Date: 4/13/26 1:33 pm From: George Matz via groups.io <geomatz41...> Subject: [AKBirding] KBay Shorebird Monitoring Session #1
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project
2026 Session #1
After a Deep Freeze Winter, Spring Migration is Underway (sort of)
On Saturday, April 11 the Kachemak Bay Birders had its first of nine
scheduled shorebird monitoring sessions for this year. Our sessions last
two hours. This session started at 10:00 AM For consistency, starting time
is when the outgoing tide approaches 15.0 feet, or high tide if less than
that. This morning, the high tide was only 12.5 feet, one of the lowest
high tides of the year. 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.
We had a good turnout of birders for our first session with 19 volunteers
covering the five Spit sites, five covering Beluga Slough, one in Seldovia,
and two each at the Anchor and Kasilof Rivers for a total of 29 volunteers.
This includes six KBC Semester by the Bay students.
It was an old-timer winter for Homer (as well as the whole State of
Alaska). Google says. “Based on data from the Homer Municipal Airport,
comparing the December 2025 to April 2026 period against long-term averages
(1932–2025/26), this winter and early spring was generally colder than
normal, with extreme cold in December and March.” Google also said; “For
the last two weeks (approx. March 28 – April 12, 2026), Homer, AK
experienced temperatures with an average around 28° F, featuring highs near
43° F and lows near -6° F. This is slightly colder than the typical
late-March/early-April average, where highs are usually in the upper 30s to
low 40s F and lows are above 20° F.” On shorebird monitoring day, according
to Airport records, at 9:53 AM the temperature was 35.1° F, the wind was
calm, the sky was overcast, and the barometric pressure was 30.06 inches.
At 11:53 AM, the temperature shot up to 36.0° F, winds were variable at 5
mph, skies were still overcast, and the barometric pressure had dropped
slightly to 30.03 inches. As illustrated by the attached photos of the
Beluga Slough and Mariner Park Lagoon Teams, there is still substantial ice
in the intertidal areas.
Our cold weather earlier this winter and the lingering ice even now didn’t
seem to affect the arrival of Greater Yellowlegs the past couple of days.
Greater Yellowlegs are one of Kachemak Bay’s earliest spring shorebird
arrivals and a mid-to-long-distant migrant that wouldn’t be aware of
weather conditions here when it began its migration north. Looking back at
our 17 years of records, their arrival date seems to be pretty consistent
from year-to-year. On the other hand, Rock Sandpipers, which overwinter in
Kachemak Bay, are just starting their spring migration. According to our 17
years of monitoring records (which includes weather data) this is the most
ROSA we have had for our first session. Perhaps that is because Kachemak
Bay has essentially the same climate as the Bering Sea region where Rock
Sandpipers nest. They may know that if there is still an abundance of ice
here, it is even more so in the Bering Sea. Why go from bad to worse.
Shorebirds seen during this year’s session #1 include the following.
· Black Oystercatcher; Seldovia (6).
· Rock Sandpiper; Mud Bay (467), Louie’s Lagoon (284), Green
Timbers (1,000), Fishing Hole to Homer Harbor (3), Kasilof (1). Monitors on
the Homer Spit said in their report that the Rock Sandpipers they saw were
foraging and fairly stationary, indicating the total count for the Spit
area was about 1,754. A photo taken April 10 (see attached) on the Spit may
have included most of the entire flock in flight, which verifies that many
are still here. Previous highs for this species were 597 in 2020, 688 in
2021, and 506 in 2024. I believe these were also cold springs. Now that
spring (above freezing temperatures) has arrived, the next session report
will be interesting; how may are still here ?
· Greater Yellowlegs; Mariner Park Lagoon (1), Green Timbers (1),
Beluga Slough (1), Anchor Point (2), Kasilof (3). Sightings at Mariner
Parka and Beluga Slough may have been the same bird which was moving about.
· Sanderling; Mud Bay (1), Green Timbers (1). The same bird may
have been at both sites.
· Dunlin; Green Timbers (3).
Listed below are non-shorebird species seen during session #1. Highlights
are;
· Eurasian Wigeon were numerous with 7 at Mud Bay and 1 at Mariner
Park
· Storm Wigeon at Mud Bay which is a color variation of an American
Wigeon. If you want to learn more Google storm wigeon and you should get
several articles.
· Trumpeter Swan at Mariner Park Lagoon. This is the first time I
have seen these swans at this site. They could be the pair that normally
nests at upper Beluga Lake but waiting for more open water.
· Brant at couple Spit sites.
*Homer Spit*
Waterfowl: Trumpeter Swan, Tundra Swan, Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, American
Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck,
Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed
Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser.
Loons and Grebes: Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loon,
Red-throated Loon, Common Loon.
Gulls: Black-legged Kittiwake, Short-billed Gull, American Herring Gull,
Glaucus-winged Gull.
Raptors; Bald Eagle.
Misc; Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Pelagic Cormorant.
Songbirds; Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped
Chickadee, Pine Siskin.
*Beluga Slough and Bishops Beach*
Waterfowl; American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal,
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common
Goldeneye,
Gulls: Short-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull.
Misc.; Ring-necked Pheasant, Rock Pigeon,
Loons and Grebes: Horned Grebe.
Raptors: Bald Eagle.
Songbirds; Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee,
Goldene-crowned Kinglet, Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Song Sparrow.
*Seldovia*
Waterfowl; Harlquin Duck, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed
Duck, Bufflehead
, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser.
Gulls: Glaucous-winged Gull.
Loons and Grebes: Common Loon.
Raptors; Bald Eagle.
Misc.; Pigeon Guillemot, Belted Kingfisher.
Songbirds; Black-billd Magpie, American Crow.
*Anchor Point/River*
Waterfowl; Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Common Eider, Harlequin
Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck,
Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser.
Loons and Grebes: Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loon, Common Loon.
Gulls; Short-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull.
Misc.: Pelagic Cormorant.
Raptors; Bald Eagle.
Songbirds; Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Song Sparrow.
*Kasilof River*
Waterfowl; Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail,
Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, Long-tailed
Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye.
Gulls; Short-billed Gull, American Herring Gull,
Raptors; Bald Eagle.
Songbirds; Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped
Chickadee, Redpoll, Pine Siskin.
Details, including photos, of these birds can be seen via eBird. Go to
Explore, enter Kenai Peninsula, and then to More Recent Visits and scroll
down to April 11.
