Mid-40s, mostly cloudy, light NW wind

Still stuck at 59, although we found out about a Sandhill Crane that was seen here three days ago. Maybe we will find it tomorrow.

We did not see the siskin today (not since yesterday morning), although the feeder was still active.

At Landing Lights Beach, a large number of Jellyfish had washed up on shore. I saw several on the Clam Lagoon Peninsula the other day and remarked to Barb that I had not seen any out there before. They did not have any tentacles, so they were not the lethal Portuguese Man-o-war types–but I didn’t touch them anyway.

Jellyfish, Landing Lights Beach, May 29, 2013

A few more flowers are starting to bloom.

Buttercup, Adak, May 29, 2013

Lupine, Adak, May 29, 2013

And, of course, the obligatory mug-shot.

Bald Eagle, Lake Shirley, May 29, 2013

There were hundreds of Ancient Murrelets in Sweeper Cove this morning and out in the bay. A few Pacific Loons are still hanging around. We went out to the Loran Station and, unlike our previous two visits this trip, the puffins were abundant and active–feeding and flying back and forth from the sea to their nests. Unfortunately, the cliffsides on which they nest are not visible from the Loran Station viewpoints.

Horned and Tufted puffins, Loran Station, May 29, 2013

One more day to find number sixty for the trip.

We will be leaving Adak around 6 pm tomorrow and will be arriving home around 5 pm Friday. So the next post (and wrap-up) of this year’s trip will come on Saturday.

Mid-40s, overcast, occasional sprinkle, 20 mph NW wind

The siskin is still here. We saw it at its roosting area this morning and at the feeder area this afternoon.

At Sweeper Channel, a couple of Greater Scaup posed nicely for me.

Greater Scaup, Sweeper Channel, May 28, 2013

Greater Scaup, Sweeper Channel, May 28, 2013

At Landing Lights Beach, we picked up a new trip bird–Sanderling (still in winter plumage). There were 9 Rock Sandpipers as well.

Sanderling, Landing Lights Beach, May 28, 2013

I walked through Contractor’s Marsh and didn’t see a single shorebird. Ditto at Clam Lagoon–both the peninsula and marsh edge were devoid of shorebirds. We had a Pacific Loon today–the first in several days.

If you visit Adak in September, there are many wildflowers in bloom, but in May, very few. This Marsh Marigold was the first blooming flower we’ve seen (not counting the daffodils in peoples’ yards).

Marsh Marigold, Contractor’s Marsh, May 28, 2013

A pair of Pelagic Cormorants posed at Clam Lagoon (you never see the Red-faced this close!).

Pelagic Cormorants, Clam Lagoon, May 28, 2013

Cargo that cannot fit on a plane (or would cost too much to ship that way) are delivered to Adak via barge. On Saturday, a barge arrived with lots of stuff, unloaded and then filled back up and left this afternoon. I still don’t see how these things stay upright in the Bering Sea (have you seen The Deadliest Catch?). The containers were stacked four-high and then trucks put on top of them! The barge is towed by a tugboat (duh!).

Barge leaving Adak, May 28, 2013

One-and-half more days to go.

Trip list is 59.

We admit our mistakes…

Mid-40s, overcast with an occasional (VERY occasional) spot of sunshine, 25-35 W winds, on-and-off sprinkles.

We went down to Finger Bay this morning and found a Wandering Tattler, but it flew off before photo ops. Back up in town, we found the siskin again, this time roosting in a tree around the corner from the ones at the feeder, because it was more sheltered from the current wind direction (poor Isaac!). Also, the siskin was singing (calling?). It looked a little healthier today.

A couple of days ago, while with Steve and Alan, we stopped at Shotgun Lake and saw a single duck out there that looked different. It was tail-on to us, and the lighting was funny, and it was at a good distance. The butt appeared to be black (like a Gadwall) and the rest of the bird appeared plain (like a Gadwall). Steve radioed to us “Is that a Gadwall out there?”

Although it looked funny, the jizz said to me that it was a wigeon, and I responded as such. However, being easily influenced by the opinions of other birders, I began to question my initial take on the bird. I studied it as best I could under the conditions, and just couldn’t convince myself either way. We finally decided to count it as a Gadwall and added it to our trip list without mentioning it in this blog. However, it still bothered me.

Today at Haven Lake, we saw it again–in better lighting, but farther away–and concluded my initial impression was correct–it was a wigeon. One of the things that bothered us about this bird was that it was alone. All of the other wigeons (Eurasian) that we had seen on this trip were paired already. So now we believe it is a female American Wigeon, which is why she has no mate. There aren’t any male American Wigeons here right now. If anyone wants to tell us different (Ie. is it an Eurasian?), please do.

Here are a couple of photos–and, to illustrate a point, the first one shows the original photo before cropping.

American(?) Wigeon, Haven Lake, May 27, 2013

American(?) Wigeon, Haven Lake, May 27, 2013

American(?) Wigeon, Haven Lake, May 27, 2013

Most of the migrant waterfowl have left, but a few Common Goldeneyes are still around.

Common Goldeneyes, Lake Shirley, May 27, 2013

On the way up yo Zeto Point, we saw a funny-looking merganser. It looks like it just hasn’t fully molted into breeding plumage like all the others here. However, he was paired up with a female–so I guess she didn’t mind…

Red-breasted Merganser, Smith Lake, May 27, 2013

As I said in a previous post, all of the feeders are active–just no Asian birds.

Gray-crowned Rosy Finches at Sandy Cove Bluffs Feeder, May 27, 2013

So our trip list remains at 58. Three days to go.

Mid-40s, partly cloudy, occasional sprinkle (even snow!), strong (but lighter than yesterday) NW winds.

We started out today checking the feeders as usual and had the Pine Siskin around 8:30 am. Sweeper Cove was sleepy, but we had 7 phalaropes in Phalarope Cove. Sweeper Creek provided no new birds so we headed up past the Airport Ponds towards Contractor’s Marsh. As we were driving the road between the airport and the marsh, I spotted some birds flying over which looked interesting, so I told Barb to stop and I jumped out of the car. The birds were two smaller ones and a larger raptor flapping away. I dismissed the larger bird as an eagle and concentrated on the other two birds, which turned out to be Aleutian Terns.

Just as I announced their identification, Barb yells “Short-eared Owl!” What I had only glanced at was an owl! It was flying away from us, so we hopped back into the car and raced to catch up–which we did.

Short-eared Owl, Adak Airport, May 26, 2013

Short-eared Owl, Adak Airport, May 26, 2013

Short-eared Owl, Adak Airport, May 26, 2013

Our only other experiences with Short-eared Owl on Adak were in May 2008 when we saw one flying in from the Bering Sea while we were at the seawall, and last fall when we found the wing of one near Andrew Lake. This was our first opportunity to get photos.

We saw the Black-headed Gull again today at Landing Lights Beach. At the Seawall, I was able to pick out a couple of Laysan Albatross way out. Steve and Alan reported another Wandering Tattler at the Seawall Ponds.

We met the tour group returning from Attu and shared war stories. Their trip was not very good (for Attu!). They got Tufted Duck, Smew, Wood Sandpiper, and others, but no megahit. There tour group included a film crew from Japan who were making a documentary about the 70th anniversary of the battle of Attu (when the US kicked their butts of the island!) For anyone interested in this bit of WWII history, I recommend The Thousand Mile War (Brian Garfield).

Isaac arrived on the plane to go on the second Attu trip (as co-leader), so we met him at the airport and took him over to the siskin location, as he needed it for his Adak list. No luck. The bird did not appear on demand as it had a week ago for John.

Steve and Alan left today and the second Attu trip departed, so we are once again the only birders on the island for the next four days.

The trip list is now 58 and counting…

Mid-40s, overcast, very low ceiling, strong NW winds, occasional drizzle or shower.

More phalaropes showed up today in Phalarope Cove. Two Ruddy Turnstones were out on the Clam Lagoon Peninsula. An Arctic Loon was off the seawall.

Yesterday, Steve and Alan found a Wandering Tattler at the mouth of Sweeper Creek. We could not find it today. We went to a spot today where some Fish and Wildlife people reported a Common Snipe winnowing. Steve and Alan had tried this spot two nights ago and had just a Wilson’s Snipe. Today, we heard a snipe calling, but never saw it. However, the strong wind didn’t help.

No new trip birds. The siskin is still here (Note to Isaac–It showed up at the feeder at 5 pm!).

Pine Siskin and Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, Seal Drive Feeder, May 25, 2013

These blog entries will be getting shorter and shorter until something new happens or shows up.

Trip list is holding at 56.

Mid-40s, overcast with extremely low ceiling, rain starting in the afternoon, strong northeast winds.

No new birds. The godwits have left, the siskin is still here, and the number of terns is increasing daily.

At Lake Andrew, a pair of Common Loons in breeding plumage were not far offshore.

Common Loon, Andrew Lake, May 24, 2013

A male Snow Bunting has been coming into the Sandy Cove Bluffs feeder for the past few days. It will not allow close approach, but I got a so-so photo.

Snow Bunting, Sandy Cove Bluffs, May 24, 2013

The phalarope migration has generally been late here this year. The Red-necked Phalaropes should be here in numbers, but only a few so far.

On a side note–Steve and Alan hiked down to Shagak Bay the other day and had a Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Emperor Geese. They also took a boat trip out to see the Whiskered Auklets. They had thousands of them and some Parakeet Auklets.

We are hoping the changing weather (winds switching to the northwest and west over the next few days) may blow in some new migrants.

One week down, one to go…

Mid-40s, overcast, no rain, light winds.

The Emperor Goose that we found yesterday was on Goose Rocks today, affording a photo-op.

Emperor Goose, Goose Rocks, May 23, 2013.

At Clam Lagoon, we never tire of watching the Sea Otters. Many of them are accompanied by moochers who hang around hoping to get the leftovers from the otter’s repast!.

Sea Otter with Glaucous-winged Gull, Clam Lagoon, May 23, 2013.

The godwit flock at Clam Lagoon is down to 3.

Otherwise, today was uneventful until late afternoon. All of the feeders that we stocked when we arrived are now very active with one to two dozen birds (mostly Gray-crowned Rosy Finches) visiting each one daily. We expect this activity to attract any stray Asian visitors passing by.

As we pulled up to the Seal Drive feeder late this afternoon, a pale-colored bird flew up into the spruce tree. It was Siskin #1! We hadn’t seen it since Sunday. However, it had its feathers all puffed out, which usually is a sign of an unhealthy bird. In spite of all of the bird seed available, he may just be too stressed out.

Pine Siskin, Seal Drive Feeder, May 23, 2013.

At mid-point in our trip, we would rate it as average so far. One new Adak bird (Pine Siskin), no lifers. The biggest miss so far is Peregrine Falcon. We have had it on Adak on every one of our previous trips–both spring and fall. Waterfowl seems lower than normal (no Tufted Duck or Smew!), but Rock Ptarmigans and Song Sparrows seem to be more numerous than usual. Shorebirds are also scarcer than normal.

The Pine Siskins are the only non-native Adak passerine so far. However, in the past couple of years, the Hawfinches and Bramblings usually started showing up after May 23rd! So hope abounds…

Mid-40s (this is getting  repetitive, isn’t it?), partly cloudy, light winds.

After checking the usual spots around Sweeper Cove and Creek, we headed up to White Alice–a promontory west of town on which the cell phone towers are located. It usually doesn’t have many birds (except for Snow Buntings) but affords a nice view of Shagak Bay on the western side of Adak Island.

As we neared the top, a shorebird flew in front of us and up to the summit. We quickly reached the top and, as we got out of the truck, a Wandering Tattler called and flew off! Not a bird we were expecting up there…

My experience with Snow Buntings on Adak has been mostly from afar, as they rarely allow close approach. Today was finally different, as one stayed close-by and allowed me to get some stunning photos!

We headed back down, and at the Airport Ponds, there was a flock of Aleutian Terns feeding.

Aleutian Terns feeding at Airport Ponds, May 22, 2013

At Clam Lagoon, the godwit flock has dwindled down to eleven birds, as the nice weather has provided incentive for the departure of most of the flock. As she was scanning the lagoon, Barb picked out an American Green-winged Teal. It was too far for pictures, but if it was there on our return swing around the lagoon, I would walk out on the flats and try to get some.

We then headed out to the Loran Station–the northernmost point on Adak. A Pacific Wren serenaded us as we did a seawatch for pelagics. The only ones we saw were Short-tailed Shearwaters at the limit of our visibility.

We returned to Clam Lagoon and headed over to the seawall. There, Barb (again!!) spotted an Emperor Goose out on one of the rocky islands just south of the seawall. We hadn’t seen one since Saturday.

At the Seawall Breaches, two Black Oystercatchers were present.

Black Oystercatcher, Seawall Breaches, May 22, 2013

When we got back to the south end of the lagoon, I walked out on the flats towards the feeding teal in hopes that the American was still there. It was.

American (left) and Eurasian Green-winged Teal, Clam Lagoon, May 22, 2013

Our trip list stands at 56.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another nice day before the next storm arrives Friday.

Barb’s day!

Mid-40s (the temp, not Barb), strong south winds shifting to southwest. No rain (or at least very little)! The day started overcast, but became partly sunny by afternoon. However, the wind never let up.

Sweeper Cove was still not very productive and the feeders around town had no new activity (except for a Bald Eagle sitting on the rock feeder!). We headed up to Contractor’s Marsh and I walked the west portion while Barb drove around the east end. A Pacific Golden-Plover flew out ahead of me and landed a fair distance away. I got some so-so photos.

Pacific Golden-Plover, Contractor’s Marsh, May 21, 2013

After all of the tour groups left on Sunday, we thought we would be the only birders left on the island. However, two birders from Seattle (Steve and Alan) arrived on Sunday and we ran into them yesterday and gave them the lowdown. Today, when we got up to Clam Lagoon, they were there and I asked them if the wanted to walk the flats with me. They agreed and we started out while Barb stayed in the truck and scanned from there.

No sooner had we gotten out on the flats than Barb radioed us that there was a Black-headed Gull out there! We soon spotted it and had decent (if distant) looks at it.

Black-headed Gull, Clam Lagoon, May 21, 2013

This is the 4th one that we’ve had on Adak–all in May.

No sooner were we done looking at the gull and headed back towards the western side of the flats, than Barb called again to tell us there was a Whimbrel out ahead of us! We soon spotted it and got very good looks despite it all-of-a-sudden beginning to rain! The rain ended as quickly as it started and I got some decent pictures before it flew off.

Whimbrel (Siberian race), Clam Lagoon, May 21, 2013

As it flew off, we all saw the white running up its back, which made it the Siberian race.

Steve and Alan then followed us around the rest of Clam Lagoon. At the seawall, we pointed out a Red-faced Cormorant to them, which was a lifer for them both. There was nothing else new or exciting around the lagoon, but a Parasitic Jaeger did pose for photos.

Parasitic Jaeger, Clam Lagoon, May 21, 2013

We finally picked up a Snow Bunting for our trip list, which now stands at 51.

Keep those birds coming…

Mid-40s, south winds, raining all day.

The weather did not help the birding today. At the various feeders, all we had were Gray-crowned Rosy Finches (and a Raven!). On the water tank cliffside, we spotted a Raven’s nest with three almost-fledged young.

Common Raven nest, Adak, May 20, 2013

At Clam Lagoon, two Dunlin joined the flock of godwits on the flats (too far for photos). Along the west shore of the lagoon, a Common Eider stayed close enough for a portrait (you can never have too many eider photos!).

Common Eider, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2013

Red-breasted Mergansers are abundant on Adak, but fly off at the nearest approach, so it was nice to get a photo of this pair at Lake Shirley.

Red-breasted Mergansers, Lake Shirley, May 20, 2013

We stopped early today (4 pm) as it kept raining and we were having car troubles–the engine died several times today. Cindy (the person we are renting housing and the truck from) promised to have it fixed or get us a replacement vehicle by sometime tomorrow. We suspect it is just condensation in the gas tank, as this vehicle has not been driven for several months. We will see.The wind is supposed to shift to the southwest and then west tomorrow. That should bring some new migrants in.
I hope we have a longer report tomorrow.