End of the year looming

I have not posted as often as I would have liked to. I have no excuse. I have definitely been out birding, despite temperatures being a bit frigid. I have still been seeing new birds and even achieved my goal of identifying 70 bird species for 2015. The last few new bird sightings have been: Common Murre, Snow Bunting and just last week I saw number 69 at my most frequent spot at Spenard Crossing, a Pacific Wren! This little bird is no bigger than a chickadee. It was a little brown puff ball darting around in the underbrush and grass. They are a very handsome bird, and
of course, I did everything I could to shoot it a few times. These little birdies are quick however and I was only able to get off a few

Monday, December 15

I did not get the opportunity to post yesterday so I will post today.

This post covers part of last week also.

I finally got a chance to see the Northern Hawk Owl that had been reported behind the International Airport. I made my way out past Point Woranzof and found several other birders with their huge scopes already there, getting what I'm sure where some amazing shots. I grabbed my little Canon SX50 and zoomed up as close as I could get. This is one of those times where my camera leaves me wanting. But hey, a sighting is a sighting and I couldn't have been more excited. I went back the next day and on they way saw a small flock of Pine Grosbeaks. I was able to get quite a few photos before heading back over to see the owl again.

Yesterday I had the day off work so I used the opportunity to head over to Kincaid Park to an area that has had reports of Snow Bunting according to ebird.com. It was a fairly quiet walk over to the bluff overlooking the flats, except for the Brown Creeper and Black-capped Chickadee's I saw.

Friday, December 4, 2015

I have not posted in a week or so. That's not to say that there's been no activity however! I've been out birding on my lunch breaks almost every day. Some days yield very few birds. Early in the week I went to the Airport Heights area and saw one Raven flying overhead. All was still and quiet over there even though I had heard reports of a Northern Hawk Owl in the area.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

I didn't get out birding at all this weekend, it was snowy and blowy and not much fun to go outside. So I kept my binoculars and camera handy on the kitchen table while frequenting the feeder stations from the windows. Both days I saw, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Steller's Jay, Black-capped

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Today felt exceptionally cold. I think the high was maybe 1 degree. This is were the test comes to see What you're made of, what kind of a birder you really are. Me? I'm dedicated. I hate the cold, but I love birds more. I went to lunch at noon. The sun was out, reflecting off the ice particles shimmering in the

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Today I packed up my family and headed out to the Eagle River Nature Center (ERNC). It was a beautiful, clear, crisp day today with a high of about -2 degrees. We bundled up, and after letting the car warm up for 20 minutes or so, set out for our destination. It's a nice 10 mile drive to the ERNC, and the sun beamed down onto the surrounding peaks. As we drove, we could see tiny ice particles in the air reminding us of the cold awaiting us outside of the warmth of the vehicle.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

It was a clear, crisp day out today. My son has been sick all day with a fever so we didn't get out at all. Still, we had quite a few winged visitors around. Our first guest was four Steller's Jays. I keep some whole peanuts on hand as they love them. I've even been able to get one of them to take a peanut from my hand. Next up was a Black-billed Magpie, he was after the peanuts too. There's always plenty of Black-capped chickadees and the usual Red-breasted Nuthatches around, and today was no exception. A female Downy Woodpecker stopped by, pecking away at the trees for food. To my surprise I also saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet high in the branches. That was an unexpected treat. I also heard a Pine Grosbeak and caught a quick glimpse of it as it flew through the trees. And all this from the comfort and warmth of my own home. My son and I have our little bird watching nook that we watch the Chickadees and Nuthatches as they visit our feeders. Maybe tomorrow we'll get out to the Eagle River Nature Center. Cheers

How it all started

I have always loved birds. I remember as a kid watching the chickadees flutter about in the trees during the long cold winters of Alaska. My dad would always keep record of the first Robin he saw each spring. I loved hearing the song of a robin on a summer day. To this day, it brings me a sense of peace and serenity.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Today, on my usual lunch break birding adventure, I drove around Government Hill as well as the area around Valley of the Moon Park with my eyes on the trees, looking for Grosbeaks, and other winter birds. I was about to head back to the office when a last minute turn down 20th avenue turned out to be a great idea. I saw a few birds land in a tall Cottonwood tree and quickly got out of my car with my