Juneau Audubon Society

P.O. Box 21725

Juneau, AK 99802-1725

OBSERVERS

BA = Bev Agler

RA = Robert Armstrong

GB = Gwen Baluss

MB = Matt Brooks

RG = Richard Gordon

MCH = Mary Clare Harris

DM = Deanna MacPhail

DR = Deborah Rudis

MS = Mark Schwan

PS = Paul Suchanek

GV = Gus van Vliet

SZ = Steve Zimmerman

OBSERVATIONS

Cackling Canada Goose: (1) on 3-5 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (GV, MB photo), a late lingerer/migrant.

Greater White-fronted Goose: (3) at Mendenhall Wetlands and (1) at Eagle Beach on 5 June (PS, SZ, RG, GV), late lingerers/migrants.
Cinnamon Teal: (1) on 4 June at Pt. Bridget (MB), the only summer report.

Redhead: (1) male on 22 June and 15 July at Mendenhall Wetlands (PS, GV), unusual summer record.

Black Scoter: (2) immature males on 2 June at Pt. Bridget (PS), unusual summer record.

Sora: the first evidence of breeding in Juneau (and SE Alaska?) occurred on 11 June in a marsh in west Mendenhall Valley where two very young chicks were seen with an attendant adult (GB).

American Avocet: (1) on 16 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (PS photo, MS, BA, MCH, DM, SZ, GV), a first record for Juneau and perhaps the 5th record for Alaska.  Photo by Paul Suchanek

Lesser Yellowleg: (4) fall-migrants arrived on 18 June at Mendenhall Wetlands, three days before the summer solstice (GV)!

Stilt Sandpiper: (1) adult on 24 - 27 July at Mendenhall Wetlands (RG, PS photo on 24th, et al.), perhaps only the 2nd (?)time in Juneau and one of the few records for SE Alaska. Photo by Paul Suchanek

Sanderling: (6) on 5 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (PS, SZ, RG, GV, MB), late spring migrants.

Hudsonian Godwit: an astonishing (85+) on 15 July at Eagle Beach (PS photo) – probably the largest number ever for SE Alaska/British Columbia southward.  Photo by Paul Suchanek

Bar-tailed Godwit: (1) on 5 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (PS photo, SZ, RG, MB photo, GV) – there are perhaps only a dozen records for SE Alaska.  Photo by Paul Suchanek

Glaucous Gull: (2) immatures on 5 June at Eagle Beach (PS, SZ, GV), with one staying at least to 30 June (MB). Another (1) at Mendenhall Wetlands from 20 - 29 June to 29 (PS) and (1) adult on 30 July at Salmon Creek – all unusual summer records for SE Alaska.

Thayer’s Gull: (5+) over-summering on 3 July 2005 at Eagle Beach gull roost (GV, PS) – unusual summer record for SE Alaska (although perhaps just previously overlooked in all the faded gulls
summering at this location).

Lesser Black-backed Gull: (1) adult on 19 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (RG), probably the same individual that has occurred nearly each summer for over a decade in Juneau?

Black-legged Kittiwake: huge numbers (e.g., 1500+) occurred throughout the summer at Eagle Beach (PS, GV), mostly 1st-summer immatures. Large numbers also observed at Point Bridget (PS).

Ring-billed Gull: (1) 1st-summer bird on 29 June and 11 July at Mendenhall Wetlands (PS photo).

Sabine’s Gull: (1) adult on 2 June at Pt. Bridget (PS, photos) – a rare Juneau record.

Caspian Tern: (2) on 5 and 30 June at Eagle Beach (GV, PS, SZ, MB), peaking with (13) on 20 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (PS).

Western Screech-Owl: pair fledged at least 3 young near Fish Creek, Douglas I., the 3rd successful year in a row for this particular pair (PS).

Common Nighthawk: (1) displaying in the evening on 22-30 June at west Mendenhall Valley (DR, GB, MS video, PS, GV).

Downy Woodpecker: (1) very rare summer male on 16 June at Mendenhall Glacier Forelands (GV).

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: (1) singing at Mile 26 on 26-27 June, very near the territory held last year (GV, SZ, PS).

Eastern Kingbird: (1) on 12-13 July at Pt. Anmer, Port Snettisham, ~25 miles south of Juneau (GB photo on 12th).  Photo by Gwen Baluss

Cliff Swallow: beginning with (7) active nests on 18 June within a horse stable near the Mendenhall Wetlands, the unusual SE Alaska “colony” found last year ended up with (2) nests each containing 2 nearly-fledged young on 17 July (GV).

Eastern Yellow Wagtail: (1) on 20 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (GV), a first record for Juneau and one of very few summer records for the West Coast.

Cedar Waxwing: following last summer’s major invasion, only small numbers occurred this summer in Juneau, beginning with (1) early arrival on 4 June at Auke Bay (GV), building to a peak flock of (20) on 29 July over the lower Mendenhall WValley (GV). (4) found on 24 July at
timberline(!) at Mt. Troy, Douglas Is. were in a highly unusual location(PS).

Tennessee Warbler: (1) on 24 June at west Mendenhall Valley (GB) and (1) on 26 June at Mendenhall Wetlands (GV).

Although both Northern Waterthrush and American Redstart were recorded in the Juneau area this summer, both were much scarcer than in recent years.

Black-headed Grosbeak: (1) female at a feeder on 18-24 June at N. Douglas Is. (PS photo on 19th, RG). Photo by Paul Suchanek

Golden-crowned Sparrow: (2) together in juvenal-plumage on 24 July at 2300’ elevation (above timberline) on Mt. Roberts (Gold Ridge), perhaps the first(?) direct evidence of successful breeding in the Coastal Range south of Skagway/Glacier Bay (GV).

Gray-crowned Rosy Finch: (1) juvenile on 31 July on Mt. Roberts (Gold Ridge) (RA photo) – nice documentation of successful breeding in the Coastal Range around Juneau.  Photo by Robert Armstrong

Red Crossbill: the remarkable spring invasion of this species to Juneau feeders gradually dissipated during June until only very few were present during July.