Seward, Alaska (aka Little Adak)
Sunrise 7:57 am, sunset 7:41 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 43 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds shorter.
100% chance of rain today, with small unquantifiable breaks. Wind ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Low of 43, high of 49. Rain is forecast for the next week, heavy at times.
The rare GRAY-TAILED TATTLER is still here, hanging out with its long-legged buddy, the GREATER YELLOWLEGS. I refound them at the south end of Afognak Beach on a rising tide, picking through the pop kelp and around the submerged rocks. In the dim light, both resembled gray rocks with legs, blending in well with the rocky beach and gray day. Gray or not, they brightened my soggy day!
Seward, aka “Little Adak” blew up the rare bird alerts this month, igniting several stampedes of eager birders down to the end of the road. The very rare Citrine Wagtail on September 15 at Airport Beach, the first record for the entire state, proved to be a one-day wonder, much to the disappointment of many.
The excitement had barely settled down when another rarity, the Gray-tailed Tattler apparated on September 23 at Afognak Beach. According to Aaron Lang (thanks for these records data), there is one previous record for the Kenai Peninsula back on June 28, 1987. Amazingly, it was also discovered in Seward; not surprising, by Buzz Scher and Dave Sonneborn.
Then, a few days later on September 25, came a report of an uber-rare PIN-TAILED SNIPE at the airport wetlands. This bird pulled birders away from the Gray-tailed Tattler (O, the choices we have to make!) to help find it. Ultimately, the only photos, taken under difficult conditions, documented the more expected Wilson’s Snipe.
Alas, according to Aaron: “There is no previous record for Pin-tail Snipe for the mainland. The only records are a couple of records from the western Aleutians, one from St. Paul Island and one from Gambell. However, I believe that the photos that Josiah took are of a Wilson's Snipe. Also, the description in Tasha and John's eBird report don't support the identification as Pin-tailed Snipe. Their description of the call does sound interesting, but unless other photos or vocal recordings come to light that support the ID of Pin-tailed Snipe, then unfortunately this is one that got away. The rarity of the bird is just too great.”
But all was not lost as a wayward SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was found with PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Plus, the various, more expected and still special local birds, the energy of ever-optimistic birders, and camaraderie of the search. Who else gets excited by gale warnings and goes out in monsoons and wind to seek a possible glimpse of a lost bird?
There’s still time for Adak to deliver rare birds to its new sister city, “Little Adak,” posted by airmail on the next big low spinning our way.
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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