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Site Index Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Information Place cursor anywhere on photo for species identification and photographer |
Kachemak Bay Bird Alert Information
April 24, 2008 On the 16th a Peregrine Falcon was reported up McLay Rd. chasing birds near a feeder. On the 23rd 2 Brant were seen between Mud Bay and Miller’s Landing. Groups of 20-40 Greater White-fronted Geese have been seen for a few weeks, sometimes in Beluga Slough and other times at the head of Beluga Lake. One Canada Goose was observed with the group on the 19th. Seen recently at Beluga Lake were Trumpeter Swans, Buffleheads, Common Mergansers, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Mallards, Red-necked Grebes, Mew Gulls and a Gray Jay. Yellowlegs were heard. In Beluga Slough: Green-winged Teals, N. Pintails, Mallards, American and Eurasian Wigeon, Buffleheads, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Trumpeter Swans, Glaucous-winged and Mew Gulls, Common Mergansers, Fox and Savannah Sparrows. At Bishop’s Beach on the 19th 3 Black-bellied Plovers were seen. Also a Common Loon and Song Sparrows were seen and heard. On the west side of the Spit out from the Glacier Drive-in Long-tailed Ducks, Harliquins, 2 species of scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Loon, 2 species of grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Glaucous-winged and Mew Gulls were seen. Common Eiders were seen on the 18th close in near Mariner Park. Songs are being heard. Some reports of Varied Thrush in several places, Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows. We have not heard if the Spotted Towhee is still around. It was reported on the 13th at Seaside Farms. A Trumpeter Swan was reported in Nanwalak on the 19th. Cranes are being seen in many places, some on the ground and other large groups flying overhead. If you see cranes, please call 235-6262 or email to reports@cranewatch.org . April 16, 2008 A Spotted Towhee was reported at Seaside Farms on the 13th. This is so rare that it’s not even in the Checklist of Birds of Kachemak Bay! But is listed as an accidental in SE Alaska in other publications. Greater Yellow-legs and Pacific Golden-Plovers were seen in Beluga Slough on the 15th, both first of season. Eurasian Widgeons were also reported there earlier. The pair of Trumpeter Swans has been observed in Beluga Slough and other times at the head of Beluga Lake—where things are still pretty much frozen. In Mud Bay some Dunlin were observed in with the Rock Sandpipers. (Some were previously reported on March 11th.) Groups of Lapland Longspurs and groups of Snow Buntings have been seen on the Spit between Mariner Park and the Hockey Rink. A Yellow-billed Loon (first winter) and several common Loons were seen from Land’s End. One person reported counting over 50 Bald Eagles in the area between the Harbormaster’s to the end of the Spit. The only crane sighting so far was on April 3rd when four Sandhill Cranes were seen flying east along the edge of the Bay. If you see cranes, please call 235-6262 or email to reports@cranewatch.org . April 9, 2008 On April 9th a pair of Trumpeter Swans was observed in Beluga Slough right by the road. And on April 8th some Eurasian Widgeons were also reported in Beluga Slough. At Bishop’s Beach on the 8th a flock of about 25 Lapland Longspurs was observed. A 3rd year Slaty-backed Gull was reported on the 8th at the end of the Spit by the Ferry Dock. On April 3rd four Sandhill Cranes were seen flying east along the edge of the Bay. Some songbirds have been heard recently, specifically: Varied Thrush, White-crowned Sparrows, and Juncos. Folks ask if some of these arrivals are early? According to George West’s data, the average earliest arrival date is April 19 for resident Sandhill Cranes and Trumpeter Swans and April 13th for Lapland Longspurs. So this year’s dates are early although the cranes were probably just passing through. We might be seeing Terns, Pintails and Yellowlegs pretty soon; they have mid-April arrival dates. April 9, 2008 On April 9th a pair of Trumpeter Swans was observed in Beluga Slough right by the road. And on April 8th some Eurasian Widgeons were also reported in Beluga Slough. At Bishop’s Beach on the 8th a flock of about 25 Lapland Longspurs was observed. A 3rd year Slaty-backed Gull was reported on the 8th at the end of the Spit by the Ferry Dock. On April 3rd four Sandhill Cranes were seen flying east along the edge of the Bay. Some songbirds have been heard recently, specifically: Varied Thrush, White-crowned Sparrows, and Juncos. Folks ask if some of these arrivals are early? According to George West’s data, the average earliest arrival date is April 19 for resident Sandhill Cranes and Trumpeter Swans and April 13th for Lapland Longspurs. So this year’s dates are early although the cranes were probably just passing through. We might be seeing Terns, Pintails and Yellowlegs pretty soon; they have mid-April arrival dates. April 1, 2008 Lapland Longspurs were seen beside the road at the Lookout Mountain ski area on the 30th and at Bishop’s Beach on the 27th. Some were also reported in the grassy area by the Marine Terminal on the Spit on the 23rd. A Northern Flicker was seen on the 19th on Kachemak Drive a mile and a half from the base of the Spit. A Sharp-shinned Hawk continues to be reported at the other end of Kachemak Drive stirring things up for the smaller birds. On the 31st there were 35 Steller’s Eiders and 2 Common Eiders seen midway out the Spit off the west side. Also seen were 3 species of Scoters, 2 species of Grebes. From the end of the Spit, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, a Common Loon, Pelagic Cormorants, and Common Murres were reported. Black-legged Kittiwakes have been seen in their nesting areas on Gull Island and on the Deep-water Dock and Ferry Dock. At Knob Hill up the North Fork Road, both Northern Saw-whet and Boreal Owls are being heard. At Fritz Creek a Sharp-shinned Hawk was reported frequently actively hunting. Also Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Brown Creepers, Pine Siskins, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Boreal and Black-capped Chickadees. A Saw-whet Owl has been heard every night for quite a while up the hill above Fritz Creek so he must have a territory staked out up there. Spruce Hens were reported on a very wooded road near the Dump. I am resisting the temptation to report an April Fool’s bird… March 11, 2008 Some intriguing gulls were seen out on the Spit: on the 10th a Slaty-backed Gull (3rd-year) and a Glaucous Gull (2nd year) with many Glaucous-winged Gulls, some Mew Gulls and about 5 Black-legged Kittiwakes. In Mud Bay 4 drake Eurasian Widgeons were seen also on the 10th. And about 50 Dunlin were spotted in with the large group of Rock Sandpipers. There was an earlier report of a drake Mallard X Pintail hybrid in Mud Bay. Also there were American Widgeons and Northern Pintails. On the 10th a Lapland Longspur was seen flying over Mariner Park. A group of 25 Snow Buntings was seen in that area and a ways south on the 2nd. On the 11th in the Miller’s Landing area, a Northern Shrike was observed in a lilac bush eating an impaled mouse! (Just like they say in the books…) A Brambling returned to the McNeil Canyon area last week, or perhaps was around all the time at others’ feeders? Also reported there on the 3rd were Red Crossbills and a Tree Sparrow.
March 8, 2008 The Brambling has returned to the McNeil Canyon area, or perhaps was around all the time at others’ feeders? Also reported there on the 3rd were Red Crossbills and a Tree Sparrow. In the Fritz Creek area Great Horned Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls are being heard. A Northern Goshawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen there also. In the Miller’s Landing/Kachemak Drive area, there was a very active Sharp-shinned Hawk reported several days this week. Also White-winged Crossbills and Bufflehead seen out in the Bay. About a mile south of the base of the Spit on the 2nd, the group of about 25 Snow Buntings was spotted. Many Black Scoters, plus Surf and White-winged, Long-tailed Ducks, both species of Grebes, both species of Mergansers, Song Sparrows and the large group of Rock Sandpipers were also seen out there on the 2nd. In the Bay on the 23rd a Red-throated Loon and a pair of Yellow Loons were seen (a definitive report received on the 26th). 70 Steller’s Eiders were reported west of the Spit plus Marbled Murrelets, Harlequins, Goldeneyes, and Buffleheads. The report of a drake Mallard X Pintail hybrid in Mud Bay was also verified. Also seen there were American Widgeons and Northern Pintails. January 27, 2008 The Great Backyard Bird Count is from the 15-18th of February. For more information you can go to www.birdsource.org. This is an excellent opportunity to participate in citizen science and help monitor our bird populations. East of Miller’s Landing a Belted Kingfisher was seen briefly on the 27th.. A Short-eared Owl continues to be seen hunting there and also west in the Kachemak Drive area. Northern Shrike, many Pine Siskins (actually “jillions” was the quantifier used), Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows, Red-breasted Nuthatches, plus one Bohemian Waxwing were all recently reported. Rock Sandpipers are frequently seen on the beach. On the 26th at the end of the Spit, a Northern Goshawk was seen hunting the huge flock of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches. Many Long-tailed Ducks were seen near Land’s End, and some Mew Gulls in with the Glaucous-winged Gulls, Goldeneyes, both Mergansers; Bufflehead and Scaup were seen in the Deepwater Harbor. Rock Sandpipers were seen by Mariner Park, on the rocks and in Mud Bay. On the 22nd a Sharp-shinned Hawk was reported near the Marine Terminal. Not many Loons reported this winter. A Harris’s Sparrow was still being seen at Seaside Farms east of town as of the 16th. Also seen there were: a Brambling, Lincoln’s Sparrow, a Varied Thrush, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Orange-crowned Warbler. January 12, 2008 A Harris’s Sparrow was seen at Seaside Farms east of town on the 12th. Its coloration was reported to be “very dull” and it was with some Juncos. There was one here two or three years ago at the other end of town near Baycrest Hill; they are listed as “accidental” here in winter (“Checklist of Birds of Kachemak Bay”). Also seen at Seaside Farms were a Brambling and a Lincoln’s Sparrow; a Varied Thrush, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Orange-crowned Warbler were reported on the 7th. A Brambling continues to visit a feeder up on Mansfield Ave. This week they also reported an American Tree Sparrow. Huge flocks of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches (~150), some Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskin, a couple Common Red Polls, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, a Goshawk and a Shrike were seen recently. East of the Miller’s Landing Area, a Short-eared Owl has been seen several times hunting along the bluff. January 5, 2008 A Townsend’s Solitaire has been seen in town, above Pioneer Ave. It was in with a group of American Robins. (Last week one was reported out East End Road on Glacier View Drive.) Also in town, Cedar Waxwings were observed in with a group of Bohemians. Large groups of Pine Siskins, some Red-breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, Juncos, and both Chickadee species have also been seen. A Goshawk was also reported. A Brambling continues to visit a feeder on Mansfield Ave. Huge flocks of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches (~150) and Pine Grosbeaks are also appearing plus a marauding Goshawk out there also. At Fritz Creek the following were reported: Steller’s Jay, Pine Siskins, Dark-eyed Junco, both Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatch. On Kachemak Drive and in the Miller’s Landing Area, large groups of Bohemian Waxwings are being seen.
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