Date: 10/3/26 6:27 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, October 3, 2026 Greater Yellowlegs, Pacific Loon, Kittiwakes
Saturday, October 3, 2026 Greater Yellowlegs, Pacific Loon, Kittiwakes
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:08 am, sunset 7:23 pm, for a total day length of 11 hours, 14 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds shorter.
North winds and rain squalls returned after a mirror calm, sunny day yesterday. Temps ranged from 32 to 42. More rain and wind in the forecast.
A young bull moose dissuaded me from birding at the head of the bay this morning. His freshly scrubbed and shining antlers gave him an impressive look and feisty attitude. I would rather not be on foot in his powerful company!
Instead, I sought shelter from the wind at Afognak Beach. To my surprise, a late GREATER YELLOWLEGS foraged in the shallow intertidal pools as if summer were not over and done. It was like seeing an old friend!
Two river otters abruptly changed course and bounded back to the bay as I approached, swimming away, seemingly equally at home on land or in the water.
Next, I checked out Spring Creek Beach. Tasha reported a resighting of one of two Mourning Doves hunkered down under a spruce tree. Two had been spotted on September 28, but a Northern Goshawk may have dined on the other. Or the smart Dove is happily feasting with the pigeons in town.
I did not find the wayward Dove or the two Rusty Blackbirds but I enjoyed seeing a late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and several HARLEQUIN DUCKS. Many Gulls clamored around the fish-waste feeder and rose in a cloud when disturbed by a BALD EAGLE.
On the way home, I checked the boat harbor and found several BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES cruising around in non-breeding plumage.
To the south of the Uplands, a raft of a dozen SURF SCOTERS, back for the winter, queued up near another Gull frenzy at the fish-waste feeder.
A small raft of Steller Sea Lions poked their noses up like triangular birds then lazily submerged.
A PACIFIC LOON surfaced in the distance, paddling, diving, and then stretching. Many loose feathers blossomed from its wings. The white scaling on the back, like a carefully embroidered design, indicated this is a juvenile.
Yesterday, I found a few BARROW’S GOLDENEYES at the SMIC sewage lagoon. Our winter residents are returning even as others migrate farther south. The sight of these resolute birds and mammals sure brightened a dreary, wet and windy, gray day.
Sunrise 8:04 am, sunset 7:29 pm, for a total day length of 11 hours and 24 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.
Fall so far has been a mixed bag of heavy rain squalls, sprinkles, sunshine, clouds, and fresh termination dust descending on the surrounding mountains. Temperatures continue to drop, with a low this morning of 33, rising to 40 by midday.
Yesterday between squalls, a young PEREGRINE FALCON dashed along the tidelands seeking prey. An angry GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL drove him away, totally unafraid of the future fearsome predator.
Then I heard the prehistoric croak of a GREAT BLUE HERON that was innocently flying by. The Falcon made several unsuccessful dives as the huge Heron took ungainly evasive action and eventually landed, totally flustered. The Falcon flew off looking for more cooperative (and smaller) menu options.
A flock of about 20 LAPLAND LONGSPURS flushed up, perhaps stirred up by the Falcon.
This morning, under gray skies and chilly north wind at Afognak Beach, I heard the staccato call of first one PACIFIC WREN, then found another flitting among the overhanging vegetation on a cliff. I haven’t had the pleasure in quite some time.
A hundred-some BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and SHORT-BILLED GULLS flocked around the seafood processor fish waste feeder at SMIC, but few flew along the shore at Spring Creek Beach.
As the clouds rolled away, six HARLEQUIN DUCKS paddled along Fourth of July Beach while Gulls rested along the shore.
The Trumpeter Swan family seems to have abandoned their nest site at Mile 1 Nash Road. It seems so empty now.
I did find eight adult TRUMPETER SWANS at the head of the bay, resting on a shoal, moving with dignity as the tide came in.
A single First-of-Season SNOW GOOSE grazed in the sedges and exposed mud of the estuary pond. This is the first waterfowl, aside from the migrating Swans, that I have seen this fall. Hopefully, more Geese are on the way, pushed ever southwards by a cold front sweeping the Interior clean.
Date: 9/28/26 8:15 pm From: John M. via groups.io <akjohnm...> Subject: [AKBirding] Mourning Doves and Common Yellowthroat update
It's that time of year when rare and unusual birds are moving through southcentral Alaska - a fun time to be birding!
Shortly after 6PM this evening I flushed up a pair of MOURNING DOVES from the empty pond above Spring Creek beach, Seward. They flew across the 'pond' and perched briefly in a spruce tree before diving deeper into the cottonwoods behind. Pic attached.
Also, just before dusk last night, I refound the COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in the same place previously reported, and along with a group of other local birders, we found it again this morning - same area.
Cheers.
--John
-- *John M. Maniscalco, Ph.D., Capt.* Marine Biologist Owner/Operator, Alaska Seabird Charters www.alaskaseabirds.com PO Box 1675 Seward, AK 99664
Date: 9/26/26 11:12 am From: John M. via groups.io <akjohnm...> Subject: [AKBirding] COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - Seward
I found a Common Yellowthroat this morning at about 9AM just above the Seward Airport tideflats - west of the group of small spruce trees out there. Pic attached.
--John
*John M. Maniscalco, Ph.D., Capt.* Marine Biologist Owner/Operator, Alaska Seabird Charters www.alaskaseabirds.com PO Box 1675 Seward, AK 99664
Date: 9/24/26 9:06 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Wednesday, September 23, 2026 More Cranes, Long-billed Dowitchers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and a Sanderling?
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 More Cranes, Long-billed Dowitchers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and a Sanderling?
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:45 am, sunset 7:53 pm, for a total day length of 12 hours and 8 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter, more in line with the recent Fall Equinox.
Fall began with two days of warm sunshine as the temperature eased up from a chilly overnight low of 36 to a high of 50 with the north wind gusting to 17 mph. Termination dust flags the taller peaks and below, the subalpine plants glow maroon and red.
Three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS strolled around the ever-shallower estuary pond, occasionally accompanied by 9 much smaller PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a peep, possibly a SANDERLING. Two Blackbirds, (Rusty Blackbirds?) erupted from a clump of spruce trees and quickly flew away.
Around 4 pm, I heard SANDHILL CRANES bugling high in the sky heading south, but was unable to spot them due to the sun in my eyes (hate to complain!)
Rain is in the forecast for the next several days, making these sunny fall days even sweeter. Expect more termination dust when the clouds lift!
On Sunday evening we found an immature BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD among a flock of 6 Rusty Blackbirds frequenting the wetlands on either side of Boat Launch Road. Boat Launch Road turns off of Bridge Access Road and leads to the Ken Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform overlooking the Kenai River and Flats.
Date: 9/17/26 11:12 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, September 17, 2026 Two Golden Eagles at Exit Glacier!
Thursday, September 17, 2026 Two Golden Eagles at Exit Glacier!
Seward, Alaska
Two dark specks soared along the rugged rocky ridge above three Mt Goats at Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. Shreds of clouds occasionally obscured them until they emerged sailing gracefully along another section.
Binoculars and a telephoto camera lens revealed the broad wings, long tail, and short head: GOLDEN EAGLES! At least one of them sported the white underwing patches of a juvenile. The habitat was perfect, a rocky subalpine habitat with potential for Mt Goat kids, ground squirrels, or birds.
When I enlarged my photos at home on the computer, I saw 17 much smaller birds mobbing one of the Eagles as it flew close to the ground. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches? Pipits? An assortment of angry birds? Who is still up there in mid-September besides the year-round resident Mt Goats?
Other than two BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES chasing each other through the cottonwoods along the lower trail, and a DOWNY WOODPECKER, it was very quiet.
Without the optics, the glacier, scenery and beauty would still have been spectacular, but the discovery of the speck birds elevated my experience to joy and wonder.
Date: 9/15/26 8:36 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Call of the Wild: Saw-whet Owl, Sandhill Cranes
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Call of the Wild: Saw-whet Owl, Sandhill Cranes
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:26 am, sunset 8:17 pm for a total day length of 12 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter as we approach the Fall Equinox on September 22 at 4:05 pm.
After three glorious days of sunshine and temps reaching the low 60s, the north wind switched to south as a low blew in accompanied by heavy rain. Cloudy and cooler with rain in the forecast for at least the next week.
A frenzied, wavering beeping, not recognized by Merlin, erupted outside my bedroom window at 3:40 am. The diminutive but loud SAW-WHET OWL continued his earnest but one-sided conversation for several minutes until I rolled out of bed and crept around the house. Silence. The missive delivered, he had vanished into the overcast, still night like a ghost.
Yesterday around 12:30 pm, the last of our balmy summery days, I heard SANDHILL CRANES! I rushed inside for my camera then “craned” my head upwards, scanning back and forth. Finally, I found them, a V of Cranes high overhead, bugling and flying due east. They must have flown right over the Harding Icefield, over Mt Marathon, and then over my house. Sweet delivery!
But wait! Even higher were more skeins of Cranes, undulating in ever-changing patterns, weaving intricate patterns spread across the sky. Calling, exhorting, encouraging the young fledgling and each other to stroke, stroke, stroke ever farther from their breeding grounds.
Finally, my camera could no longer discern the dots from the gauzy sky and their ancient bugling faded into the distance.
Still having computer problems and no access to photos. I will post them when I can.
Date: 9/12/26 2:48 pm From: Toby Burke via groups.io <kenaibirder...> Subject: [AKBirding] Kasilof River 9/11: Curlew Sandpiper
Yesterday afternoon at the mouth of the Kasilof River a CURLEW SANDPIPER was observed. It was only found after the outer mudflats were completely inundated and the shorebirds had dispersed up river and inland. It appeared to be an adult in basic plumage (without any residual breeding colors). It was first sighted foraging on the river banks among WESAs and PESAs. It eventually flew away within a PESA flock only to fly by minutes later. Most birders would have considered our encounters less than satisfying but photographs were secured. We later tried to refind the bird on an evening falling tide to get better shots, but we only saw the bird late when it was at a great distance.
Currently, the tidal range is huge so the tides are moving very fast, meaning the windows for optimal observation are pretty brief. The birds do not remain long and feeding is a frenzy and then the birds quickly disperse. Also, there were approximately 400 shorebirds to search through on the Flats while the tide was ripping in. Because of these environmental conditions and numbers of remaining shorebirds finding and observing the bird is a challenge to say the least. Recall that last year when a Curlew Sandpiper appeared at the Kasilof River it was initially discovered when the tides were moderate and it was easy to observe but as the tides increased significantly in size the bird became increasingly difficult to find and observe.
Of note: last week we did observe at least one Dunlin a few times at the Kasilof River mouth (they are regular but we do not get many in the Fall) so be careful to distinguish any Fall Dunlin from a Curlew Sandpiper. The GARGANEY after being seen for four consecutive days was not refound yesterday, in the afternoon nor evening.
Good Birding, Toby and Laura Burke Kalifornsky, AK
Date: 9/9/26 10:21 am From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Peregrine, Merlin, Dowitchers, Great Blue Heron
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Peregrine, Merlin, Dowitchers, Great Blue Heron
Seward, Alaska
Birding in a downpour may be discouraging, but ah! when the rain pauses, the resulting bird action makes it worthwhile.
Suddenly, a flock of 22 DOWITCHERS circled around the estuary pond, dots then actual birds with long bills. A peep joined them, keeping in formation. Then, a WILSON’S SNIPE uttered an “eek!” and flew off below them.
A female BELTED KINGFISHER dashed in, hovering, hovering, hovering, then plummeted into the pond with a mighty splash, emerging triumphantly with a fish.
Next, a secretive GREAT BLUE HERON materialized, flying ponderously across the pond, then landed and again became invisible.
As the rain drops resumed, a MERLIN stroked across the pond and passed behind me, perhaps looking for those Dowitchers.
At the car, a plaintive ROBIN complained from the shelter of spruce trees; we all agreed.
Yesterday, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS announced that, yes, he was still here, thank you very much, as were several SAVANNAH SPARROWS.
A magnificent PEREGRINE FALCON stroked powerfully through the sky, wings beating rapidly. He veered and landed in a faraway dead tree, accompanied by two daring RAVENS, who loitered below him as all waited for the next move.
I dried off my optics, well-satisfied with the minor inconveniences of being temporarily soaked.
Date: 9/7/26 4:59 pm From: Toby Burke via groups.io <kenaibirder...> Subject: [AKBirding] Kasilof River 9/07: Gargany
A GARGANEY was first spotted 0.4 miles to the south when a singular bird flew out from the Kasilof River and west and north toward the large mixed flock of MALL and NOPI feeding in the shallows just beyond the intertidal mudflats. Still in flight at a distance we could see the distinctive green speculum highlighted top and bottom in white, its conspicuous white underwing coverts, a longer more spatulate bill, and contrasting white facial pattern. In size it was similar to a GWTE but had an overall thinner, longer, more narrow-winged appearance in flight. The bird spent the next 50 minutes foraging while drifting north within the large mixed flock as it simultaneously came closer to shore on the incoming tide. When the mudflats were mostly inundated, it flew northwest well offshore to roost with other dabblers. Duck hunters were active on the south side of the river mouth along the duneline roughly parallel with the fish buying station so waterfowl was avoiding this general area. The GARG initially flew low through this area miraculously without being shot.
Date: 9/7/26 11:01 am From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Sunday, September 6, 2026 Catch-up! Pectoral Sandpipers, Black Turnstones, Merlins, Long-billed Dowitchers, and a Tall Ship
Sunday, September 6, 2026 Catch-up! Pectoral Sandpipers, Black Turnstones, Merlins, Long-billed Dowitchers, and a Tall Ship
Seward, Alaska
It’s been a little over two weeks since I last posted due to continuing computer problems, so this is a catch-up report.
Sunrise 7:07 am, sunset 8:42 pm for a total day length of 13 hours and 34 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.
Temperatures remain mild, with lows in the high 40s and highs in the 50s. Rain, sun, wind, calm; the usual weather mix these past two weeks.
On August 20 at midnight, I marveled at the first stars since the start of spring. Appropriately, Cygnus the Swan flew directly overhead along the shimmering Milky Way.
On August 23, a brilliant sunny day, about 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS joined about 20 chittering BLACK TURNSTONES at the tide flats. These high arctic breeders were on the move and hungry, probing the dark gray mud for hidden treasures. A few WESTERN SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS mingled compatibly with the others.
On August 25, a small flock of RED CROSSBILLS hung from ripening spruce cones gleaning the tiny seeds at Afognak Beach. This was the last day I saw SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and YELLOWLEGS. Time to keep moving south.
On August 27 at Spring Creek Beach, two MERLINS harassed two BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, dashing through alders and spruce in a silent and potentially deadly chase. The aerial maneuvers of predators and potential prey were impressive. After many long minutes, during which all took breaks to rest and reconnoiter, the action abruptly shot out of sight.
No Arctic Terns were seen. Bon voyage! It was such a pleasure to watch you!
On September 2, 3 and 4, six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS mechanically stitched the shallows of the estuary pond at the head of the bay. The water levels here as elsewhere, continue to drop, leaving marestails growing in cracked mud as the shoreline recedes.
Ragged rain clouds were just right for another sunspot viewing; so amazing to see that the dark spots move around and are mapped. This one was AR4521, on a star 93 million miles away appearing no larger than the moon.
The Mexican Army’s impressive 3-masted tall ship ARM Cuauhtemoc arrived on August 29 and left on September 3. Both male and female crew stood tall among the yards, as music blasted and the golden eagle on the flag danced in the wind.
On September 6, I finally found a BELTED KINGFISHER rattling across the Lagoon in Benny Benson Memorial Park. I hope/know they’re around, but I just haven’t seen them.
Last night around 11:30 pm, (dark alas), I again heard the steady beeping of a SAW-WHET OWL, tucked away in the forest on the slope of Mt Marathon. I have heard him several times this summer, dark or not.
