Temps in the 50s, mostly cloudy, wind w 10-15 mph
Whoops! I forgot to take my weather photo this morning…
What a great day on Adak! Not a record-buster, but lots of good birds.
First, I joined Aaron and his group walking the Lagoon marsh edge. We had the usual Pecs and Sharp-tails.
When we got down to the southwest corner, we saw one or two teal fly into the creek that feeds the lagoon there.
Aaron and I decided to walk up the creek and see what else was there.
No sooner had we started than a large flock of teal exploded from up ahead — including the Garganey!
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Garganey_09222023_1.jpg)
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Garganey_09222023_2.jpg)
Late yesterday afternoon, Aaron had TWO Garganeys at Contractor’s Marsh! I could not relocate them today.
Later in the morning, I ate lunch at the National Forest. While I was there, the Yellow Warbler popped out (and right back in!).
I went back to town and at the High School Willows, I spotted the Brambling.
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Brambling_09222023.jpg)
It flew from the willows down to the road and then up to the spruces and then back to the willows.
I headed back up to Clam Lagoon. While looking at some Black-legged Kittiwakes on the lagoon, I heard Cackling Geese going over.
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CacklingGoose_09222023.jpg)
On the way to the Seawall, a Pacific Golden-Plover flew across the road and disappeared.
I was hoping to find the Greater scaup flock on Lake Shirley, as they weren’t on the lagoon. Aaron had seen a Lesser Scaup in the flock which I wanted to add to my trip list.
They were not there, so I drove up to Lake Ronnie, where waterfowl from Lake Shirley often go to rest and get away from hunters, etc.
On the way up the road, I found three Common Redpolls.
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CommonRedpoll_09222023.jpg)
There were only Mallards and Pintails on Lake Ronnie.
However, on the way back past Lake Shirley, the scaup flock had arrived — along with the two Tufted Ducks and the Lesser Scaup.
The plover reappeared were I had last seen it. It flew down to the lagoon shoreline, where I got a photo.
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PacificGoldenPlover_09222023.jpg)
It was now late afternoon, so I went home, had dinner and then decided to go back out.
I went back up to Clam Lagoon to scope the feeding teal flock in hopes of seeing the Garganey not in flight. Unfortunately, the flock was not out tonight.
As I drove up the west side of the lagoon, I ran into Aaron who informed me that they just had a Skylark!
He gave me directions and off I went.
I found the bird!
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/EurasianSkylark_09222023.jpg)
This bird looked very different from the one I had last September. Mine was an adult, this bird appears to be an immature.
Here is last year’s bird.
![](http://www.franklinhaas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/EurasianSkylark_09292022.jpg)
So my trip list exploded to 54 and my Year List to 81. My average Fall list is only 51…
You can see today’s eBird list at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150530817
Great day!