February 24, 2013 Anchorage Audubon Seward Field Trip

Anchorage Audubon Seward Field Trip

Birders from Talkeetna, the Valley, Wasilla, Anchorage, and even one from Chicago, braved a Turnagain Arm blizzard to join Seward birders for the annual field trip on Saturday. In all, there were about 30. Due to the immense interest in the two rare species, the Brambling and Siberian Accentor, that was the first stop. By approaching the likely site carefully and by staying a respectful distance away from the target feeder, the large flock of birders got great views through binoculars and spotting scopes.

After that, it was all gravy. We covered many hotspots including the Harbor Uplands, Benny Benson Park Lagoon and horse corral, Spring Creek Beach, and Lowell Point.

The weather was fairly cooperative, calm, and around 33º. It snowed lightly in the morning, the sun broke through in the early afternoon and actually felt warm!, then the dark clouds rolled in from the south and the day ended in wet snow, a perfect time to wrap it up.

Below is the list compiled by trip leader Aaron Bowman and Chris Maack, and a few photos. Thanks to Aaron for organizing another fantastic field trip!

Gadwall 2*
Mallard 25
Harlequin Duck 10
Surf Scoter 50
White-winged Scoter 1*
Black Scoter 15
Bufflehead 2
Common Goldeneye 30
Barrow's Goldeneye 75
Common Merganser 50
Red-breasted Merganser 20
Hooded Merganser 1
Horned Grebe 2
Pelagic Cormorant 12
Bald Eagle 12
Mew Gull 15
Glaucous-winged Gull 40
Common Murre 2
Marbled Murrelet 15
Rock Pigeon 20
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Shrike 1
Steller's Jay 12
Black-billed Magpie 6
Northwestern Crow 100
Common Raven 40
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 1*
Varied Thrush 10
European Starling 1*
Siberian Accentor 1
Snow Bunting 20*
Song Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow 2 
Dark-eyed Junco 10
Rusty Blackbird 20
Brambling 1
Gray-crowned Rosy Finch 2
Common Redpoll 250
Pine Siskin 35

TOTAL SPECIES: 41

*Seen by one observer