Birding Alaska

Common X Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala clangula X islandica, Homer Spit, 8 January 2012.

This bird was hanging out at the “fishing hole” on the Homer Spit on 8 January 2012. It has an intermediate amount of white on the scapulars and a facial spot that is intermediate in shape between the oval of a Common Goldeneye and the crescent of a Barrow’s. It lacks the dark “spur” of a Barrow’s that separates the white breast from the white sides. At rest this bird’s head shape seemed to be a better fit for Common Goldeneye.

I’m currently on board the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson in the Bering Sea. The last few days in the eastern Bering Sea have produced some interesting birds. In addition to the usual variety of tubenoses, alcids and larids a number of southbound migrants have passed the ship this week. Some are birds that have adapted to long, non-stop ocean crossings, others are not…

Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis, Eastern Bering Sea, 30 August 2010.

Highlighting the list of fly-by appearances was this lone Bristle-thighed Curlew. It flew in to the stern of the ship, checked us out, gave a few whistles and flew off. Although the pictures are marginal you can still make out the warm tones to the underparts and the diagnostic mark–the peach-colored rump which appears contrastingly pale in the last photo.

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres, Eastern Bering Sea, 30 August 2010.

Ruddy Turnstones have been regular this week with at least one small flock approaching the ship every day. Today (8/30) we recorded over 20 individuals in several small flocks. Other shorebirds seen from the ship today were Pacific Golden-Plovers (4), Bristle-thighed Curlew (1), and Red Phalarope (100′s). Three Wandering Tattlers have flown by the trip since the we left Dutch Harbor on 17 August. Mind-boggling to think that the tattlers, turnstones, plovers and curlew may be in Hawaii or further before this ship get’s back to Dutch Harbor!

A Piscivorous Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla, on board the Oscar Dyson in the Eastern Bering Sea 30 August 2010.

This Golden-crowned Sparrow landed on the ship on yesterday and was still here today. He’s been eating, or attempting to eat, juvenile Pacific sand lance Amodites hexapterus which the NOAA scientists have been catching on their surveys. A new food item for the species?

Orange-crowned Warbler Oreothlypis celata, Eastern Bering Sea, 25 August 2010.

This Orange-crowned Warbler only spent a few hours on board. (Note the change to the genus. Click here for info on other changes and updates to the AOU checklist.)

Leucistic Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca sinuosa, Seaside Farm, Homer, 24 August 2009.

The breeding race of Fox Sparrows in the Homer area is P. i. sinuosa, part of the “Sooty” group of Fox Sparrows occuring along the coast of Alaska as far west as Unimak Island in the eastern Aleutians (Gibson and Kessel 1997). Sooty Fox Sparrows are supposed to be just that, sooty in color, but there’s always an oddball. This leucistic individual is identified as a Fox Sparrow by size, shape and voice.  It shows the large, round head and thick, bicolored bill of the species. Mossy Kilcher called me to tell me about this bird which has been hanging around her feeders most of the summer; Mossy’s feeders have a knack for attracting unusual birds! I stopped by this week and was fortunate to see it and get a few photos–a sharp looking bird.

A normally pigmented Sooty Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca sinuosa, Hornaday Hillside Park, Homer, 26 August 2009.

Juvenile Sooty Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca sinuosa, Seaside Farm, Homer, 24 August 2009.

These last two photos are examples of normally pigmented Sooty Fox Sparrows. The downy feathers on the head, breast and sides of the bird in the last photo identify it as a juvenile.

Gibson, D. D., and Kessel, B. 1997. Inventory of the species and subspecies of Alaska birds. Western Birds 28:45-95.

Hybrid Mallard Anas platyrhynchos X Northern Pintail A. acuta, Mud Bay, Homer, 10 March 2009.

This drake has been hanging out in Mud Bay, at the base of the Homer spit since at least March 10, when I took this photo.  It shows a combination of characters from both Mallard and Northern Pintail and has been associating with a large flock of Mallards and Wigeon, including 7 Eurasian Wigeon.  Last fall  (13-October-2008) I photographed what was probably the same individual at Mud Bay.  The Mallard flock of at least 800 birds departed the spit in the fall and was absent until late February when the ice left Mud Bay and impressive numbers returned.  Where did they winter?

One of at least 7 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope at Mud Bay, Homer, 10 March 2009.