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…