Sunrise 4:34 am, sunset 11:24 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 10 seconds longer as we approach the summer solstice on June 21 with the maximum of 18 hours and 54 minutes.
A big storm blew in last night with the first real soaking rain (sorely needed), south winds gusting to 40 mph, and temps in the low 40s. It must have been a tough time for incubating birds and newly hatched nestling in exposed nests.
On a stroll around Two Lakes Park on Tuesday afternoon, June 9, I lucked into Woodpecker Alley by the First Lake outlet stream. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER flew ahead of me, landing about 10’ up successive spruce trees. It was huge compared to a male DOWNY WOODPECKER that followed in its wake. I returned the next day with optics, but alas, no woodpecker sightings.
In the mysterious ground fog at the tidelands on Wednesday morning, I found a lone HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL foraging along the tide’s edge. This is a late bird. A male WILSON’S SNIPE winnowed overhead, adding to the eerie scene. That’s a challenging dot-speck to photograph!
I heard my FOS ALDER FLYCATCHER singing and enjoyed watching a SAVANNAH SPARROW belt out his song from a lichen-encrusted snag.
Around 11 pm, the lonesome SAW-WHET OWL beeped from the forest of Mount Marathon.
Another late sighting of a WANDERING TATTLER on Friday, June 12 made me wonder if they are nesting somewhere along our numerous gravel riverbeds or up in the subalpine tundra.
ARCTIC TERNS may have some hatchlings; on June 12 one Tern caught a tiny fish perfect for a baby and flew it home. Most of the catch still seems to be larger salmon smolt. On June 13, much to my surprise, I happened upon the intimate scene of two Terns mating. While this is likely evidence of failed nesting, it seems much too late in the season for a second attempt with their tight traveling schedule.
A dainty immature BONAPARTE’S GULL, a two-year gull, loosely associated with the bigger SHORT-BILLED GULLS.
Back home, the male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD finally got perch at the feeder, though he proved very wary and elusive. I snuck some photos through the rain-spattered window while he dined. What a beauty!
As we reach mid-June and bird parents busy with their babies, birdsong has greatly diminished. Much to my delight, I heard the long song of a tiny PACIFIC WREN yesterday.
Still serenading/celebrating today after the storm was a lusty FOX SPARROW, fluting HERMIT THRUSHES, the occasional sweet ROBIN, TOWNSEND’S, YELLOW-RUMPED, and WILSON’S WARBLERS.
Date: 6/9/26 10:36 am From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Monday, June 8, 2026 Unexpected Geese, and Spring progressing to Summer
Monday, June 8, 2026 Unexpected Geese, and Spring progressing to Summer
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 4:38 am, sunset 11:17 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 39 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 10 seconds longer.
Seward experienced summer for three amazing days last week when the temperature finally rose into the 50s and even mid-60s. My journal notes: “Perfect day!” Brand-new leaves erupted in a lovely spring-green color; alder and cottonwood flowers burst forth; dandelions opened their mini-sun flowers.
Parking is getting difficult at Afognak Beach due to the popular red salmon snag fishery. I managed to “snag” a spot on June 2, probably my last visit for a while.
The thick algal wrack continued to provide a buffet for birds including the usual HERMIT THRUSHES, FOX and SONG SPARROWS, AMERICAN CROWS, AMERICAN ROBINS, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. No Pipits observed.
A bright YELLOW WARBLER caught my eye, also enjoying breakfast chez The Wrack. It was fun to be able to actually see him, instead of the usual flitting behind leaves and branches.
I also heard a BELTED KINGFISHER.
A black bear was reported rummaging though an irresponsible homeowner’s garbage can down the block on June 3. I reluctantly removed my sunflower seed feeder and suet, known bear attractants.
The bewildered resident RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES landed on the hummingbird feeder that replaced them. It was tough to quit cold turkey, but they adapted within a few days.
The early-blooming willows continue to attract insects for warblers. As bumblebees bounced from flower to flower, a WILSON’S WARBLER darted about as well, hopefully on smaller, more expendable insects.
Apparently, Seward can’t handle too much heat, so the mysterious fog rolled in on June 5, shrouding the mountains to the sea. The gigantic quantum-class cruise ship and double-berthed smaller cruise ship docked at the port almost disappeared.
ARCTIC TERNS jetted though the mist and occasional blue-sky windows. Some enjoyed a complete soaking bath in a warmed intertidal stream. Nesting and incubation continued for most; no sign of meal delivery yet.
On June 6, an immature BALD EAGLE chased three CACKLING GEESE, stroking powerfully and maneuvering to follow the slightly faster and loudly honking geese. Finally, they outflew him and all the birds landed to rest. Peace returned for now, though the geese continued to exclaim about the excitement.
Seven alert and silent GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE watched the drama but wisely did not move. It seems unusual for these geese to linger in Seward long after their brethren migrated north. No signs of nesting.
On June 7, I watched a dozen or more GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS picking off conveniently exposed mussels at low tide from the sheet pile breakwater at Fourth of July Beach.
On June 8, at least 15 Eagles lined up along the Resurrection River, probably combat fishing for red salmon, just like the humans. Maybe the unsuccessful goose hunter joined them for an easier meal. Despite the availability of salmon, an adult eagle expended a lot of time and energy pursuing a Glaucous-winged Gull without success.
I am really enjoying listening to the beautiful birdsongs from my bagged baby monitor when inside. A tireless ROBIN serenates the neighborhood for hours with his cheerful song. PINE SISKINS, WILSON’S, TOWNSEND’S, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, the Nuthatches, Chickadees, and the chitter of competing RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS bring joy inside and out.
Date: 5/30/26 10:04 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Friday, May 29, 2026 More Afognak Beach Birds, Rufous Hummers
Friday, May 29, 2026 More Afognak Beach Birds, Rufous Hummers
Seward, Alaska
A few more surprises at Afognak Beach yesterday, proving how serendipitous birding can be:
A WANDERING TATTLER popped up by the pond outlet, posing as I clicked away.
A close SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and three SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS stealthily stalked flies sunning in the wrack.
The number of AMERICAN PIPITS seems to be diminishing, but there were still at least a dozen patrolling the beach and intertidal area, blending in perfectly.
I heard, but did not find a GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
I finally photographed a female YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Myrtle), a much more subtle version of the flashy male’s crazy quilt of yellow, black, white, and gray. Males sang in the alders and hopped through the wrack and shallow tidal pools.
I also heard my FOS NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH singing away on the far side of the pond.
A flock of five industrious AMERICAN CROWS also gleaned food from the beach buffet.
Back home, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD activity really picked up. Today, two females hungrily drank sugar water, actually sharing the same feeder. Normally, they seem too territorial and aggressive to share. Maybe that explains why a male has yet to feed, resigned to wishful flybys.
Date: 5/28/26 7:05 am From: S W via groups.io <ak.au.crew...> Subject: [AKBirding] Upper Gulkana
Location: ponds near upper Gulkana above Paxson Lake and below Denali highway Date 5-25-2026 Observer: Scott Wharton Lakes were mostly frozen with open areas on creeks and sloughs. The usual suspects were in evidence. Highlights:
Trumpeter swans 8pr Common and Barrows Goldeneye Bufflehead C Merganzer Ring Neck Duck Scaup N Pintail Red neck Phalarope G Yellowlegs N Flicker Short ear owl Rusty blackbird Grey cheek thrush Boreal chickadee Wilson's warbler Y Rump warbler Y warbler Townsend's warbler Arctic tern GLW x Herr gull
Date: 5/28/26 6:50 am From: nlethaby via groups.io <nlethaby...> Subject: [AKBirding] Anchorage birding questions
All,
I am coming up to bird Alaska in a few days and have a couple of questions about birding around Anchorage:
- While I have seen Hudsonian Godwit and Short-billed Dowitchers easily on the mudflats on previous visits, I am wondering if there is an accessible area where you can see them in their breeding habitat. - I nioticed in ebird that several folks saw a Spruce Grouse apparently defending a display territory around the Campbell Airstrip Trailhead a couple of weeks ago. I'd like to look for that. Can anyone give more precise details on the area it was seen in?
Thanks for any help.
Nick Lethaby Goleta, CA <nlethaby...> +1 805 284 6200
Date: 5/27/26 10:08 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Lesser Yellowlegs, American Pipits, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Lesser Yellowlegs, American Pipits, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 4:55 am, sunset 10:57 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 2 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 44 seconds longer.
With the exception of the unexpected gift of sunshine (and wind) on Sunday and Monday, chilly May intends to finish off her days with clouds and showers, dipping down to freezing then barely reaching 50 on her last gasp.
Birding in the rain seems normal now. On Saturday, I watched two LESSER YELLOWLEGS stalk around a flooded pothole. Everything about them was “lesser” than the Greater Yellowlegs: shorter, straighter bill, fewer bars and stripes, thinner neck, and smaller size.
A LINCOLN’S SPARROW sang its melodious song nearby while WILSON’S SNIPE winnowed from on high.
On Sunday, not one but two female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS buzzed around my feeder! Yay! So relieved and happy they were back!
A pair of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS checked out one of my nest boxes (free for a song) and I suspect a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE has claimed another.
I heard my FOS ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at the Lagoon.
Today, thanks to a report from Robin C, I found dozens of AMERICAN PIPITS rummaging through the wrack at Afognak Beach. One caught an amphipod while others tracked down flies.
A bright YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Myrtle, with a white throat) also rummaged through the wrack with a wide-eyed, rusty-tailed HERMIT THRUSH and a dark, streaky SONG SPARROW. A SPOTTED SANDPIPER flew stiff-winged along the shoreline.
Five adult BALD EAGLES burst out of the spruce; I could hear one beating its way through the thick branches. Quite the excitement!
Then the rain returned in earnest and I trudged back to the car, pleased with this glimpse into the busy birds at the beach.
Date: 5/22/26 11:31 pm From: George Matz via groups.io <geomatz41...> Subject: [AKBirding] Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project, Session #9
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project
2026 Sessions #9
This was a Rare Year
Jumping into the headline, this was a rare year for two reasons; 1) unusual
number of stormy (windy) days, and 2) unusual number of birds species we
saw. Is there a connection?
The spring issue of Audubon magazine says “When skies are clear and winds
push them onward, long-distance migrants are focused on covering distance
and might be scarce on the ground. Dreary spring weather, on the other
hand, can bring a bounty of birds down to earth. A good rule of thumb is
that the worse the weather is, the more you want to bird near water.” (
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/how-harness-spring-weather-spectacular-birding).
And there is the added factor of big Pacific storms blowing birds to
Alaska’s shores, which may be a significant reason why Eurasian species are
showing up here.
More below.
On Thursday, May 21, the Kachemak Bay Birders had its ninth and final
shorebird monitoring sessions this year. Our sessions last two hours. This
session started at 8:00 AM. For consistency, starting time is when the
outgoing tide approaches 15.0 feet, or high tide if less. This session when
we started monitoring the outgoing tide was 15.2 feet. A high tide of 18.3
feet occurred at 6:14 this morning. This is our 18th consecutive year of
monitoring, following the same protocol each year. Because our monitoring
dates try to bracket the spring shorebird migration, the first and last
sessions tend to have just a few shorebird sightings. All observations are
submitted to eBird and the ISS portal.
Despite the weather forecast, this session we had 20 birders at Homer Spit
sites, 3 at Beluga Slough, 2 at Island and Islets, 6 at the Anchor River,
and 2 at the Kasilof River. A total of 33 birders participated in this
session.
It turned out that the forecast was worse than the actual weather.
According to the NWS station at the Homer Airport (
https://forecast.weather.gov/data/obhistory/PAHO.html ), at 7:53 AM winds
were variable at 5 mph, the sky was overcast with light rain, the
temperature was 44°, and the barometric pressure was 29.81”. At 9:53 AM
conditions were the same with the exception of the barometric pressure
dropping slightly to 29.79”. The average high temperature for this date is
55° and the low is 39°.
Although the weather in Homer over the past several weeks has been on the
cool and wet side, what has been rare for spring is the windy, gusty
conditions. The chart below illustrates.
This brings up the many rare sightings we have had this year Using the
Checklist of Birds; Kachemak Bay, Alaska as a reference, which define;
Rare (R) -Nearly annual in small numbers in appropriate habitat,
Casual (Ca) – Not annual, but future occurrence is likely.
Accidental (A) – Exceptional occurrence (I or 2 records).
This year we saw species which aren’t even on this checklist. Not all were
seen during one of our sessions, but all were by birders who participate in
the shorebird monitoring project.
Not on the list.
· Wood Sandpiper
· Garganey (duck)
Others are;
· Steller’s Eider - R in spring
· Common Eider – R in spring
· Bristle-thighed Curlew – Ca in spring
· Ruff – A in spring
· Ivory Gull – A in winter
· Caspian Tern – R in spring
· Osprey – R in spring
· Barn Swallow – Ca in spring
Now for the close-out. This session, 17species of shorebirds were seen, and
their counts by site are:
· Dunlin – Mud Bay (20), Louie’s Lagoon (1), Green Timbers (18) .
· Least Sandpiper- Louie’s Lagoon (1), Green Timbers (1), Anchor
(2), .
· Western Sandpiper – Mud Bay (44), Louie’s Lagoon (32), Green
Timbers (120), Anchor (3),
· Semiplamated Sandpiper – Mud Bay (1),
· Peeps – Louie’s Lagoon (10), Anchor (7).
· Wilson’s Snipe; Kasilof (1).
· Red-necked Phalarope – Mud Bay (1), Kasilof (1).
Below are the non-shorebird species reported for the eighth seventh
session. Swallows have arrived.
*Homer Spit*
Waterfowl: Greater White-fronted Goose, Brant, American Wigeon, Northern
Shoveler, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck,
Greater Scaup, Black Scoter, Common Merganser.
Loons and Grebes: Pacific loon, Common Loon.
Gulls: Short-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake,
Short-billed Gull, American Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull,.
Raptors; Bald Eagle.
Misc; Ring-necked Pheasant, Rock Pigeon, Sandhill Crane, Pelagic Cormorant.
Songbirds; American Crow, Common Raven, Song Sparrow, American Crow,
swallow, American Robin, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Savanah
Sparro, Song Sparrow.
*Beluga Slough and Bishops Beach*
Waterfowl; American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal,
scoter,
Misc.; Ring-necked Pheasant, Rock Pigeon, Sandhill Crane.
Gulls; Black-legged Kittiwake, Bonaparte’s Gull,
Loons and Grebes; Common Loon.
Raptors: Bald Eagle.
Songbirds; American Crow, swallow, American Robin, Fox Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Yellow-rumped
Warbler.
Date: 5/22/26 10:01 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Tuesday, May 19, 2026 More photos of Bar-tailed Godwits, Long-billed Dowitchers, Wandering Tattler and Friday May 22 update
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 More photos of Bar-tailed Godwits, Long-billed Dowitchers, Wandering Tattler
Seward, Alaska
The dismal weather may have encouraged a handsome pair of BAR-TAILED GODWITS, about 13 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and at least one WANDERING TATTLER to linger. What a pleasure to study and photograph these long-distance migrants!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
Friday, May 22, 2026 Pipits, Geese, Whimbrels, Tattler
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 5:04 am, sunset 10:47 pm for a total day length of 17 hours and 42 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 12 seconds longer.
The cool, rainy May weather is stuck and getting monotonous: an overnight low of 33 today with a high of 38. Fresh dusting of snow on the mountains and rain at sea level. Nonetheless, even cold rain is the color green as evidenced by greening grass and emerging leaves.
I last spotted the BAR-TAILED GODWITS, DOWITCHERS, and DUNLINS on May 19.
But the slow, cool spring may have contributed to the lingering 85 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 25 CACKLING GEESE.
Surprisingly, six HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS and one WANDERING TATTLER probed among the rocks and wrack at Scheffler Creek despite the human and dog disturbances. A tiny male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER flitted among them for flies.
New today, a large pulse of about 50 AMERICAN PIPITS popped up from the grasses in the upper field along the Airport Road.
The TRUMPETER SWAN is sitting on her nest at the Mile 1 Nash Road. I hope they built this year’s nest high enough to keep the eggs out of the frigid water.
About 10 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS swooped about catching some of the numerous insects. I saw a few TREE SWALLOWS but Swallow numbers seem quite low.
The SAW-WHET OWL has been beeping from lower Mt Marathon as early as 9 am. (!)
No sign of “my” Hummingbird since the first sighting last week. Hmmmm.
Date: 5/18/26 2:17 pm From: George Matz via groups.io <geomatz41...> Subject: [AKBirding] Kachemak Bay Shorebirds Session #8
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project
2026 Sessions #8
Stormy but still lots of birds.
On Saturday, May 16 the Kachemak Bay Birders had its eighth of nine
scheduled shorebird monitoring sessions for this year. Our sessions last
two hours. This session started at 5:00 PM. For consistency, starting
time is when the outgoing tide approaches 15.0 feet, or high tide if less.
This session when we started monitoring the outgoing tide was 15.1 feet. A
high tide of 18.6 feet occurred at 3:16 this afternoon. This is our 18th
consecutive year of monitoring, following the same protocol each year.
Because our monitoring dates try to bracket the spring shorebird migration,
the first and last sessions tend to have just a few shorebird sightings.
All observations are submitted to eBird and the ISS portal.
This session we had 17 birders at Homer Spit sites, 3 at Beluga Slough, 5
at the Anchor River, and 2 at the Kasilof River. The Island and Islets team
of 3 monitored the day after due to stormy conditions. Cindy, in Seldovia
did not go out at all because of high seas and said “that’s four monitoring
sessions cancelled this year due to high winds!” A total of 30 birders
participated in this session.
Very windy conditions. At Mariner Park Lagoon, which is a stationary site
where we generally sit, gusts were so strong that it blew away your chair
if you weren’t sitting in it, which happened a couple of times to each of
us. Needless to say, birds were not flying much. According to the NWS
station at the Homer Airport (
https://forecast.weather.gov/data/obhistory/PAHO.html ), at 4:53 PM winds
were from the E at 12 mph, the sky was cloudy, the temperature was 46.9°,
and the barometric pressure was 29.84”. At 6:53 PM. the wind was E at 22mph
with gusts to 35 mph, cloudy with light rain, the temperature was still
45°, and the barometric pressure rose to 29.76”.
As expected, the peak of the migration has passed, but there were still
lots of shorebirds to see as well as newly arrived songbirds. Here are the
22 shorebird species we saw this session, plus the count by site. Nice
demonstration of diversity. The Anchor River has the mot species with 18.
· Black Oystercatcher – Islands & Islets (1). Anchor (1).
Date: 5/16/26 11:26 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, May 16, 2026 Bar-tailed Godwit, Dowitchers, Pacific Golden-Plover, and a Rufous Hummingbird
Saturday, May 16, 2026 Bar-tailed Godwit, Dowitchers, Pacific Golden-Plover, and a Rufous Hummingbird
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 5:17 am, sunset 10:33 pm for a total day length of 17 hours and 15 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 37 seconds longer.
Cool and cloudy weather continued this week, with a low of 35 and a high of 40 today. More of the same with moderate rain forecast for the next week as another big storm blows in from the Gulf of Alaska.
This morning, two VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS swooped low over the road hunting insects (mosquitoes have emerged), revealing their diagnostic white rumps. I hope they find one of my nesting boxes suitable!
I heard my FOS HERMIT THRUSH singing in my yard, and watched my FOS YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER fly-catch from a willow at Nash Road wetlands.
At the tidelands, a pale female BAR-TAILED GODWIT probed through the mud for marine worms, small clams, and crustaceans. The bars on her tail became visible only when she flew.
The Alaskan subspecies baueri breeds on sub-Arctic and Arctic coasts and tundra. They are famous for their non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean without feeding to reach their nonbreeding grounds in New Zealand and eastern Australia. In 2022 a juvenile flew 8,425 miles from Alaska to Tasmania in 11 days, 1 hour, setting a record.
Another long-distance flyer from Hawaii, a female PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVER, gleaned sluggish flies from the wrack line. Other shorebirds included my FOS SPOTTED SANDPIPER, small numbers of WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and a GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
Nine DOWITCHERS continued to feed in the shallows of the pond.
An adult BALD EAGLE swooped into the flats, scattering alarmed NORTHERN PINTAILS, GADWALL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, and MALLARDS. She landed, grabbed a huge piece of seaweed (?), and stroked powerfully back to her nest.
Small lingering flocks of CACKLING and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE fed in the sedges, and a single HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL dined in wet areas in the upland grasses.
Around 6 pm, my FOS female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD magically appeared at my feeder, just as if she never left. My neighbor reported their first one Friday and one was reported at Bear Lake on Thursday.
