Birder’s Notebook

MOURNING DOVE— A mourning dove that went astray during migration fluffs up its feathers in a grassy lot in Nome. The mourning dove is one of North America’s most common and widespread birds, but one whose normal range does not extend as far north as Alaska.

Mourning Dove––an unusual visitor from the south

A few days after the threat of ex-typhoon Halong had passed, I paused my car on the Safety Bridge to appreciate a small flock of long-tailed ducks diving in the water below. Out of the corner of my...

FALL MIGRATION – A flock of common mergansers is passing over Safety Sound in mid-October. Keep an eye out this month for these strong, fast fliers as they wing their way through the region to wintering areas in southern coastal Alaska, or beyond.

Common Merganser ––our uncommon merganser

By Kate Persons | At Salmon Lake late spawning sockeye salmon are still thrashing in the shallows of their spawning area. Gulls, ravens, diving ducks and a breathtaking pair of yellow-billed loons...

COMMON LOON – A common loon swims in Safety Sound’s Bonanza Channel in early September. Males and females look the same, but males are 25 percent larger. The common loon is similar to the yellow-billed loon, but common loons have a black bill, rather than an ivory-colored bill.

Common Loon––an uncommon loon in northwest Alaska

By Kate Persons | The common loon is the most abundant and well-known loon in much of North America. Their iconic, haunting calls resonate through the boreal forests of Alaska, Canada and the...

FEMALE – A female merlin is perched on a powerline scanning for prey. Females and immature merlins are browner overall in color. Females are also 10 percent larger and 30 percent heavier than males, which is a noticeable difference.

Merlin––a fast and feisty little falcon

The merlin is a spirited little falcon that blazes over the landscape in a blur of rapid wingbeats, often in pursuit of songbirds. If you are lucky, you may get a better look at our smallest,...

RED FOX SPARROW— A fox sparrow shows the “foxy” red plumage that gives these sparrows their name. Fox sparrows are widespread across North America and vary greatly in appearance from region to region. Only ours, the red fox sparrow––the northernmost variety––shows the extensive, rich reddish coloration for which the sparrow is named.

Fox Sparrow –– a shy, handsome songster

By Kate Persons | Recently, while winnowing leaves from blueberries on my deck, I pondered what bird to write about next. It was late in the season for song, but as if reading my mind, a fox sparrow...

LESSER YELLOWLEGS – A adult lesser yellowlegs blares out an alarm call to warn its chick while they forage in a Nome area pond. This feisty, slender, medium-sized shorebird is appropriately named for its disproportionally long, bright orangey-yellow legs.

Birder’s Notebook: Lesser Yellowlegs –– a long-legged loudmouth

By Kate Persons The lesser yellowlegs is a character. This svelte, graceful shorebird atop disproportionally long, with bright orangey-yellow legs is typically found in forest wetlands, and not so...

SPOTTED SANDPIPER— A spotted sandpiper in breeding plumage is foraging in the gravel along the Snake River. Spotted sandpipers can be easily identified by the obvious dark speckles on their bellies and by a nearly constant bobbing motion that they make with their tails and rumps. Females are larger and their spots may be bigger and extend further down the belly, but the sexes have very similar plumage.

Spotted Sandpiper––a shorebird with standout looks and behavior

*/ Perhaps you have noticed a small shorebird constantly bobbing its backend as it works its way along the edges of our local streams and ponds. Other shorebirds might not grab your attention, but...

Horned Lark ––A masked alpine songster with horns

MALE HORNED LARK – A male horned lark is showing the spiky feather tufts on the top of his head, which give these larks their name. Story and photos by Kate Persons Alpine tundra is among my...

MALE NORTHERN HARRIER – A male harrier is carrying a redpoll it captured north of Salmon Lake. Males and females are colored and marked differently, and males are smaller. Males are slate gray with a white breast, prominent black wingtips and black bands on the tail. They are sometimes referred to as “the gray ghost.” All harriers have an eye-catching white rump patch. This harrier caught a redpoll, but voles are their main food.

Northern Harrier––An owl-like hawk with a breathtaking courtship display

Photo by Jim Dau By Kate Persons Raptors are famous for dramatic and aerobatic courtship displays, and to my eyes, the northern harrier wins the gold. The extraordinary sky dance of a male...

EARLY DUCKS – A pair of northern pintails, hen in the lead, wings past Fort Davis on April 28, this year. Pintails are among the first migrants to arrive in the spring, and usually are already paired up for the breeding season. During migration, drakes typically follow their mates to the hen’s established nesting area.

Northern Pintail––Elegant, early and abundant

STAGING FOR FALL MIGRATION – Northern pintails are staging for migration with tundra swans in a Solomon River slough. Pintails are dabbling ducks that feed primarily on vegetation in the shallows...