The week was dominated by light to moderate South and Southeast/west winds with rain and dense fog.  Only a few migrants were found and only a handful of stalled birds remained on the Island this week.

 King Eider - U Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel – UPelagic Cormorant – U

Pacific Golden-Plover – U

Wood Sandpiper - R

* Common Sandpiper - CA

Bar-tailed Godwit - U

Western Sandpiper – R

Red-necked Stint - R

Pectoral Sandpiper - U

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – U

Red Phalarope – U

Northern Wheatear – R

Common Redpoll - R

 WATERFOWLA King Eider was found on Polovina Lake on August 23^rd.SEABIRDS & GULLS(1) Fork-tailed Storm-petrel was seen from East Landing on August 24^th. The lone Pelagic Cormorant was found once again at Marunich on August 27^th. 

SHOREBIRDS

The most interesting shorebird of the week was a Common Sandpiper found on the road near a rain puddle between Webster Lake and Hutchinson Hill on August 25^th.  A single Bar-tailed Godwit has been in and around Salt Lagoon all week.  Pectoral Sandpipers and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers continue to be seen daily with a high count of (15) Pectorals on August 23^rd and a high count of (5) Sharp-tails on August 26^th.  Wood Sandpipers were also found almost everyday with a high count of (8) found on August 26^th with (6) at Town Marsh and (2) around Polovina wetlands.  Western Sandpipers have remained in Antone Slough and Town Marsh with a high count of (6) found at Antone Slough on August 24^th. (1) Red-necked Stint remained in Town Marsh until August 24^th and hasn’t been seen since.  (30) Red Phalaropes flew past East Landing on August 24^th.  Ruddy Turnstones remain abundant throughout the island.  Pacific Golden-Plovers have been seen almost daily with a high count of (5) seen on August 25^th.

LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES

(2) Common Redpolls were found sitting on the Southern crab pots on August 26^th.  A very cooperative Northern Wheatear was found sitting on a rock near James Heath’s grave on Hutchinson Hill on August 28^th.

  Regularly occurring species currently present on the island:Northern Pintail
Green-winged (and Common) Teal
Greater ScaupHarlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Fulmar
Red-faced Cormorant
Semipalmated PloverWandering Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis)
Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake
Red-legged Kittiwake
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre
Parakeet Auklet

Least Auklet
Crested Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin
Common Raven

Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis)

Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina)

This is D. Sean for St. Paul Island Tour. 

A few days of  light to strong West winds continued this week mixed with days of Southern and Southeastern winds that brought Heavy fog and periods of rain

 Red-breasted Merganser - R

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel – U

Short-tailed Shearwater - U

Pelagic Cormorant – U

Pacific Golden-Plover – U

Lesser Yellowlegs - R

Wood Sandpiper - R

Gray-tailed Tattler - R

Whimbrel (ssp. hudsonicus) –R

Western Sandpiper – R

Red-necked Stint - R

Pectoral Sandpiper - U

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – U

Red Phalarope – U

Parasitic Jaeger - U

Ancient Murrelet - R

Red-throated Pipit - R

Common Redpoll – CA

 WATERFOWL

(1) female Red-breasted Merganser was seen loafing on the sandbar/spit in Big Lake on August 17^th. 

SEABIRDS & GULLS

Low numbers of Short-tailed Shearwaters and Fork-tailed Storm-petrels were seen sporadically throughout the week from East Landing. A single Pelagic Cormorant was found once again at Marunich.  Only one Jaeger was found this week:  A Parasitic seen flying near the shore at Marunich on August 21^st.

SHOREBIRDS

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers have been seen daily but in low numbers throughout the week with (1) being found in Antone Slough along with (1) Wood Sandpiper and (1) Least Sandpiper on August 16^th and 17^th and (1) in Polovina Wetlands on August 18^th continuing until August 21^st seen in a flock of (2) Wood Sandpipers and (2) Pectoral Sandpipers.  A Lesser Yellowlegs was heard calling and seen flying as it passed over Ridge Wall on August 17^th and was re-found on August 18^th at Town Marsh. (3) Western Sandpipers were found foraging with (2) Pectoral Sandpipers, (1) Red-necked Stint, (3) Ruddy Turnstones, (3) Semipalmated Plovers, (2) Wandering Tattlers, (1) Red-necked Phalarope and (4) Rock Sandpipers in Town Marsh on August 16^th.  An Ancient Murrelet was found close to shore off the Northeastern section of the Bay at Marunich on August 17^th.  Red Phalaropes continue in small numbers in the ponds at Marunich, Pumphouse Lake, and Polovina Wetlands.  At least two Gray-tailed Tattlers were on the island this week, with one seen close to a Wandering Tattler from Webster Seawatch and one seen at Tattler Cove on August 20^th.

Ruddy Turnstone numbers have increased once again with high counts of (70) along the beach at Webster Seawatch on august 20^th, (50) at Marunich on August 17^th, and (30) along the edge of Big Lake throughout the week.  The Whimbrel (ssp. hudsonicus) from last week continued to be found in and around Northeast until August 17^th.   Pacific Golden-Plovers continued to be seen in small numbers throughout the week with a high count of (6) found in the tundra between Ridge Wall and Southwest Point on August 17^th.  LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES

A Red-throated Pipit was seen feeding on the trails around Marunich on August 17^th.  A group of (4) Common Redpolls was found feeding on the ground and flushed out at Kaminista.   An unidentified group of (4 to 5) Redpolls was heard and seen flying over Southwest Point on August 21^st.

  Regularly occurring species currently present on the island:

Northern Pintail
Green-winged (and Common) Teal
Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Fulmar
Red-faced Cormorant
Semipalmated Plover

Wandering Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis)
Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull (Groups are gathering in larger and larger numbers)
Glaucous Gull (One or two found in each group of Glaucous-winged)

Black-legged Kittiwake
Red-legged Kittiwake
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre
Parakeet Auklet

Least Auklet (Numbers have dramatically decreased this week)
Crested Auklet ( Numbers have dramatically decreased this week)

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin
Common Raven

Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis)

Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina)

This is the St. Paul Island weekly bird report which highlights rare birds for the week of August 9th to August 15^th, 2010…sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note.

With Strong Eastern, Western, and North-Northwestern winds, an odd mixture of Western and Eastern birds were found on the island this week.  August 13^th   and August 14^th were dominated by strong North and Northwest winds (up to 45 knots) and produced the greatest variety of birds.

 Mallard - RFork-tailed Storm-Petrel – U

Short-tailed Shearwater - U

Pelagic Cormorant – U

Pacific Golden-Plover – U

Wood Sandpiper - R

Gray-tailed Tattler - R

Whimbrel (ssp. hudsonicus) – R

Great Knot - CA

Western Sandpiper – R

Red-necked Stint - R

Pectoral Sandpiper - U

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – U

Dunlin - R

Red Phalarope – U

Pomarine Jaeger - U

Parasitic Jaeger - U

Long-tailed Jaeger - U

Arctic Tern – R

***Yellow-breasted Bunting - AC

** Violet-green Swallow – AC

Bank Swallow – R

***Northern Mockingbird - AC

Common Redpoll – CA

 WATERFOWL(1) Mallard was flushed out of Antone slough on August 14^th. 

 SEABIRDS & GULLSA Short-tailed Shearwater was seen floating close to shore off of the blind at Reef Rookery on August 9^th.  All three species of Jaegers were seen throughout the week (1) Long-tailed Jaeger on August 11^th, 12, and 13^th near Ridge Wall (1) dark-morph Parasitic Jaeger flying between the Northern dunes and Little Polovina Hill (1) Pomarine Jaeger was found on the sand bar in Big Lake on August 15^th.  The juvenile Arctic Tern remained around Antone Lake and was seen on August 9^th and 10^th.  A single Pelagic Cormorant was found sitting with (15) Red-faced Cormorants on the rocky shore 1 mile West of North Point.

SHOREBIRDS

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (3) continued to be found at Pump-house Lake on August 10^th.  Greg Thomson from the USFWS photographed a juvenile Great Knot on August 13^th that was feeding along the shoreline with Ruddy Turnstones and Rock Sandpipers.  Later that same day while searching for the Knot, a Gray-tailed Tattler was flushed out from the Lake at Marunich and called while flying to the East.  The Lake itself contained (1) juvenile Red-necked Stint, (1) juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, (1) Pectoral Sandpiper, (2) Red-necked Phalaropes, and (1) Red Phalarope.  (1) Red Phalarope was also found along the shoreline where the Great Knot was seen.  (13) species of bird were found at Antone Slough on August 14^th:  These birds included: (1) Mallard, (5) Green-winged Teal, (3) Wandering Tattler, (2) Ruddy Turnstone, (2) Red-necked Phalarope, (1) Wood Sandpiper, (1) Least Sandpiper, (1) Western Sandpiper, (1) juvenile Red-necked Stint, (1) Semipalmated Plover, (3) Dunlin, (7) Rock Sandpipers, and (2) Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.  Ruddy Turnstone numbers have decreased but still number over a hundred. (1) Whimbrel (ssp. hudsonicus) was found flying around the tundra between the road to Hutchinson Hill and Seal Lion Point and was seen again on the road along Big Lake on the morning of August 15^th.  (3) Pacific Golden-Plovers were found this week (2) found on August 10^th just West of Ridge Wall and (1) seen just North of the airport on August 13^th.  LANDBIRDS & PASSERINESThe pair of Violet-green Swallows found on August 4^th continued to be seen until August 13^th.  A Bank Swallow was found flying with the Violet-green Swallows at Marunich on August 13^th.  Two amazing finds came from Hutchinson Hill this week and mark two records for Saint Paul.  A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was flushed from the cut in Hutchinson Hill on three separate occasions on August 14^th and was finally flushed on August 15^th and seen well through a scope along the road between Webster Lake and Hutch Hill.  Not twenty minutes later returning to Webster Lake along the road from Hutch on August 14^th a YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING juvenile flushed from the edge of the road and was chased for fifteen minutes until it was finally seen well through a scope. 

Regularly occurring species currently present on the island:

Northern Pintail
Green-winged (and Common) Teal
Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Fulmar
Red-faced Cormorant
Semipalmated Plover

Wandering Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis)
Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake
Red-legged Kittiwake
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre
Parakeet Auklet

Least Auklet
Crested Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin
Common Raven

Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis)

Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina)

This is D.Sean from Saint Paul Island Tour. 

August 4^th marked a turn in the doldrums of July, which produced not much more than a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and a Fork-tailed Swift.  It seems that Fall migration has begun and is producing birds that are above and beyond the summer breeders and the occasional vagrant.

Mallard - R

Tufted Duck - R

Pacific Loon – R

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - U

Pelagic Cormorant – U

Pacific Golden-Plover - U

Gray-tailed Tattler - R

Whimbrel (ssp. variegatus) – R

Pectoral Sandpiper - U

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - U

Wilson’s Snipe – R

Red Phalarope – U

Long-tailed Jaeger -U

Mew Gull (spp. kamtschatschensis) – CA

Herring Gull (ssp. vegae) - U

Sabine’s Gull – CA

Arctic Tern - R

* Dovekie - CA

** Violet-green Swallow – AC

American Pipit - R

Hoary Redpoll - CA

 WATERFOWLThe Waterfowl highlight of the week was a female Tufted Duck seen at Polovina wetlands on Aug. 4^th.  A single King Eider and a Pacific Loon were found while sea-watching from Marunich on Aug. 4^th.  A pair of Mallards were flushed out of Barabaras Pond on August 4^th.SEABIRDS & GULLSA Dovekie seen from Southwest Point was one of an influx of new birds found on August 4^th.  A Common (Mew) Gull was found on the Zapadni Haul-out on August 2^ndand continued to be found around Antone Lakeand English Bay until August 5^th.  Yet another Sabine’s Gull (adult) was found sitting on the concrete ramp of East Landing on August 5^th and (7) Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel’s were seen off of East Landing on August 7^th.  Herring Gulls (ssp. vegae) were found at Zapadni Haul-out (1) and flying past Ridge Wall (1) on August 7^th.  (2) Arctic Terns, (1) adult and (1) juvenile, were sitting on rocks on Antone Lake on the evening of August 8^th.  An adult Long-tailed Jaeger flew over Tonki Point in the afternoon of August 8^th.  A single Pelagic Cormorant flew past Ridge Wall on August 2^nd.

SHOREBIRDS

The first Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (2) of the season were found at Pumphouse Lake while looking for photography sites for Red-necked Phalaropes on August 4^th and (3) more were seen on August 8^th  along with (1) Pectoral Sandpiper near the same area. As many as (30) Wandering Tattlers were seen on August 2^nd and (1) Gray-tailed Tattler continued to be seen at Tattler Cove until August 2^nd.  Ruddy Turnstone numbers remain in the hundreds. (1) Whimbrel (ssp. variegatus) showed up at Marunich on August 4^th.  (1) Wilson’s Snipe was flushed out from the Wild Celery at Tolstoi Cliffs on August 4^th.  (5) Pacific Golden-Plovers were found on August 7^th, (1) on the road near Antone Lake and (4) in the field on the left side of the road going up to Lake Hill.  Hundreds of Red Phalaropes were seen while seawatching at East Landing on August 8^th.

LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES

A pair of Violet-green Swallows were found flying over the pond at Marunich on August 4^th and were re-found over Pumphouse Lake on August 7^th.  An American Pipit was found feeding with Rock Sandpipers and a juvenile Lapland Longspur in the mudflats at Antone Slough on August 7^th.  Hoary Redpolls continue to be found in and around the crab pots near the Salt Lagoon.

Regularly occurring species currently present on the island:

Northern Pintail
Green-winged (and Common) Teal
Greater Scaup

King Eider (1)

Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Fulmar
Red-faced Cormorant
Semipalmated Plover

Wandering Tattler (30)

Ruddy Turnstone (100’s)

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis)
Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull (numbers increasing)

Black-legged Kittiwake
Red-legged Kittiwake
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre
Parakeet Auklet

Least Auklet
Crested Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin
Common Raven

Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis)

LaplandLongspur
Snow Bunting
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina)

This is D. Sean and Jenna Z. wishing you all the best from St.Paul Island Tours.

This is the St. Paul Island weekly bird report which highlights rare birds for the week of July 26^th – August 1^st , 2010 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note.

Pelagic Cormorant

Gray-tailed Tattler

Long-billed Dowitcher

Red Phalarope

Parasitic Jaeger

Sabine’s Gull

Herring Gull (ssp. vegae)

Ancient Murrelet

Common Redpoll

Hoary Redpoll

WATERFOWL

Waterfowl numbers have been low.  (3) Greater Scaup were found on July 28^th in and around Polavina wetlands.  A single King Eider was found on Antone Lake on July 27^th. 

SEABIRDS & GULLS

Single Pelagic Cormorants continue to be seen at Maurunich and Reef Cliffs.  A(n) Ancient Murrelet was found at Maurunich while Biologists were banding Ruddy Turnstones on August 1^st.  Glaucous Gulls have been building in numbers with a high count of (7) on Rocky Lake on July 28^th (3) on the Zapadni Haul Out on August 1^st and (5) at Maurunich on July 29^th.  A single adult Parasitic Jaeger flew south over Rocky Lake on July 28^th.  A Vega Herring Gull was seen at Maurunich on July 27^th.  East Landing produced yet another Sabine’s Gull on July 29^th along with a few Red Phalaropes, probably left over from the 4,000 plus seen flying by the previous week.

SHOREBIRDS

100’s of Ruddy Turnstones continue to cover all parts of the island with the greatest concentrations at Big Lake, Maurunich, and Salt Lagoon. As many as (2) Gray-tailed Tattlers continued around the Salt Lagoon and have been also seen around Antone Lake. A high count of (12) Wandering Tattlers on the 1st of August marked a slow increase of this species through the week.  A Long-billed Dowitcher was found along the banks of Pumphouse Lake on July 31^st where Red-necked Phalaropes have been building in numbers the last few days.

LANDBIRDS & PASSERINES

A flock of approximately (8) Common Redpolls was spotted on July 31^st flying over the Quarry (Kaminista).  Hoary Redpolls have still been seen sporadically through the week close to the Southern Crab Pots. 

Regularly occurring species currently present on the island:

Northern Pintail
Green-winged (and Common) Teal
Greater Scaup

King Eider (1)

Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Fulmar
Red-faced Cormorant
Semipalmated Plover

Wandering Tattler (as many as 12 on a daily basis)

Ruddy Turnstone (in very high numbers – in the hundreds)

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper (ssp. ptilocnemis)
Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull (numbers increasing)

Black-legged Kittiwake
Red-legged Kittiwake
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre
Parakeet Auklet

Least Auklet
Crested Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin
Common Raven

Winter Wren (ssp. alascensis)

Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (ssp. umbrina)

I have recently been asked what the species count has been over the last few years, so what follows is an annual list of the species counts as we have in our files here on Saint Paul.  Please note that each year Spring starting dates and Fall ending dates vary widely and may account for higher or lower species counts from year to year.

1994 – 107

1995 – 120

1996 – 136

1997 – 120

1998 – 129

1999 – 137

2000 – 114

2001 – 125

2002 – 123

2003 – 165

2004 – 151

2005 – 127

2006 – 130

2007 – 175 *

2008 – 138

2009 – 141

2010 – 121 as of August 5^th.

This is D. Sean and Jenna Z. wishing you all the best from St.Paul Island Tours.

Howdy birders, this is the St. Paul Rare Bird Alert for the week of July 19^th through July 25^th sponsored by St. Paul Island Tours. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note.

Birds Mentioned:

Mallard

Lesser Scaup

Common Eider

Gray-tailed Tattler

Wandering Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Pectoral Sandpiper

Red Phalarope

Herring Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Glaucous Gull

Parasitic Jaeger

Long-tailed Jaeger

Barn Swallow

Common Redpoll

Hoary Redpoll

Regular occurring species currently on the island.

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal (A. crecca and A. carolinensis)

Greater Scaup

King Eider

Harlequin Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Northern Fulmar

Short-tailed Shearwater

Red-faced Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Wandering Tattler

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake

Common Murre

Thick-billed Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Parakeet Auklet

Crested Auklet

Least Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin

Common Raven

Winter Wren

Lapland Longspur

Snow Bunting

Gray-crowned Rosyfinch

Howdy birders, this is the St. Paul Rare Bird Alert for the week of July 12^th through July 18^th sponsored by St. Paul Island Tours. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note.

 Birds Mentioned:

Mallard

Lesser Scaup

Pacific Golden Plover

Wandering Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Pectoral Sandpiper

*Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Red Phalarope

Slaty-backed Gull

Glaucous Gull

**Fork-tailed Swift

Common Redpoll

Hoary Redpoll

Again fog and overcast dominated the end of the week after two or three days of sunny weather. Winds were slight and variable overall with weak west winds switching to south winds.

WATERFOWL

The Mallard continued at East Landing throughout the week. Also Greater and Lesser Scaups continued all week. A female plumaged King Eider was seen off southwest point (07/16). The first Long-tailed Duck duckling was seen at midweek.

SEABIRDS and GULLS

At least two Slaty-backed Gulls (07/15, 07/18) were observed and a few Glaucous Gulls.

SHOREBIRDS

An increased number of Ruddy Turnstones are passing through and Wandering Tattlers were regular in low numbers throughout the week. Pectoral Sandpipers remained with a high count of 3 (07/13). Two Pacific Golden Plovers flew over Pumphouse Lake (07/18). After last week’s high count of 10,000, Red Phalaropes were seen in much lower numbers. On (07/13) a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found during a hike towards High Bluffs.

LANDBIRDS and PASSERINES

The landbird of note was a Fork-tailed Swift (07/12), it was first observed in the morning off Reef Cliffs and seen again very well during the evening between Pumphouse Lake and the Coast Guard Station, unfortunately it could not be relocated on subsequent days. Two recently fledged Hoary Redpolls on (07/18) confirmed breeding of the species on St. Paul this year. On the same date a ragged Common Redpoll was seen near Antone Slough and later in the crabpots.

Regular occurring species currently on the island.

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal (A. crecca and A. carolinensis)

Greater Scaup

King Eider

Harlequin Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Northern Fulmar

Short-tailed Shearwater

Red-faced Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Wandering Tattler

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake

Common Murre

Thick-billed Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Parakeet Auklet

Crested Auklet

Least Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin

Common Raven

Winter Wren

Lapland Longspur

Snow Bunting

Gray-crowned Rosyfinch

The St. Paul Island Tour Guides are wishing you good birding. Fall tours will run from September 1^st through 30^th, for more information on fall tours please contact St. Paul Island Tours at info@stpaultour.com

Howdy birders, this is the St. Paul Rare Bird Alert for the week of July 5^th through July 11^th sponsored by St. Paul Island Tours. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note.

 Birds Mentioned:

Mallard

Lesser Scaup

White-winged Scoter

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel

Wandering Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Long-billed Dowitcher

Red Phalarope

Herring Gull (L. a. smithsonianus)

Sabine’s Gull

Parasitic Jaeger

Bank Swallow

The week was dominated by overcast and foggy conditions and weak winds, except for strong eastern storms during the middle of the week.

WATERFOWL

A Mallard floated off East Landing at an odd location and date (07/11). Greater and Lesser Scaups continued all week. Single King Eiders were seen and the three White-winged Scoters continued from the previous week (07/05). A Red-breasted Merganser was seen off Webster (07/07).

SEABIRDS and GULLS

A single Pacific Loon was observed (07/05). A Herring Gull remained from the previous week (07/05) and a Sabine’s Gull was among hundred of Kittiwakes (07/05). The only jaeger species of the week was a Parasitic (07/06). Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels were present most days.

SHOREBIRDS

Fall migration began during this week including Ruddy Turnstones, Wandering Tattlers, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpipers, and Long-billed Dowitchers. During heavy winds on (07/08) at least 10,000 Red Phalaropes were flying past the island just offshore.

LANDBIRDS and PASSERINES

The only landbird of note was a Bank Swallow (07/05).

Regular occurring species currently on the island.

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal (A. crecca and A. carolinensis)

Greater Scaup

King Eider

Harlequin Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Northern Fulmar

Short-tailed Shearwater

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel

Red-faced Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake

Common Murre

Thick-billed Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Parakeet Auklet

Crested Auklet

Least Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin

Common Raven

Winter Wren

Lapland Longspur

Snow Bunting

Gray-crowned Rosyfinch

The St. Paul Island Tour Guides are wishing you good birding. Fall tours will run from September 1^st through 30^th, for more information on fall tours please contact St. Paul Island Tours at info@stpaultour.com

Howdy birders, this is the St. Paul Rare Bird Alert for the week of June 28^th through July 4^th sponsored by St. Paul Island Tours. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note.

 Birds Mentioned:

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel

Ruddy Turnstone

Red Phalarope

Herring Gull (L. a. smithsonianus)

Long-tailed Jaeger

Short-eared Owl

Lack of any wind led to a week of dense fog and nearly no changes in birds.

WATERFOWL

Among diving ducks Greater Scaups remained along with one pair of Lesser Scaup. Three White-winged Scoters were seen on Polovina Lake (07/04). Three King Eiders were noted (07/01). The Common Merganser remained on Big Lake until (06/28) and a single Red-breasted Merganser was seen (07/01).

SEABIRDS and GULLS

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels have been observed off East Landing on most days of the week. A Herring Gull was seen (07/03). A Long-tailed Jaeger was seen on (07/01). Ancient Murrelets were observed in pairs off the harbor.

SHOREBIRDS

Ruddy Turnstones arrived by the end of the week along with Red Phalaropes.

LANDBIRDS and PASSERINES

A Short-eared Owl was the only bird of note during the week (07/01).

Regular occurring species currently on the island.

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal (A. crecca and A. carolinensis)

Greater Scaup

King Eider

Harlequin Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Northern Fulmar

Short-tailed Shearwater

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel

Red-faced Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake

Common Murre

Thick-billed Murre

Ancient Murrelet

Parakeet Auklet

Crested Auklet

Least Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin

Common Raven

Winter Wren

Lapland Longspur

Snow Bunting

Gray-crowned Rosyfinch

The St. Paul Island Tour Guides are wishing you good birding. Fall tours will run from September 1^st through 30^th, for more information on fall tours please contact St. Paul Island Tours at info@stpaultour.com

Howdy birders, this is the St. Paul Rare Bird Alert for the week of June 14^th through 20^th sponsored by St. Paul Island Tours. The following sequence of sightings is in taxonomic order; asterisks denote a species of less than annual occurrence or one of particular note.

 Birds Mentioned:

Cackling Goose (B. h. leucopareia)

Lesser Scaup

*Steller’s Eider

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Whimbrel (N. p. variegatus)

Herring Gull (L. a. smithsonianus)

Parasitic Jaeger

Long-tailed Jaeger

Common Redpoll

Hoary Redpoll

South to southwest wind brought warm air and extensive fog. The majority of days saw overcast and moderate winds.

WATERFOWL

A flock of 22 Cackling Geese was noted on (06/21). Among diving ducks Greater Scaups remained along with one pair of Lesser Scaup. Two White-winged Scoters were seen on Polovina Lake (06/25), King Eiders were noted in singles every day of the week and at least five Steller’s Eiders remained in the harbor until (06/23). A Common Merganser was seen on Big Lake (06/23-06/25).

SEABIRDS and GULLS

A Herring Gull was seen until (06/23). Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers were seen on (06/25 and 06/22) respectively. Pacific Loons were seen (06/24-06/25).

SHOREBIRDS

Wandering Tattlers were seen after a long absence on the (06/24 and 06/25). The Whimbrel (ssp. variegatus) stayed until the beginning of the week (06/21).

LANDBIRDS and PASSERINES

Among songbirds only Common and Hoary Redpolls were seen on northeast (06/21).

Regular occurring species currently on the island.

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal (A. crecca and A. carolinensis)

Greater Scaup

King Eider

Harlequin Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Northern Fulmar

Short-tailed Shearwater

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel

Red-faced Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Rock Sandpiper

Wandering Tattler

Red-necked Phalarope

Red Phalarope

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake

Common Murre

Thick-billed Murre

Ancient Murrelet

Parakeet Auklet

Crested Auklet

Least Auklet

Horned Puffin

Tufted Puffin

Common Raven

Winter Wren

Lapland Longspur

Snow Bunting

Gray-crowned Rosyfinch

The St. Paul Island Tour Guides are wishing you good birding. Fall tours will run from September 1^st through 30^th, for more information on fall tours please contact St. Paul Island Tours at info@stpaultour.com