Lynn Barber's Birding Blog

My original plan was to spend the first two days of the year birding around and in Anchorage, and then to head off to Juneau and Ketchikan. Yesterday, however, Rich Macintosh posted on Facebook about the sighting of a Common Pochard on Kodiak Island. This is not a bird that I was expecting to see in Alaska ever, especially during my big year. While it may not remain around for me to find in the New Year, I have decided to give it a try. So last night I booked flights, room and rental car in Kodiak for the first two days of the year. Even if the Pochard disappears and is not around while I am there, Kodiak is likely to provide an unexpectedly rich beginning to my big year. It helped in my decision-making that I am not aware of any serious rarities currently in the Anchorage area.