Lifer! Lifer! (well, not an avian lifer, but a lifer nonetheless!)

Temp in the 50s, partly sunny, SW wind 10-20 mph.

At Sweeper Cove this morning, we found a pod of about 10-11 Pacific White-sided Dolphins! A lifer for us. Trying to get photos was difficult to say the least. Trying to anticipate where they would next breach and snap the photo before they submerged was a real treat! However, I did manage to get one identifiable photo and a picture of them as they swam away into Kuluk Bay.

Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Sweeper Cove, Sept 15, 2013.

Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Sweeper Cove, Sept 15, 2013.

In Kuluk Bay, near Navfac Creek, we spotted a Common Loon, Oldsquaw, and both White-winged and Black scoters. Waterfowl is starting to move, as we are seeing new species and some birds in breeding plumage, not just eclipse.

At Clam Lagoon, a flock of 14 Sharp-tailed and 10 Pectoral sandpipers were out feeding on the flats. There was nothing out on the peninsula, but a nice juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was joined by a “Songpiper.”

Pectoral Sandpiper and Song Sparrow, Clam Lagoon, Sept 15, 2013.

The Song Sparrows on Adak spend as much, if not more, of their time along the shoreline–both of the lagoon and the sea. We affectionately refer to them as Songpipers.

At the seawall, the sea was calm. The four Horned Grebes were still here, as was the Red-necked Grebe.

Horned Grebe, Seawall, Sept 15, 2013.

At Candlestick Bridge, the Harbor Seals were out sunning.

Harbor Seals sunning at Clam Lagoon, Sept 15, 2013.

Our trip list stands at 56, just six shy of our best September list.

Keep ’em comin’!