Sunday 29 May 2016

Alaska - 29th May (Day 2 - Part - 1)

We were up at 05:00 and headed to Hillside Park where we birded from 06:00-09:00. This was a lovely mixed area of forest with maple, oak and pines but full of mozzies. We birded a few miles along the various trails accessible from the car park at the eastern end of Abbott Road. Highlights here were American Three-toed Woodpecker (1), Varied Thrush (a male and female both carrying food), Swainson’s Thrush (1), Hermit Thrush (1), Townsend's Warbler (3), Wilson’s Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (6), Two-barred Crossbill (8), Boreal Chickadee (4), Black-capped Chickadee and Grey Jay (2). After a pizza breakfast in the car park we headed to the airport for a 12:15 flight to St. Paul refuelling at Dillingham and landing at 15:10 on St.Paul Island. 

Varied Thrush (female) - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Varied Thrush (female) - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Boreal Chickadee (race colombianus) - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Boreal Chickadee (race colombianus) - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Black-capped Chickadee (or race turneri). Some birders speak of confusion with this species and Boreal Chickadee but these really are quite different looking birds - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Three-toed Woodpecker (of race fasciatus) - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Slate-coloured Junco (of nominate race hyemalis)- Hillside Park, Anchorage

Two-barred Crossbill (of nominate race leucoptera) - Hillside Park, Anchorage 

Townsend's Warbler - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Swainson's Thrush - Hillside Park, Anchorage

Sign from Hillside Park

Links to the other days of the trip (click to view)