The first half of our trip was pretty good.
One lifer (Little Stint) and several semi-lifers. A semi-lifer is a bird that falls into one or more of the following categories:
1. Different age/sex/plumage
2. Different race/subspecies
3. Better or longer looks
4. Photos (or better photos)
The semi-lifers were:
Red-necked Stint (Age/plumage)
Common Sandpiper (Looks/better photos)
Ruff (better photos)
Vega Gull (Race/subspecies)
Slaty-backed Gull (Age/plumage)
Baird’s Sandpiper (better photos)
Today was very windy, but partly sunny. After checking Sweeper Cove and other points south, we headed up to Clam Lagoon. The only new bird there was a lone Black Scoter.
Black Scoter trying to wake up sleeping Harlequin Ducks, 9/18/2011
While going past Lake Shirley, a Peregrine swooped at a couple of Bald Eagles and Frank got a few photos of the bird.
Peregrine Falcon, Lake Shirley, 9/18/2011
With the winds out of the north, Frank walked the edge of Clam Lagoon from north to south (duh!). The Ruff and a couple of Pectoral Sandpipers were there, but there was no Stint on the peninsula.
As Frank was walking the edge, a Peregrine flew by and was promptly pursued by two Parasitic Jaegers (2 of the 3 we saw today).
Peregrine Falcon pursued by two Parasitic Jaegers, Clam Lagoon, 9/18/2011
Our trip list (Adak only) stands at 49. Our average fall total has been 59, so we are a little low with a week to go. Our best fall trip was in 2007, when we had 68!
The forecast is for north and northwest winds the next few days, so prospects are good.