Temps in the 40s, overcast, light to moderate rain most of the day, Wind SSW 10-20 mph
Weather, May 22, 2024
It rained most of the day today, making birding uncomfortable.
We saw at least 18 Wood Sandpipers today in multiple locations.
Wood Sandpiper, Contractor’s Marsh, May 22, 2024
The rain made photo ops rare today.
We (very briefly) saw the Hawfinch at the Seal Drive feeder, but had better looks at the Brambling that was hanging nearby.
Brambling, Seal Drive Area, May 22, 2024
The Emperor Goose was still on Goose Rocks this morning.
Both Wilderness Birding Adventures and High Lonesome tours left today, but nine new birders arrived.
Just as the plane was leaving Adak, Sam called to report a Siberian Sand-Plover (I still prefer Mongolian Plover!) at Contractor’s Marsh. We, and some of the new birders, scoured the marsh, but could not relocate it.
We headed up to Clam Lagoon, and received a report from there of a Common Greenshank. We couldn’t find that one either, although others did.
The winds continue to pour in from the southwest, bringing new birds every day (even if we are not seeing all of them).
So the next few days (as the rain and wind diminish) look encouraging.
Temps in 40s, mostly cloudy, occasional light sprinkle, wind NW 15-25 mph
Weather, May 21, 2024
New birds keep showing up!
Both Hawfinch and Brambling were found today and the number of Wood Sandpipers keeps growing.
We did not see the Brambling, but I got a quick glimpse of the Hawfinch (Don did not), and we are seeing Wood Sandpipers everywhere.
One of the tour groups had 27 today! Back in 2015, we had probably a hundred on the island. It looks like one of those years.
Rock Ptarmigans are abundant this year, but we have not seen a single Common Raven!
In addition to the Long-toed Stints, Aaron found a Red-necked Stint today.
The Taiga Flycatcher is still being seen, but not very cooperative.
As we approached the Airport Ponds this morning, the three previously-reported Tufted Ducks were there, but flew off immediately.
We went up to the Loran Station this morning and had a lot of Short-tailed Shearwaters, Fulmars, and Laysan Albatrosses. Not real close, but identifiable.
We later saw shearwaters and albatross from the Seawall as well.
Just after the last overlook before getting to the Loran Station, we had the resident Pacific Wren.
At the north end of Clam Lagoon, we finally picked up some Marbled and Kittlitz’s murrelets.
And finally, we had a couple of rainbows this morning.
Left end of the Rainbow, May 21, 2024Right end of the Rainbow, May 21, 2024
Nine more birders are arriving tomorrow, but ten are leaving…
The trip list is at 51 (average Spring trip is 63)
Temps in the 40s, mostly cloudy, a few sprinkles in the afternoon, wind west 15-25 mph
Weather, May 20, 2024
Nothing new at the feeders, yet.
We headed straight up to Clam Lagoon to look for the Long-toed Stint. Sam Brayshaw joined us.
We started at the south end of the marsh edge where it had last been seen and started walking north.
About a third of the way up, it flushed and flew back a hundred yards or so behind us.
We tried several times to approach it without it flushing it so we could see it on the ground, but with no success.
It always saw us before we saw it and flew away each time.
However, I was still able to get some diagnostic photos.
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Long-toed Stint, Clam Lagoon, May 20, 2024
Note the long toes trailing behind the tail and the bold eyeline.
This was the last stint I needed for my lifelist!
Subsequent groups of birders had the same experience as we (and Aaron’s group the previous day) had — only flight views.
After the stint chase, we walked out the peninsula and a small shorebird flushed, but none of us were able to get on it to identify it or see where it went. Just another one that got away…
We saw five Wood Sandpipers at three different locations today, including this one at Contractor’s Marsh.
Wood Sandpiper, Contractor’s Marsh, May 20, 2024
We had an errant Emperor Goose sitting on Cormorant Rocks instead of its namesake Goose Rocks…
Emperor Goose, Cormorant Rocks, May 20, 2024
Other new birds for the trip list included, Black Oystercatcher, Snow Bunting, American Wigeon, and Parasitic Jaeger.
Temps in the 40s, mostly overcast, wind wsw 15-25 mph
Weather, May 19, 2024
Within 20 minutes of erecting the feeder out side my house, the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches found it! And most of the other feeders are active as well. In the past, it often took several days for the local birds to rediscover the feeders. I guess they are finally learning…
Our first interesting birds of the day were several Common Snipe performing at Wood Sandpiper Drive.
Common Snipe, Wood Sandpiper Drive, May 19, 2024
The separated outer tail feathers are nicely evident here.
At Contractor’s Marsh, we got to see two Wood Sandpipers. Other groups have seen as many as 5 so far.
Wood Sandpiper, Contractor’s Marsh, May 19, 2024
Down on Redshank Drive, we found three Pacific Golden-Plovers. Redshank Drive is THE place for this species every year.
Pacific Golden-Plover, Contractor’s Marsh, May 19, 2024
As we were approaching Warbler Willows, a Gyrfalcon swooped by chasing the teal we had flushed. It quickly flew away, giving me poor photo ops.
Gyrfalcon, near Warbler Willows, May 19, 2024
We had a lone Bar-tailed Godwit on Clam Lagoon.
At the Seawall, there were 5 Pacific Loons ad Don got his life Red-faced Cormorant.
As we were starting the return trip around Clam Lagoon, we got a call from Sam Brayshaw that there was a Tiaga Flycatcher at Warbler willows! We had been down there earlier in the day, but had nothing…
We raced around the lagoon (‘raced’ being a relative term considering how pothole-ridden the road is) and eventually got there and saw the bird.
Unfortunately, it was very distant and across a stream that had no easy crossing. So I got photos, but they are terrible.
Taiga Flycatcher, Warbler Willows, May 19, 2024
Taiga Flycatcher, Warbler Willows, May 19, 2024
Barb and I had a Taiga Flycatcher up at the Blue Buildings back in September 2015. It was the first Fall record for the Aleutians! All others had been in Spring.
Late in the afternoon I got a call from Aaron Lang that they had a Long-toed Stint at Contractor’s Marsh! This is the last stint I need. However, the bird had disappeared into an inaccessible reedy island and was no longer visible.
Later, he emailed me that they had another one up at Clam Lagoon!!!
That will be my first priority tomorrow morning. I’m too tired to go back out tonight…
My flights were uneventful. The plane from Chicago to Anchorage was on a 787-900 Max and not a single door blew off…
Don Aldredge from Roanoke, Virginia is joining me for ten days. He lived on Adak as a child for a couple of years (1960-61).
I didn’t have time to do any birding on Friday, but we did some this morning before the flight to Adak.
We drove up to Arctic Valley and had a flock of Pine Sikinms and Common Redpolls.
Common Redpoll, Arctic Valley, Anchorage, May 18, 2024Pine Siskin, Arctic Valley, Anchorage, May 18, 2024
We headed back to town and had a cooperative pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes on Lake Hood.
Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Lake Hood, Anchorage. May 18, 2024.
The flight to Adak was on time, but because there were so many birders on board (20!), they had to unload our luggage in three sessions while uploading the outgoing luggage to get the plane out on schedule.
So we had to wait almost an hour…
But we finally got our stuff, got to the house, and set out to put up the bird feeders and look at a couple of birds.
Aaron Lang found a Black-headed Gull at Clam Lagoon (which we also saw) and then we went down to Contractor’s Marsh, where we found a Wood Sandpiper.
Aaron also reported three Tufted Ducks on the Airport Ponds, but we did not see them when we went by.
The washed out culvert up at Clam Lagoon has been partially filled in but is VERY rough. We will try driving over it tomorrow.
What did I say about finding birds blown in by yesterday’s winds?
Temp in the low 50s, mostly cloudy, Wind N 5-15 mph
Weather, Sept 30, 2023
I got my luggage to the airport before 9 AM, then went out birding. I had to be back at the airport around 12:30, so no time to waste.
Nothing new at the High School or Warbler Willows.
I pulled up to the Adak National Forest, opened my window and started pishing (hoping the Yellow Warbler was still there).
Instead, out popped a Ruby-crowned Kinglet! A first for Adak! And me…
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Adak National Forest, Sept 30, 2023
I guess I will be going home in a good mood today!
A few minutes later, the Yellow Warbler also popped out.
Yellow Warbler, Adak National Forest, Sept 30, 2023
I then headed up to Clam Lagoon. I didn’t have time to walk the marsh edge, but a quick walk out the peninsula would be okay. I hadn’t seen a single shorebird on the peninsula this trip (very unusual), but I am a glutton for punishment…
About halfway out, a small plover (Semipalmated size) flew in.
I immediately got my hopes up. First, I have never seen a Semipalmated Plover later than Sept 13. Next, this bird had a REALLY broad breastband. Could it be a Common Ringed Plover?
Note: No eye-ring (Semipalmated Plovers have eye-rings in all plumages). The black on the lores goes all the way down to the base of the gape (On semis it does not go down that far). There is webbing only between the two outer toes (Semis have webbing between all of the toes).
A Lifer!. The second record for Adak.
I am going home a VERY happy camper!
The Trip List ended at 67 and the Annual List at 88.
I leave tomorrow, so my next post will not be until Monday morning or Sunday night, depending on how tired I am.
Weather conditions will be much better tomorrow, so maybe I will get lucky and find something that today’s winds blew in… But not much birding time tomorrow (only a few hours).
Temps in the lower 50s, overcast, wind calm becoming NW 5-0 mph
Weather, Sept 28, 2023
Aaron mentioned that he had an American Wigeon on Palisades Lake a few days ago. I had seen that flock of Wigeon (5), but didn’t pay attention to them.
The flock was back on the lake today and the American was still with them.
I spotted two Crested Auklets at the Kuluk Bay Seaweed Patch. I have had Cresteds in the fall in the past. It is the only auklet that I have seen semi-regularly from Adak without a boat trip.
The Airport Ditch can host shorebirds when the water level is down and today I found a Pectoral Sandpiper there.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Airport Ditch, Sept 28, 2023
On Sept 18, I had an adult Red-throated Loon at the Seawall. Last week, Aaron had an immature Red-throated Loon (I forget where). Today I had both birds together on Clam Lagoon.
Red-throated Loon (adult left and immature), Clam Lagoon, Sept 28, 2023
I did not go over to the Seawall today. Or Lake Shirley. Or the Breaches…
This is why.
Clam Lagoon has a road that circles it. This is terrific for birders, as it gives viewing access to all parts of the lagoon plus the Breaches, Seawall, Lake Shirley, Lake Ronnie, the east side of the lagoon, and Zeto Point.
These are all vital birding areas.
Unfortunately, a dozen or so years ago, some of the timbers holding up Candlestick Bridge (which crosses the inlet at the south end of the lagoon) collapsed, leading to the closure of the bridge. So, to bird Clam Lagoon, you have to drive up the west shore, across the north shore and down the east shore. Then reverse…
This is not necessarily bad. It gives you two shots at each location along the way.
At the north end of the lagoon, there are several feeder streams. These cross the road via pipes below the road.
In the last few years, the fill around two of those pipes has been eroding away, leaving just one lane to get over those pipes.
At the second one you come to, the road is gone on the north side of the road. I noticed this trip that a sinkhole had developed on the south side of this crossing.
Yesterday, I made the unfortunate (or fortunate) decision to look at the crossing to see how bad it was.
It is BAD!
The road is undercut from both sides by several feet. This is a gravel road, by the way.
I have no idea why this road has not collapsed. There is nothing supporting the existing edges. The fill must have been packed so firmly that it still is holding together like concrete.
However, I have sworn off driving across this pipe.
It is going to collapse when the next vehicle crosses, or the tenth, or the fiftieth. I can’t say which, but I am not going to be it.
I have notified the locals about how bad this is and recruited the other birder/hunter/fishermen/tourists hosts/guides to lobby the local officials to get these pipes repaired. They certainly don’t want one of their customers crashing through one of these crossings!
I understand that they have the materials, just some bureaucratic holdup has prevented the repairs up till now.
So for today and the next few days, I will not be going over to the Seawall, etc.
Suffice it to say, if these pipes do not get fixed by next May, I will not be coming back. I don’t see much point to birding on Adak if I can’t get to these vital birding spots.
On a lighter note, here is a closer look at the “geyser” on a lower-flow day…
Also, I had a Harbor Porpoise at Sweeper Cove today. I had one there a few years ago. Same circumstances. I saw it breech a couple of times. Grabbed the camera. Never saw it again…
This is the only sea mammal I have seen this trip other than otters and seals.
The Trip List is now 65 and the Annual List is 86.
Temps in the low 50s, mostly cloudy, Wind SW 5-15 mph
Weather, Sept 27, 2023
Nothing new at Sweeper Channel, so I went up to the High School Willows/Spruces. I had a flock of Snow Buntings there.
Snow Bunting, High School Spruces, Sept 27, 2023
An hour later, Aaron came by there and had 5 Brambling! This has been the story of this last week. I would bird a spot and find nothing significant. Then Aaron would come by and find something good!
I came back later and found three of them.
Brambling, near High School Willows, Sept 27, 2023
The Black Scoter flock off Navfac Beach has grown to 14.
Although I complain about my experiences out at the Loran Station, I continue to go out there at least once each trip just because… Today, I decided to go out there to get Tufted Puffin, which I had missed so far this trip. Mission accomplished. I also had one Laysan Albatross fly by (distantly). No other pelagic birds.
I have been wondering why I was seeing so few Black-legged Kittiwakes off the Seawall and the Palisades. It turns out they were all up at the Loran station. There were hundreds. I don’t know why they aren’t frequenting the other parts of the island.
After dinner, I went back up to Clam Lagoon to see if the teal were doing their evening feeding, but the tide was still too low.
However, I finally found the Sanderling flock that Gerry and Linda had seen last week.
Sanderling (and a Glaucous-winged Gull), Clam Lagoon, Sept 27, 2023
Aaron’s group left today, so I am the only birder here. I leave on Saturday.
Temps in the 50s, mostly cloudy, Wind calm building to SW 5-15 mph in the afternoon
Weather, Sept 26, 2023
Near the Sweeper Cove Jetty, a young Common Murre kept calling. I first learned this call a few years ago up at the Seawall. I heard this call, which sounds like a shorebird, but all I could see nearby were a couple of Common Murres. I played the Common Murre call on my phone, but it was just the grr sound. So I kept scouring the shoreline for this mysterious shorebird. I finally saw the young murre open its mouth as I heard the call. I then searched for murre calls in my list of Asian bird calls and found a young murre call, which was it! Mystery solved.
Common Murre, near Sweeper Cove, Sept 26, 2023
I checked Sweeper Channel next. As yesterday, there were about a dozen teal and a few wigeon. I checked them thoroughly for the Baikal. No luck.
I had to return to the house and when I got back to Sweeper, Aaron was there. And, amazingly, he did not have the Baikal or any other new duck! History did not repeat…
At the Kuluk Bay Seaweed Patch, I had two Emperor Geese and a Common Loon.
There was nothing new at Warbler Willows or the National Forest.
I walked Clam Lagoon and, halfway up, a duck flushed from the edge. I snapped a few photos of it in flight — not identifying it.
When I downloaded the photos to the computer this evening, it turns out it was the Garganey!
Garganey, Clam Lagoon, Sept 26, 2023
Notice the two broad white wing stripes and the white line over the eye.
I also had the usual Sharp-tailed and Pectoral sandpipers and a couple of snipe.
At Andrew Lake, a few eagles were having a meeting.
Bald Eagles, Andrew Lake, Sept 26, 2023
Up at the Breaches, I had both a Common and a Yellow-billed Loon. As usual, the Yellow-billed was distant.
Yellow-billed Loon, the Breaches, Sept 26, 2023
After not seeing a single falcon yesterday, I saw a Peregrine at Clam Lagoon today and then when I got back around to the Blue Building Feeder, the Merlin popped in.
Merlin, near Blue Building Feeder, Sept 26, 2023
Each fall, I see a number of immature Red-faced Cormorants with white around the base of their bills. Here are two images, the first from 2006 and the other from two days ago.
This appears to be normal for young Red-faced, yet the only field guide that shows this is the Easy Asia guide! I don’t understand why it is not illustrated more. It appears to be diagnostic…
On another note, Mount Sitkin — the active volcano 30 miles east of Adak — is growing a dome, which indicates a coming eruption.
Mount Sitkin, May, 2022Mount Sitkin, Sept 26, 2023
Notice the central “bump.” It is now higher than the peak to the left. And the white there is gases coming from the volcano.
