Alaska - June 2004
Bird/Species Trip List

Main Alaska Tour Jun-04 Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage and Seward
Common Loon: nesting pair on Wonder Lake, male at close range fishing
Red-throated Loon: single bird of likely pair on small tundra pond
Pacific Loon: quick glimpse of this beauty at Potter's Marsh so. Of Anchorage
Red-necked Grebe: great close looks Anchorage area, two locations
Double-crested Cormorant: harbor at Seward
Pelagic Cormorant: many on boat cruise out of Seward
Red-faced Cormorant: spectacular looks at sea, flying and on cliffs
Greater White-fronted Goose: Wonder Lake (2) and small tundra ponds (8)
Canada Goose common throughout
Trumpeter Swan: great views from the train, and a single bird in Wonder Lake
Gadwall fairly common
American Wigeon: very common in small tundra ponds, beautiful breeding plumage
Mallard: seen daily
Northern Shoveler: also seen daily, though less numerous than Wigeon
Northern Pintail: females with small chicks, too cute!
Green-winged Teal: seen often
Greater Scaup: Denali and Anchorage
Lesser Scaup: Denali and Anchorage
Harlequin Duck: fine looks at lagoon near Anchorage, some in Moose Creek, Denali
Long-tailed Duck: tundra ponds, paired up - fine plumage
Barrow's Goldeneye: several males, females likely on nests
Common Merganser: one individual, Ranger pond
Bald Eagle: repeated great looks at this magnificent bird, esp. near Seward, and one flying
parallel to the highway our last day.
Northern Harrier: one male bird near Denali on tundra
Rough-legged Hawk: fine spot by Joette from the train first day
Merlin: quick flyover returning to North Face Lodge, in open tundra dotted with ponds
Gyrfalcon: on active eyrie, fine looks, Denali
Willow Ptarmigan: entertained us numerous times from the road, photo distance
Rock Ptarmigan: one group, the Naturalist Foray, Highway Pass
Sandhill Crane: seen well by all near AK Bird Observatory first afternoon
Greater Yellowlegs: one, Ranger Pond near Denali
Lesser Yellowlegs: common in ponds around North Face, one memorable flight display and awkward perched on a spruce tree
Spotted Sandpiper: several individuals, local ponds and also Anchorage, Potter's Marsh
Hudsonian Godwit: flock put on good show, Westchester Lagoon, Anchorage
Red Knot: seen by Joette on early am walk, W. Lagoon
Short-billed Dowitcher: at a distance, group feeding on mudflats, Anchorage
Black Oystercatcher: nesting pair, doing a nest exchange, rocks of the seacoast from the boat tour
Long-tailed Jaeger: nesting on tundra, Denali
Bonaparte's Gull: Denali and Anchorage
Mew Gull: common from cities to the wilds
Glacous-winged Gull: common near Seward
Black-legged Kittiwake: common Chiswell Islands, big feeding flocks near whales
Herring Gull: regular, Seward area
Arctic Tern: Denali and Anchorage
Common Murre: Chiswell Islands, common
Pigeon Guillemot: saw many in Seward and the islands
Marbled Murrelet: one pair, small bay near Fox Island, not as common as other years
Kittlitz' Murrelet: one individual, base of waterfall in Cascade cove near glaciers
Parakeet Auklet: heard, and quick glimpse as they dove, Chiswell Islands
Rhinoceros Auklet: Chiswell Islands, far fewer than murres and puffins, more local
Horned Puffin: abundant, Chiswells
Tufted Puffin: abundant, Chiswells
Belted Kingfisher: seen while on a walk en route to Seward, nice to hear this familiar call
Alder Flycatcher: good scope views in Anchorage
Say's Phoebe: nesting bird near Wonder Lake
Gray Jay: several birds near Wonder Lake, including marauding young ones
Black-billed Magpie: common throughout
Northwestern Crow: Seward area, Fox Island, Chiswells
Common Raven: regularly seen in all but Denali, a few there near entrance only
Tree Swallow: common near ponds
Violet-green Swallow: Anchorage, quite common, a few other locations
Cliff Swallow: common near bridges and structures
Red-breasted Nuthatch: very good record, heard calling by Ranger Cabins, Denali
American Dipper: nesting pair feeding young en route to Seward, fun!
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: scattered sightings, Joette has one really displaying crown
Gray-cheeked Thrush: beautiful song and many sightings, Denali
Swainson's Thrush: heard only near Ranger Pond, Denali
American Robin: common throughout
Varied Thrush: one great look at a bright bird on walk near North Face Lodge, many calling
American Pipit: one group on hike in higher tundra
Bohemian Waxwing: several present near Wonder Lake, flying, calling,
Orange-crowned Warbler: common and posing very well
Yellow-rumped Warbler: spruce forest near Camp Denali
Yellow Warbler: Anchorage and Fairbanks areas
Wilson's Warbler: very common Denali
American Tree Sparrow: singing, well seen near Wonder Lake
Chipping Sparrow: singing on territory near Wonder Lake
Savannah Sparrow: common to abundant
Fox Sparrow: several seen in tall willows near tundra ponds, Denali
Lincoln's Sparrow: one seen well, several heard near Denali, Fairbanks
White-crowned Sparrow: abundant
Dark-eyed Junco: Camp Denali spruce forest and Anchorage area
Common Redpoll: common over tundra willows and forests, Denali

Mammals
Red Squirrel: several in forested areas
Arctic Ground Squirrel: great antics on our excursions to higher tundra
Beaver: watched often and in detail, common on ponds of the tundra
Hoary Marmot: seen by several of the groups on outings near Denali
LYNX: what a THRILL, spotted asleep on a hill by the dinner area by diligent Peg!
Grizzly Bear: several sightings, female with three new cubs that romped and played, another blond female with one spring cub, lone female with no cub, "goldilocks" and the three bears at very close range near the Eileson Visitor Center, later on the road, and even later lounging on a sunny slope 'tundra napping' in style.
Black Bear: one swimming, pass between two islands off Kenai Fjords!
Dall Sheep: several groups seen high on hills, one group of males close by near Polychrome Pass.
Caribou: many seen, most memorable larger herd with young by hikers
Moose: finally, after much effort, one seen our last day out on the bus.

Nome Extension Jun-04
Arctic Loon: nesting pair by Bonanza Bridge and the trains, eerie calls our last evening…
Pacific Loon: several pair, one very close by the road to Teller, shining heads aglow in evening light
Red-throated Loon: abundnant, many birds at sea, in flight with their crooked necks, calling
Pelagic Cormorant: common at sea
Sandhill Crane: one huge migrant flock calling, Safety Sound, good looks closer off Snake River plain
Tundra Swan: several pair Safety Lagoon, several around Nome, one flying by apartment window
Canada Goose: small Cackling race, nesting, able to photograph
White-fronted Goose: fly by group at the coast
Black Brant: feeding in groups on mudbars of Safety Lagoon, migrant groups at sea
Mallard: Safety Lagoon in small groups
No. Pintail: elegant birds, quite common, mainly paired
Green-winged Teal: one bird, small ponds by airport
Gadwall: several pair, small ponds
American Wigeon: great close looks, again small ponds
No. Shoveler: common in small ponds
Greater Scaup: most common of the ducks, often in larger, deeper lagoons
Common Eider: great views at sea and in lagoon, fairly common, many loafing
Spectacled Eider: one gorgeous male, flying Safety lagoon
Surf Scoter: one pair at sea
Harlequin Duck: seen on each day, best was three pair at Grand Cental Bridge
Long-tailed Duck: seen often, heard calling, photographs
Red-breasted Mergans: very common to abundant, elegant birds
Semipalmated Plover: flight displays, small ponds and Grand Central River
American Golden Plover: one pair, Anvil Mountain
Pacific Golden Plover: several sightings, one close at M17, near Red-necked Stint
Bar-tailed Godwit: fewer this year, one bird seen well at Nome River, others as flybys
Whimbrel: scattered sightings on tundra, one very close en route to Pilgrim Hot Springs
Lesser Yellowlegs: two birds seen, flght display
Spotted Sandpiper: several along rivers, calling
Wandering Tattler: two sightings, Kougarok Valley along river
Red-necked Phalarope: abundant, entertaining
Common Snipe: also abundant, constant calling beautiful on the tundra, one perched calling from phone wires
Ruddy Turnstone: one bird spotted by Jo
Black Turnstone: one bird feeding with peeps, Safety Lagoon
Red Knot: small group Nome River
Dunlin: several seen, nice breeding plumage
Semipalmated Plover: great flight displays, very common
Western Sandpiper: gorgeous in bright breeding plumage, regular
White-rumped Sandpiper: one in small Lagoon at Teller
Red-necked Stint: one BRIGHT gorgeous individual in with other peeps Safety Lagoon
Pomarine Jaeger: one at Nome River Bridge
Parasitic Jaeger: fairly common
Long-tailed Jaeger: common, most on territory or nest
Mew Gull: abundant, vocal, everywhere
Herring Gull: fairly common
Glaucous Gull: common, coast and upriver
Glacous-winged Gull: common, coast and upriver
Arctic Tern: abundant, one aggressive divebombing Richard at Bluecreek Bridge
Common Murre: flyby off jetty
Pigeon Guillemot: one off Cape Nome, transitional plumage
Kittlitz' s Murrelet: one off Nome harbor jetty
Tufted Puffin: four, flybys off Cape Nome jetty, distant
Golden Eagle: several, one on nest, one grand display flying near Grand Central Bridge
Northern Harrier: one male flying, gorgeous views
Rough-legged Hawk: only one this year, a distant bird near an old gyrfalcon eyrie Kougarok Rd
Gyrfalcon: one male, attending nest, seen on two occasions
Rock Ptarmigan: two, one as close as could be on the road, showing his winter pantaloons
Willow Ptarmigan: one on a ridge near town, transitional plumage
Short-eared Owl: two different individuals, both observed intently with excellent behavior and views
Tree Swallow: common to abundant
Bank Swallow: several birds near Rusty Blackbird sightings, others on cutbank up Kougarok Rd
Cliff Swallow: common near bridges
Common Raven: many, notable pair on a construction crane, another on a cottage, scores at the dump
Gray-cheeked Thrush: constant song of this bird was a treat, saw many, great scope views
Hermit Thrush: one bird on phone wire, not calling
American Robin: several, nice to see this city slicker so at home in the wilds
Bluethroat: worked hard to find a singing displaying male. Richly rewarded with scope views, watched this little gem for quite awhile, even when a fox showed up to vye for our attentions!
Northern Pipit: one bird, lagoon at Teller
Yellow Wagtail: several pair, fairly common
Orange-crowned Warblgreat: views of singing males and birds feeding in willow catkins
Yellow Warbler: a constant companion where willows occurred
Blackpoll Warbler: one singing male at Pilgrim Creek Hotsprings
Wilson's Warbler: very common to abundant, vocal
No. Waterthrush: wonderful repeated views of singing males
Savannah Sparrow common to abundant
American Tree Sparrow: again, regular singing males, nice looks
White-crowned Sparrow: abundant, fill the air with song
Golden-crowned Sparrow: very common, most memorable song, sunlit crowns in the scope pretty nice too
Lincoln's Sparrow: several seen with scope, a few singing
Fox Sparrow: many and often, the large and chunky Alaska variety
Lapland Longspur: one of most common songbirds, flight displays a delight
Rusty Blackbird: 5 seen in a group near Fire Training Station (airport vicinity)
Common Redpoll: numerous, far more this year than any previous trips
Hoary Redpoll: also very common, often in mixed groups

Mammals
Red Fox: 3 individuals, great viewing and photos
Arctic Ground Squirrel: locally common, fat with bushy tails, active
Beaver: one seen swimming near Nome River Bridge
Moose: one seen near Dexter and another high on ridge off Teller Rd
Musk Ox: several lone males, group of females with month or so old young, too cute!

Butterflies
Old World Swallowtail - Papilio Machaon
Northern Marbled White - Euchloe creusa
Western White - Pontia occidentalis

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