Sept 22, 2023 | Frank and Barb’s Blog

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!

**Garganey, Clam Lagoon, Sept 22, 2023**

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.

**Brambling, near the High School Spruces, Sept 22, 2023**

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.

**Aleutian Cackling Geese, Clam Lagoon, Sept 22, 2023**

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.

**Common Redpoll, near Lake Smith, Sept 22, 2023**

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.

**Pacific Golden-Plover, Clam Lagoon, Sept 22, 2023**

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!