Birding Alaska

Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides, Homer, 18 November 2009.

Perched alone on the top of a birch, I pulled over to take a look at what I was expecting to be an American Robin.  Instead, this Mountain Bluebird made for a big surprise on my way home from town today.   It moved around frequently, but finally settled down in a choke cherry on the west side of the Church of Christ, East End Road.  There is a lot of fruit on the trees in town right now so maybe it will stick around.

Anna’s Hummingbird Colypte anna, Homer, 9 November 2009.

The Anna’s Hummingbird seems to have left my yard in Homer.  It was last seen around noon on 14 November, the 8th day since it appeared at the feeder on 7 November.  There have been at least five other reports of Anna’s Hummingbirds in Alaska this fall–four from Juneau and one from Haines.  Homer is probably the westernmost site where this species has been recorded.

A single Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus in a flock of Rock Sandpipers Calidris ptilocnemis, Homer boat harbor, 13 November 2009.

Dunlin Calidris alpina and Rock Sandpipers, Homer boat harbor, 13 November 2009.

High tide today pushed a flock of about 2,500 Rock Sandpipers, 150 Dunlin and one stubborn Long-billed Dowitcher into the rocky corner of the Homer boat harbor.  Rock Sandpipers and Dunlin are regular at this time of year, but the dowitcher is setting a new late record each day.

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis, Seaside Farms, Homer, 8 November 2009.

Battle of the yard birds in Homer.  The Anna’s Hummingbird was still present at our feeder today and just a mile or so down the road Mossy Kilcher had this beautiful White-throated Sparrow in her ravine.

Anna’s Hummingbird Colypte anna, Homer, 7 November 2009.

The first snow of the year brought a nice surprise to the yard today.  There are only a few previous Homer records of Anna’s Hummingbird.  It is listed as “casual” on the Alaska checklist.