Today was more of a mammal day than a bird day even though our leader for today, Scott Schuette, did his best to find new island birds beginning with a dawn sea watch. The wind has not yet delivered any rare birds to us, but it just keeps blowing and we keep hoping.
Meanwhile, we had delighted moments watching an endemic Pribilof Island Shrew on the road near the van early in the day.
Toward the end of our birding time, we had more delighted moments watching a female Orca hunting baby fur seals in shallow water while another Orca waited farther out. Just before we drove off for our supper, the female apparently caught them some supper. We did not stay to watch any more.
Other mammals today were the usual foxes, which I did not photograph, and fur seals, of course.
We did actually look at some birds today, and I photographed a few Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches, a flock of Northern Pintails taking off and couple of spinning, feeding Red Phalaropes.
We also took the opportunity during the slow birding today to visit the small museum and Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, where Father John told us a bit about the church and its history. Although seeming small and unimposing from the outside, the church was beautiful and inviting inside and I am glad we were able to see it.
295 species so far
Lynn Barber's Birding Blog 