KACHEMAK BAY BIRDERS

TRIP REPORT
Birding Trip on the Bay Crest Trail: 5-20-23
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 Trip
Bay 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.

 

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 

May 3-7th

Festival Website

Register Online, Schedule, Auction

 

KACHEMAK BAY SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL

Post-Festival…

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival: Species Tally

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.

Mud Bay

*PRERGRINE FALCON, *OSPREY

Mariner Park/Lighthouse Village

*SAVANNAH SPARROW

Old Tern Colony (off Kachemak Drive)

*ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER

Out on the Bay

*LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Glacier Spit)

Upper Lake (Platform Area)

*OSPREY (also  Mud Bay)

Beluga Slough/Dam/Bishop’s Beach

*REDHEAD (also reported across the Bay)

UPDATE OF SPECIES SEEN MAY 5th (Friday)

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.

Anchor River

*BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW (1), *SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, *NORTHERN HARRIER, BAR-TAILED GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BRANT

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

*PECTORAL SANDPIPER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, SANDHILL CRANE (nesting, one egg)

End of the Spit

MARBLED GODWIT, SURFBIRDS, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, COMMON LOON, HERRING GULL, PELAGIC CORMORANT, HARLEQUIN DUCK, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (seen Thursday), SONG SPARROW

Out on the Bay

*KITTLITZ’S MURRELET, *YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Halibut Cove), *BLACK TURNSTONE. Gull Is: SURFBIRDS, TUFTED PUFFIN, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, MARBLED MURRELET. Glacier Spit: BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, SURFBIRD, *YELLOW-BILLED LOON, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, ARCTIC TERN, AMERICAN PIPIT. Seldovia: BELTED KINGFISHER, SONG SPARROW, South side”: RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

Upper Lake (Platform Area)

*TREE SWALLOW, RING-NECKED DUCK

Beluga Slough/Dam/Bishop’s Beach

*LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, Storm Wigeon (color morph), EURASIAN WIGEON, Eurasian X American Wigeon (hybrid), GADWALL, SANDHILL CRANES (nesting or will be soon), CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

Calvin and Coyle

*VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, *YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WILSON’S SNIPE, HAIRY WOODPECKER, MERLIN, TRUMPETER SWAN, BROWN CREEPER, PACIFIC WREN, BOREAL CHICKADEE, VARIED THRUSH

Msc. Locations

East End Rd: *SHORT-EARED OWL

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 

Upper Lake (Platform Area)

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WILSON’S SNIPE, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, BOREAL CHICKADEE

Beluga Slough/Dam/Bishop’s Beach

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPER, TUNDRA SWAN, CACKLING GOOSE, CANADA GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON, Eurasian X American Wigeon (hybrid), GADWALL, SANDHILL CRANES (nesting or will be soon)

Calvin and Coyle

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, HAIRY WOODPECKER, MERLIN, TRUMPETER SWAN, BROWN CREEPER, PACIFIC WREN, BOREAL CHICKADEE, VARIED THRUSH

Msc. Locations

West Hill Rd and E. End Rd:  SPRUCE GROUSE

East Hill/Skyline: NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL

Sterling Hwy: RED-TAILED HAWK

SPECIES SEEN MAY 3rd (Wednesday)

Anchor River

BAR-TAILED GOTWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, WHIMBREL, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, TUNDRA SWAN, TRUMPETER SWAN, BONAPARTE’S GULL, BELTED KINGFISHER

Mud Bay

MARBLED GODWIT, RUDDY TURNSTONE, WHIMBREL, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN, WESTERN SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, AMERICAN PIPIT, BRANT, MERLIN, BONAPARTE’S GULL

Mariner Park/Lighthouse Village

PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, EURASIAN WIGEON, SANDHILL CRANE (nesting)

Green Timbers

PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, WESTERN SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BRANT, MERLIN, HERRING GULL

Louie’s Lagoon

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

 

Out on the Bay

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, TUFTED PUFFIN (4), ARCTIC TERN, FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL, PIGEON GUILLIMOT, MARBLED MURRELET

Seldovia

SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER

Upper Lake (Platform Area)

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WILSON’S SNIPE, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, BOREAL CHICKADEE

Beluga Slough/Dam

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, CACKLING GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANES (nesting or will be soon)

Calvin and Coyle

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, HAIRY WOODPECKER, MERLIN, TRUMPETER SWAN, BROWN CREEPER, PACIFIC WREN, BOREAL CHICKADEE

West Hill Rd/East Hill/Skyline

SPRUCE GROUSE (West Hill), NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL

 

PRELIMINARY REPORT: Update for May 2nd

Mud Bay/Mariner Park/Lighthouse Village

BRANT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER

Lower End of the Spit and Harbor

BONAPARTE’S GULL, HERRING GULL, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, PACIFIC LOON, LONG-TAILED DUCK, HARLEQUIN DUCK

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),

Beluga Slough/Dam/Upper Lake (Platform Area)

RING-NECKED DUCK, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, EURASIAN WIGEON, TRUMPETER SWAN, CACKLING GOOSE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SONG SPARROW

Calvin and Coyle

WILSON’S SNIPE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, PACIFIC WREN, PINE SISKIN, VARIED THRUSH

East End Rd.

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

Out on the Bay

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE

Upper Lake, 4/30/23
Russell Campbell, Wandering Nomad Photography

 

 

In case you missed the meeting on April 3rd…click here to

Watch Aaron’s 2022 Shorebird Identification presentation

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 MEETINGS/PRESENTATIONS

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.

 

May 3rd-7th: Shorebird Festival  

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival – 31st Annual, May 3 – 7, 2023 (kachemakshorebird.org)

Volunteers needed! 
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.
 
 

May 20th: Baycrest/Roger’s Loop Homesteader Trail

Meet at the trailhead at 7:30 am. Leader is Kristine Sowl Kristine (ksowl2000@outlook.com).

Songbirds and many more!!

 

 

 

 


Presentation by Todd Eskelin: Hummingbird Banding  (from January 30th)

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION ABOUT PAST PRESENTATIONS

(9-26-22) Presentation: Olive-sided Flycatcher Research by Kristin DuBour, wildlife biologist from the Inventory and Monitoring Program at USFWS.

ADFG has some information on the project website. The research publication on the project is here.

 

 

TRIP REPORTS

Birding Trip to Seaside Farm: 3-18-23
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

\

 

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)

Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon (mid-spit):

HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BAR-TAILED GODWIT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SURFBIRDSNORTHERN HARRIER, MERLIN, BRANT, PACIFIC LOON, LAPLAND LONGSPUR

Anchor River:

SANDERLING, SURFBIRDWANDERING 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

Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon (mid-spit):

HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BAR-TAILED GODWIT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SURFBIRDS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, ALEUTIAN TERN, NORTHERN HARRIER, MERLIN, BRANT, PACIFIC LOON, LAPLAND LONGSPUR

Anchor River:

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 GULLICELAND 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

East End Rd/in town/etc.:

NORTHERN HARRIER, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW

 

PRE-FESTIVAL BIRD REPORT (May 1st-May 3rd)

SHOREBIRDS

BAR-TAILED GODWIT –Beluga Slough (May 1st)

MARBLED GODWIT—Anchor River, Spit (May 1st)

WANDERING TATTLER—Anchor River

BLACK TURNSTONE—Anchor River

WHIMBREL—Anchor River

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER—Spit, Anchor River, Slough

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER—Anchor River

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER—Spit, Slough

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER—Spit

WESTERN SANDPIPER—Spit

LEAST SANDPIPER–Spit

DUNLIN—Spit

GREATER YELLOWLEGS—many locations

LESSER YELLOWLEGS—Anchor River, Beluga Lake

WILSON’S SNIPE—winnowing heard from many locations

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE:

CASPIAN TERN—Green Timbers and Mud Bay (May 3rd)

SWALLOW sp.—Slough (May 3rd)

RED-TAILED HAWK–8 miles East End Rd. (3rd)

SHORT-EARED OWL—Slough (3rd)

BRANT—Slough

TUNDRA SWAN—Anchor River

NORTHERN HARRIER—Slough

SAVANNAH SPARROW—Slough

LAPLAND LONGSPUR–Slough

SANDHILL CRANES, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, CACKLING GEESE—many locations

********

 

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.

Aaron’s presentation was recorded; watch below:

 

 

 

 

**April 25thDeformed Bills (Pre-recorded)

Beak deformities (Avian Keratin Disorder) “Unraveling the mystery of avian keratin disorder in Alaska and beyond” by Danielle Gerik.

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)

You can register now!  Website: Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival | 30th Annual, May 4 – 8, 2022 (kachemakshorebird.org)

 

**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

 

*”Birding On Adak” by Jim Herbert (1-31-22) 

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

For more information and/or to register: https://www.alaskabirdconference.org/

 

Project FeederWatch: November 13-end of April

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.

For general information go to https://www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count

 

Great Backyard Bird Count: February 18-21st

Information at https://www.birdcount.org/participate/

 

 

 

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS 2021-2022

PROJECT FEEDERWATCH

November 13th to the end of April

https://feederwatch.org/about/

 

AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (Homer)

December 18th

Coordinator/Compiler: Dave Erickson

https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count

 

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

February 18-21st

https://www.birdcount.org/

 

SHOREBIRD MONITORING (Kachemak Bay)

Mid-April through most of May

Project Leader: George Matz

 

KACHEMAK CRANE WATCH (A Project of the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies)

Sightings reported April-Sept and Crane Count Days end of August/early September

http://cranewatch.org/

 

COASST

Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team

Year round monitoring for beached birds and beach health

https://coasst.org/

 

 

 

NOTE: see below for  other Trip Reports

2021 SUMMER BIRDING TRIPS 

Fishing Hole Cleanup, Sept. 11th
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.  
 
Species observed:
Pelagic Cormorant 
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-necked Grebe
Pacific Golden-Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
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,

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: 5-6-21

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

Islands and Ocean Visitor Center Trail

LEAST SANDPIPER, CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANE, NORTHERN HARRIER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, PACIFIC WREN, SONG SPARROW, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET

Beluga Lake

TRUMPETER SWAN

Mud Bay

HUDSONIAN GODWIT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, WHIMBREL, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-EARED OWL,PARASITIC JAEGER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SAVANNAH SPARROW, AMERICAN PIPIT, BELTED KINGFISHER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW

Spit: Green Timbers/Louie’s Lagoon

HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BAR-TAILED GODWIT, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SHORT-EARED OWL, SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, CACKLING GOOSE, MERLIN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, AMERICAN PIPIT

Out on the Bay

TUFTED PUFFIN, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, MARBLED MURRELETS, SURFBIRD, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, LONG-TAILED DUCK, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, HARLEQUIN DUCK, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

Calvin and Coyle Trail

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, HERMIT THRUSH, VARIED THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER, PACIFIC WREN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BOREAL CHICKADEE, CRANE.

Seaside Farm (private)

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

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

 

 

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

Photo by Tim Quinn
 
REPORT SANDHILL CRANES
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’Neill
spotted sandpiper chick
North Fk Rd, 6-30-20
photo by Tim Quinn
semipalmated plover eggs
Homer spit, 6-24-20
photo by Tim Quinn
fox 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 Harbeson
spruce 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.

For more information contact: Nina Faust at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org