HI ALL:
FYI

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
ipaulsen at krl.org
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 11:26:26 -0500
From: Laurie Larson <llarson at PRINCETON.EDU>
To: BIRDCHAT at listserv.arizona.edu
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Trip report: Gambell, Fall 2002 - part 1

GAMBELL, ALASKA, BIRD REPORT
23 AUGUST ? 2 OCTOBER 2002
Paul Lehman

The following is a summary of the species noted at Gambell, Saint
Lawrence Island, Alaska between 23 August and 2 October 2002.
Between 23 and 28 August I was leading my annual WINGS tour,
assisted this year by George Armistead (Philadelphia). I took the
group back to Nome on the 28th and then returned to Gambell on the
30th, with George remaining at Gambell. He departed on 2 September,
and after that I was alone except for a brief visit by Bob Dodelson
(New Jersey) on 10-11 September and then was joined by David
Sonneborn (Alaska) and Dona Coates (Kentucky) between 14 and 23
September.

The autumn of 2002 was spectacular for rarities. Incredible.
Fabulous. Asian highlights included first North American records of
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia
carruca), and Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), the second
record of Yellow-browed Warbler, the third record of Tree Pipit, the
first northern Bering Sea and Alaska fall record of Reed Bunting,
the second or third Alaska fall record of Bean Goose, ?Kamchatka?
Mew Gull, Oriental Cuckoo, Sky Lark, five flava Horned Larks, four
Dusky Warblers, three Siberian Accentors, and two Little Buntings.
From the North American mainland came Warbling Vireo (second Bering
Sea record), Magnolia Warbler (c. third Bering Sea record),
MacGillivray?s Warbler (first Bering Sea record), lutescens
Orange-crowned Warbler, three Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and two
Chipping Sparrows, plus more regularly occurring species, including
an impressive total of six species of North American wood-warblers.
Also seen was a group of seven McKay?s Buntings. Asian shorebirds
were below average, with a single Mongolian Plover, five Gray-tailed
Tattlers, two Red-necked Stints, and a pathetically low total of
only four Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. One possible/partial explanation
for the mediocre shorebird turnout was the fact that it was a
relatively dry summer, so seasonal wetlands and rain pools near town
were in shorter supply than normal. Seabird numbers and variety
after the end of August, though still interesting, were the lowest I
had seen on any visit. Perhaps the south and southwesterly winds
(see below) were a major cause (as was the early fledging of many
alcids)?so the weather (i.e., wind) that was good for Asian strays
was poor for seawatching. Certainly the best counts of seabirds
during September were made, as usual, during moderate winds with a
northerly component?particularly needed for seeing large numbers of
Short-tailed Shearwaters.

Details (descriptions) of the better rarities make up a separate
document. I was able to video a large percent of this year?s rare
birds, and have made a highlight videotape.

Birding effort was concentrated in the ?Near,? ?Far,? and ?Circular?
Boneyards, in the ?Old Town? area north of the runway, and in and
around the Point (=?Northwest Cape?). These places each received
about two, sometimes three, visits per day, depending on weather and
birding conditions. As in past years, the far and circular boneyards
did best at attracting rarities, followed by the near boneyard
third, and Old Town a distant fourth. In the past, I thought these
differences may have been the result of varying disturbance levels,
but now I think the far and circular boneyards do best because they
are located right up against 600-foot-tall Sevuokuk Mountain, and
passerines coming in off the ocean may drop out at that point rather
than try to fly up and over the mountain to uncertain habitats
beyond. The dump, nearby sewage ?pond? (not very good in 2002), and
?North Beach? (ditto) were also visited most days. Seabirding
efforts varied greatly from day to day depending on what was going
on there and elsewhere; thus variation in seabird counts from day to
day need to be taken with at least a grain of salt. In general,
seawatching after August involved only a couple hours first thing
each morning (when autumn seabird diversity appears to be highest).
Visits to the bottom end of the lake were made most (but not all)
days through early September, but only very infrequently after
that. This area, although it was sometimes mildly interesting and
did produce a few rarities, was never really good or excellent. We
rented a Honda four-wheeler during the WINGS tour, but not
thereafter, so then paid for the occasional ride from local
residents all during September, particularly from lodge employee
Hansen. Overall, even with one or a couple other birders present to
help check areas, I believe that many areas receive incomplete
coverage. Who knows how many furtive species or especially those
that remain only briefly (see below) I/we ended up missing
altogether. My guess is that when I am alone I find only about
two-thirds of the rarities present in and around town, mostly the
result of a not-insignificant percent of these birds remaining in
the area for only a short time.

Compared to my long stays in 1999 and 2001, the autumn of 2002
weather-wise had more winds from between the west and south, with
much less of a NNE dominance that occurred in 1999, or the greater
variability of 2001. The weather this year throughout much of Alaska
was mild for much of September, with hard-freezes not occurring even
in the northern interior of the state until very late in the month.
The mild conditions on the mainland translated to slightly
above-normal daytime temperatures at Gambell (remember the
inescapable Bering Sea influence!) during September, with night-time
temps very rarely falling below a balmy 39 degrees and daytime temps
usually in the 40s, even reaching 50-52 degrees several days. There
were very few major storms, but several weather fronts did pass
through at just the right time: moderate rain for at least several
hours late at night through an hour or two after dawn, resulting in
some good passerine fallouts and some great rarities, with either W
or SW winds (e.g., 8 September) or E winds (e.g., 15 and 22
September). Other fallouts of rarities coincided with moderate W and
SW (less often S) winds and at least a low (around 500 feet) ceiling
(e.g., 29-30 August). But of course some rarities turned up in just
about any weather, and some Asian birds were found on days with
light easterlies, and some North American mainland vagrants were
found during light westerlies. Summarizing some of the better
?mini-fallouts? is as follows: 29-30 August produced the continuing
Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting plus new Dusky Warbler,
Yellow-browed Warbler, and Siberian Accentor; 8 September produced
Lesser Whitethroat, Dusky Warbler, Siberian Accentor, and 2
Gray-cheeked Thrushes; 15 September saw the arrival of 8 Arctic
Warblers, 2 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, 2 Yellow Wagtails, and 2
japonicus pipits; and 22 September was ?mainland day? with Warbling
Vireo, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, lutescens Orange-crowned Warbler,
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, and Savannah Sparrow.

The Siberian (Chukotsk Peninsula) mountains and the low mountains on
the southwestern part of Saint Lawrence Island got their first
coating of snow on 17-18 September, but this all soon melted. Some
flakes fell in Gambell, mixed with rain, the last several days I was
present, but it amounted to nothing (temps were still around 38-40
degrees). Day-by-day weather conditions are found at the end of this
report. Weather data at Gambell can be accessed easily from the
automated weather station at the runway by calling 907-985-5733, or
by listening to the same recording on an FM radio station (forgot
the station number); also, Gambell temperature and wind are given
hourly on ?KNOM? (AM) out of Nome.

The numbers of most trans-Beringian landbird migrants during late
August and early September were reasonable, but not as good for most
species as in the 1990s. Arctic Warblers and Red-throated Pipits
were in good numbers this year, but Bluethroats were below average.
The overall trend for several of these species appears to be
negative at Gambell. But it should be stated that I have never
arrived any earlier than 20 August, so I clearly miss a fairly
substantial part of that migration, particularly involving early
migrants such as Yellow Wagtail. By arriving so late in the month, I
also clearly miss a fair chunk of the shorebird migration.

As in previous visits, many of the migrant passerines?both Asian
species and even many of the North American mainland
wanderers?behaved like Asian species and were decidedly flighty or
furtive. Also, a few of the goodies in the far and circular
boneyards clearly would go up onto the lower and mid- slopes of
adjoining Sevuokuk Mountain and largely disappear for periods of
time. Most new rarities were not found until the PM, consistent with
other years. It also was obvious, as in last year, that a number of
the rarities that turn up do so only for a few minutes, an hour, or
a few hours. A majority of the goodies noted in this report as being
present on only one day were, in fact, present (or at least
find-able) for only two hours or less. Most Asian birds remain for
extended periods. But North American warblers appear to be
particularly brief in their stays. Whether these birds are just
moving around locally during the day, or are ranging much farther
afield, is unknown. Also apparent is that a few rarities may move
from the near to the far boneyard or may disappear for multiple days
and then reappear, making it difficult to determine if one or more
individuals are involved. For example, this problem occurred in 2001
with a Siberian Accentor, ?Red? Fox Sparrow, and Little Bunting, and
this year it involved the Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit,
MacGillivray?s Warbler, and possibly others.

During autumn, Gambell has remained essentially unexplored by
birders during the first three weeks of August and after the first
few days of October. As stated earlier, the former period is
probably good for shorebirds, trans-Beringian migrants, and a few
early landbird rarities. The latter period likely produces only a
small number of passerines, but what does show up is probably pretty
interesting! Local residents report seeing ?strange-looking little
birds? in the boneyards, in Old Town, or trying to seek shelter in
buildings (such as at more primitive ?camps? elsewhere on the
island) from time to time during the latter fall (October+). Who
knows what is turning up during these periods


Observers? initials used: GLA- George L. Armistead, DC- Dona
Coates, BD- Bob Dodelson, PEL- Paul E. Lehman, DWS- David W.
Sonneborn, WINGS- Wings tour (Paul Lehman and George Armistead,
leaders).



Posted w/permission by: L. Larson .. llarson at princeton.edu ..
Princeton, NJ

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