturday and 4000 by Sunday evening!
Error correction: too many COMMON MURRE reported on the 6th: it was 3500, not 35000! Oops.
The final Festival Species Tally list of these birds will be available on the Kachemak Bay Birders’ website soon, kachemakbaybirders.org.
A big thanks to everyone who turned in reports to eBird or to me.
FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT: Birds seen May 7th (Saturday)
The following species were first reported on Saturday:
BAIRDS’S SANDPIPER—Anchor River
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT—Gull Is.
GADWALL—Slough
CANVASBACK (2)—Slough
LESSER SCAUP—Slough
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK—Bay Crest Hill
RED-TAILED HAWK—East Skyline
HERMIT THRUSH—Calvin and Coyle
YELLOW WARBLER—Calvin and Coyle
ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER—I.O. Trail (to the Slough), FAA Rd platform
TUNDRA SWAN—Beluga Lake (still working on confirmation of this species)
Nearing the end of this wonderful Shorebird Festival:
*We will remember this Festival for the GODWITS being here nice and early, many RUDDY TURNSTONES, late-arriving warblers (Saturday for the first ones)…
*As of Saturday night, there were 121 total species seen (with a few other reports being tracked down/confirmed)
*There were 26 shorebird species seen.
*The largest flock of “peeps” was 400 at Mud Bay as of Saturday, but Sunday morning report just now of possibly up to 2000!!!!
After Sunday’s reports all get in, the Species Tally Sheet will be posted on the Kachemak Bay Birders’ website, kachemakbaybirders.org.
Thanks to everyone who have been reporting birds to eBird and to me directly!
FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT: Birds seen May 6th (Friday)
One SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER reported at the Anchor River and a COMMON EIDER was seen by folks on the Diamond Creek walk. Other new species seen yesterday were PEREGRINE FALCON on the Spit, ARCTIC TERN on Glacier Spit, YELLOW-BILLED LOON, and TREE SWALLOW.
The largest flock of “peeps” reported thus far was 450 in Mud Bay about 2:00 pm.
Heard a rumor of an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER—the first warbler—but could find no report yet.
Sunshine and clear skies going into Saturday morning. It’s A Great Day To Bird!!
Mud Bay/Lighthouse Village/Mariner Park:
MARBLED GODWIT, BAR-TAILED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, RUDDY TURNSTONE, PACIFIC GOLDEN- PLOVER, WHIIMBREL, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLEID PLOVER; WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS; GREATER YELLOWLEGS; SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER; DUNLIN, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, PACIFIC WREN, SONG SPARROW, SANDHILL CRANE (Nesting pair at Lighthouse Village. Observed Friday night: adult crane stood up and 2 eggs were visible in the nest!)
Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon (mid-spit):
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, WHIMBREL, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SURFBIRDS, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, NORTHERN HARRIER, MERLIN, BRANT, PACIFIC LOON, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SAVANNAH SPARROW, TRUMPETER SWAN
End of the Spit (Louie’s Lagoon south):
ROCK SANDPIPER(1), SURFBIRD, MARBLED MURRELET, TUFTED PUFFIN, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, PELAGIC CORMORANT, SONG and SAVANNAH SPARROWS, AMERICAN PIPIT
Anchor River:
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, PACIFIC GOLDEN- PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLEID PLOVER, WESTERN, ROCK and LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, DUNLIN, NORTHERN HARRIER, MERLIN; LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, PACIFIC WREN; SONG, FOX and SAVANNAH SPARROWS, SANDHILL CRANE
Beluga Slough/Bishop’s Beach:
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, DUNLIN, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPER; GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS; BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATED WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, HARLEQUIN DUCK, FOX and SONG SPARROW, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, AMERICAN ROBIN, VARIED THRUSH, SANDHILL CRANES (possibly 2-3 nesting pairs), LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, NORTHERN HARRIER
Beluga Lake/FAA Rd. Platforms:
WILSON’S SNIPE, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, TRUMPETER SWAN (possible nest), AMERICAN ROBIN, VARIED THRUSH, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, PINE GROSBEAK, SAVANNA SPARROW, BOREAL CHICKADEE
Out on the Bay:
TUFTED PUFFIN, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE,TUFTED PUFFIN, BLACK TURNSTONE, SURFBIRD, MARBLED and KITTLITZ’S MURRELET, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, COMMON MURRE (est. 35000), HARLEQUIN DUCK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON LOON, BELTED KINGFISHER, SONG SPARROW, NORTHERN HARRIER
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (on Cohen Island and other locations)
YELLOW-BILLED LOON (near Glacier Spit)
SPRUCE GROUSE (Grewink Lake)
Diamond Creek Walk:
COMMON EIDER, WANDERING TATTLER, WESTERN SANDPIPER
Calvin and Coyle Trail:
WILSON’S SNIPE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, TREE SWALLOW, BOREAL CHICKADEE, VARIED THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
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FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT: Birds seen May 5th (Thursday)
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 2022
Several new species seen yesterday included RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, AMERICAN DIPPER (N. Fork Rd.), LINCOLN’S and SAVANNAH SPARROW, SPRUCE GROUSE, ARCTIC TERN. Size of groups of Westerns and other peeps was estimated to be a couple hundred at the most as of Thursday evening.
Having all three godwits here and so early has been fantastic and nice to see some sparrows coming.
Mud Bay/Lighthouse Village/Mariner Park:
MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, PACIFIC GOLDEN- PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (unconfirmed), WHIIMBREL, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLEID PLOVER, WESTERN, ROCK and LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN, NORTHERN SHOVELER, MERLIN, SONG SPARROW, SANDHILL CRANE (nesting pair at Lighthouse Village)
SANDERLING, SURFBIRD, WANDERING TATTLER, BLACK-BELLEID PLOVER, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, WHIMBREL, DUNLIN, BONAPARTE’S GULL, ARCTIC TERN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, NORTHERN HARRIER, BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, PACIFIC and RED-THROATED LOON, LINCOLN’S and SAVANNAH SPARROW, AMERICAN DIPPER (bridge at Mile 2 North Fork Rd), SPRUCE GROUSE (on Old Sterling Highway, Homer end)
Beluga Slough/Bishop’s Beach:
DUNLIN, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, FOX and SONG SPARROW, VARIED THRUSH, SANDHILL CRANES (possibly 2 nesting pairs), LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT
Beluga Lake/FAA Rd. Platforms:
WILSON’S SNIPE, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, TRUMPETER SWAN (possible nest), AMERICAN ROBIN, PINE GROSBEAK, SAVANNA SPARROW, BOREAL CHICKADEE
Out on the Bay:
Gull Island: TUFTED PUFFIN (24), BLACK TURNSTONE, SURFBIRD, MARBLED and KITTLITZ’S MURRELET, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, COMMON MURRE (est. 35000), HARLEQUIN DUCK, COMMON LOON,
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (on Cohen Is.), RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (4th)
FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT: Birds seen May 4th
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 2022
After a slow start to spring here in Homer, the number of shorebird species that have arrived in the last couple days is quite amazing! I don’t remember having all three godwits here on the first day ever before, for example, and sanderlings so early also.
Mud Bay/Lighthouse Village/Mariner Park:
MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, PACIFIC GOLDEN- PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLEID PLOVER, WESTERN, ROCK and LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, MERLIN, RED-THROATED LOON
MARBLED GODWIT, SANDERLING, WANDERING TATTLER, BLACK-BELLEID PLOVER, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, WHIMBREL, DUNLIN, SNOW GOOSE (150 at 10 am), BONAPARTE’S GULL, ICELAND GULL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Beluga Slough/Bishop’s Beach:
DUNLIN, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BRANT, FOX and SONG SPARROW, VARIED THRUSH, SANDHILL CRANES, EURASIAN x AMERICAN WIGEON (hybrid)
Beluga Lake/FAA Rd. Platforms:
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WILSON’S SNIPE, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, TRUMPETER SWAN, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (14), AMERICAN ROBIN, PINE GROSBEAK
Out on the Bay:
TUFTED PUFFIN (5), BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (on Cohen Is.), ROCK SANDPIPER, COMMON MURRE
TRIP REPORT (4-23-22) Out on the Bay with Karl Stoltzfus (Bay Excursions)
A boatload of very lucky Kachemak Bay Birders went out on the bay this morning with Karl Stoltzfus (Bay Excursions) and enjoyed a wonderful birding trip plus a few mammals also. A huge thank you to Karl for an enjoyable boat ride and a fantastic array of 22 species! We went up along the west side of the spit and then over to Gull Island, 60-Mile Rock, and to Glacier Spit.
Species seen were:
COMMON LOON, HORNED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, PELAGIC CORMORANT, CANADA GOOSE (fly over), BLACK SCOTER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, SURF SCOTER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, SHORT-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (est. ~1000), PIGEON GUILLEMOT, MURRELET sp., COMMON MURRE (est. ~800), BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (6), BALD EAGLE, AMERICAN CROW, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, SONG SPARROW.
The grande finale were two humpback whales which we enjoyed for several minutes when we were returning to the harbor. And, maybe of interest…we noticed two otters that were hauled out on rocks–speculation whether they might have been giving birth? (Yes I know this is a bird report…)
What a fantastic trip and everyone was happy to get to talk to other birders, some of whom hadn’t seen each other for a couple years. As always, It Was A Great Day To Bird!! As our motto says.
Thank you, Karl, we love your trips!!
black oystercatcher (Tim Quinn)pelagic cormorants (Tim Quinn)humpback whale (Tim Quinn)
LINK TO PAST PRESENTATION
“Shorebird Identification”, Aaron Lang, local birder and owner of Wilderness Birding Adventures in Homer.
This Zoom presentation will cover all the shorebirds we are likely to see in the coming migration–and a few like the red knot and bristle-thighed curlew that we are always hoping to see in the coming migration! Aaron has excellent photos and narrative which provide information about physical characteristics, voice, behavior and habitat. His presentation could be an introduction to shorebirds or a review to brush up. Enjoy the beautiful, instructive photos.
Danielle Gerik shares recent results of efforts to track AKD across the globe and discuss which species might be most vulnerable. She also provides updates on a newly discovered virus that’s strongly associated with the occurrence of AKD in Black-capped Chickadees in Alaska. (AKD is an outbreak of debilitating beak deformities affecting wild birds. First observed among Black-capped Chickadees in Alaska in the early 1990s it now appears to affect a variety of species across a broad geographic area.)
May 4-8th Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival (30th Annual)
**May 23rdBird fossils in Alaska (Pre-recorded; check back later for link)
“90 Million Years of Birds in Alaska”, Dr. Patrick Druckenmiller, Director of UAF Museum and Professor of Geology
“In this presentation, paleontologist Dr. Patrick Druckenmiller will present a brief overview of the fossil record of birds in Alaska, which spans at least 90 million years. Beginning with the Cretaceous Period when birds co-existed with their dinosaurian ancestors, Pat will follow their fossil history up to the present as revealed through footprints, bones and teeth from across the state.”
All meetings and activities are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
LINKS TO OTHER PAST PRESENTATIONS
*Dr. Ruthrauff, Wildlife Biologist at USGS “Coping with the Cold: The Unusual Occurrence of Rock Sandpipers in Cook Inlet” as part of UAA’s biology seminar series. Zoom link:https://www.facebook.com/brandon.briggs.1656/videos/262462175741524v
Michelle Michaud’s Blog including Adak photos https://alaskabirder.com/author/alaskabirder/
Kachemak Bay Birders
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 2021
The Christmas Bird Count on the 18th was wonderful! We all appreciated the much warmer temperatures and all te volunteers who came out to help. Some sunshine peeked through the cloud cover during the day and no precipitation fell, thankfully.
(update 12-23-21) Count Day total was 71 with one new species never seen before on the count: RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. There were also 2 additional species seen during Count Week: SNOW BUNTING and NORTHERN HARRIER.
Some wonderful birds found: BRAMBLING, NORTHERN FLICKER, AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, STELLER’S and COMMON EIDERS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW… Also happy we found: VARIED THRUSH (1), ROBIN (1), AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (3), DUNLIN(1). The only MALLARDS, all 160 of them, were found when team members snowshoed over to the mouth of Fritz Creek–some concern this would be a year without any mallards.
Dave will be sending his synthesis and analysis of the numbers. Amazing that after all the cold weather and snow leading up to the Christmas Bird Count that we still found such a high number of species (only two other years, 2019 and 2020 have we gotten higher). A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped go out to count and to feeder watchers–plus the rest of you keeping well-supplied feeders out there–and to Dave for his leadership and number crunching recently!
AWARD FOR DAVE ERIKSON’S 45th YEAR
After the Count, Jim Herbert and Tim Quinn went to see Dave Erikson, who had just completed his 45th consecutive year of Coordinating/Compiling the Homer Christmas Bird Count! We Kachemak Bay Birders presented Dave with a certificate to thank him and celebrate this achievement. National Audubon had written a letter commending him for all those years of service and the excellently well-organized Christmas Bird Counts that we have had here all these years. There was a little bottle of wine also, to help him celebrate.
We birders, of course, wish that we could have had our traditional after-Count potluck dinner and could have presented him with a big cake and in-person congratulations, unfortunately that could not happen due to covid. But we all thank him very sincerely and deeply appreciate all these years of service.
Dave Erikson and Jim Herbert celebrating Dave’s 45th year as our CBC Coordinator and Compiler. (photo: Tim Quinn)
Northern Flicker Photo by Suzanne Singer
Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker Photo by Suzanne Greenwood
Alaska Bird Conference: November 15-19th
“About this event
Homer is excited to host the virtual 19th Alaska Bird Conference. Every two years researchers, managers, educators, and community members convene to report on all aspects of bird biology, management and conservation in Alaska. The conference has a strong focus on education and mentoring and building collaborative relationships.
At this year’s conference there will be three days of research talks, guest science speakers, workshops and an afternoon poster session. John Marzluff, Patrick Druckenmiller and Erin Ranney will be joining as this year’s Conference Keynote Speakers. Pre-conference meetings will be held Monday, November 15th. COVID pending, optional local field trips will be on November 19th.”
Sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Find out how you can participate in this important citizen science project. Easy and fun. Warm and comfortable inside your house! Check out https://feederwatch.org/about/project-overview/ to get the details and sign up.
Christmas Bird Count in Homer: December 18th
Dave Erikson will soon be providing information about our count here in Homer. This information will go to members and will be posted here.
Kachemak Bay Birders scoured monofilament from around the Fishing Hole out on the Spit on September 11th. A goodly pile was accumulated and photographed–the pile also included fishline that had been left in the white receptacle. All the fishline will be turned in to the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies to be recycled. The group also picked up trash in the area.
It was a beautiful, sunny fall day and volunteers enjoyed getting together to visit safely outside as well as knowing they were cleaning up and especially helping prevent birds from getting entangled. Fishline is a hazard to birds and many get entangled. Most of us who do the COASST program (Coastal Observation And Seabird Survey Team) have found dead birds entangled in fishline. So sad to see because it’s preventable!
A big thanks to Jim Herbert, the Leader for this event, and to everyone who participated.
And if anyone would want to pick up some more fish line or missed this event, you can just put what you get into the receptacle there at the Fishing Hole (looks like a big white periscope). Lani will pick up what’s in there one more time before winter. Another area to pick up would be at Land’s End as many folks have fished there, too.
Fishline collected at the Fishing Hole, Sept. 2021
All trips cosponsored by Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
All trips will comply with FWS covid-safe practices.
FROM KACHEMAK CRANE WATCH…
Saturday – August 28, 2021 – Crane Count – Day Two
Saturday—September 4, 2021—Crane Count—Day Three
Citizen Scientists needed for special Sandhill Crane population survey in the Homer area (Anchor Point South). Kachemak Crane Watch would like to know of specific crane sightings on August 28 and September 4. Please report the number of adults, colts, or banded cranes seen by location, time, and day for each count day, and your name and contact information to reports@cranewatch.org or by calling 907-235-6262. For more information, contact Nina Faust at 235-6262.
For a special experience, join us at Beluga Slough at the end of the gravel trail for the evening crane fly-in from 6 pm till sundown on each of the remaining Saturdays. Please wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot physical distance from others.
TRIP REPORT: Anchor River (8-21-21)
It was a great day to bird!
Eight Kachemak Bay Birders enjoyed the trip to the Anchor River on the 21st. Unlike the previous day with high winds, it turned out to be a sunny day with calm winds. Not too many shorebird species were found, but they saw a total of 25 species. A big thank you to Michelle Michaud and Jim Herbert, the trip leaders.
Ancient Murrelet Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Black-legged Kittiwake Short-billed Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Pacific Loon Common Loon Sooty Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater Bald Eagle
American Crow Red-breasted Nuthatch
Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow
TRIP REPORT: Anchor River (7-17-21)
There were 22 birders in all. And the parking lots were full at the side of the road. An estimate of 50 boat trailers on the beach–two rows of trailers. Lucky for them the tide wasn’t too high. The weather was perfect.
Here is a list of all the birds seen by the group: Common Merganser Common Goldeneye Whimbrel Black Turnstone Sanderling Rock Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Mew Gull Herring Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Aleutian Tern Pacific Loon Common Loon Bald Eagle Northwestern Crow Bank Swallow Savannah Sparrow Hermit Thrush (Not a whole lot on the ocean)
Big thanks to the trip leaders, Michelle Michaud and Jim Herbert.
Two things we birders know:
1. The Anchor never disappoints!
2. It’s (always) a Great Day to Bird!!
**TRIP REPORT FROM GARY LYON—6/12/21
Anchor River—South Fork (Northfork Rd by the bridge 2 miles in from the intersection)
15 souls met at the Casey Wise bridge pullout at 7:30 am. We either saw or heard 24
species and had good weather with calm wind and
partial clouds/sun. Our best bird was a Blackpoll Warbler that was ID’d
by voice only. Both Jim Herbert and Michelle Michaud came along, as co-leader and eBird recorder, respectively. We concluded
at 10:00am. A very good morning to bird!
Species reported to eBird:
2 Mallard
1 Common Merganser
3 Wilson’s Snipe
1 Bald Eagle
2 Belted Kingfisher
3 Alder Flycatcher
2 Black-billed Magpie
2 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Tree Swallow
1 Violet-green Swallow
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 American Dipper
5 Hermit Thrush
1 American Robin
1 Fox Sparrow
1 Dark-eyed Junco
4 Golden-crowned Sparrow
4 Lincoln’s Sparrow
2 Northern Waterthrush
4 Orange-crowned Warbler
2 Yellow Warbler
1 Blackpoll Warbler
2 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Wilson’s Warbler
Number of Taxa: 24
DUNLIN in Mud Bay (Michelle Michaud)
Short-eared Owl at Green Timbers (Tim Quinn)
SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL BIRD REPORTS
Festival Bird Report: 5-9-21 + ADDITION
So many great, wonderful birds were here for the Festival! The beautiful SNOW GEESE especially were seen for so many days in so many locations.
A total of 142 species were reported during the Festival this year. Attached is a copy of the Species List for the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival.
The following new species were seen on the 9th unless otherwise noted…
*LITTLE STINT–Anchor River on the 7th
Sorry I missed this very interesting bird seen by David Sonneborn! Posted on AKBirding.
*SPOTTED SANDPIPER—Anchor Point
*SOLITARY SANDPIPER—Peterson Bay
*COMMON EIDER—SW of the Spit
*KITTLITZ’S MURRELET—Glacier Spit
*AMERICAN DIPPER—North Fork Rd bridge (Anchor Point) on the 7th
*ALEUTIAN TERN—Green Timbers
*ICELAND GULL (THAYER’S)—Anchor Point
In addition, the following hybrids were also reported during the Festival:
*WHITE-CROWNED X GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (hybrid)—Old Town
*EURASIAN X AMERICAN WIGEON (hybrid)—Beluga Slough
*HERRING X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (hybrid)—Louie’s Lagoon
Festival Bird UPDATE: 5-8-21
This is just an UPDATE. More later today including reports from some of the longer boat rides and what they saw out there. As of tonight there have been 132 species reported!
New species reported Saturday unless otherwise noted:
*BAIRD’S SANDPIPER—Beluga Slough and Lake, Green Timbers
*SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER—Beluga Slough, Green Timbers
*SANDERLING—Anchor Point
*AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER—Mud Bay
*ROCK SANDPIPER—60’ Rock (Thurs.)
*EMPEROR GOOSE—Anchor Point
*OSPREY—Anchor Point
*COMMON EIDER—SW of the Spit
*RING-NECKED DUCK—Beluga Lake
*REDHEAD—Beluga Lake
*RED-THROATED LOON—Mud Bay
*COMMON REDPOLL—Green Timbers
*HORNED LARK—Green Timbers
*GREAT BLUE HERON—on 60’ Rock (Fri.) and at the head of Beluga Lake Saturday morning
*GLAUCOUS GULL—Anchor Point (Fri.)
Interesting numbers from Karl Stoltzfus:
“Today this afternoon May 8 we saw About 500 Surfbirds, 50 Black Turnstones and 3 Rock Sandpipers on 60’ Rock. Close to 1000 Surfbirds in various flocks and 4 Black Oystercatchers on Cohen Island. On the morning trip about 200 Surfbirds and 1 Black Turnstone on Gull Island. About 500 Red-necked Phalaropes on the bay.”
FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT: 5-7-21
*At 11:00 am there was a huge flock of possibly “tens of thousands” of shorebirds reported in Mud Bay. Many apparently didn’t stick around very long, and soon reports came in of smaller flocks flying off to the north. Shorebirds included WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN and plovers.
*Note: there were WANDERING TATTLERS seen but not reported on May 5th in the Harbor area.
*There is a RUFUS HUMMINGBIRD in a greenhouse near the base of the spit. It’s been there for a few days.
*There is a photo on Facebook of a GREAT BLUE HERON on Gull Island and 60’ Rock, but no report as such…date?
New species reported on the 7th include: SANDERLING, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, HORNED PUFFIN, PACIFIC LOON, RED CROSSBILL, NORTHERN SHRIKE, EURASIAN WIGEON, SPRUCE GROUSE, AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN HARRIER
Anchor River
SANDERLING, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WANDERING TATTLER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, WHIMBREL, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, GR/LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER,
WILSON’S SNIPE, AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, RED CROSSBILL, NORTHERN SHRIKE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, HERMIT THRUSH, VARIED THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER, PACIFIC WREN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BOREAL CHICKADEE, PINE SISKIN, GOLD-/RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, SANDHILL CRANE
Baycrest Trails
SPRUCE GROUSE, LINCOLN SPARROW, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO
SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT: 5-6-21
New arrivals: PECTORAL SANDPIPER, TUFTED PUFFINS, SHORT-EARED OWL, WILSON’S WARBLER, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, TREE SWALLOW, PEREGRINE FALCON, GADWALL, CANVASBACK, RED-TAILED HAWK, WANDERING TATTLER (oops, missed this one, first seen on Wednesday)
NOTE: To check out the ebird reports for birds seen within 30 miles of Homer within the last 14 days, go to the Kachemak Bay Birders’ website kachemakbaybirders.org and find the “eBird Sightings Map” in the right-hand column. To sort the sightings by date, just click “date” to see the most recent sightings at the top.
Anchor River
RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, WHIMBREL, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, GR/LESSER YELLOWLEGS, GADWALL, CANVASBACK, RED-TAILED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, NORTHERN HARRIER, TREE SWALLOW, AMERICAN PIPIT
Beluga Slough/Bishop’s Beach
PECTORAL SANDPIPER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, GR/LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, WHIMBREL, LEAST SANDPIPER, WILSON’S SNIPE, CACKLING GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANE, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, HERMIT THRUSH, PACIFIC WREN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, AMERICAN PIPIT, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, PINE SISKIN, MERLIN
WHIMBREL, WILSON’S SNIPE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, PINE GROSBEAK, PINE SISKIN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW
SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT: 5-5-21
These birds seen on the 5th and include reports from the Kachemak Bay Birders’ Shorebird Monitoring that morning as posted on eBird.
Interesting that there was a pair of SNOW GEESE that flew over most of the monitoring areas! So beautiful to see them in the sunshine, and most of us did get to see them. And nice to have a RUDDY TURNSTONE since it’s the Festival’s featured bird this year! Seen in Mud Bay and at Gull Island. The highest number of WESTERN SANDPIPERS so far reported was 500 at Green Timbers on the 4th.
Anchor River
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BLACK TURNSTONE, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, DUNLIN, GREATER/LESSER YELLOWLEG, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WHIMBREL, SNOW GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, CASPIAN TERN, ARCTIC TERN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, AMERICAN PIPIT
Beluga Slough/Bishop’s Beach
GR/LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER (120), WHIMBREL, LEAST SANDPIPER, SNOW GOOSE (2), BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANE, HERMIT THRUSH, PACIFIC WREN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, AMERICAN PIPIT, SONG SPARROW
CANVASBACK, GADWALL, AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, TRUMPETER SWAN, WILSON’S SNIPE
Beluga Slough
GR/LESSER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPER, DOWITCHER sp, WESTERN SANDPIPER, OSPREY, BONAPARTE’S GULL, EU x AM WIGEON hybrid, SAVANNAH SPARROW, NORTHERN HARRIER
Mud Bay
BAR-TAILED GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, WESTERN SANDPIPER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BONAPARTE’S GULL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Nina Faust wanted me to remind everyone that if you see cranes to be sure to report them. Send an email toreports@cranewatch.org or call 907-235-6262.Date, time, location, behavior and number of cranes is important. Leave your name and contact information in case they need more details.
A few cranes have been seen as of April 18th. George West’s “Average Earliest Arrival Date” for them is April 19th.
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 29th AARON LANG PRESENTED “SHOREBIRD IDENTIFICATION” on Zoom
(The Shorebird ID presentation was recorded; watch below)
April 15-May 25thSHOREBIRD MONITORING. (Nine sessions, 2 hours each, scheduled for an outgoing 15’ tide.) Contact George Matz if you are interested in volunteering, geomatz41@gmail.com
May 6th-9thSHOREBIRD FESTIVAL. Shorebird Committee reports this will be a “hybrid” combination of in-person and virtual events. Check out their website for information: kachemakshorebird.org . Registration is now open!
**Note: Regular meetings and birding trips have been cancelled since March, 2020.
Photos by George Harbeson, Jr. Mud Bay and Lower Platform, 2020.Semipalmated Plovers. Photo by Tim Quinn, 2020
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
FEBRUARY 12-14
WHAT IS IT?
“The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.” (Audubon website)
HOW TO GET STARTED?
Go to the GBBC website, https://www.birdcount.org/participate/
Project Goal
“Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.
What’s New in 2021?
In 2020 we designed a new website to help make your 4-day count easy, clear, and inspiring! In an effort to spread the love of birdwatching even further… we use pictures of birds and people from around the world participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count. No matter what corner of the world you live-in or visit, we want to share in your joy of birdwatching.” (Great Backyard Bird Count website.)
Covid Precautions
Birding is a safe and enjoyable activity even during the pandemic. Strongly suggest safely distanced and wearing a mask if birding with others.
Great Backyard Bird Count results from 2020:
268,674 Estimated Participants
27,270,156 Total Birds Counted
6,942 Species of Birds Identified
194 Countries
The GBBC is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Birds Canada
SPRING PHOTOS BY MEMBERS
sandhill crane colt (chick) Beluga Slough, 6-21-20 photo by Megan O’Neillspotted sandpiper chick North Fk Rd, 6-30-20 photo by Tim Quinn
semipalmated plover eggs Homer spit, 6-24-20 photo by Tim Quinnfox sparrow chicks Homer, 6-28-20 photo by Megan O’Neill
savanna sparrow with a full mouth Wynn Center, 6-30-20 photo by George Harbesonspruce grouse Wynn Center, 6-30-20 photo by George Harbeson
Baby (Colt) Crane Sightings
After 30 days of incubation, Sandhill Crane eggs hatch. Tiny, precocious crane chicks or colts should begin appearing any day around Homer. Crane colts and other baby wildlife are very vulnerable, so please keep your dogs on leash and cats home.
As part of its Citizen Science projects, Kachemak Crane Watch keeps track of nesting success and wants your observations of Sandhill Crane colts. Send your report to Kachemak Crane Watch at reports@cranewatch.org or call 235-6262. Include date, time, location, number of colts, and your contact information so we can call for more information.