Diamond Creek is a great place to checkout songbirds, both along the road and on the trails. There is a trail that starts at the end of the road and winds its way down the bluff to the beach. Another trail, developed for mountain bikes, follows much of the road. On the beach check Cook Inlet for pelagic birds and shorebirds.
Road to trailheadParking area and Trailhead (trail to beach)Upper portion of trail to the beachView from side trail
Directions:
Take the gravel road, located just west of the turnoff to Diamond Ridge Road. There is a parking area approximately 0.2 miles down the road, located on the left. Park here if you wish to walk the road, although there are other parking areas farther along the road. At the end of the road (approximately 0.8 miles) is parking and the trailhead for the Diamond Creek trail winding down the bluff to the beach. Please use caution when walking this trail.
Birds Observed or Heard along the road and trails at Diamond Creek SRS:
Eagle Lake is great birding for songbirds. Mew Gulls and a Pacific Loon pair nests at the lake. Several shorebird species also nest here: Yellowleg and Wilson’s Snipe. The Jaeger Bog hosts a nesting pair of dark morph Parasitic Jaegers. Both locations are great for songbirds. Merlins and Northern Harrier can occasionally be spotted here.
Directions:
Eagle Lake: Drive approximately 18-19 miles out East End Road. Turn left on Basargin Road (aka Circle Lake Road), drive approximately 2.7 miles to the Y in the road. Go right. Drive another (approximate) 1.1miles. There will be a pull off on the side of the road. Park here. Walk down (northeast) the road about 100 feet or so. There will be a small trail on the left hand side of the road. This trail leads to the lake. The lake is less than ¼ mile off the road. Boots are necessary as this trail as it can be very wet and muddy.
Trail to Eagle Lake from Basargin Road
Jaeger Bog: Drive approximately 18-19 miles out East End Road. Turn left on Basargin Road (aka Circle Lake Road), drive approximately 2.7 miles to the Y in the road. Go left. Drive 0.5 miles. There may be a closed gate. If so, park off the road and walk approximately 0.5 miles. There will be a large bog on the left hand side of the road. If the gate is open drive up the hill and down to a small pull-out at the bottom of the hill and on the right hand side of the road. Scope the bog on the left for Dark Morph Parasitic Jaegers that nest here annually. A variety of songbirds can be found here as well.
Be aware. This is bear and moose country.
Bird Species Observed or Heard at Eagle Lake
Pacific Loon
Trumpeter Swan
Common Goldeneye
Mallard
Eurasian Widgeon
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Ring-necked Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowleg
Greater Yellowleg
Wilson’s Snipe
Red-necked Phalarope
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Herring Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Bonaparte’s Gull
Arctic Tern
Parasitic Jaeger
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Sandhill Crane
Common Raven
Black-blled Magpie
Gray Jay
Northwestern Crow
American-three-toed Woodpecker
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Hermit’s Thrush
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Varied Thrush
Gray-checked Thrush
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Rusty Blackbird
White-winged Crossbill
Bird Species Seen or Heard at Jaeger Bog and surrounding area:
Beach heading towards mouth of the Anchor RiverAnchor River
The Anchor Point Beach is a good beach for migrating (spring and outbound) shorebirds. Spring migration begins in late April and peak mid May (spring migration). Outbound migration begins late June and you can find shorebirds into September, and occasionally October.
The best place to see shorebirds is generally within 500 feet of the parking lot or at the mouth of the river, approximately 1.3 miles from the parking lot. Shorebirds can also be observed along the Anchor River. There is a road that parallels the river.
In the day-use parking lot and campground, a variety of songbirds can be observed during the spring and summer.
Seabirds can be observed on or flying over Cook Inlet. Outbound migration (July-September) can bring an abundance of seabirds, including Sooty Shearwaters, Tufted and Horned Puffins, and Murrelets (Marbled and Kittletz).
Be sure to also check out the wetlands next to the parking lot in the spring and fall for waterfowl and shorebirds.
Be aware of the tides. Tides in Alaska can be extreme at times. It is always best to visit the beach during an outgoing tide. Shorebirds are best observed when the tide is between 12-14 feet.
Directions:
From Homer take the Sterling Highway to Anchor Point. Turn left on to the Old Sterling Highway (left), drive over the bridge, and take the first right (Anchor Point Road). Drive this road to the end and park in the parking lot. A $5.00 parking fee is charged.
List of Bird Species Observed at Anchor Point Beach/Anchor River
Over 170 species have been observed at the parking long, along the Anchor River, over Cook Inlet, or along the beach at Anchor Point throughout the year.
This is a small, 80-acre state recreation site location out East End Road near McNeil Canyon. The park offers several different summer trails (and winter ski/snowshoe trails, as well), with no trail longer than 1.25 miles. During the summer there are a variety of wildflowers in the meadows and along the trails. Not to be missed.
Trail MapBoardwalk on Alpine Meadows TrailView from Glacier View Trail
More than 45 bird species have been spotted in the park. In the spring and summer, the best time to bird is during the morning hours. Key breeding species include: Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, and Orange-crowned Warbler.
Remember this is bear and moose country. Be Aware.
Directions:
From East End Road in Homer drive approximately 13.5 miles to Alpine Meadows Road. There will be a state park sign just before the road. Turn left onto Alpine Meadows and drive approximately ½ mile to the park. There is a small parking lot on the left-hand side of the road.
Bird List:
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Northern Hawk Owl
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Spruce Grouse
Willow Ptarmigan
Wilson’s Snipe
Lesser Yellowleg
Gray Jay
Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Northern Shrike
Alder Flycatcher
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hermit Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Gray-cheeked Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Townsends Warbler (R)
Blackpoll Warbler (R)
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow (UC)
Lapland Longspur
Pine Grosbeak
White-winged Crossbill
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Common Redpoll
Please note that many of these species are uncommon to rare. Check the latest ebird for the most recent sightings: http://ebird.org/content/ak/
Gray JayHatch Year Varied ThrushOrange-crowned Warbler
