- RBA
* ALASKA
* St. Paul Island; Pribilofs
* 6/14/03
* AKSPO306.14

-Birds Mentioned
Pacific Loon
"LONG-BILLED" BEAN GOOSE
"Aleutian" Canada Goose
"Black" Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Greater Scaup
King Eider
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Bar-tailed Godwit
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
Rock Sandpiper ssp tschukschorum
Red Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger
Glaucous Gull
Ancient Murrelet
Bank Swallow
SIBERIAN FLYCATCHER
GRAY-SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
Yellow Wagtail
"MYRTLE" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
HAWFINCH
 
-transcript
  hotline: St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska (internet only)
  date: June 14, 2003
  coverage: St. Paul Island
  compiled: 12:00 am ADT,  June 14, 2003
  compiler and transcriber: Derek Lovitch (waxwing7000@yahoo.com)

This is the St. Paul Island birding update for June 7-14, 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.

IT’S ON! Here we go again! The week got off to a slow start, with the first half not having anything but light Southeasterlies, our least productive wind. However, a few good birds appeared anyway. By Wednesday, a light Northwest breeze kicked in, before diminishing to light and variable on Thursday. Then, on Friday the light Northwest wind increased, and by Friday night was blowing up to 20 mph. It provided immediate returns, but we look forward even more to the next few days!

One PACIFIC LOON was spotted on June 7th, with another being recorded on the 13th.

The "LONG-BILLED" BEAN GOOSE (ssp middendorfii) had made a few brief appearances this week, never staying in one spot for more than a few minutes. It was noted on 6/9 and 6/13. The 2 lingering "ALEUTIAN" CANADA GEESE were joined by a third bird on 6/9, and the trio continued through week’s end. A single "BLACK" BRANT was seen on the 9th.

A maximum of two pairs of EURASIAN WIGEON are lingering. Up to 4 male and 1 female NORTHERN SHOVELER have been seen throughout the week. Two pairs of GREATER SCAUP are lingering, while one male and one female KING EIDER continue. The female COMMON GOLDENEYE was last noted on 6/8. A single RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was noted on the 10th, while a pair were seen on the 13th.

Odd for the date on June 13th was a alternate-plumaged male BAR-TAILED GODWIT. Late or extremely early? An adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was also reported on the 13th. A ROCK SANDPIPER of the mainland subspecies tschuktschorum was identified on the 8th. One female RED PHALAROPE was seen on 6/7.

PARASITIC JAEGERS put in a couple of appearances: 2 were spotted on 6/7, and 3 on the 13th A single POMARINE JEAGER was spotted on the 12th, while 1 LONG-TAILED JAEGER was seen on the 9th. The lone 1st summer GLAUCOUS GULL continues.

4 ANCIENT MURRLETS were noted on 6/8.

3 BANK SWALLOWS were noted on the 7th and 8th, while one was spotted on the 9th.

Even the light Northwest winds began to produce immediate returns. Found on the 12th was a second island record for GRAY-SPOTTED (-streaked) FLYCATCHER. It was seen well, but not for long, and photographs could not be obtained. But, trumping it late the next day was the discovery of a SIBERIAN FLYCATCHER. Also a second St. Paul record, but with less than 10 North American records, this bird was seen well by many and even briefly videotaped despite the diminishing light.

Certainly a highlight of the week, albeit one from our side of the pond, was the OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER found on the 10th. It was a first Pribilof, and only 3rd Bering Sea region record. It was well seen by many and photographed.

Single YELLOW WAGTAILS were observed on the 6/10 and 12. A male "MYRTLE" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen on June 7th and 8th.

The last of the HAWFINCHES were seen on June 9th.

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