Birding Alaska

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Wooley Lagoon Road (Mile 40.5 Teller Highway), near Nome, 4 June 2009.  Photo by Al Selin.

Found on a Wilderness Birding Adventures trip to Nome. Hawfinch is listed as Casual on the Alaska checklist, with most records coming from the Western and Central Aleutians, the Pribilof Islands and St. Lawrence Island. This is the first record for the Seward Peninsula and one of only three records from mainland Alaska. The other records from the mainland are one from the Noatak River, about 30 miles north of Kotzebue 15-20 June 1990 and a bird that came to a feeder in Dillingham 27 December 2003 to 23 January 2004 (Pranty et al. 2008).

Pranty, B., J.L. Dunn, S.C. Heinl, A.W. Kratter, P.E. Lehman, M.W. Lockwood, B. Mactavish, and K.J. Zimmer. 2008. ABA Checklist: Birds of the Continental United States and Canada, seventh edition. American Birding Association. Colorado Springs, CO.

Here are a few highlights from recent Wilderness Birding Adventures trips to Adak and St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs.

Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni eunomus, St. Paul, Pribilofs, 22 May 2009.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Big Polovina Lake, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, 23 May 2009.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, Polovina Wetlands, St. Paul Island, Pribolofs, 22 May 2009.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo longipennis, Polovina Wetlands, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, 22 May 2009.

The only race of Common Tern to be recorded in Alaska is longipennis, a vagrant from Siberia.  It differs from the North American race hirundo in its slightly darker gray upperparts, black bill and dark legs.  It is recorded nearly every year from the Pribilofs, especially during periods of strong west winds.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Contractor’s Marsh, Adak, 15 May 2009.

This very cooperative bird was winnowing side by side with the similar Wilson’s Snipe.  In flight the white stripe on the under wing was obvious, as was it’s distinctive winnow which is at least an octave lower than that of the Wilson’s Snipe.  It’s a regular spring migrant on Adak.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, Polovina Wetlands, St. Paul Island, Priblofs, 22 May 2009.

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia, Salt Lagoon, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs 22 May 2009.

This Common Greenshank was one of at least 4 present on the island.