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