Temp in the 40s, Overcast, fine drizzle much of the day, Wind NNE 5-15 mph
The tide was very high this morning, so Sweeper Channel and other shorebird spots were wanting. The constant drizzle also fogged in areas sporadically. Not ideal birding conditions…
The mystery siskin from yesterday is probably just a “green morph” Pine Siskin. I was trying to make it into a Eurasian.
I wanted to get more photos of it today, but the Naval Admin feeder was inundated by ravens. No siskins there! However, there was one at the Seal Drive feeder.
This is only the second trip on which I had siskins. They are rare out here.There are only about a half-dozen records for Adak.
The Bramblings, on the other hand, show up practically every year. Although this year does not stack up to 2017, when there were over a hundred, it is still a pretty good year. Here’s one of the females.
I added a number of common species to the trip list (today’s eBird list can be seen at https://ebird.org/checklist/S111040275).
Here are a few photos of same.
At the Seawall, I saw two Steller’s Sea Lions. Always a treat.
As mentioned in past posts, there is a continuing effort to find and destroy unexploded ordnance on the island. Well, apparently, a few weeks ago, when they were blowing up some relic bombs, it got out of hand and started a grass fire. This was up towards the Loran Station and the fire swept down all the way to Lake Andrew. Here are some photos.
I imagine when I return in September, this area will be green again.
There are four other birding groups on the island, so nothing should be missed. Two of the groups had been here since last Wednesday. The others arrived the same day as I did.
Some birds seen by those groups, but not yet by me, include Bar-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Common Merganser, Wandering Tattler, Short-eared Owl, a possible Gray-tailed Tattler, Barrow’s Goldeneye, and White Wagtail.
Coming to Adak later than normal will probably result in a lower overall trip list. Much of the waterfowl have already left.
The trip list is at 36.
No strong southwesterlies in the weather forecast, but we keep hoping.