Aleutian Canada
Goose. One seen November 23 on Auke Lake,
perhaps only the 2nd record for SE
Alaska (GVV).
Gadwall. Five were seen at the
mouth of Fish Creek on November 8 (SZ).
Shoveller. Four late lingerers
were on Auke Lake on November 24 (GVV).
Hooded Merganser. A female with
three half-grown ducklings was seen on Norton
Lake on August 2 (DM). Small numbers were seen on
Twin Lakes starting on September 17 (2
females--SZ) and extending throughout the fall
period. The largest number reported was five (3
females, 2 males) on October 28 (SZ).
Ruddy Duck. Two
female/immature birds were seen on Auke bay on
October 24 (GVV). A single female/immature was
seen on Twin Lakes on October 27 (JS) and October
28 (SZ).
There was a good diversity of
duck species seen on Twin Lakes this fall. In
addition to several Mallards, Greater and Lesser
Scaup, and Wigeon, small numbers of Ring-necked
Ducks and Common Mergansers, at least five
Canvasbacks, a Redhead, and the above mentioned
HOME and RUDU were all seen there during the fall
migration period.
Osprey. A single bird was seen
at the end of the airport runway on September 11
(LC) and another single was seen at Auke Bay on
September 21 (GVV).
Steller’s Sea Eagle.
Although not seen on a regular basis,
Juneau’s Steller’s Sea Eagle was seen
in the Taku River area on at least three
occasions this summer/fall. The last report was
from just below Canyon Island on September 21
(EK: fide LD).
Rough-legged Hawk. A dark phase
bird was seen near Radcliffe Road parking area on
September 21 (BA)
Peregrine Falcon. Two were seen
near the Alaska State Museum on September 24
(GVV).
American Coot. Coots were seen
continuously on Twin Lakes, and in the marsh by
the Pioneers Home, from September 22 (MS, SZ),
through the end of the fall reporting period. An
immature bird was seen occasionally in the
company of an adult bird during the mid-September
period. The maximum number of coots reported was
8 on November 19 (GVV).
Sandhill Crane. Unusually high
numbers of birds were seen in the Juneau area in
mid-September. Sixteen birds were seen flying
over Tee Harbor on September 17 (BA). On
September 18 approximately 250 birds were seen
standing along the Mendenhall River (m.obs.). On
September 19, more than 700 were seen at about
the 2,000 foot level, flying past the tramway at
11:25 in the morning (GVV).
Greater Yellowlegs. Two
immatures were seen on November 3--a very late
date for Alaska—on the Mendenhall Wetlands
(GVV).
Lesser Yellowlegs. Following
the high numbers of adults reported in early
July, this species continued with very high
numbers with 300+ on August 1 (GVV) and
approximately 200 on August 5 (BA).
Solitary Sandpiper. Two were
seen in the Dredge Lakes area on August 2 (DM),
and two were seen at Fish Creek on August 11
(PS).
Baird’s Sandpiper. Two
birds were seen on August 10 and 3 (BA).
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. A
juvenile was seen at Salmon Creek on September 5
(PS). Another bird, possibly the same one, was
also seen on the Mendenhall Wetlands on the same
day (BA).
Upland Sandpiper. A single bird
was seen on August 15 - 25 on the Mendenhall
Wetlands (PS, GVV, BA), and two were seen there
on August 31 (GVV).
Long-billed Dowitcher. An
unusually large number (90) were seen during
September 16 – 28 on the Mendenhall Wetlands
(GVV).
Stilt Sandpiper. The first
sighting was of a single bird on the Mendenhall
Wetlands on August 13 (PS), and small numbers
were observed for several days thereafter,
through September 5 (BA). The maximum number seen
was 10 on August 19 (GVV) and 22 (PS).
Wilson’s Phalarope.
A juvenile was seen at Eagle Beach on August 2
(PS, SZ; pictures by PS).
Bonaparte’s Gull. 600 were
seen on November 11 at mile 33—this is a
late date for this species—tight flocks were
fluttering over a large surface prey patch in
humpback whale waters (GVV).
Ring-billed Gull. Single birds
were seen in Bayview Subdivision (Douglas Island)
on August 13 (SZ), and near the Juneau-Douglas
Bridge on August 25 (PS). Two birds were seen
near the mouth of Fish Creek on September 7 (PS).
California Gull. A very late,
second year winter bird was seen on November 11
on the Mendenhall Wetlands (GVV).
Glaucous Gull. An immature bird
was seen at Salmon Creek on August 6 (PS; photo),
and at Eagle Beach on November 9 (GVV).
Slaty-backed Gull. One was
found at the mouth of Salmon Creek on August 8
(IM), August 10 (GVV), and again on August 15
(PS).
Lesser Black-backed Gull. An
adult bird was seen on August 18 (IM), and on
August 22 and 29 (PS) on the Mendenhall Wetlands.
Barred Owl. First identified by
GVV on August 19, a single bird was seen hunting
in the early evenings through August 24, between
mile 15.2 and 16.0 along Glacier Highway. On
August 25 it appeared to be acting oddly, and was
seen sitting on the ground for a long period of
time (BA). Photos were taken by PS.
Northern Pygmy Owl. One was
seen and heard at Point Bridget on September 29
(GVV). Another single bird was heard on October 3
and seen on November 12 and 29 at Auke Bay (GVV).
Common Nighthawk. A single bird
was seen on August 29 on the Mendenhall Wetlands
(GVV).
Anna’s Hummingbird. A
single male was seen at a feeder in Auke Bay from
October 10 through the end of the count period
(GVV).
Three-toed Woodpecker. A single
bird was seen near the Herbert Glacier Trailhead
on September 29 (LL).
Bank Swallow. One bird was seen
on September 15 in the company of two Barn
Swallows at Mile 25 (GVV). This is a late date
for both of these species.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Three
recent fledglings were seen on September 14 at
Point Bridget. They were giving incessant
begging/contact calls –an example of
late-breeding activity by this species in the
Juneau area (GVV).
Red-breasted Nuthatch. A small
and quick, but widespread movement occurred
during September 28 – 29, with single birds
seen in the Mendenhall Valley and at Auke Bay,
Eagle Beach and Point Bridget (GVV).
Cedar Waxwing. Five were seen
in a flock over downtown Juneau on August 23, and
one was seen on the Mendenhall Wetlands on August
25 (GVV).
Bohemian Waxwing. A single bird
was seen on November 19 in downtown Juneau (GVV).
Yellow-rumped Warbler. A late
"Myrtle-type" bird was seen on November
18 in downtown Juneau (GVV).
American Redstart. A late adult
male was seen at Dredge Lakes on September 3
(PS).
Spotted Towhee. A single
bird was seen at a feeder in Bonnie Brae
Subdivision (Douglas Island) from November 11
(BD) through the end of the count period (BA,
m.obs.). This is likely the 5th
sighting of this bird in Alaska (records compiled
by GVV).
Chipping Sparrow. A juvenile
was seen at Point Bridget on September 2 (PS),
and another was seen at Dredge Lakes on September
3 (PS).
Fox Sparrow. A late bird, with
a very red tail, was seen at a residence from
November 8 through the end of the count period
(DM).
Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
A young male /adult male in basic plumage, was
seen feeding on bird seed at a home in the Juneau
Highlands from October 5 – 9 (MM, m. obs,
photos by MM). This is likely the 5th
or 6th record for this species in
Alaska (records compiled by GVV).
Black-headed Grosbeak. A
female was observed coming to a feeder in
Petersburg from September 28 – 30 (DC, KC,
video by BH). This is likely the 14th
sighting of this bird in Alaska (records compiled
by GVV). Another female bird was later reported
coming to a feeder in Sitka beginning about
November 6. Marge Ward should be sending a report
on this bird
Common Redpoll. Twenty were
seen in a flock on November 10 at 33 mile (GVV).
Red Crossbill. Small flocks of
Red Crossbills were seen regularly, with singing
territorial males, at several locations in Juneau
over virtually the entire fall reporting period.
On September 29 recently fledged birds were seen
at Point Bridget, and a family group with 3
juveniles was seen on October 26 at Auke Bay
(GVV). Very few White-winged Crossbills were
reported during this period.
Pine Siskin. This species
became common and widespread during the last half
of November with a flock of over 400 birds seen
on November 28 at Mile 33 (GVV).
