SE AK Regional Observations

SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL BIRD OBSERVATIONS

NOTE: after the 2018 Fall report, the SE AK Bird Observations publication was placed in indefinite suspension.

A summary of notable bird observations in Southeast Alaska is compiled and published quarterly by Steve Heinl and Andrew Piston. The members of Skagway Bird Club contribute descriptions and photographs of unusual sightings. Visiting birders also contribute notable observations from their time in Skagway.

In addition to some Skagway listings, the reports contain a wealth of information about identifying bird species, races and forms seen in Southeast Alaska. Some behavioral information is occasionally included, too.

We post the SE AK regional observations from 2013 to 2018 on this web site.

Older reports can be found at Juneau Audubon Society web site - regional information page.

Some Skagway-related content briefings are below (see the full reports for much, much more information)

2018 Fall: August - November

Eurasian Collared-Dove - common (22) - Debbie Ackerman

Boreal Owl - uncommon (1) - Scott Fischer

Mountain Chickadee - rare - last documented record in Skagway in 1974

Bohemian Waxwing - (14) highest # among low numbers regionally - C.E.Furbish

Ovenbird - rare (1) only second record for southeast Alaska - Larry Hooge

2018 Summer: June - July

Eurasian Collared-Dove - (1-3) observer not attributed

Caspian Tern - (1-4) observer not attribute

Merlin, dark form (suckleyi) -(family of 4) - Mike Konsler

Warbling Vireo - part of discussion on regional breeding distribution based on previous reports

White-crowned Sparrow - (2) - Tom Edell, and also a discussion on subspecies, breeding and abundance

American Redstart - part of discussion on breeding distribution based on previous reports

Western Tanager - part of discussion on breeding distribution based on previous reports

2018 Spring: March - May

---- due to the number of Skagway entries, only bird and observer given here, more

than 2 observers listed as "numerous". Please see full report for more information.

Snow Goose - numerous

Eurasian Wigeon - not attributed

Canvasback - Renald Jauvin

Eurasian Collard-Dove - numerous

Rufous Hummingbird - Pete Deane

Pacific Golden-Plover - Mike Konsler and C.E. Furbish

Hudsonian Godwit - Andrew Beierly

Sanderling - Mike Konsler and C.E. Furbish

Say's Phoebe - C.E.Furbish

Warbling Vireo - not sighted, referenced in discussion

Violet-green Swallow - Bruce Paige

Cliff Swallow - Bruce Paige and Adrian Burke

Mountain Bluebird - Kim Burnham

Common Redpoll - Bruce Paige

Rusty Blackbird - Mike Konsler

American Redstart - Jesse Vigliotti

Western Tanager - Lorna McDermott

2017-2018 Winter: December 2017 - February 2018 (revised Aug 2019)

Eurasian Collared-Dove - common (16) and breeding reports - Debbie Ackerman and Joanne & Andrew Beierly

(information and photos from Skagway featured prominently in discussion of EUCD status in SE Alaska)

Short-eared Owl - rare (1) - C.E. Furbish

Red-breasted Nuthatch - unusual for season (1) - Jan Wrentmore

Bohemian Waxwing - common (66) - Christmas Bird Count (maximum for season in SE Alaska)

2017 Fall: August - November

Eurasian Collared-Dove - common (5) - Pam Sinclair & Cameron Eckert

Mourning Dove - rare (1) - John McDermott

California Gull - rare (60) - Pam Sinclair & Cameron Eckert

Red-breasted Nuthatch - high count (5) - C.E. Furbish

Western Tanager - mentioned during regional discussion

2017 Summer: June - July

Eurasian Collared-Dove - common (at least 4) - multiple observers (part of discussion on their spread throughout southeast AK)

Anna's Hummingbird - uncommon (1) - John Skene

Tufted Puffin - first record for Skagway (2) - Shelby Surdyk, first sighting (photo); later Cameron Eckert & Boris Dobrowolsky

Osprey - rare (1) - Travis Burkett

2017 Spring: March - May

Spruce Grouse - common (1) - LeeAnne Deane (her photo is part of discussion of two SPGR subspecies in southeast AK)

Anna's Hummingbird - occasional (1) - Bruce B. Paige (discussion includes an Anna's x Rufous hybrid with photo)

Say's Phoebe - unusual (2) - Bruce B. Paige

Mountain Bluebird - first report for region (1) and later maximum (25) - John McDermott

Bohemian Waxwings - last large flock of season in Skagway (~600) - Cameron Eckert & Boris Dobrowolsky

Common Redpoll - last large flock of season in Skagway (~300) - Mike Konsler

Snow Bunting - last report of season for region (2) - Ray Tsang

2016-2017 Winter: December 2016 - February 2017

Ivory Gull - extremely rare (1) - Joanne and Andrew Beierly (much more info and photo in report)

Iceland Gull - extremely rare (1) - by Cameron Eckert (much more info and photo in report)

Eurasian Collared-Dove - overwintered (5) - by a number of observers

American Robin - unusual for season (7) - Christmas Bird Count

Bohemian Waxwing - unusually high numbers (1200) - Christmas Bird Count

Common Redpolls - uncommon number (185) - Cameron Eckert

2016 Fall: August - November

Eurasian Collared-Dove - juvenile seen with adults, August/October/November - by Debbie Ackerman and Ray Tsang

first confirmed breeding of EUCD in Skagway, 2 photos by Ray Tsang.

American Kestrel - unusually early in late August (1) - by John McDermott

Bohemian Waxwing - early for season (25) - by C.E.Furbish

2016 Summer: June - July

Long-tailed Duck - unusual (1) - by Shelby Surdyk and C.E.Furbish

Osprey - rare (1) - by Shelby Surdyk and C.E.Furbish

Eurasian Collared-Dove - overwinter survivors (2) - by Debbie Ackerman (with Debbie's photo)

Anna's Hummingbird - unusual (2) - by Joe Hanfman

Merlin - family of 4 - by Mike Konsler

2016 Spring: March - May

Eurasian Wigeon - uncommon (1) - by Joanne & Andrew Beierly and C.E.Furbish

Semipalmated Sandpiper - unusual (110) - by C.E.Furbish

Thayer's Gull - unusually large number (4500) - by Cameron Eckert, who emphasized the importance of the Taiya river hooligan run, and other runs in northern SE AK, to the migrating flocks.

Black-billed Magpie - large number (29) - by Pam Sinclair and Cameron Eckert

Mountain Bluebird - first seasonal sighting in SE AK (3) - by John McDermott

Townsend's Solitaire - unusual and early (1) - by John McDermott

Purple Finch - rare (4) - by John McDermott

2015-2016 Winter: December 2015 - February 2016

Common Murre - unusually large number (70) - by many people, part of state-wide mortality event

Northern Hawk Owl - uncommon (1) - by John McDermott

Anna's Hummingbird - unusually late for season (1) - by Jan Wrentmore

Bohemian Waxwing - unusually low numbers regionwide - by Boris Dobrowolsky, Cameron Eckert & Shyloh van Delft

2015 Fall: August - November

Leach’s Storm-Petrel - rare (1) - 19 September - by C.E.Furbish and Ken Russo

Northern Hawk-Owl - uncommon (1) - 8 November - by Marsha Squires

Anna's Hummingbird - late for season (1) - November - by Jan Wrentmore

Black-backed Woodpecker - rare (1) - 25 November - by C.E.Furbish, 2nd record for Skagway

2015 Summer: June - July

Yellow-billed Loon - rare - 2 June - by Shelby Surdyk and C.E.Furbish

Western Kingbird - rare - 1 June - by John McDermott

Black-billed Magpie - unusual for season - 2 July - by Suzanne Ken

Blackpoll Warbler - rare - 3 June - by Shelby Surdyk

2015 Spring: March - May

Eurasian Wigeon - uncommon - 29 April - by Shelby Surdyk and C.E.Furbish [listed as one, but was a small flock]

Redhead Duck - rare - 29 April - by Shelby Surdyk and C.E.Furbish [listed as one, may have been more]

Hudsonian Godwit - unusual - 29 April - earliest report for southeast AK - by Shelby Surdyk and C.E.Furbish [listed as one, but was a small flock]

Snowy Owl - unusual - 13 April - by John McDermott - was very late and unusual in spring. Most Southeast reports of this owl are from late fall/winter

Northern Hawk Owl - uncommon - 2 March by John McDermott, and 20 March by Cameron Eckert, were thought to represent an individual that had been observed intermittently in the area over the previous few months. Most Southeast Alaska reports of this species are from the northern mainland (e.g., it is considered uncommon in the Skagway area; fide CEF), and it is casual elsewhere in the region.

Great Gray Owl - rare - 25 February - by John McDermott. This species has seldom been reported in Southeast (though there are at least two prior reports from Skagway) and, like several other species of owls, its status in the region is poorly known.

Mountain Bluebird - locally common spring migrant - 18 birds on 11 April by Tracy Allard, and peaking at 33 birds in three flocks on 24 April by C.E. Furbish.

Townsend's Solitaire - rare - 2 May - by Bruce B. Paige [one] This species is a rare migrant and probable breeder in Southeast Alaska (Kessel and Gibson 1978).

Black-backed Woodpecker - first record for Skagway - 6 April - by Mary Whitley. There have been at least 15 reports of this interior species since Bailey (1927) collected two on Mt. Juneau in April 1920, and its status remains poorly understood—is it a very rare resident or a casual visitant?

2014-2015 Winter: December 2014 - February 2015

Northern Hawk-Owl - rare (1) - by Joanne and Andrew Beierly

Note: listed as staying for 1 week, but this was a miscommunication as we also

submitted observations of the NOHO for January and February

White-winged Dove - referenced 1981 Skagway record for WWDO

2014 Fall: August - November

Leach’s Storm-Petrel - rare (1) - by Joanne Beierly, found dead

Boreal Owl - uncommon (1) - by Mallory St. Pierre, caught in bat mist nest, White Pass

European Starling - rare (1) - by Andrew Beierly

2014 Summer: June - July

no Skagway observations

2014 Spring: March - May

Eurasian Wigeon - large count (4) - by Mary Whitley

Redhead Duck - rare (6) - by Elaine Furbish and Mary Whitley

Eurasian Collared-Dove - first documented overwinter (4) - by Debbie Ackerman

Say's Phoebe - rare - by Paul E. Lehman

Townsend's Solitaire - uncommon - by Suzanne Kennedy and Mary Whitley

Purple Finch - uncommon - by Paul E. Lehman et al.

Mountain Bluebird - uncommon for southeast AK (2) - by Suzanne Kennedy

Note: Skagway locals consider the Mountain Bluebird a regular and

common spring migrant, with observations of 30-40 birds at a time not unusual.

2013-2014 Winter: December 2013 - February 2014

no Skagway observations

2013 Fall: August - November

Leach's Storm-Petrel - unusual sighting - by Mike Konsler

Double-crested Cormorant - unusual sighting - by John McDermott (19Oct) and Patty Rose + Beverly Agler (24Nov)

Common Nighthawk - rare fall migrant - by Mike Konsler

Anna's Hummingbird - uncommon fall occurrence - by Susan Fredericks and Boris Dobrowolsky

Plus an intriguing story from September about

Nat Drumheller freeing 20-30 songbirds trapped

within the Diamond Princess cruiseship - how did he do it? See page 12.

2013 Summer: June - July

California Gull - 20 seen in Skagway, first report for Skagway - by Paul E. Lehman

2013 Spring: March - May

Greater White-Fronted Goose - unusually large number, by Jaime Welfelt (mis-attributed to Furbish in the report)

Canvasback - by Suzanne Ken

Rough-legged Hawk - first report for Skagway, by John McDermott

Eurasian Collared-Dove - by Elaine Furbish

Bohemian Waxwing - late occurrance, by Bruce B. Paig

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - unusually large number, by John McDermott (mis-attributed to Furbish in the report)

2012-2013 Winter: December 2012 - February 2013

no Skagway observations; interesting note about Anna's Hummingbirds and winter feeders

2012 Fall: August - November

no Skagway observations

2012 Summer: June - July

Blue Grosbeak -- 2nd report for Alaska, by Andrew Beierly, with photo

"Certainly the most spectacular find of the summer ..."

2012 Spring: March - May

Redhead -- rare spring migrant, by Bruce B. Paige

Townsend's Solitaire -- rare migrant and probable breeder, by Bruce B. Paige

2011-2012 Winter: December 2011 - February 2012

Ruffed Grouse -- first report for Skagway, by Mike Konsler, with photo