Lynn Barber's Birding Blog

Early this morning I again checked Palmer sites that I have been checking recently, including the old Matanuska town site road, the Agricultural Experiment Station in Palmer, and and roads in Palmer where Sandhll Cranes have been reported mostly in fall, plus I drove some roads new for me in the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge. Birding was generally slow, with sightings limited to Black-capped Chickadees, Gray Jays, Mallards, Black-billed Magpies and an immature Bald Eagle.

I then drove to the mostly still frozen Reflections Lake between Palmer and Anchorage and walked the trail, including climbing the tower so I can scan across other areas of the Palmer Hay Flats. Again, birding was slow but a couple of noisy Common Redpolls and Black-capped Chickadees high in a newly budding tree added interest (they are both in the picture but nearly blocked by the branches).

Finally, after lunch I went to Potter Marsh. Highlights were about 30 noisy Mew Gulls that seemed to be starting to select home-sites, a pair of Buffleheads and four Trumpeter Swans.

129 species so far