The following is a preliminary summary of the 2019 Shorebird Festival
Sunday evening
Preliminary Shorebird Festival Summary and some great stories!!
Sunday morning during the Festival event at the lower platform at the end of the FAA Rd, a lynx crossed above the end of Beluga Lake heading toward the platform at the end of the Calvin and Coyle trail! A wonderful opportunity for folks to see a lynx–no one remembers ever seeing a lynx there before in spite of many wildlife viewers in that area over the years. (I am going to attach the video I was sent. I believe this was taken by Lisle Gwynn. I also do not have permission to send it so am on shaky ground there also. It is such a fantastic glimpse of wildlife right here in Homer! If someone else took it, please let me know and I will send out a correction.)
On previous days in that same area, a nesting TRUMPETER SWAN was seen chasing off groups of geese that rest in that area. On four occasions it was reported that the swan would chase the group of geese up into the air and then target one goose to follow. One version of a chase on Saturday said the swan was maybe five feet behind the goose for several circles above the lake, getting closer and closer (the swan with his mouth open at times), seemingly snapping at the tailfeathers of the goose, he said! Usually the chase then went out of sight, the swan returning a while later… and the goose? Some other birder might have seen what happened there or we’ll never know.
It seems interesting that there is a pair of nesting SONG SPARROWS on the top of Gull Island. Never been reported before. (Spit real estate at a premium, perhaps?)
There were 124 species seen during the four days of the Festival. There are still some reports trickling in, so this number may go up. Last minute additions: HORNED LARKS near the Harbor and POMARINE JAEGER and SOOTY SHERWATER at the Anchor River. Overall, there was only one warbler (YELLOW-RUMPED) seen and one owl (GREAT HORNED); no flycatchers, no eiders. A highlight for many was seeing several CASPIAN TERNS on Saturday in the Mud Bay/Lighthouse Village Platform area.
A full updated list of species seen will be posted on our website, kachemakbaybirders.org, soon.
Saturday morning/afternoon
2019 Shorebird Festival BIRD UPDATE:
Saturday Morning/Afternoon Update—mostly new birds
Now we have one warbler reported—Yellow-rumped Warbler on the Calvin and Coyle trail.
And now one owl reported—Great Horned Owl on Skyline Dr.
*MUD BAY/ LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE VIEWING PLATFORM
CASPIAN TERN, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, AMERICAN PIPIT, MERLIN
*END OF THE SPIT/HARBOR AREA
MARBLED GODWIT, CANVASBACK, WANDERING TATTLER, SURFBIRDS
*OUT IN THE BAY
(Glacier Spit/Gull Island): FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL, TUFTED PUFFIN, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, KITTLITZ’S MURRELET, YELLOW-BILLED LOON, SURFBIRDS (215), SONG SPARROW (top of Gull Is.), LONG-TAILED DUCK
*BELUGA LAKE and the PLATFORMS on FAA Rd.
PEREGRINE FALCON, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, CANVASBACK (2), RING-NECKED DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, AMERICAN PIPIT
*In BELUGA SLOUGH/and BISHOP’S BEACH
LONG-TAILED JAEGER, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, GADWAL, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
*CALVIN AND COYLE TRAIL
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, PACIFIC WREN
*WYNN NATURE CENTER/EAST SKYLINE
GREAT HORNED OWL, SPRUCE GROUSE
*ANCHOR RIVER
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, SANDERLING, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, RED-FACED CORMORANT, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, PARASITIC JAEGER, GADWALL, HORNED PUFFIN, FORK-TAILIED STORM-PETREL, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BRANT, CANADA GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE
Friday Morning Update as of 11:00 am
*MUD BAY
WHIMBREL, WESTERN SANDPIPERS (~1000 on Wed. evening), LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SANDHILL CRANE
*LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE VIEWING PLATFORM
WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BELTED KINGFISHER, SANDHILL CRANES (nesting), BALD EAGLE (nest observable), AMERICAN PIPIT, HERRING GULL, PACIFIC WREN
*MID SPIT (GREEN TIMBERS AND LOUIE’S LAGOON)
BRANT, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, MERLIN, DOWITCHER sp., PACIFIC LOON
*END OF THE SPIT/HARBOR AREA
WANDERING TATTLER, SURFBIRDS (max. 400 at the mouth of the Harbor Thurs.), BLACK TURNSTONES, SAVANNAH SPARROW, YELLOW-BILLED LOON (apparently in OK condition, is molting; reported in the Fishing Hole part of Wednesday and was there Thursday morning)
*OUT IN THE BAY
(NE of the spit): ALEUTIAN TERN (2)
(Glacier Spit/Gull Island): TUFTED PUFFIN (26), ARCTIC TERN (30), DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, BRANT, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, MARBLED MURRELET, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK TURNSTONE, WANDERING TATTLER
(Peterson Bay): Herring X Glaucous-wing Gull hybrid, KITTLITZ’S MURRELET, MARBLED MURRELET, RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, WANDERING TATTLER
*BELUGA LAKE and the PLATFORMS on FAA Rd.
CANVASBACK (2), RING-NECKED DUCK (7 near McDonald’s), SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, MERLIN, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WHIMBREL, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, WILSON’S SNIPE,TRUMPETER SWAN (3), GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, BELTED KINGFISHER, FOX SPARROW, VARIED THRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, PACIFIC WREN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, CANADA JAY, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, AMERICAN PIPIT, PACIFIC WREN
*In BELUGA SLOUGH/and BISHOP’S BEACH
GADWAL, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, WHIMBREL, DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, DOWITCHER sp., BELTED KINGFISHER, EURASIAN and AMERICAN WIGEON, TREE SWALLOWS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, SANDHILL CRANES, FOX SPARROW, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, MERLIN
*WYNN NATURE CENTER/EAST SKYLINE
SPRUCE GROUSE, BROWN CREEPER, DARK-EYED JUNCO, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, TREE SWALLOW, VARIED THRUSH, BOREAL CHICKADEE
*SEASIDE FARMS (5 miles out East End Rd.)
HERMIT THRUSH, DOWNY WOODPECKER
*ANCHOR RIVER
NORTHERN FLICKER, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (2), BLACK TURNSTONES (23), WANDERING TATTLER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, CACKLING GEESE, YELLOW-BILLED LOON, AMERICAN PIPIT, SAVANNAH SPARROW, MERLIN, SANDERLING, PARASITIC JAEGER.
Thursday Morning Report as of 10:30 am, including Shorebird Monitoring session Wednesday night
*MUD BAY
WESTERN SANDPIPERS (~1000 on Wed. evening), MARBLED GODWITS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, YELLOWLEGS
*LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE VIEWING PLATFORM
WESTERN SANDPIPERS, SANDHILL CRANES (nesting)
*GREEN TIMBERS
RUDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, MERLIN
*LOUIE’S LAGOON
BLACK TURNSTONE, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BLACK-BELLED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, DOWITCHER sp. (32), LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LONG-TAILED DUCK
*END OF THE SPIT/HARBOR AREA
WANDERING TATTLER, SURFBIRDS (400 at the mouth of the Harbor!), BLACK TURNSTONES, SAVANNAH SPARROW, YELLOW-BILLED LOON (apparently in OK condition, is molting; reported in the Fishing Hole part of Wednesday and was there Thursday morning)
*OUT IN THE BAY
(Glacier Spit): TUFTED PUFFIN (5), ARCTIC TERN (10), BRANT, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, MARBLED MURRELET, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER,
(Peterson Bay): Herring X Glaucous-wing Gull hybrid, KITTLITZ’S MURRELET, MARBLED MURRELET, RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, WANDERING TATTLER
(Gull Is.): TUFTED PUFFINS (16)
*BELUGA LAKE and the PLATFORMS on FAA Rd.
CANVASBACK, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WHIMBREL (25 FLY-OVER Thurs morn), WESTERN SANDPIPERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, TRUMPETER SWAN (3), GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, BELTED KINGFISHER, FOX SPARROW, VARIED THRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, PACIFIC WREN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, CANADA JAY, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW
*In BELUGA SLOUGH/and BISHOP’S BEACH
WHIMBREL (13), DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BELTED KINGFISHER, EURASIAN and AMERICAN WIGEON, TREE SWALLOWS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, SANDHILL CRANES, FOX SPARROW, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, MERLIN
*ANCHOR RIVER
BLACK TURNSTONES (23), WANDERING TATTLER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, CACKLING GEESE
2019 Shorebird Festival BIRD REPORT: Wed. May 8th as of 3:00 pm
MUD BAY/LIGHT-HOUSE VILLAGE VIEWING PLATFORM/MARINER PARK (at the base of the spit): CANVASBACK (4), NORTHERN HARRIER
END OF THE SPIT/HARBOR AREA/UP TO THE BARGE BASIN: YELLOW-BILLED LOON (in or near Harbor), SONG SPARROW, WANDERING TATTLER, SAVANNAH SPARROW
OUT IN THE BAY
(Gull Island/Peterson Bay area)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, KITLITZ’S MURRELET, MARBLED MURRELET, TUFTED PUFFIN (4), WANDERING TATTLER (2), WESTERN SANDPIPER, DOWITCHER sp.
At BELUGA LAKE AND the PLATFORMS (at the end of the FAA Rd. there by the airport terminal): DOWITCHER sp., TRUMPETER SWAN, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
In BELUGA SLOUGH/and BISHOP’S BEACH
DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, MERLIN, BELTED KINGFISHER, EURASIAN WIGEON, TREE SWALLOWS, SANDHILL CRANE, WESTERN SANDPIPER (56), CANVASBACK (3), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
On the TRAIL DOWN BELOW the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center
FOX SPARROW, TREE SWALLOW, LESSER SANDHILL CRANES
ANCHOR RIVER (from the parking lot to the mouth of the river): BLACK TURNSTONES (23), BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMAED PLOVER, CACKLING GEESE, LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER.