- RBA
*ALASKA
*St. Paul Island; Pribilofs
*5/25/03
*AKSP0305.25

-Birds Mentioned
TUNDRA SWAN
"Aleutian" Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Greater Scaup
TUFTED DUCK
Pacific Golden-Plover
Wandering Tattler
Bar-tailed Godwit
BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW
Red Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Glaucous Gull
Short-eared Owl
Snowy Owl
EYE-BROWED THRUSH
DUSKY THRUSH
"NAUMANN'S" DUSKY THRUSH
Yellow Wagtail
American Pipit
RUSTIC BUNTING (probable)
BRAMBLING
Common Redpoll

-transcript
hotline: St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska (internet only)
date: May 25, 2003 (Special Report)
coverage: St. Paul Island
compiled: 11:59pm ADT,  May 25, 2003
compiler and transcriber: Derek Lovitch (waxwing7000@yahoo.com)

This is the St. Paul Island birding update for May 24 -25, 2003 sponsored by St. Paul Island Tour. For tour information or to make travel arrangements see www.stpaulislandtour.com or call 1-877-424-5637.

Oh, what a weekend! An optimal wind scenario for the spring was predicted: West, going Southwest, and increasing. As that forecast came to fruition, the Siberian Express was up and running, and we haven't stopped since!

. . . And the passerine floodgates were led by Thrushes. After two EYE-BROWED THRUSHES were noted on 5/23, just as the winds changed, a total of 6 were found on 5/24, and 5 were noted on 5/25.

On the 24th, one of the Eye-browed Thrushes was joined by a DUSKY THRUSH (ssp. eunomus), a FIRST PRIBILOF RECORD (photographed). Attempts to relocate the Dusky on the 25th did not result in the Dusky from the day before, but instead a different bird: a "NAUMANN'S" DUSKY THRUSH (ssp. naumanni).

An amazing find, but unfortunately not photographed due to high winds, low light, and a bird that wouldn't sit still.

Attempts to relocate and photograph the bird will be made first thing tomorrow.

Other "Sibes" noted: 3 BRAMBLING that appeared on the 24th, and grew in number to 7 by the 25th. A probable RUSTIC BUNTING was a wind-blown flyby on the 25th as well.

Very unusual was a flock of 9 COMMON REDPOLLS on the 25th. More than one or two is rare, and one must wonder which side of the Bering Sea this group came from.

Non-breeding waterfowl are becoming more scarce. A lone TUNDRA SWAN dropped in on 5/25. One lonely "ALEUTIAN" CANADA GOOSE is being seen sporadically. 1 AMERICAN WIGEON was with three EURASIAN WIGEONS, along with a single NORTHERN SHOVELER.

A few GREATER SCAUP and KING EIDER are still scattered about, while the two male and one female TUFTED DUCK continue.

PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS are moving through, with at least 19 being present on the 25th. One WANDERING TATTLER was seen on 5/24. Only 3 BAR-TAILED GODWIT remained as of 5/24, but none were seen on the 25th. A lone BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW was heard, but never seen on the 25th.

Also on the 25th was a WHIMBREL (ssp. variegatus). One RED PHALAROPE was noted on the 25th as well.

A PARASITIC JAEGER was spotted on the 25th and a single 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL continues.

One SHORT-EARED OWL has been hanging around, while only 2 SNOWY OWLS are still lingering.

A single YELLOW WAGTAIL (ssp. simillima) was seen on the 24th., and a migrant AMERICAN PIPIT was recorded on the 25th.

This is Derek Lovitch for Gavin Bieber, Tom Plath, and Marfa Rukovishnikof of St. Paul Island Tour. Hope you enjoyed reading about our sightings . . . maybe we'll see you out here! Until next time, Derek