On a Lifelong Journey to Learn my Place
Animals
I spent some time out along old airport road today looking for birds. The sun was out and it was a little chilly, but not too bad. Some nice birds were around including 11 Bohemian Waxwings and a Downy Woodpecker, but the highlight was an immature Chipping Sparrow. When I first saw the Chipping Sparrow … Read more
This afternoon my kids were checking on a Biorka Street yard that has been hosting Bohemian Waxwings regularly when they noticed a bird that looked unusual to them. Connor was able to get a couple of shots before it flew out of sight behind a house. Rowan watched for it while Connor ran back home … Read more
Brown Booby at Alaska Raptor Center just before shipping out (Photo by Jen Cedarleaf)) Many folks had commented or e-mailed that they enjoyed hearing about the Brown Booby and wanted to know what happened with it, so I thought I would post one final update. Jen Cedarleaf said the bird was sent south to an … Read more
As is so often the case with unusual birds, after getting pictures the first time and being excited to have them, I found myself thinking it would be nice to try to get better ones. Perhaps with better light, closer, or in a better position (ideally all three!). I did not know if the bird … Read more
Yesterday I got a report with some photos of an unusual bird with a blue rump out along the old airport road. It was not especially cooperative, but the photos were strongly suggestive of Mountain Bluebird (at least to people who were familiar with that species, which I wasn’t so much at that time). I … Read more
Red Phase Western Screech-Owl photographed by P. Deviche and shared with permission Considered Rare in Alaska, Western Screech-Owls seem to be at least Uncommon around Sitka. Though they are infrequently seen by the general population due to their nocturnal habits, they can be heard at night (and occasionally during the day) throughout the year in … Read more