Yellow-billed Loon. Two in breeding plumage at
Eagle Beach on 2 July (PS).
Double-crested Cormorant: Two (in flight) at mouth
of Thomas Bay on 7 July (GV).
Black Brandt: Five were seen at Eagle Beach on 5
June (PS), and one was seen in Frederick Sound on 7
July (PS).
Osprey: One was seen feeding on the Mendenhall
Wetlands on 6 June (LC). One was seen migrating
northwards up Lynn Canal at Eagle Beach on 9 June
(GV); two were seen within Thomas Bay and one was
seen near Thomas Bay on 7 July (GV, PS).
Hudsonian Godwit: Large numbers were reported on
the Mendenhall Wetlands during July. 13 were seen on
1 July (PS), 18 were seen on 2 July (PS), 27 were
seen on 4 July (GV), and 30 were seen on 6 July (SZ).
Small numbers continued to be seen through
mid-August. 19 Hudsonian Godwits were seen at the
mouth of Endicott Arm, on 11 July (GV, PS).
Lesser Yellowlegs: Very high numbers were seen
throughout July and August on the Mendenhall
Wetlands. High counts were 142 were on 1 July (PS)
and 357 on 2 July (PS, GV).
Wandering Tattler. One in breeding plumage was
seen at Point Bridget on 21 June (PS, RG) Photos
available
Red Knot. One was seen on the Mendenhall Wetlands
on 2 - 3 July (PS). Photos available.
Semipalmated Sandpiper. 800+ were seen at the
Mendenhall Wetlands on 2 July (PS). This is a very
large number for Juneau. High numbers of these birds
were seen through at least 7 July (SZ, RG).
Wilson's Phalarope: One at Mendenhall
Wetlands on 1 June (GV,), and 2 July (GV, PS RG),
apparently two different individuals.
Franklin’s Gull. An adult in breeding
plumage was seen and photographed at Eagle Beach on 5
June (PS).
Laughing Gull. Reported from Yakutat by PS
and AD on 29 June. Details should have been sent
separately.
California Gull. Two birds were seen at Eagle
Beach on 5 June (PS). 20 were seen there on 17 July
(PS).
Black-legged Kittiwake. Numbers of this species
were present at Eagle Beach during much of June-July.
The highest reported number was 400+ on 17 July (PS).
Sabine's Gull: Three birds, including at
least two adults in breeding plumage, were at the
mouth of Thomas Bay on 6 July; one adult was seen
again on 7 July in same locality (GV, PS).
Marbled Murrelet: (1500+) within Thomas Bay
on 7 July (GV). (1000+) off Eagle Beach and (2600+)
east of N. Benjamin Island (~30 miles north of Juneau
on Lynn Canal) on 15 July (GV). The largest
aggregation noted was (4000+)(!) on Auke Bay
on 20 July (GV).
Kittlitz's Murrelet: (25+, including two
fish-holders) near Wood Spit, mouth of Endicott
Arm, on 11 July (unpublished USFWS data, GV, PS). Endicott
Arm apparently is now the southernmost mainland
locality for numbers of this species as no sign of
the species was found at either Thomas or LeConte
Bays during extensive single-day surveys on 7 and 8
July 2002 respectively.
In addition, one was seen on Auke Bay on 21 July
(GV) - this was the first record for GV for the
Juneau region, after 15+ years of looking for the
species, which underscores the relative rarity of
Kittlitz’s Murrelets in this area.
Northern Flicker: One hybrid with red malar
stripes and a red nuchal crescent was seen near
Herbert River (~25 miles north of Juneau) on 6 June
(GV). An additional sighting was made at Tee Harbor
on 20 July (GV).
Three-toed Woodpecker. This species nested along
the Eaglecrest Road and young were heard calling on
24 June (PS). The species was still being seen in
this area on 17 July (IM).
Alder Flycatcher: after frequently checking
historical territory sites on a regular basis during
the first week or so in June, a bird was finally
discovered singing near the Mendenhall Wetlands on 13
June -- ranking this species as one of the very
latest passerine migrants to the Juneau area (GV).
Eastern Kingbird: one near Herbert River
(~25 miles north of Juneau) on 14 June (MS,GV) on the
warmest day of 2002 with temperature maximum of 82
degrees F. Another sighting was made at Norton Lake
on 17 June (RG, DM, PS). Photos taken by PS.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow: one at Montana
Creek, upper Mendenhall Valley, on 5 July (GV).
Cassin's Vireo: one seen at the Mendenhall
Glacier Forelands 22 June (GV); two birds were
subsequently found at the same locality on 23 June
(PS) and 29 June (SZ).
Warbling Vireo. Two were seen at the Mendenhall
Glacier Forelands on 2 June (DR), and on 29 June
(SZ).
Cedar Waxwing: One was seen at Auke Bay on 13 June
(GV), another was seen in mid-Mendenhall Valley on 13
June (GV). Two were at the Mendenhall Glacier
Forelands on 23 June (GV), three were seen there on
29 June, one was seen there on 30 June (GV, RG), and
one was seen there on 18 July (PS).
Blackpoll Warbler: A singing male was found at the
Mendenhall Glacier Forelands on 30 June (GV, PS),
perhaps the first breeding season record for Juneau?
Black-headed Grosbeak: A singing male at
Auke Bay at 6:35 AM on 11 June (GV), perhaps the 13th
Alaska record.
*Additional notes:
Data are also provided for several sites in
Southeast Alaska that were visited by GV and PS
during a study of Kittlitz’s Murrelet.
The Steller’s Sea Eagle has been seen at
least twice this year in the Taku River area;
once during the summer reporting period. It has
been looked for on at least three other occasions
without success.
Paul Suchanek reported hearing a bird that
sounded like a Virginia Rail at the Community
Garden on 1 July, but he was not able to see the
bird, nor was he able to hear or find it again
