2021 SUMMER BIRDING TRIPS
North Fork Road
Saturday, June 12th
Meet at the parking lot in the Day Use area by the bridge 2 miles in from the Sterling at 7:30 am
Leader: Gary Lyon
Anchor River
Saturday, July 17
Meet in the parking lot near the Halibut Cove Campground at 10:00 am
Leaders: Michelle Michaud and Jim Herbert
Anchor River
Saturday, August 21
Meet in the parking lot near the Halibut Cove Campground at 3:00 pm
Leaders: Michelle Michaud and Jim Herbert
Fishline Cleanup at the Fishing Hole
Saturday, September 11th
Time/details announced later.
All trips cosponsored by Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
All trips will comply with FWS covid-safe practices.
(Michelle Michaud)
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,
ARCTIC TERN, BONAPARTE’S GULL, HERRING GULL, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, CANVASBACK, BELTED KINGFISHER, SNOW GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, AMERICAN PIPIT, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, NORTHERN HARRIER
Beluga Slough/Bishop’s Beach
PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SURFBIRD, GR/LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, WHIMBREL, LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, WILSON’S SNIPE,
EURASIAN WIGEON, HARLEQUIN DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, NORTHERN SHOVELER, CACKLING GOOSE, BONAPARTE’S GULL, SANDHILL CRANE, RED CROSSBILL, 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
Beluga Lake/FAA Rd. Platform area
PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GR/LESS YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPER, DUNLIN
TRUMPETER SWAN, CANVASBACK, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, BELTED KINGFISHER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, VARIED THRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL
Mud Bay
MARBLED GODWIT (6), PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (6), WHIMBREL, LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, SHORT/LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPER (“tens of thousands” at 11 am”)
SAVANNAH SPARROW, AMERICAN PIPIT, BELTED KINGFISHER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, MERLIN
Spit: Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER (3200 at 3:45 pm), LEAST SANDPIPER (50), DUNLIN (800), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER,
SNOW GOOSE, BRANT (17), LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Out on the Bay
Gull Island:
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, WANDERING TATTLER, HORNED PUFFIN, TUFTED PUFFIN, COMMON MURRE (est. 8000), BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE ((est. 4000), MARBLED MURRELETS, SURFBIRD, LONG-TAILED DUCK, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, HARLEQUIN DUCK, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BRANT, MARBLED MURRELET
China Poot area:
COMMON LOON, GREATER SCAUP, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, PIGEON GUILLIMOT, BELTED KINGFISHER, SONG SPARROW
Glacier Spit:
RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE (13), WHIMBREL, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, PACIFIC LOON, ARCTIC TERN, MARBLED MURRELET, GADWALL, BRANT
Calvin and Coyle Trail
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: 5-5-21
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
Mud Bay
RUDDY TURNSTONE (2), HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, WHIMBREL, WESTERN SANDPIPER (350), LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, CASPIAN TERN, ARCTIC TERN, BONAPARTE’S GULL, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SAVANNAH SPARROW, AMERICAN PIPIT, BELTED KINGFISHER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, MERLIN
Spit: Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon/Harbor Area
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BANK SWALLOW, ARCTIC TERN, SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, MERLIN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, AMERICAN PIPIT
Out on the Bay
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SURFBIRD
PRE-SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT
May 3rd and 4th
Anchor River
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BLACK TURNSTONE, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, DUNLIN, GREATER/LESSER YELLOWLEG, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, DOWITCHER sp, WESTERN SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SNOW GOOSE, PARASITIC JAEGER, ARCTIC TERN, CACKLING GOOSE, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, BELTED KINGFISHER, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Beluga Lake
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
Spit
BAR-TAILED GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, SURFBIRD, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BRANT, MARBLED MURRELET
Out on the Bay
SURFBIRD, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, KITTLITZ’S MURRELET, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BELTED KINGFISHER
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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.
SPRING PHOTOS BY MEMBERS
Beluga Slough, 6-21-20
photo by Megan O’Neill
North Fk Rd, 6-30-20
photo by Tim Quinn
Homer spit, 6-24-20
photo by Tim Quinn
Homer, 6-28-20
photo by Megan O’Neill
Wynn Center, 6-30-20
photo by George Harbeson
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.
For more information contact: Nina Faust at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org
