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2 Jul Shishmaref Off-Island Report [Ken Stenek ] 26 Jun Chevak Birding ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 25 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 24 Jun Another new species [Ken Stenek ] 23 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 22 Jun Chevak Birding - Yukon Trip ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 19 Jun Shishmaref Rare Bird Sighting [Ken Stenek ] 19 Jun Shishmaref Rare Bird Sighting [Ken Stenek ] 12 Jun Barrow birds (rare/vagrants) [Emily Weiser ] 13 Jun Shishmaref Off-Island Report [Ken Stenek ] 12 Jun Chevak Birding Update ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 12 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 11 Jun Chevak Birding Update ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 10 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 08 Jun Re: Chevak Birding [Chris Maack ] 08 Jun Chevak Birding ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 08 Jun Chevak Birding ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 7 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 6 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 6 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 05 Jun Chevak Birding ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 5 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 1 Jun (unknown) [alice sullivan ] 1 Jun Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 30 May Common Mergansers [Jim Dory ] 29 May Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 28 May Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 28 May A phalanx of phalaropes ["beringsue" ] 27 May Nome river [Jim Dory ] 27 May Chevak Camp ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 26 May Re: Nome Report by a Shishmaref Birder ["Ken Stenek" ] 26 May Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 26 May Re: Nome Report by a Shishmaref Birder ["beringsue" ] 26 May Nome Bar-Tailed Godwits ["craig.steed" ] 25 May Nome wish list ["brdnrd" ] 24 May Nome Report by a Shishmaref Birder ["Ken Stenek" ] 24 May Chevak Camp ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 23 May just birds [alice sullivan ] 18 May Birding sites around Nome ["rolshansky" ] 21 May Brief Nome update ["beringsue" ] 20 May Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 20 May Setting up camp ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 19 May Shishmaref Report 5/19 [Ken Stenek ] 18 May RE: Shishmaref Report 5/18 [John Puschock ] 18 May RE: [beringia_birders] Shishmaref Report 5/18 [John Puschock ] 18 May Shishmaref Report 5/18 [Ken Stenek ] 18 May Shishmaref Report 5/18 [Ken Stenek ] 18 May RFI:Birding Alaska in July or August ["Levine, Barron S" ] 18 May Re: Shishmaref Report ["Ken Stenek" ] 18 May Chevak Birds ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 17 May Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 17 May Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 14 May More birds arriving in Chevak ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 14 May Nome Sightings [Ken Stenek ] 08 May King Eiders on Migration ["Ulric J. Ulroan" ] 6 May Sandhill Crane [Ken Stenek ] 05 May First Goose seen, CRD [Jim Helmericks ] 5 May Spring Birds [] 4 May Migratory Overshoot [Ken Stenek ] 4 May Migratory Overshoot [Ken Stenek ] 3 May Migrants Are Arriving Early [Ken Stenek ] 2 May Shishmaref Sliding Trip [Ken Stenek ] 2 May Shishmaref Sliding Trip [Ken Stenek ] 27 Apr Re: Gulls arrive in Shishmaref [Andrew Boyscout ] 27 Apr Nome - April 20 to 26 - recent bird sightings ["pjbente" ] 26 Apr Gulls arrive in Shishmaref [Ken Stenek ] 22 Apr Gulls in Unalakleet [Ken Stenek ] 20 Apr Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 18 Apr Re: Awake! ["rossigull" ] 17 Apr From the Moderator in Juneau [Karla Hart ] 1 Apr Help collect data! [Carol Gales ] 1 Apr Awake! [alice sullivan ] 26 Mar McKay's Buntings [Ken Stenek ] 01 Mar Nome - Glaucous Gull, adult ["pjbente" ] 1 Feb Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] 5 Jan Shishmaref Report [Ken Stenek ] Subject: Shishmaref Off-Island Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:40:29 -0800 Been able to do some boating recently. I have verified with some close-up photos that at least some of the Herring Gulls around here are of the Siberian Vega race. The majority of the gulls around are Glaucous Gulls. Yesterday we were able to take a trip up to the Serpentine River/ Estuary. Lots of water fowl to be seen. Including some first of season birds. Many BLACK SCOTERs paired up as well as GREATER SCAUP. I also found a family of PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERs. Along the river there were also a few PACIFIC LOONs as well as a RED-NECKED GREBE. There were some raptors that I believe were Northern Harriers but I was not able to confirm. Other notable species seen were: PACIFIC LOON Red-throated Loon RED-NECKED GREBE Sandhill Crane Tundra Swan Canada Goose Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal GREATER SCAUP Common Eider BLACK SCOTER Long-tailed Duck PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER Bar-tailed Godwit Red-necked Phalarope Long-billed Dowitcher Black Turnstone Dunlin Western Sandpiper Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Herring Gull Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Sabine's Gull Arctic Tern Bank Swallow Common Raven Gray-cheeked Thrush Eastern Yellow Wagtail Northern Waterthrush Savannah Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Lapland Longspur Redpoll sp. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Chevak Birding From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:35:02 -0000 Took my kids out to the Chevak Bird Camp to check up on the Spectacle Eiders. Seen three males sitting around on the side of the lakes. The males are pairing up so courting the females are over. It will be a week or two before the male Spectacle Eiders move away from here and start gathering out in the Bering Sea. Seen the Western Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper with their little hatchlings. Soon the geese eggs will start hatching and we will see a lot of little chicks running around, great for picture taking for close up shots. About mid July the Bristle Thigh Curlew start congregating in some slue's close by to Chevak. They gather in the hundreds to fatten up for their migration. We have a two week period where there are a lot of Bristle Thigh Curlew's around Chevak, not to mention a lot of all the other birds with their little chicks running around with them. Birding around Chevak is always great even in July. Happy Birding. Ulric J. Ulroan Chevak Bird & Culture Tours Po Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:42:19 -0800 Went for a walk this morning and right away I saw two PELAGIC CORMORANTS flying along the coast. There was also a flock of about 75 Canada Geese flying along the coast to the Northwest, which would take them over to the Russian coastline if they maintained their direction. The only other odd sighting was a Common Raven hanging out with some jaegars out over the ice. Also the new additions are starting to come out. There was a young Snow Bunting hopping around on the seawall this morning as well as the redpoll nest this morning had 4 little bundles of joy for the parents to feed. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Another new species From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:37:37 -0800 I found two pairs of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs in some open water on the beach-side of the ice. The ice is broken up but packed against the shoreline due to some Northwesterly winds. Quite a few of the other birds I have seen lately as well. I also took some pictures of the Short-eared Owl on its nest and hope to get some photos of its young after they hatch. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:36:23 -0800 I followed my wife to go pick young willow leaves (suzra), which locals eat with seal oil and found my first golden-plover of the year when I found an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER probing on the tops of little dry hills. Another highlight of the afternoon was when one of our young students took me to a nest they believed was an owl's nest. She was having a hard time relocating the nest when all of a sudden she flushed a Short- eared Owl off its nest in some tall dead grass. Four eggs that looked like small chicken eggs. There are lots of mice this year so the owl parents should have plenty of food. Other species seen were: Red-throated Loon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Common Eider AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER Red-necked Phalarope Western Sandpiper Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Arctic Tern Short-eared Owl (on 4 eggs) Eastern Yellow Wagtail Savannah Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Hoary Redpoll Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Chevak Birding - Yukon Trip From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:16:47 -0000 Hello everyone I just came back to Chevak from my family Yukon Trip. I picked up my boat in Anchorage and my dad drove us to Nenana. From Nenana my wife Mary Ulroan and my kids Aaron, Summer, Jaden, Haley, and my baby boy Kendall along with a teacher who stayed here in Chevak to bird and camp came along with, we drove to Tanana through the Tanana river. That leg took us 7 hours to Tanana, we set up camp 8 miles down river from Tanana. During the night my family had a picnic around a camp fire, roasting some hot dogs and marshmellows. The next day we drove down the river with stops is Ruby, Galena, passed through Nulato, and Koyukuk and camped up river from Kaltag. The next day we went into Kaltag and took a much needed shower in the washeteria. After the showers we continued down the river to Anvik, Holy Cross, and finally into Yupik country Russian Mission where we spent the night at my wife's cousins place. The next day we drove down to Marshall to gas up and then on to my wife's hometown of Mtn. Village. We spent the day up river around a camp fire making smores. The next day we drove out of the Yukon River into Kashunak right across from Pilot Station and down towards Chevak. The whole trip took us five days. Some of the most enjoyable moments were drifting down the Yukon and making lunch during clear blue skies, glass calm waters, and enjoying my time with my wife and kids. Drifting down the Yukon, I felt like Huckleberry Finn. Well, that sure was an adventure and we have over 800 pictures spanning over the whole trip. Right now I have to get going to fish camp with my family in our new boat. That boat will be an excellent boat for bird watching, that's what I got it for. Take care everyone. Ulric J. Ulroan Chevak Bird & Culture Tours PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563Subject: Shishmaref Rare Bird Sighting From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:37:46 -0800 Went to the dump to collect a dead Long-tailed Jaeger for the COASST program and on the way back I found a WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba), which is listed as rare to Alaska by the "Checklist of Alaska Birds 15th edition--2009" by Gibson, Heinl, and Tobish. The White Wagtail was hanging out with some Eastern Yellow Wagtails in and around the dump. This is the 5th species this year that is the first I have documented here in Shishmaref, which includes Orange- crowned Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Pomarine Jaeger. It is also the 2nd rare bird of the year, the other being a male House Sparrow, which I believe did not survive the big storms in early March. Also seen over the past couple days: Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Semipalmated Plover Red-necked Phalarope Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Black Turnstone Dunlin Western Sandpiper Pomarine Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Arctic Tern WHITE WAGTAIL Eastern Yellow Wagtail Savannah Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Common Redpoll (nesting with 4 eggs) Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Rare Bird Sighting From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:37:46 -0800 Went to the dump to collect a dead Long-tailed Jaeger for the COASST program and on the way back I found a WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba), which is listed as rare to Alaska by the "Checklist of Alaska Birds 15th edition--2009" by Gibson, Heinl, and Tobish. The White Wagtail was hanging out with some Eastern Yellow Wagtails in and around the dump. This is the 5th species this year that is the first I have documented here in Shishmaref, which includes Orange- crowned Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Pomarine Jaeger. It is also the 2nd rare bird of the year, the other being a male House Sparrow, which I believe did not survive the big storms in early March. Also seen over the past couple days: Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Semipalmated Plover Red-necked Phalarope Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Black Turnstone Dunlin Western Sandpiper Pomarine Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Arctic Tern WHITE WAGTAIL Eastern Yellow Wagtail Savannah Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Common Redpoll (nesting with 4 eggs) Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Barrow birds (rare/vagrants) From: Emily Weiser <emily.l.weiser AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:50:42 -0800 Hi everyone, Just joined the list. I've been in Barrow since June 7th; this is my third summer up here. I'm seeing a large number of vagrants out at NARL (research hub just NE of town) and I thought I'd share them with you. Golden-crowned Sparrow (singing male, 6/7) Varied Thrush (singing male, seen/heard repeatedly; these are somewhat regular in Barrow but it's the first I've seen at NARL) Lesser Yellowlegs (6/8 and 6/9; apparently mated pair, very defensive toward me, but never before known to breed here--as far as I know) Cliff Swallow (6/9) Hermit Thrush (6/10 and 6/11) Western Wood-Pewee (6/11; 95% sure on this ID) Iceland Gull (6/12; 95% sure on this ID... would be 100% sure except I don't think it's ever been recorded here! I do have pretty good photos of it if you're interested) I've had second-hand reports of Blackpoll Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, and American Robin here as well. If any of you are in Barrow I'd be interested to know what you're seeing. -- Emily Weiser M.S. Student Department of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks 907-378-9640 (cell) emily.l.weiser AT gmail.comSubject: Shishmaref Off-Island Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:29:50 -0800 Was able to take the boat for a ride down the coast last night and ended up 9 miles to the west. A few notables were a pair of Bar- tailed Godwits, Red Phalaropes, and a four Emperor Geese. Here is a list of birds seen: Red-throated Loon Sandhill Crane Brant Emperor Goose Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Common Eider Long-tailed Duck Bar-tailed Godwit Red-necked Phalarope Red Phalarope Wilson's Snipe Western Sandpiper Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Herring Gull Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Sabine's Gull Arctic Tern Savannah Sparrow Lapland Longspur Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Chevak Birding Update From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:13:52 -0000 WOW!!! Is the most common phrase during the three days out at camp. There was one guy from Amsterdam Holland and the 5 others are from all over the US. For a quick update, we lost count on the Sabine's Gulls, 21 Spectacle Eiders - 15 males and the rest females, Lost count on the Emperor Geese, seen many Bar-Tailed Godwits, Aleutian Terns, Black Legged Kitiwakes, Countless Black Turnstones, Red Phalarope, and I think those were the most notables not counting all the other birds. Everyone had a wonderful time and are sad to be leaving already. The two Salmon Fish cooked in tin foil and my secret spices over the fire was a special treat and there was not a piece of salmon left when we were done eating. Now I am getting ready to go to Anchorage to pick up my boat, I'll start driving down the Yukon River starting tomorrow. Take Care Everyone. Ulric J. Ulroan PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563 Chevak Bird & Culture ToursSubject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:52:18 -0800 An interesting night as I got some help getting my boat into deeper water to go for a ride and help my brother-in-laws out when they returned from a hunting trip. Ice conditions are deteriorating quickly and we had to ferry their snow machines from the east-side channel as well as their catch two large bearded seals. On the way to the channel there was a HERRING GULL sitting amongst quite a few 2 cy Glaucous Gulls and Arctic Terns. This was the first I had seen this year. It's darker back and black wing-tips with set it apart from the many Black-legged Kittiwakes that are around. I did see a sub adult kittiwake as well. On the ice I found a pair of Pomarine Jaegers, Common Eiders, and Long- tailed Ducks. But while coming back I found my most favorite of the gulls when I came across a SABINE'S GULL. Beyond their general overall appearance, I believe their wing pattern is beautiful. I had to make some noise to get the bird to fly just to see its wings. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Chevak Birding Update From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:45:17 -0000 Hello Everyone, The birding with the birders is going excellent. Have birders from all over the US and one from Denmark and they are all very happy birders. We seen 19 Spectacle Eiders in two days, most of the Eiders are located behind my camp. Seen more on the boat ride. Plenty and Plenty of Sabine's Gulls, Emperors, and the list goes on and on. To look up the website look up Wilderness Birding Adventures (WBA) not Alaska Wilderness Birding, my mistake, I should have known better. I was just too excited to be taking out some clients to my camp for birding. I ran up to Chevak from my camp really quick and I'm getting ready to head back down to camp. I'll be back in Chevak on Friday with the update. Take care everyone. Ulric J. Ulroan Chevak Bird & Culture Tours PO Box 325 Chevak, Alaska 99563Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:26:48 -0800 Most interesting thing that really happened lately was my brother-in- law had taken a picture May 31 of a bird he had never seen before, which turned out to be a GRAY JAY. I have seen many "camp robbers" before but never around here, a first for him and me. I also had a jaeger that as it fly my initial reaction by looking at the tail was Pomarine but the coloration was more like a Long-tailed. Are they known to hybridize? See the attached photo below if you are able. Here is a list of species seen today in taxonomic order. Red-throated Loon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Common Eider Long-tailed Duck Semipalmated Plover Red-necked Phalarope Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Dunlin Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Parasitic Jaeger Longtailed Jaeger or a Pomarine??? Glaucous Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Arctic Tern Short-eared Owl (lots of mice this year, shouldn't be hungry) Common Raven Eastern Yellow Wagtail Savannah Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll Jaeger??? Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Re: Chevak Birding From: Chris Maack <cmaack AT gci.net> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:12:18 -0700 I saw that hoopoe in the museum in Fairbanks, Ulric. A bunch of us birders were up there one winter to see a Brown Thrasher (saw it after freezing for a while near somebody's dog yard), and Dave Sonneborn got us into the museum to look at the bird collection. I still remember my amazement at seeing the hoopoe. Chris Maack Anchorage On Jun 8, 2009, at 1:10 AM, Ulric J. Ulroan wrote: > > > Greetings everyone, > > I took a couple from Anchorage out to my camp today and did some > bird watching and filming and a lot of picture taking. On our way to > the camp by boat we came across about 30 Sabine's Gulls feeding on > the freshly laid herring eggs along the river bank. At the camp e > took some really good picture's of the Spectacle Eiders that were > sitting in a lake right behind my camp. There were others around my > camp, but these two were close and were pretty brave. We were able > to get withing a 100 feet from the Spec's and they were giving us > all kinds of poses for the camera. We even got some pictures of the > Spec's both dipping their heads into the lake for food. There were > all sorts of birds nesting behind my camp, Emperors, Cacklers, White > Front's, Long tailed Ducks, Bar-tailed Godwits, Pintail Ducks, > Tundra swans, Gulls, and a few others. Seen the Bar-tailed Godwits > chasing the Long Tailed Jeagers, the Bar-tailed Godwits are > everyother birds big buddy along with the Black Turnstones cause > they like to chase the Jaegers away. The Spectacle's were sitting on > the side of the lake minding their own business until the Jaeger > came around pestering them. Good thing the Bar-tailed was not far > off. Also nesting around Chevak is the Wilson's Snipe, Yellow > Wagtails, Red Polls, Hoary Red Polls, and the list goes on and on. > Seen the Bank, Tree, and Cliff Swallows around town. Seen an Arctic > Warbler, White-crowned sparrow, and a Gray Cheeked Thrush on the > Electric poles around town. Yellow Warbler and Wilson's Warbler > along the bluffs by the boats. So far my bird count is at 73 birds > this season. I'm keeping my eye out for the Eurasian Whoopoe. The > one and only North American sighting of a Eurasian Whoopoe was in > the 70's by Old Chevak. Next time I'll tell the story of how the > Eurasian Whoopoe was identified. In case you are interested check > out Alaska Wilderness Birding and take a look at the Chevak > Spectacle Eider Camp, you can read a little about my bird camp on > that website. Take care everyone. > > Ulric J. Ulroan > Chevak Bird & Culture Tours > PO Box 325 > Chevak, Alaska 99563 > > >Subject: Chevak Birding From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:10:39 -0000 Greetings everyone, I took a couple from Anchorage out to my camp today and did some bird watching and filming and a lot of picture taking. On our way to the camp by boat we came across about 30 Sabine's Gulls feeding on the freshly laid herring eggs along the river bank. At the camp e took some really good picture's of the Spectacle Eiders that were sitting in a lake right behind my camp. There were others around my camp, but these two were close and were pretty brave. We were able to get withing a 100 feet from the Spec's and they were giving us all kinds of poses for the camera. We even got some pictures of the Spec's both dipping their heads into the lake for food. There were all sorts of birds nesting behind my camp, Emperors, Cacklers, White Front's, Long tailed Ducks, Bar-tailed Godwits, Pintail Ducks, Tundra swans, Gulls, and a few others. Seen the Bar-tailed Godwits chasing the Long Tailed Jeagers, the Bar-tailed Godwits are everyother birds big buddy along with the Black Turnstones cause they like to chase the Jaegers away. The Spectacle's were sitting on the side of the lake minding their own business until the Jaeger came around pestering them. Good thing the Bar-tailed was not far off. Also nesting around Chevak is the Wilson's Snipe, Yellow Wagtails, Red Polls, Hoary Red Polls, and the list goes on and on. Seen the Bank, Tree, and Cliff Swallows around town. Seen an Arctic Warbler, White-crowned sparrow, and a Gray Cheeked Thrush on the Electric poles around town. Yellow Warbler and Wilson's Warbler along the bluffs by the boats. So far my bird count is at 73 birds this season. I'm keeping my eye out for the Eurasian Whoopoe. The one and only North American sighting of a Eurasian Whoopoe was in the 70's by Old Chevak. Next time I'll tell the story of how the Eurasian Whoopoe was identified. In case you are interested check out Alaska Wilderness Birding and take a look at the Chevak Spectacle Eider Camp, you can read a little about my bird camp on that website. Take care everyone. Ulric J. Ulroan Chevak Bird & Culture Tours PO Box 325 Chevak, Alaska 99563Subject: Chevak Birding From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:37:09 -0000 GreetSubject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 16:47:16 -0800 After my huge day two days ago, the weather has been cold and windy but I did find my first ARCTIC WARBLER of the year. There are still some Golden-crowned Sparrows calling around town and a couple White-crowned Sparrows. Quite a few Savannah Sparrows, Snow Bunting, red polls, Lapland Longspurs, etc. A few Grey-cheeked Thrushes were flying around where I found them the other day as well as the Northern Waterthrush. I didn't see any Long-billed Dowitchers and only two Pectoral Sandpipers this morning. Many and I do mean many Red-necked Phalaropes this year. People are finding Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Dunlin eggs lately. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 01:36:18 -0800 What an incredible day, 7 new species, 3 of which were the first I have documented here. The weather was warm although it looked like it wanted to rain, but it didn't. I took my 2 month old son out for a walk thinking to look if the Grey-cheek thrushes had arrived. Before I could get to where I wanted to look I found a WILSON'S WARBLER. I quickly ran back to the house and dropped my son off and was able to get some very nice photos of it and a few others (at least 4, which is the most I have ever seen). The GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHes were there as well, at least a pair maybe as many as three. There was also another bird that I am almost positive was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and am awaiting confirmation as this would be a first that I have ever seen here. Not too long later I found another I am trying to confirm as a OLIVE- SIDED FLYCATCHER sitting on a telephone wire. This is another species I have never documented here. I went towards the beach and chased around another warbler that I thought was an Arctic Warbler but am now convinced that it was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, which is another first for me here. My wife picked me up and we went down to the end of the runway so that she could show me a "yellow-bellied" bird (Eastern Yellow Wagtail) and at the same time we were egg hunting. There had been a large hatch of insects. Flying along a creek beside the runway were two BANK SWALLOWS sporting their banker's vests. A hunter also reported an EMPEROR GOOSE as well. Anyone willing on weighing in on confirming the photos are more than welcome, see below. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/ Northern Waterthrush Orange-crowned Warbler Olive-sided Flycatcher [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 01:36:18 -0800 What an incredible day, 7 new species, 3 of which were the first I have documented here. The weather was warm although it looked like it wanted to rain, but it didn't. I took my 2 month old son out for a walk thinking to look if the Grey-cheek thrushes had arrived. Before I could get to where I wanted to look I found a WILSON'S WARBLER. I quickly ran back to the house and dropped my son off and was able to get some very nice photos of it and a few others (at least 4, which is the most I have ever seen). The GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHes were there as well, at least a pair maybe as many as three. There was also another bird that I am almost positive was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and am awaiting confirmation as this would be a first that I have ever seen here. Not too long later I found another I am trying to confirm as a OLIVE- SIDED FLYCATCHER sitting on a telephone wire. This is another species I have never documented here. I went towards the beach and chased around another warbler that I thought was an Arctic Warbler but am now convinced that it was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, which is another first for me here. My wife picked me up and we went down to the end of the runway so that she could show me a "yellow-bellied" bird (Eastern Yellow Wagtail) and at the same time we were egg hunting. There had been a large hatch of insects. Flying along a creek beside the runway were two BANK SWALLOWS sporting their banker's vests. A hunter also reported an EMPEROR GOOSE as well. Anyone willing on weighing in on confirming the photos are more than welcome, see below. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/ Northern Waterthrush Orange-crowned Warbler Olive-sided FlycatcherSubject: Chevak Birding From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:38:13 -0000 The Chevak's Ninglikfak River is finally open. I went out with my wife, kids, and aunt for a boat ride yesterday and seen some Red Phalarope's swimming around with the Red Neck Phal's. Red Phalarope's used to be plenty around Chevak when I was a young kid, and for some reason they started to be far and few along with the Spectacle Eiders. The Spec's are making a come back and we are still waiting for the Red Phal's to make a come back as well. I have a bit of some good news, I just bought a boat from Anchorage and after the Bird watchers leave Chevak on the 12th of June I am going to fly to Anchorage, drive my boat to Fairbanks to drive my boat down the Yukon River starting in Fairbanks on the Tanana River all the way to Chevak. I am going to take my wife and kids on this trip and that should be an adventure! I just bought a 21' North River Seahawk with a Yamaha 4 stroke 150hp. The boat has a cover so if it is raining we are still nice and cozy. Should take 5 to 6 days to drive to Chevak. It will be interesting to see what type of birds I will see while camping along the way down the Yukon. I'll give an update of the Chevak Birding once the bird watchers are done here. Ulric J. Ulroan Chevak Bird & Culture Tours PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 01:41:55 -0800 My wife and I went egg hunting the past two nights looking for peeps eggs While driving along the beach we found a few BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES tonight there was a LONG-TAILED JAEGER. Quite a few Eastern Yellow Wagtails around as well as the usuals. Still no golden- plovers, Gray-cheek thrushes, or some other spring birds I am used to seeing. Should be seeing Arctic Warblers anytime now as well. Shore ice is still strong enough to travel by snow machine but lots of melt water on top. Hope to see some sea birds as the ice breaks up and am able to boat around. If anyone wants to join me, come on up. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: (unknown) From: alice sullivan <sullyinnome AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 19:58:15 -0700 (PDT) Yesterday, the first of June, was a glorious spring day in Nome. One of
the first we have had this year. Two intrepid NOme birders took off
following their bliss to Safety Sound. It was truely overwhelming.
Although the Sound is not completly clear of ice yet, the water was
covered with birds. On the western end of the Sound, closest to Cape
Nome was a happy mixture of: Harlaquins; Long tailed; NOrthern
Pintails; and literally hundreds of Scaups (probably Lesser Scaups as
those are common to this area); a few Mergansers; Common Eiders and
Shovelers. In the area of the Safety Sound Bridge the bird population
abruptly changed to all Tundra Swans. They covered the water until the
easternmost point of the Sound.
One unusual sighting was of a flock of Yellow Wagtails. There were
about twelve of them right in the road. They appeared to be eating some
bug or insect in the gravel roadstead. Neither of us had ever seen
Wagtails in a flock.
When we turned around and headed back to Nome we started scanning the
sea. There was some ice which was being blown back to shore by a strong
south wind. Only then did we realize that the ocean also was sprinkled
heavily with waterfowl. With our scope we could barely make out the
closest ones which turned out to be the same mix as mentioned
above. However, we could see that the waterfowl went as far as
our binoculars could allow us to see. We could identify one Cormorant.
Ah! the Glory of spring! alice
Subject: Shishmaref ReportFrom: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 13:36:59 -0800 Raining this morning but found another new species in a pair of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS also last night there were a pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS. This puts me at 47 species a little more than half way to my goal of 85 for the year. I also found a lone Sanderling this morning too. Plenty of Red-necked Phalaropes, Pectoral Sp, Western Sp, Long-billed Dowitchers (inlcuding one shorter billed individual that made me look twice), Wilson's Snipe, GW Teal, Northern Pintail, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings, a few Golden-crowned Sparrows, Glaucous Gulls, and Arctic Terns. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Common Mergansers From: Jim Dory <jim.dory AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 16:50:41 -0800 This morning we saw two male Common Mergansers at our camp by Hastings Creek - I don't usually see them and not sure I ever have. Also saw a Yellow Wagtail zipping about on the beach hunting insects. First we've seen this season.Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 17:04:53 -0800 Although not as exciting as some of the birds that Gambell has been reporting, I have yet two more new species to report. SNOW GEESE are here in numbers and a hunter showed me his catch of one this morning while I was on a quick walk to take a photo of my Black-bellied Plover (which I did find as well). But another new shorebird was on the beach on my way back when I found 3 plump little SANDERLINGs probing the sand. Very nice day after a couple days of snow showers. There were also plenty of Long-billed Dowitchers, Pectoral and Western Sandpipers, a few Golden-crowned Sparrows, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings, Green- winged Teal, Arctic Terns, Glaucous Gulls and Ravens to be seen as well. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 18:13:20 -0800 Snowing for the past two days with light winds from the North but two newbies made it in. I snuck out with our family honda this afternoon in between loads of laundry (don't tell my wife). I found one visitor I have never seen before in the spring when I found a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (I have seen some in the fall), and a BAR-TAILED GODWIT. There were also plenty of Pectoral Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, Snow Buntings etc. during my quick trip. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: A phalanx of phalaropes From: "beringsue" <susan_steinacher AT fishgame.state.ak.us> Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 16:10:37 -0000 We were also at the Nome River last evening, a mile above the bridge and below the VOR site walking the dogs - without binoculars! Nonetheless I was able to count upwards of 30 phalaropes slowly circling in a large eddy picking away at the upwelling food. I've never seen such a large congregation. Fun!Subject: Nome river From: Jim Dory <jim.dory AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 23:48:02 -0800 Carol and I went down to the mouth of the Nome river this evening and braved a stiff wind at 34 degrees, dressed for springtime. Along the way saw a bunch of Dunlins and Bar-tailed Godwits (maybe some Hudsonian or Marbled Godwits - unconfirmed), Semi-palmated Plovers, Semi Palmated Sandpipers and Western Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalaropes, 3 Sabines Gulls along with Mew and Glaucous, and assorted ducks including Harlequins, Long-tailed, Northern Pintail, some Red-throated Loons, Greater Scaups, Red-breasted Merganser, American Widgeons and Green-winged Teal, a probable Cackling Goose and two Canadian Geese, 3 Parasitic Jaegers, and a chill to top it off.Subject: Chevak Camp From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 02:02:38 -0000 Hello everyone, there is currently no more snow on the tundra near Chevak and the river ice is starting to break up. Looks like about a week and a half till the river opens up to my camp, just in time for the first group of birders coming to Chevak scheduled for June 9-12. Last year right behind my camp had birds nesting such as: Bar-tailed Godwits, Spectacle Eiders, Emperor Geese, White Front Geese, Cackling Canada Geese, Willow Ptarmigan, Long Tailed Jaeger, Long Tailed Ducks, Pintail Ducks, Dunlin, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmeted Sandpiper, Lapland Longspur, Savannah Sparrow, Pacific Loon, Black Bellied Plover, and Red Polls. I will give an update at the bird species around my campsite and I will also give an update at birds when traveling by boat. Currently around Chevak there are Hoarry Red Polls, Red Polls, and Longspurs nesting. Cranes, Geese, Ducks are also starting to nest out in the tundra. Seen some Yellow Wagtails flying around the Chevak Bluffs. Tree Swallows are getting into the Bird Houses getting ready to nest. Chevak Bird & Culture Tours Ulric J. Ulroan PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563Subject: Re: Nome Report by a Shishmaref Birder From: "Ken Stenek" <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 20:29:23 -0000 I should add that I did see plenty of Arctic Terns and in addition there were several Sandhill Cranes flying around, as well as swallows (pretty sure they were Tree Swallows but not 100% certain). --- In beringia_birders AT yahoogroups.com, "beringsue"Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 12:18:25 -0800 A few new birds arrived since my trip to Nome. When I arrived on the flight there were many Pectoral Sandpipers flying around. This morning I was able to go out and make a run to the dump and found quite a few Long-billed Dowitchers, a pair of Red-throated Loons, an Eastern Yellow Wagtail, a pair of American Wigeon, and a Red Phalarope were all new birds spotted. All are FOY and the Wigeon are the first I have seen on the island although not the first I have seen in the area. Good birds to find. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Re: Nome Report by a Shishmaref Birder From: "beringsue" <susan_steinacher AT fishgame.state.ak.us> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 19:31:31 -0000 I wanted to add several hundred tundra swans to Ken's list for Safety Sound. I was out there Monday morning and large numbers of swan were between the Safety Sound bridge and the Bonanza Bridge. Also saw long-tailed jaegers, breeding terns, pintails, red-necked phalaropes, widgeons and common eiders. Hunters have been getting Canada (Taverners) geese and brant. In the coastal waters were mergansers, harlequins and large rafts of scoters. Also, had a rusty blackbird for the third year in a row near the Snake River bridge. Happy spring, all! --- In beringia_birders AT yahoogroups.com, "Ken Stenek"Subject: Nome Bar-Tailed Godwits From: "craig.steed" <haysteed AT inspire.net.nz> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 04:24:43 -0000 Hi to all birders heading to or living in Nome! I am part of a group of researchers from Massey University in New Zealand that are heading up to Nome from 11th June 3rd July, particularly looking for Bar-tailed Godwits. We would be very keen to hear from anyone who has sighted these birds, particularly if they were nesting somewhere. If you were able to give any indication of location (distance up road etc) or better still GPS localty, we would be very keen to hear from anyone. Thanks Craig SteedSubject: Nome wish list From: "brdnrd" <brdnrd AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 17:39:28 -0000 A group of us will be visiting Nome for the first time June 3-9 and would welcome any and all advice on finding the following species: Spectacled Eider Rock Ptarmigan Arctic Loon Bristle-thighed Curlew Horned Puffin Arctic Warbler Bluethroat Eastern Yellow Wagtail Hoary Redpoll We also would welcome the company of any local birders who would like to join us in the field. Thank you for your assistance. Ken Burton Arcata CASubject: Nome Report by a Shishmaref Birder From: "Ken Stenek" <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 11:35:14 -0000 My wife and I flew into Nome for her cousin's graduation and niece's promotion to high school. We had several opportunities to drive around down the coast to Safety Sound bridge, Salmon Lake, and 30+ miles up the Teller Highway. Birds are surely arriving so here is a list of what I was able to identify: Red-throated Loons Northern Pintails Green-winged Teal Greater Scaup Long-tailed Ducks Northern Shoveler Common Merganser Canada Geese Brant Whimbrel (behind Martinson Subdivision) Wilson's Snipe Red-necked Phalarope (and many other shore birds that I wasn't able to sit still long enough to id) Glaucous Gull Mew Gull Long-tailed Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Willow Ptarmigan (counted 36 on our way back on the Teller Hwy) Short-eared Owls (quite a few actually) Rough-legged Hawk Common Ravens American Robins American Tree Sparrows Redpolls Fox Sparrows White-crowned Sparrows Golden-crowned Sparrows Lapland Longspurs And many others my eyes still need to learn... Quite a bit of mammalian wildlife as well including many reindeer, some muskox, a very light golden moose (near Dexter), red fox, many arctic ground squirrels, etc. A very fun trip but I am ready to go home and see what I am missing out on.Subject: Chevak Camp From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 07:21:03 -0000 On Friday I set up my Chevak Bird Camp 10 miles south west of Chevak just two miles up river from Hooper Bay is the Keoklievik River. The rivers are still frozen so we are still traveling by snow machine to the coast. While my uncle Mark Ulroan and I were traveling to my camp site along the Ninglikfak (Chevak) River I thought I could try count all the geese that I see. Since there are sooo many birds that fly when we drive by I started counting by tens. The first huge flock of birds were somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 geese and few ducks. Then next bunch on birds I came up to around 100 geese and 150 Tundra Swans, the next bunch of geese was around 250, then I finally gave up counting around 750 geese, and 200 Tundra Swans. I just gave up counting, too many geese, swans, ducks, cranes, and I was not going to count all the shore birds. I saw about 6 Sabine's Gulls, then are still out along the coast. Once the river breaks up the Sabine's Gulls will flock around all the fish camps eating the fish guts and heads. Some Sabine's Gulls will come up and land about 5 feet from the women cutting the Salmon. After setting up my camp I went to the coast with my uncle. While in the boat about 7 miles from my bird camp I saw a 4 pairs of Spectacle Eiders fly towards my camp, 4 females and 4 beautiful males. I saw some bar-tailed godwits flying around the coast waiting for the nesting season to start. Plenty of Emperor Geese, Black Brant's, Cacklers, White Front, and saw a few Canada Geese (Larger One's). My uncle and I saw a couple flying together, Cackling Canada Goose and a White Front Goose. My uncle has told my that in the past he has seen a half White Front half Cackling Canada Goose. It looked like a White Front, but it also had the white mark across the cheek like that of the Cackler. Yesterday out along the coast there was a huge flock of Gulls flying and diving into the Bering Sea. We decided to boat over to check it out and when we approached the area we seen about 16 seals heads out of the water, not counting the seals that were under water. There must have been around 30 seals in that area feeding on Herring. This was about 4 miles out in the Bering Sea. Beluga Whales still have not passed by, usually hundreds and hundreds of Beluga's pass by and once the herring come around. No more snow on the Tundra, just ice on the river. Birds are starting to spread around getting ready to start nesting. There is already a Red Poll nesting on a wreath on one of the crosses at the Cemetery. There are 4 little green eggs in the nest. First nesting bird of the year around Chevak goes to the Red Poll. Okay everyone, have a happy Memorial Day. Ulric J. Ulroan Chevak Bird & Culture Tours PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563Subject: just birds From: alice sullivan <sullyinnome AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 19:53:02 -0700 (PDT) I have been green with envy all these past two weeks as people up and
down the Northwest Coast have been seeing all the birds I long to
see...Nome's roads have been blocked by our record snowfall. They
are working on the roads but some are still closed. Additionally, we
have had a very cool spring and the ponds are slow to open up. Finally,
yesterday a couple of us went exploring down to Safety Sound. Nothing.
Everything is covered with ice-no birds. In desperation we went up
Kougarok road. Where the road is right next to the Nome river, which is
open, we saw a weird gathering of birds. The river ice had jammed. On
the edge of the ice and on the river just before it were loads of
Sandpipers, Turnstones, Red necked Phalaropes. All sorts of seashore
birds ten miles inland! Mixed with them were Grebes, Long tailed Ducks,
Harlaquins, Mallards, Northern Pintails. All these birds milling about
feeding in a very small area. I figured out the river current must be
bringing food down and it washes up on the ice. The sandpipers were
busy feeding on something at the very edge of the ice. The ducks also
just in front of the ice. The tundra still has quite a bit of snow and
the small tundra lakes are not open-so these birds must be very hungry!
Hope the snow melts fast or these birds will be toughing it out for
awhile. Alice
Subject: Birding sites around NomeFrom: "rolshansky" <bob.olshansky AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 19:25:05 -0000 I will be in Nome June 3-10. Can someone provide list of best birding sites? Thx. bob ADDED FROM THE JUNEAU_BASED MODERATOR: The Nome Visitor Center is a good first-stop for visiting birders. There is a birder bulletin board where you can post (old fashioned, pen and paper style) and read the latest sightings. http://www.nomealaska.org/vc/birds.htm provides a brief introduction to Nome birding. The major birding tour operators are listed at the web site above as well. Most of them have detailed trip reports from prior years at their web sites to get you started with an idea of the birds along the three roads.Subject: Brief Nome update From: "beringsue" <susan_steinacher AT fishgame.state.ak.us> Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 16:41:30 -0000 I SO enjoy the posts from Cheval and Shishmaref - Quyana! I finally got accompany Alice Sullivan on her raven survey Monday - in the sleet and snow. As Ulrich says, the weather doesn't seem to be stopping the birds! Nothing rare to report, but at the small pond near the airport we saw a pair of tundra swans, a pair of mergansers, a pair of widgeons, a pair of red-throated loons, a pair of shovelers, a pair of long-tailed ducks, and a pair of nesting glucous gulls. A wonderful sampler of what is to come! We are also hearing the winnowing of the snipe and the gargling of cranes, and seeing longspurs, long-tailed jaegers, red-necked phalaropes, short-eared owls, northern harriers, and the gaping red mouths of raven young. I even have a redpoll nesting in a 3' high spruce tree I transplanted in my yard that I can watch with binoculars from the laundry room window. Spring is here!Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 16:14:51 -0800 Foggy morning so I took my two younger kids for a bike ride on the runway (no planes due to fog). Plenty of Longspurs chattering away, a dark morph Parasitic Jaeger (or as some like to them Darth Jaeger), 4 GW Teal, 2 Mallards, 2 Northern Pintails, 2 Savannah Sparrows, Dunlin, and two FOYs 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (I was pretty sure it was but had my daughter look at it for rufous color in the scapularies, which she said it had brown feathers). And the usual suspects Snow Bunting, Ravens, and Glaucous Gulls. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Setting up camp From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 10:11:02 -0000 I went out to my campsite 10 miles from Chevak, going to set up bird camp pretty soon using a snow machine and a sled to haul my camp stuff over. A group of 7 birders are coming over to Chevak to spend some time at my camp site June 9-12. That is a good time to come out to Chevak because the birds are very active, moving around but stationary. We will be spending time at my camp where they are going to have birding 24/7. Over behind my campsite I seen Spectacle Eiders flying around so it looks like I'm going to have a few male Spec's behind my camp courting the female's till around the end of June. Seen more Bar-tailed Godwits coming in, more and more Emperor's are coming in also. Seen about 12 Surf Scooters flying around the coast also. Weather was a bit foggy most of the day, then it started with the wet snow, but the birds seemed to be just as active no matter what the weather is, they were flying around making noise being just as active as if it were sun shining. Ulric J. Ulroan Chevak Bird & Culture Tours PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563Subject: Shishmaref Report 5/19 From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 22:11:38 -0800 I decided to walk through town this morning and out around the old airport rather than out by the new airport. I found many of our passerines calling in town including an American Robin, Snow Buntings, a White Crowned Sparrow, quite a few Golden Crowned Sparrows, an American Tree Sparrow, a Savannah Sparrow, Lapland Longspurs along the grassy area south of the houses, also a few Glaucous Gulls, Dunlin, Western Sandpipers and a winnowing Wilson's Snipe. I did scratch out a couple FOY for me when a pair of COMMON EIDERs flew along the lagoon edge and an ARCTIC TERN flew overhead. I find Arctic Terns absolutely amazing in that not only are they pretty long lived (30 years) but in their lifetime they may travel a distance as great as going to the moon and back. Arctic Terns say their name in the local dialect qiyaaq (key-AHK). Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: RE: Shishmaref Report 5/18 From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:56:33 +0000 > > And my Common Loon was shot down and was just a Yellow-billed Loon a > good bird too. > I believe this is the first time in the history of birding that anyone has ever said it "was just a Yellow-billed Loon" and was disappointed it wasn't a Common. :) John Puschock Seattle, WA _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009Subject: RE: [beringia_birders] Shishmaref Report 5/18 From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 21:56:33 +0000
>
> And my Common Loon was shot down and was just a Yellow-billed Loon a
> good bird too.
>
I believe this is the first time in the history of birding that anyone has ever
said it "was just a Yellow-billed Loon" and was disappointed it wasn't a
Common. :)
John Puschock
Seattle, WA
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync.
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009
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Subject: Shishmaref Report 5/18From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:49:03 -0800 I went out on this cool morning to see if the southerly winds blew anything else in. Right away I found a Golden-crowned Sparrow. But didn't see much until I was near the airport and found the many Lapland Longspurs and Redpolls. There were Dunlin, Western Sandpipers flying around as well as a few Black Turnstones, and a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese. A new one for the year was a PARASITIC JAEGAR, the biggest surprise a hen and drake MALLARD (last year was the first year I had seen a Mallard here so to see a pair was pretty remarkable), a pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS, and a couple SAVANNAH SPARROWS. There were also the usual Common Ravens, Glaucous Gulls, and Snow Buntings (I believe there are 4 pairs setting up nests this year in town). I also saw a couple Short-eared Owls and two flocks of Sandhill Cranes. And my Common Loon was shot down and was just a Yellow-billed Loon a good bird too. There was a Red Fox as well, which I kept my distance from and stayed downwind. Foxes are not a good thing on the island this time of the year. They are usually rabid although this one was behaving fairly normally. Three foxes have been shot recently and sent in for rabies testing. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Report 5/18 From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:49:03 -0800 I went out on this cool morning to see if the southerly winds blew anything else in. Right away I found a Golden-crowned Sparrow. But didn't see much until I was near the airport and found the many Lapland Longspurs and Redpolls. There were Dunlin, Western Sandpipers flying around as well as a few Black Turnstones, and a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese. A new one for the year was a PARASITIC JAEGAR, the biggest surprise a hen and drake MALLARD (last year was the first year I had seen a Mallard here so to see a pair was pretty remarkable), a pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS, and a couple SAVANNAH SPARROWS. There were also the usual Common Ravens, Glaucous Gulls, and Snow Buntings (I believe there are 4 pairs setting up nests this year in town). I also saw a couple Short-eared Owls and two flocks of Sandhill Cranes. And my Common Loon was shot down and was just a Yellow-billed Loon a good bird too. There was a Red Fox as well, which I kept my distance from and stayed downwind. Foxes are not a good thing on the island this time of the year. They are usually rabid although this one was behaving fairly normally. Three foxes have been shot recently and sent in for rabies testing. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: RFI:Birding Alaska in July or August From: "Levine, Barron S" <LevineB AT bsd405.org> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 08:12:47 -0700 Beringia birders, I'm thinking of venturing up to Alaska from Seattle this summer and was wondering if any of you would be able to help me out with some information. I have a free ticket on Alaska Air, but since I'm a teacher I would have to travel either in July or up to August 25th when I would need to go back to work. I know that ends up missing the front end of migration and barely touching the back end. I'm most interested in seeing: Spectacled Eider, Stellar's Eider, Red-legged Kittiwakes, Dovekie (birds I've missed previously in Alaska) and migrating rarities. So my question is: where and when would you recommend I go given the dates that I have? Am I best off going to Gambell via Nome? Barrow? Adak? Any other suggestions? Or if you think I have little to no chance of seeing these birds, would I be best served by waiting for another opportunity to go at a better time. Thanks. Barry Levine Seattle levineb AT bsd405.orgSubject: Re: Shishmaref Report From: "Ken Stenek" <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 08:51:04 -0000 Add to my earlier post this evening I went out for a half hour and found more new arrivals. I found upwards of 6 Golden-crowned Sparrows, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, 2 American Robins, 2 VARIED THRUSH, Fox Sparrows, Snow Buntings, Red Polls, and heard a winnowing WILSON'S SNIPE. This more than doubled my species list for the year. I am still trying to confirm my id on the loon as a Common Loon trying to rule out a Yellow-billed Loon. > Ken Stenek > Shishmaref > > Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: > http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/ >Subject: Chevak Birds From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 07:02:16 -0000 I was taking a snow machine ride along the Chevak (Ninglikfak) River towards the coast and was amazed at the hundreds and hundreds of birds along the river. Hundreds of Emperor, Cackling, Brant, and White Front Geese, Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Pintail Ducks, Long Tailed Ducks, along with countless numbers of shore birds like Dunlins, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Bartailed Godwitts, Short Bill Dowitchers, Black Turnstones, Red Phalaropes, Black Bellied Plovers, Lapland Longspurs, Savannah Sparrows, Gulls I seen are the Sabine's Gulls, Mew Gulls, and Galaucous, I also saw a Short eared owl, an American Robin along our old airstrip on my way out of Chevak, and Yellow Wagtail along the Chevak Bluffs. It's pretty awesome to go out snow machine riding to see all these birds and In GREAT NUMBERS!!! The river will be breaking up soon and I'll set up camp. There are always some Spectacle Eiders behind my camp and the males are usually around the females till the end of June then after that it's just the females left all alone to raise their ducklings. I also forgot to mention the Long-tailed Jaeger and Parasitic Jaeger and the Arctic Terns. Have Fun Birding this year... Ulric J. Ulroan PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563 Chevak Bird & Culture ToursSubject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 13:11:06 -0800 What an incredible morning. After a drought of new birds for a couple weeks, southerly winds brought in a plethora of birds. I started while watching ESPN this morning and heard a bird that wasn't a Snow Bunting. I turned down the TV to make sure that it wasn't a bird in the background captured by a microphone. Sure enough it was something outside and close to my front door. Along the school building I found a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. Why I didn't take my camera I don't know as it let me get within 10 feet as it foraged through some rubbish. I quickly went inside grabbed my camera and took a little walk I found two RED (TAIGA) FOX SPARROWs, 3 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a BLACK TURNSTONE, a SHORT-EARED OWL which the moth-like flight pattern caught my attention right away, and a couple WESTERN SANDPIPERS. I went back to the house to check on the family and get my break-up boots and went back out and found a huge number of LAPLAND LONGSPURs (I estimated about 200), a few COMMON REDPOLLS (I had seen some last night as well), 8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a COMMON LOON (first I have documented here, identified through a few photos I was able to take), 4 DUNLIN with some Western Sandpipers, a CANADA GOOSE, and an unsubstantiated larger thrush species, which I believe was a Varied Thrush. As well a our usual Glaucous Gulls, Common Ravens, and Snow Buntings. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 13:11:06 -0800 What an incredible morning. After a drought of new birds for a couple weeks, southerly winds brought in a plethora of birds. I started while watching ESPN this morning and heard a bird that wasn't a Snow Bunting. I turned down the TV to make sure that it wasn't a bird in the background captured by a microphone. Sure enough it was something outside and close to my front door. Along the school building I found a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. Why I didn't take my camera I don't know as it let me get within 10 feet as it foraged through some rubbish. I quickly went inside grabbed my camera and took a little walk I found two RED (TAIGA) FOX SPARROWs, 3 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a BLACK TURNSTONE, a SHORT-EARED OWL which the moth-like flight pattern caught my attention right away, and a couple WESTERN SANDPIPERS. I went back to the house to check on the family and get my break-up boots and went back out and found a huge number of LAPLAND LONGSPURs (I estimated about 200), a few COMMON REDPOLLS (I had seen some last night as well), 8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a COMMON LOON (first I have documented here, identified through a few photos I was able to take), 4 DUNLIN with some Western Sandpipers, a CANADA GOOSE, and an unsubstantiated larger thrush species, which I believe was a Varied Thrush. As well a our usual Glaucous Gulls, Common Ravens, and Snow Buntings. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: More birds arriving in Chevak From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 23:05:25 -0000 Seen many Black Turnstones, Short Billed Dowitchers, Hoary Red Polls, Red Polls, Savannah Sparrows, to add to the other birds I had mentioned that are around Chevak. Spring time is finally really here, melting like crazy around Chevak but still a lot of snow in the low lying tundra. See many many birds out there in the tundra taking snow machine rides with my wife and kids. In the lakes that are forming around the river bends are birds gathering in the hundreds all over the tundra. Many Tundra Swans, ducks, geese, cranes, and shore birds all gathered around one pond. Life has arrived once again to the tundra. Happy Birding. Ulric J. Ulroan PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563Subject: Nome Sightings From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 08:57:53 -0800 Nicole Andler of the National Park Service is visiting Shishmaref School today but showed me two great birds at the East end pond on Monday (5/11). There were a lone Steller's Eider and a Harlequin Duck. Pretty nice birds to find. She had two very nice photos to confirm the id's. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: King Eiders on Migration From: "Ulric J. Ulroan" <kash44ulroan AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 08 May 2009 07:28:12 -0000 Hello everyone this is Ulric J. Ulroan with the Chevak Bird & Culture Tours, looks like we are going to have another wonderful year of birding again. Today I went out 17 miles from Chevak by snow machine to the coast Seal Hunting with my uncle Mark and his son Edgar. Today we saw major wave after wave of King Eiders on their migration. Today was the most I've ever seen of any kind of birds on their migration. Besides seeing thousands of King Eiders I saw Spectacle Eiders and Common Eiders, Pelagic Cormorants, Long Tailed Ducks, Swans, Cranes, White Front Geese, Parasitic Jaeger, Mew Gull, Common Murre, and last but not least while on my way home by snow machine I saw a short eared owl just out side of Chevak. There are a lot of Swans, Cranes, White Fronted Geese, and Gulls around Chevak with more and more coming everyday. I say this was an exciting day of birding for me. Thank you. Chevak Bird & Culture Tours Ulric J. Ulroan PO Box 325 Chevak, AK 99563 Email: uulroan AT hotmail.comSubject: Sandhill Crane From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 10:35:10 -0800 Yesterday I saw my first Sandhill Crane of the year flying along the island's front to the west. A sure sign of spring. Enjoyed watching male Snow Buntings chase each other around last night chattering away like they were screaming at each other and saw at least two pairs (male with a female) spending time together, could they be ready to nest already? Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: First Goose seen, CRD From: Jim Helmericks <jwh AT goldenplover.us> Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 19:11:07 -0800 Update from the lower Colville River Delta At six thirty this evening we saw our first white-fronted goose of the season circling the local area checking things out. We also have over 7 pair of snow buntings around the house now and at least three females have started hauling nest materials into their chosen nest boxes. Jim -- James W. Helmericks Golden Plover Guiding Co. Colville Village Via PO Box 340109 Prudhoe Bay, Alaska 99734 (907) 659-2622 jwh AT goldenplover.us Birding Blog: http://kingeider.blogspot.comSubject: Spring Birds From: andrewboyscout AT yahoo.com Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 12:19:11 -0700 (PDT) The sudden arrival of the birds. I'm surprised at the abundance of the swans. They "normally" flock at the end of the summer, but I have not seen this many in this area at this time of the year.White fronted geese are more abundant then any other geese family. A few black brants are coming in with a few Emperor Geese. Cranes are available. A couple of Pacific Golden Plover's are back as usual behind our house on the west end of Chevak.Subject: Migratory Overshoot From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 19:29:57 -0800 Last years unexpected overshoot was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, today while trying to take a photo of our robin, my students found a Black- capped Chickadee. This is the second that I can say has been documented a BCCH as I found one with its bill stuck in my window frame that I gently pulled out. The chickadee then sat on my finger for out 10 minutes as it regained its strength and flew away back in 2002 or 2003 (believe the latter). These sightings certainly throw Thayer's range maps a bit of a curve. I will post a picture that my student took later after cropping and put his name on it. Not too bad for a 7th grader looking for a robin. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Migratory Overshoot From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 19:29:57 -0800 Last years unexpected overshoot was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, today while trying to take a photo of our robin, my students found a Black- capped Chickadee. This is the second that I can say has been documented a BCCH as I found one with its bill stuck in my window frame that I gently pulled out. The chickadee then sat on my finger for out 10 minutes as it regained its strength and flew away back in 2002 or 2003 (believe the latter). These sightings certainly throw Thayer's range maps a bit of a curve. I will post a picture that my student took later after cropping and put his name on it. Not too bad for a 7th grader looking for a robin. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Migrants Are Arriving Early From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 23:08:55 -0800 A hunter reported to me that he saw Tundra Swans, Greater White- fronted Geese, and Canada Geese while on a hunting trip for caribou, which he also saw. That isn't so remarkable in my mind as much as an American Robin I saw fly in town this afternoon was was confirmed by three students who came to my door asking and describing very well an American Robin. This is a week earlier than last year for passerines to really begin arriving so I am pretty excited. They will hopefully capture the robin with my camera tomorrow. Still quite a few Snow Buntings flying around town as well as Glaucous Gulls a couple Common Ravens. Happy Birding, Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Sliding Trip From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 19:45:57 -0800 Since my wife does not share my passion for birds, I took my kids on a sliding trip today on the mainland before the trail got too sloppy to take a snow machine and watched for birds while the kids had some fun. I found two first of the year birds fairly quickly and I had hoped and expected when I saw 7 Willow Ptarmigan 2 males and 5 females. One female landed near the kids and I was able to get some decent photos of her. I also was able to hear, see, and identify 5 Hoary Redpolls, which were a nice addition to my yearly count. A third first of season bird was by far the least expected. 1 Tundra Swan was heard and seen flying along the coast line. My camera wouldn't focus long enough to snap off a photo. Very surprising to see a swan this early. I also saw a male Snow Buntings and a pair of Common Ravens. A very fun trip for me and the kids. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Sliding Trip From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 19:45:57 -0800 Since my wife does not share my passion for birds, I took my kids on a sliding trip today on the mainland before the trail got too sloppy to take a snow machine and watched for birds while the kids had some fun. I found two first of the year birds fairly quickly and I had hoped and expected when I saw 7 Willow Ptarmigan 2 males and 5 females. One female landed near the kids and I was able to get some decent photos of her. I also was able to hear, see, and identify 5 Hoary Redpolls, which were a nice addition to my yearly count. A third first of season bird was by far the least expected. 1 Tundra Swan was heard and seen flying along the coast line. My camera wouldn't focus long enough to snap off a photo. Very surprising to see a swan this early. I also saw a male Snow Buntings and a pair of Common Ravens. A very fun trip for me and the kids. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Re: Gulls arrive in Shishmaref From: Andrew Boyscout <andrewboyscout AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:54:00 -0700 (PDT) Chevak residents have seen two swans two days ago and White Front Geese yesterday. Sea birds are passing through. Hooper Bay, which is 18 miles from us at the coast has reported seeing King Eiders passing.Andrew --- On Sun, 4/26/09, Ken StenekSubject: Nome - April 20 to 26 - recent bird sightings From: "pjbente" <peter.bente AT alaska.gov> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:17:23 -0000 20 April Mixed flock of Snow Buntings (95%) and McKay's Bunting (5%) at feeder in Icy View. About 25 birds total. 22 April 20+ Snow Buntings at feeder in Icy View; no McKay's. 1 gull (by voice) overhead near city; reported to ADF&G. 2 Hoary Redpoll at feeder. 3 Common Redpoll at feeder. 23 April 1 Gray-crowned Rosy Finch at feeder in Icy View. 24 April 1 large gull, mostly grayish back flying near coast; probable Glaucous Gull. Reported to ADF&G. 26 April 45 Snow Buntings at feeder in Icy View. -posted by P Bente, ADF&G, NomeSubject: Gulls arrive in Shishmaref From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:09:38 -0800 My brother-in-law reported seeing 3 gulls by the airport and while shoveling snow out of my boat I saw 2 Glaucous Gulls on some overflow near a tidal crack in the lagoon ice. These birds are FOS for me and cause for a little excitement as this notes the first migrants to arrive. I also saw some ravens and a few snow buntings. I had planned to take my kids down to the hills on the mainland for some sledding and to find some ptarmigan and hoary redpolls but alas it was too blustery today. Last year I noted the first gulls arriving on the 18th so 5 days later this year but no open water as we had in a lead out front last year. Large amounts of snow and good ice conditions may make for an interesting year for migratory birds but the snow was sure melting fast today with warmer temps. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Gulls in Unalakleet From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:39:46 -0800 A friend of mine in Unalakleet is reporting that gulls have arrived there yesterday. Satellite photos show plenty of open water in central Norton Sound so I guess that shouldn't be too unexpected. I am expecting it will be a while before we see anything here with pretty strong ice this year and lots of snow. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:28:42 -0800 While I was busy with our Spring Carnival Basketball Tournament this weekend, it appears that all of the McKay's Buntings have left for their breeding grounds on St. Matthew's and Hall Islands. Mid-April appears to be the standard timing for them to take off from here. Maybe the Nome crowd can comment on the McKay's in and around Nome??? I know there were some hanging out behind the Sitnasauk building while I was there a couple weeks ago. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Re: Awake! From: "rossigull" <jwh AT goldenplover.us> Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:15:15 -0000 Spring has finally arrived in the Arctic! Our first snow bunting was sighted at 1720 this afternoon. Still looks like winter though and the temperature only made it up to +6F here on the Colville Delta. Wonderful to hear the chirp of a snow bunting again. Cheers Jim --- In beringia_birders AT yahoogroups.com, alice sullivanSubject: From the Moderator in Juneau From: Karla Hart <khart AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:15:53 -0800 Hi Beringia Birders, The message from the Colville River prompts me to pipe in as a moderator with two items. First - since the geographic range of Beringia Birders extends from the Aleutians along western Alaska and across Northern Alaska to the Canadian border, please include prominent mention of your area, ideally in the subject line and post. Second - To minimize off-topic posts/spam, new member posts are moderated. Once I moderate the first post, I change that member's status to un-moderated posts (or ban the spammers). If you haven't yet posted at Beringia Birders you are welcome to send me an e-mail khart (at) gci.net with enough information about you and your interest in the list so I can identify you as likely to post on-topic and I'll change your status to un-moderated. This will prevent delays in postings as they await moderation -- I may be away from a computer for a week+ at a time this spring/summer. Happy Birding, KarlaSubject: Help collect data! From: Carol Gales <carolgales AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 14:17:35 -0800 Birders: You might be interested in the following free workshop, to be given at Northwest Campus in Nome next Saturday, April 11. I don't have more details than what appears below; please use the listed phone number or email address to find out more!--cg COASST Seabird Monitoring Workshop Saturday, April 11 // 9a-4p // Northwest Campus The University of Washington is expanding its COASST seabird monitoring program to the Bering Strait region. Learn to collect data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds to establish the baseline pattern of bird deposition on North Pacific beaches. Data helps address marine conservation issues and protect marine resources. To register for training, call COASST at (206) 221-6893, or email info AT coasst.org.Subject: Awake! From: alice sullivan <sullyinnome AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:18:23 -0700 (PDT) Awake birders! The season of birding is at hand. Winter, like a weary
polar bear, is slinking northward. A tsunami of birds are restlessly
gathering. casting knowing glances towards the land of nesting, and
ruffling their flight feathers into place. Seize those bird books and
begin obsessing over field marks. Only 45 days until the first mighty
migrants will be seen-probably Lapland Longspurs perched on wisps of
dead grass-and the gravelly trumpets of waves of Sandhill Cranes will
be heard. Ah, to live is to bird. Alice
Subject: McKay's BuntingsFrom: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:29:20 -0800 I posted some photos of McKay's Buntings to my Birds of Shishmaref Blog. They are beginning to really show signs of molting into their breeding colors and will head to St. Matthew's and Hall Islands in a couple weeks. My blog site is in my signature if you would like to visit. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Nome - Glaucous Gull, adult From: "pjbente" <peter.bente AT alaska.gov> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:15:35 -0000 Feb 28, 4:30 PM Adult Glaucous Gull resting on snow amidst strong SSW wind and blowing snow along Teller Road at Martinsons. Flushed by passing vehicles; then harassed by raven; last seen flying towards Nome and easterly along the Nome By-Pass Road. Unusual species in Feb/Mar. Probably arrived on recent strong Bering Sea storm. P. Bente, ADF&G, Nome.Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 16:12:06 -0900 My daughter and I walked to the store earlier and on our way home we walked in front of the old BIA school (now teacher apartments) and saw some fox tracks. Also saw a mixed flock of about 100 buntings mixed McKay's and Snow Buntings as well as a few Common Ravens. We walked around the school hoping to see the House Sparrow. I kept an eye out looking underneath the building but saw nothing but some tracks underneath a porch near some popcorn. My daughter raced on ahead of me and sat on our snow machine. Then she says, "Look dad, it's up there." Sure enough up on one of the air vents (where I took many pictures of the two males last year) was a male House Sparrow. I had my camera on me, but as I was taking it out, it flew away (Sorry Chris). Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/Subject: Shishmaref Report From: Ken Stenek <kstenek AT shh.bssd.org> Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:19:08 -0900 Saw a male HOUSE SPARROW earlier during my lunch time, I have only seen one male so far this winter. We also have McKAY'S and SNOW BUNTINGs as well as COMMON RAVEN. On a recent trip to the Arctic River there were 5 WILLOW PTARMIGAN. I was also hoping to see some Hoary Redpolls but saw none. I am in the process of making changes to my Birds of Shishmaref site, if you have any suggestions how to make it better, I would more than welcome suggestions. One suggestion I received was to link to photos of the species, which I am in the process of doing. I am downloading photos to Flickr and linking species names to their photos. I am also noting on a map approximately where the photos were taken. Ken Stenek Shishmaref Check out my new "Birds of Shishmaref" page at: http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/ |