I birded at a few different Anchorage spots today in between rain showers. First I went to the woodland portion of Spenard Crossing, thinking fondly of the finches that were there nearly two years ago. Not today of course. This morning there were only the usuals, including Mallards, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, fly-over American Robins, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Dark-eyed Juncos.
At a brief stop at Westchester Lagoon I saw a small mixed flock of dowitchers and yellowlegs, a Bonaparte’s Gull and distant ducks, mainly scaup.
This afternoon I walked the trail at Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area, again with the usual suspects, including Sandhill Cranes out on the mudflats and grassy areas, many Black-capped Chickadees, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, four Steller’s Jays one of which landed out in the shrubbery, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers, and a Lincoln’s Sparrow.
I also made a brief stop at Cuddy Park, thinking of the Palm Warbler that was there early last winter, but not today. Today there was an unseen chipping warbler, plus a Black-capped Chickadee, a Black-billed Magpie, a Mew Gull, about 30 Mallards and a Canada Goose.
289 species so far
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