May 24, 2018 | Frank and Barb’s Blog

The westerlies strike again!

Temp in the 40s, partly sunny, occasional light rain, Wind NW 10-20 mph

Although we didn’t see them today, the Hawfinches were seen both this morning and evening at Adak National Forest. (Basically, when they see us coming, they hide…)

Also seen this morning by Jon and Jim was a flock of 8 Brambling. We missed those also.

However, at Lake Shirley, we saw both the Tufted Duck and the Gadwall.

Only three Pacific Golden-Plovers at the marsh today.

The excitement started after dinner. I went out to head for Clam Lagoon and Jon And Jim headed south. I shortly got a call from them informing me that the Wood Sandpiper that they had seen earlier (and we had missed!) was back at the ditch along the airport.

I picked up Barb and we headed down there. We didn’t see it at first, so we split up, with Barb driving up the ditch and me walking back were we came from. She soon found the bird, came back and picked me up, and drove back up there.

The ditch was on her side of the truck, so I was trying to look around her to see it. I got on a shorebird, but it wasn’t a Wood Sandpiper. She quickly pointed out to me that I was looking too far left. I took my eyes off the my bird and saw the Wood Sandpiper a few yards up the shoreline, then quickly returned my attention to my bird.

It was a peep. Dark legs,small pointy bill, little breast markings, molting from non-breeding to breeding, short compact build.

I called Jon and Jim and they arrived shortly.

The bird was very cooperative, feeding actively and not paying much attention to us.

After a little discussion, it was determined that the bird was a Little Stint!

WHOOPS!!!!

After posting this, we got word from better birders that the bird in question is a Semipalmated Sandpiper! Not a rarity elsewhere, but a first for Adak!