Nothin' but shorbage

I'm only now realizing this but this post has photos of shorebirds... and photos of nothing else!  I suppose that means it's August, the best month for shorebird migration here on St. Paul Island.  But did you know that 65 species of shorebirds have been seen in the Pribs?  Think about that a second!

The last post highlighted the finding of the LITTLE STINT, a rare Code 4 shorebird.  So, is it still around?  Well, I walked some marshes two days ago and...

Yep, it was still around but this time it was on Rocky Lake.  This change of location isn't surprising considering Rocky Lake and Saucer Pond are quite close to each other and that Rocky probably has the best shorebird habitat on the island.  Anyway, as you can see above, the bird was much closer but pretty backlit (and didn't stick for long).

However, Rocky continued to provide shorbs during that visit.  For starters, there was this sharp DUNLIN (still flagged in eBird here) with its long and curved bill:

On a different shore of Rocky Lake, we bumped into another now-familiar character, a RED-NECKED STINT:

Note the super short and blunt-tipped bill, long wing projection, and bland gray tertials and wing coverts.  About now you must be wondering... yes, I really do love studying these stints!

However, it was about then that we spotted a mondo beast-of-shorebird come in to land... a Code 3 RUFF:

Although rare in most of North America, Ruffs are expected visitors here (they've been annual for a loooong time).  This particular bird was actually our first of the 2015 season so, yay, it was time to update the sidebar on this blog.  But did you know that the first Alaskan record ever for Ruff was a specimen collected here on St. Paul back in 1910?

Moving on, the following day I wasn't able to walk wetlands but I did digiscope this WANDERING TATTLER with my iPhone.  Nothing fancy, just a tattler getting some shuteye out at SW Point:

I had today off and so I walked some wetlands to see what was still around... and guess who was front and center on Rocky Lake still:

The LIST.  What a beaut!  Notice the longish bill, split supercilium, black centers and rufous edging on the tertials/wing coverts, and moderate primary projection.  The following picture shows the rufous edging on the black tertials quite well:

Oh, and LISTs don't have webbing in their toes like Semipalmateds or Westerns.  Check it out:

Compare that with a WESTERN SANDPIPER that was also present today.  See the webbing?  It's small but it's there:

Compared to the Little Stint, see how bland and gray the tertials and wing coverts are?  Some of the scaps have black anchoring but that's about it.  Also notice the primaries don't extend past the tertials as much.

In fact, the WESTERN SANDPIPER was hanging out with these two fools today, both RED-NECKED STINTS:

Notice how the WESA is a bit more leggy than the stints.  Oh, and comparing bill length with a view this close becomes almost laughable; the stints have such short and stubby bills!  What might be tougher is if we get a Semipalmated Sandpiper this fall... but that remains to be seen.  Literally.

Thanks for checking in.  As always, you can reach me here if needed:

arcticory@gmail.com

Long-lost lack of LIST

If you've heard me whining lately about how we couldn't manage any rare shorebirds yet this fall, I'll shut up now.  I was returning home from guiding a photography group last night when I decided to stop and look at Saucer Pond with my bins.  Are those peeps?  It warranted a scope view.  What greeted me were two RED-NECKED STINTS and, more importantly, a Code 4 LITTLE STINT!

Here's one of the first views I had of the birds:

There isn't much to go off of but notice the taller, more leggy look of the front right bird.  With a bill that looks like a LESA's but without the short legs and hunched posture... we're off to a good start.

When compared with the obvious RNSTs it was foraging with, the LIST always looked slightly smaller bodied and longer-billed.  Here it is between the two RNSTs:

More important though are the black-centered tertials and coverts, both with rusty edges (something that RNST and WESA lack):

The bill on the LIST is noticeably longer and thinner-tipped than the RNSTs (see above).  Again, here you can see the bill as well as the tertial/covert patterning:

So all in all, you're looking for a peep slightly smaller than the RNSTs, one with longer black legs, longer bill, and with dark coverts/tertials that are edged in rust:

What a relief though, I've been borderline complaining about our lack of LIST here on St. Paul for a couple of seasons now.  So how rare are they here?  Rare... but not epic; this particular one is about the 20th Pribilof record and the first since 2012.  In fact, LIST has been seen 4 of the last 10 years (and 9 of the last 20).  But yeah, it's about time I get to update some of the sidebars on this blog.

Earlier in the day, some photographers and I made the trek to High Bluffs and back.  Once you get up there and look back south, you can see Otter Island in the distance as well as 300-400 feet down to the Bering Sea (assuming it's not foggy, of course):

Looking north, you can see where the island starts to curve around to the NE.  The view is stellar though; this panoramic photo doesn't do it justice:

One of the attractions at the High Bluffs are the RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKES which are more numerous there than other spots on the island.  Here's a comparison of a RED-LEGGED with a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE:

Once I was back at SW Point scoping from the bluff, I found myself in the middle of a roaming hoard of feeding ROCK SANDPIPERS.  The little yellow flies (with numbers that have bordered on epic/plague proportions this summer) were keeping sandpipers both busy and fed.  So busy, in fact, that they didn't really mind me laying down in their midst to creep on them with my Nikon.  Here's proof:

There were also some RUDDY TURNSTONES mixed in but they were a bit more keen and wary (probably due to them being adults instead of youngsters).  Here's one stretching its neck to get a better look down at me:

The evening was spectacular though and I think the photographers I was with would agree.  Beautiful light cascaded down the cliffs at Reef which really illuminated seabirds as they came in to land.  I first had some fun targeting HORNED PUFFINS:

With their feet splayed and being used as rudders, they would fly in right at me... and I was waiting:

Not to insult the HOPUs, but yeah, I switched my focus to TUFTED PUFFINS at some point:

Most of them are still super sharp looking...

... but then there are others.  I really enjoyed this "unTUFTED PUFFIN" when it flew past.  This molting is definitely a sign of fall!

The TUPUs were doing the whole "I'm coming in for landing" thing too.  Here's one eyeing a potential perch:

 If you squint at this photo, all you see are two orange feet and a white face coming at you:

A species I certainly DIDN'T spend the evening taking flight photos of... GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH.  But hey, when a youngster perches on the seal blind, I'll still snap something:

If you're familiar with St. Paul Island, you might recognize this as Pumphouse Lake.  And yeah, it's LOW, like super duper low.  I'm not even sure it's the best shorebird habitat on the island anymore...

Regardless, it's still worth checking (we found some DUNL and a PESA in there the other evening).  Speaking of that, maybe I'll head there now....

Mention of gentian?

August is almost 1/3 completed already so what do we have to show for it?  I mean, does seeing a MALLARD on Antone Lake count?  Or five BANK SWALLOWS yesterday?  Ok, in terms of August surprises, there haven't been THAT many.

However, there was one surprise... this STELLER'S EIDER at Marunich:

I've long been fascinated with eiders, especially the two northern specialties.  In fact, this year marks the 10th year anniversary of when I first worked in Barrow with Steller's and Spectacled eiders.  Such a loooong time ago, it seems.

We certainly didn't have a Steller's this time of year last season (although they've been known to happen) so I was a bit surprised.  I was starting to wonder about this particular species for Ashley (who needed it) but luck was apparently on our side this week.

In 2014, we had SNOWY OWLS early in the season and then late in the season.  This year, however, things have been different.  Yes, we still had some early on but this year at least one has decided to stick around all summer.  Problem is, we can't pin it down most days... but some days it's plain and obvious for the world to see.  Here it is, sitting on a rock in Rocky Lake looking down at what we would assume was its reflection in the water (yeeeah, I'm kidding):

I've been excited at the notion that some mind-bending rarities could very well be around the corner this fall.  So when signs of summer (like the presence of auklets) disappear, it's both exciting and eye-opening.  It's true though, it has become quite difficult to see some species like Least and Crested auklets.  However, puffins nest a bit later and therefore, yes, the cliffs are still full of TUFTED PUFFINS:

... and with the wicked witch that is the wind, it makes for some magical tuft madness:

Although most of the ROCK SANDPIPERS have completed raising chicks and have moved from the breeding habitat to the coastal lagoons, I've seen a few stragglers.  For example, this adult was keeping a close eye on a youngster:

BTW, one clue in the above photo regarding the lateness of the season is the MONKSHOOD in the foreground.  Just so you know.

It's been interesting seeing some of the RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKES in molt including this bird retaining P9 and P10:

I won't mention the seals too much here other than yes, they're still here, and yes, this is a big male downhill from the Reef Seal Blind:

Oh yeah, speaking of big, the mondo COGA plane has been continuing in the area:

We often get asked if it's ever sunny here and ok, sure, it's dreary a lot but nice days DO happen.  A few days ago was one of those days; dead calm and sunny.  It was a nice day to head to High Cliffs and an even nicer day to take a panorama of the scenery:

And finally to answer my first question of this post, yes, the WHITISH GENTIAN is still one of my favorite flowers on St. Paul Island.  Here are some adjacent to the Low Cliffs on the west side of the island:

Early DUNL and other signs

One thing worth mentioning these days is how low the wetlands are this summer on St. Paul Island.  Pumphouse Lake?  It's a shallow puddle surrounded by expansive dried mud.  Tonki Point?  Most of the habitat is gone and it's just edged in some mud.  Sadly, many of these have been largely ignored by shorbs (or maybe we just don't have shorbs).  It's times like these that Saucer Pond is looking downright good and Rocky Lake might have the best shorebird habitat on the island right now.  

And yes, although August can have amazing passerines, I feel like the emphasis is often on shorebirds.  The spectacle of about a thousand shorebirds on Salt Lagoon the other night was humbling; one must get accustomed to sorting through hundreds of ROCK SANDPIPERS looking for the odd one out.  This DUNLIN fit the bill (and was flagged in eBird due to being a touch early):

When you see peeps here, you may as well sit down and study them awhile.  Well, you don't HAVE to but it's probably in your best interest.  Here's a LEAST SANDPIPER on Rocky Lake Annex:

It's getting on the late side but I spotted this young shorebird going for a swim the other day.  I smile not only because it's cute, but because if you know what a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE looks like, you'll recognize those orangey stripes on the back straight away:

Speaking of orangey, the LESSER SAND-PLOVER has continued recently.  Although I haven't spent any time trying to get better pictures of this bird, it's still an attractive one:

The flocks of LAPLAND LONGSPURS have really been building in recent days.  Most of the longspurs we have now are youngsters, ones born this year.  I will say that if you haven't spent time around young longspurs, the first one you see might surprise you:

No, it's NOT a rare bunting of some sort, it's just a plumage you don't see farther south.

Some SNOW BUNTINGS are also forming flocks.  Striking birds, they are, especially when they land in front of you on the seal blind:

Yet another sign of fall has been the arrival of a few pipits.  Pipits here can be fun; we'll get Red-throated and hopefully a rarer one like Olive-backed or Pechora.  Or maybe we'll get the first Pribilof record of Tree Pipit?  Anyway, here's an AMERICAN PIPIT that has been near the parking lot at SW Point for the past several days:

I bump into banded Red-faced Cormorants fairly often out here but this was the first time I had seen a banded THICK-BILLED MURRE.  Take a look:

I'm not sure if the photos are good enough to ID the individual but it's still a surprise to be scanning the cliffs just to see a big yellow band staring back at you!

The NORTHERN FUR SEALS remain a dominant feature on the landscape and will continue through September and into October.  Here's a great example of a harem with the dominant male in the middle with all his females around him:

If you've never been to the Pribilofs, this time of year hosts large yellow poppies lining the lush green roadsides of the island:

Ok, so who cares if they're all facing away from me?!  That's what I thought.....

The Great Halfway

For better or worse, we're officially half done with the 5 month guiding season here on St. Paul Island.  Actually, we're more than half done (this is my 80th day this season with about 77 left to go... not that anyone is counting).  This gives me a logical break to look at some numbers...

For starters, by this time last year, my season list had climbed to 117 species whereas this year, I'm 5 short of that.  That is actually a smaller gap than I had expected; I feel like I had considerably more species last year but that's probably due to me remembering the vagrants more than some of the more expected things I got this year (SACR and SAGU anyone?).

It's not surprising that the first half of last season delivered about 20 new ABA birds for me whereas this season it's delivered only 4.  Obviously, most of that is due to me needing things then like all the auklets, kittiwake, cormorant, etc.  People often remind me that I might have had more lifers this year if I hadn't done so well last year.  :-)

The beginning of last August didn't provide much in the way of island birds; my first of the month came on the 16th when I saw my first Wilson's Warbler of the fall.  However, we've missed a couple of birds so far this season that I think could/should show up any day.  Red-necked Stint, for one, has been missed by us so far this year.  Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is another.

But in looking back, it WAS in August that the fun really began.  On the 25th, I had a memorable day that started with my lifer Bluethroat and ended with a chase to Hutch Hill for a Willow Warbler.  Of course, it was on our way back from Hutch that a Gray-streaked Flycatcher was near Webster House!  So with that, I eagerly await some new surprises!

In the meantime, it's no surprise to see lots and lots of LAPLAND LONGSPURS still.  After all, this is by far the most abundant passerine on the island:

I mentioned in the last post that we've had a LESSER SAND-PLOVER around.  Indeed, it was around as recently as yesterday on the flats of Salt Lagoon:

We still have finches around too.  I snagged my first island RED CROSSBILL the other day and yesterday yielded some continuing PINE SISKINS, these in the main quarry bowl:

Not all unusual sightings of winged things are of birds.  We had this big boy rumbling overhead the other day; turns out it landed at the airport as well: 

Sometimes the planes that land here are private jets that don't belong to PenAir or Ace Cargo (at least I don't think they do).  Here's a smaller plane that we watched take off while we were at the top of Lake Hill:

I can't say that I had ever seen an ARCTIC FOX standing literally in the middle of Rocky Lake before.  I suppose it's pretty shallow!  Shortly after I took this, it turned tail and ran full speed through the lake away from us:

If you've spent a chunk of time here on St. Paul, you might know exactly where this panorama was taken yesterday:

On the weather maps, we're sitting in the Bering Sea with a giant "H" on top of us which means the days have been calm and evenings have been pretty.  We'll see how long it lasts...