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.



Westchester Lagoon at Spenard Crossing has been a busy area however and I have frequented that spot a few times this week. The first time was on Tuesday when I was very surprised to see a very rare bird indeed. Sitting on the bank was a Common Murre! My first sighting of this coastal sea bird. Usually they are found in places like Homer and Seward but lately there have been a lot of sightings in and around Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. Many of them are sick and malnourished. Bird TLC has been active in rehabilitating these lost birds but many more have met unfortunate ends. So I was delighted to see this beautiful bird, so rare a sighting in Anchorage, but also concerned for it's well being.

I went over to Kincaid park one day to look for some other birds which had been reported on ebird, but only say some black-capped Chickadees, a Hairy Woodpecker flying above me and about 100 Bohemian Waxwings.

Other recent areas I have scouted include the International Airport to check on a sighting on a Northern Hawk Owl and the trails around Chester Creek for sightings of a Pacific Wren and a Townsends Solitaire reported on ebird. I start that trail at Westchester Lagoon where I spotted the Murre, and have seen, aside from all the Mallards, a pair of Common Goldeneye, and some Common Merganser's which was a nice treat as well.

Around my house lately has been the usual, Black-capped Chickadees, Steller's Jay's, Red-breasted Nuthatch's, Magpie, and an occasional woodpecker, however the Pine Grosbeaks have been getting closer and even found about 8 of them in a tree over my back deck. They are not coming to my feeders just yet though. I'll give them time.

The year is almost up and I am at 66 bird species this year. Considering I started in late June, I think that's reasonable. However, I plan on doubling that next year. I'm going to hit the ground running in January and get out all I can to start the count. But I still have time to get my current year count to 70. Four more bird species to go. Will it happen? Who knows, a guy can hope. Speaking of hope, my family and I are headed down to Hope in late december for several days to get away from the city and spend time together. I hope to see my 4 birds down there (you see what I did there?)

That's all for now, until next time, look up and keep your binoculars handy.