Pacific Loon: a flock
of (25) on 19 January near Mile 33 cliffs (GV) and
another flock of (75) on 1 February at Tee Harbor
(GV) represented the high numbers for this winter.
Great Egret:
(1) first reported on 31 December, subsequently
re-sighted on 1 January at Mendenhall Wetlands (MS,
GV). The bird succumbed on 6 January and specimen
sent to University of Alaska Museum (MS, KH, DDG).
This constitutes the first winter record for mainland
Alaska (several winter reports exist for the Aleutian
Islands).
European Wigeon: a
peak count of (3) males on 19 January at Fish
Creek, N. Douglas presumably overwintered with
American wigeon (3 males resighted on 4 March) (PS).
American Wigeon: The
species overwintered in large numbers with a peak of
(257) on 19 January at Fish Creek, N. Douglas
(PS) – a high winter number for Juneau.
Eurasian Green-winged
Teal: (1) male on 30 January and February 26 at Fish
Creek, N. Douglas, also assumed to have overwintered
(PS).
Lesser Scaup: (1) male
on 11 January at Mendenhall Wetlands (GV), and up to
(15) on Twin Lakes beginning in mid-February after
thawing of ice (GV).
Surf Scoter and Black
Scoter: very low numbers of these two species
overwintered in the Juneau area. For Surf Scoter, it
was rare to see flocks >20 for most of the winter,
while even individual Black Scoters were difficult to
locate.
Sharp-shinned Hawk:
(1) adult on 16 January – 3 March at an Auke Bay
feeder/brushpile (GV); (1) adult on 29 January at
Lemon Creek (GV); and, (1) on 28 February near the
Mendenhall Glacier (MB).
American Kestrel:
(1) adult male again successfully over-wintered for
the third year in a row near the Juneau airport (GV
et al., photo RA) – presumably it’s been
the same individual that constitutes Alaska’s
first true over-wintering record.
Killdeer: up to (6)
were observed in February at Fish Creek, N. Douglas
(PS).
Greater Yellowlegs:
(1) on 5 January at Mendenhall Wetlands (DR),
perhaps(?) the same individual that over-wintered
last year.
Spotted Sandpiper:
(1) on 24-25 January near Auke Bay (NM, MS, GV),
presumably(?) the same individual that was present
last March 2003, constituting Alaska’s first
true over-wintering record.
Rock Sandpiper (ptilocnemis
subspecies): (2) on 17 January at Eagle Beach
(GV), within the traditional over-wintering flock of
~400 rock sandpipers.
Glaucous Gull: (1)
adult on 3 February at Eagle Beach (PS, photo).
Glaucous gull. Photo by Paul Suchanek
Thayer’s Gull: a
roost of (250) adults on 6 December and (40) adults
on 18 January at the traditional winter high-tide
roost at Eagle Beach (GV).
Marbled Murrelet: (1500+)
on Favorite Channel off the Boy Scout Camp beach on
15 February (GV).
Barred Owl: (1) on 27
December – 1 January at Auke Bay (DB, photos)
and (1) on 4 February at N. Douglas (DR).
Northern Pygmy-Owl: at
least 20(!) different individuals reported
throughout the Juneau road-system this winter – probably
the best winter for this species ever and probably a
new Alaska high winter tally? (m. obs.) The very
first one calling was heard on 29 February (GV).
Short-eared Owl: (1)
overwintered from 6 December – 28 February at
Mendenhall Wetlands (GV, BA, PS), and another (1) was
found on 1 February at Eagle Beach (GV).
Hairy Woodpecker (septentrionalis
subspecies): the (1) female from last fall
overwintered at the same downtown feeder (MM), a rare
record for Southeast Alaska for this Interior
white-breasted subspecies.
Downy Woodpecker (glacialis
subspecies): (1) male on 4 January through 29
February at Auke Bay suet feeder (GV).
Black-capped
Chickadee: (1) through at least 14 December at a
downtown feeder (MM, GV).
Red-breasted Nuthatch:
(1) overwintered at a downtown feeder (MM) – the
only report this winter.
Varied Thrush: (1)
male overwintered at an upper Mendenhall Valley
feeder (DM).
Yellow-rumped
Warbler: (1) adult male overwintered at a
downtown feeder (MM, GV) and another (1) near the
mouth of Gold Creek on 14 December (SZ, MB) – rare
records for Alaska.
American Tree Sparrow:
(2) on 27 December at Mendenhall Wetlands (GV).
White-crowned Sparrow:
(1) immature over-wintered through 29 February at an
Auke Bay feeder (GV).
Rusty Blackbird: (4)
on 13 December at Mendenhall Campground (LS).
Snow Bunting: a flock
of (25) on 23 and 28 January at Lemon Creek (PS, GV)
and (2) on 24 February at Pt. Bridget (PS).
Gray-crowned Rosy
Finch: (5) reported on 1 January (LL) and (6)
observed from 29 January through 1 February near
downtown Juneau (GV, MM).
Crossbill sp.: unlike
last winter’s large numbers, this season both
species were virtually absent.
