- RBA
* ALASKA
* St. Paul Island; Pribilofs
* 7/12/03
* AKSPO307.12

-Birds Mentioned
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
King Eider
Greater Scaup
Red-breasted Merganser
BALD EAGLE
TEREK SANDPIPER
Ruddy Turnstone
Western Sandpiper
RED-NECKED STINT
Rock Sandpiper (ssp. tschukschorum)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
Red Phalarope
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger
SLATY-BACKED GULL
Ancient Murrelet
RHINOCEROS AUKLET
GRAY-SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
BRAMBLING
Common Redpoll
PINE SISKIN

-transcript
   hotline: St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska (internet only)
   date: July 12, 2003
   coverage: St. Paul Island
   compiled: 12:00am ADT,  July 12, 2003
   compiler and transcriber: Derek Lovitch (waxwing7000@yahoo.com)

This is the St. Paul Island birding update for July 5-11, 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.

So much for the summer birding doldrums. Exceptional birding continues here on St. Paul! Five out of the seven days this week were predominately southwest winds, normally one of the rarest wind directions to be seen here. In fact, we've had west or southwesterly winds for 9 out of the last 12 days! In addition to the vagrants this winds can (and have) produced, we are beginning to see somewhat larger numbers of the common southbound shorebirds than we expect this early in the "fall." Non-breeding passerines continue to be unusually common as well.

The DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was seen again on July 6.

Both of our oversummering KING EIDERS were seen this week. A drake GREATER SCAUP returned on 7/5, and a female was also noted on 7/7. A single female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen sporadically this week.

Despite its large size, the 4th year BALD EAGLE that has been lingering is amazingly good at remaining unseen, but it was spotted once this week on the 5th.

A summertime treat was a TEREK SANDPIPER found on July 7. RUDDY TURNSTONES are back en mass; this week's high count was 52 on the 9th. Our first peeps of the fall arrived, with up to 14 WESTERN SANDPIPERS being seen beginning on the 7th. Those Westerns were briefly joined on the 7th by a fading adult RED-NECKED STINT. A mainland ROCK SANDPIPER (ssp. tschukschorum) was spotted on the 7th as well. A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER dropped by on the 6th. A single southbound female RED PHALAROPES was noted on the 8th while two were observed on the 11th.

It was a good week for JAEGERS. One POMARINE was spotted on 7/10, while PARASITICS were noted on the 5th (1) and 10th (2). LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were putting on a show: 3 on the 8th, 2 on the 9th, and a remarkable 10!! were seen together "hunting" beetles in the tundra on the 10th

With the paucity of "good" large gulls this summer, the regular observation of an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL this week was exciting. A third summer bird also appeared on the 10th.

Three ANCIENT MURRELETS were spotted on 7/6. RHINOCEROS AUKLET observations continue, with a single being observed on the 7th.

A mid-summer surprise was a GRAY-SPOTTED FLYCATCHER discovered on July 6th. Likely our second of the season, and only a 3rd Pribilof Record!

Out of season was a male BRAMBLING on the 8th.

COMMON REDPOLLS continue in unprecedented numbers. Pairs are being seen here and there (nesting?) , but this week's high count was 20 on July 6th. PINE SISKIN were seen again, with 4 together on the 9th.

ANNOUNCEMENT: VOLUNTEER BIRD SURVEYING POSITION OPENING: August 25 - October 7, 2003. Thanks to the generous support of St. Paul Island Tour's parent company, TDX, the first ever fall bird survey will be conducted here on St. Paul Island. I am currently looking to fill one remaining position for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although birders have visited St. Paul in the fall, no one has conducted extensive surveys and counts of resident, migrant, and vagrant birds. Room and board, and vehicle use on the island will be provided. In addition, TDX will provide assistance with travel to and from the island. Western Alaskan or Asian birding experience is preferred, although not required. If you are interested in an intense, systematic, non-stop, dawn-to-dusk birding adventure loaded with wind, fog, and rain, and possibly boredom (depending on the winds of course) please contact me, or send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for 3 references via email to columbarius33@yahoo.com or Derek Lovitch, St. Paul Island Tour, PO Box 356, St. Paul, Alaska 99660. Questions? Call 907-546-2777 or email.

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