Howdy tweeters;
I just completed one of our research cruises between Dutch Harbor and Sand
Point, Alaska (July 2-29). Though I didn't see any new lifers birding was
pretty phenomenal. Our weather tested even the die-hard fishers among our
group but I was glad to see the "no hurling" policy worked. One thing about
bad weather is the pelagic birds tend to be more active. Sooty Shearwaters,
Fork-tailed and Leach's Storm Petrels and Black-footed Albatross were very
abundant. I was hoping for another year with a Short-tailed Albatross but
alas they did not make themselves available.The vessel we chartered had seen
them in the Western Aleutians in late June along with a Black-backed Wagtail
(its a good thing I gave them an NGS guide last year). We did get some
great looks at Pomarine and Long-tailed Jaegers while they circled the
boat. They are very cool birds.The boat anchored up several days just off
Sanak Island (660 miles SW of Anchorage). Black Oystercatchers, Horned and
Tuffted Puffin were nesting on the cliffs here and we spotted a pair of
Semi-palmated Plovers on shore with a chick. Lapland Longspurs, Savanah
and Fox Sparrows were abundant on the island as well as some grumpy cows.
Dutch Harbor has some great birding and hiking too. July is a great time to
go because the wild flowers are in peak bloom though it can be hard finding
a window in the gale force wind and rain. We saw breeding plumage Lapland
Longspurs and flocks of Gray-crowned Rosy Finch at the ridge tops. The last
stop was Sand Point (600 SW of Anchorage) on Popof Island. There were some
surprising birds here as well. Wilson's and Yellow Warblers were nesting and
Pine Siskins were abundant. I guess I didn't expect these in such a barren
place. Black-billed Magpies were the most common bird. It took me a while to
get used to seeing them in the marine environment. It makes you wonder why
they never make it over the mountains down here?

Glad to be home in Latteland
Tracee Geernaert
tracee at iphc.washington.edu