Anchorage Birding Guide

Anchorage Birding Guide

Greater Anchorage Area – Officially called the Municipality of Anchorage with an estimated 298,695 residents in 2015.  It is Alaska’s most populous city and contains more than 40 percent of the state’s population; among the fifty (50) states, only New York has a higher percentage of residents who live in its’ most populous city.

Anchorage is located in the south-central portion of Alaska at the terminus of the Cook Inlet on a peninsula formed by the Knik Arm to the north and the Turnagain Arm to the south.  The city limits span 1,961.1 square miles (5,079.2 km2) which encompass the urban core, a joint military base – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, several outlying communities, and almost all of Chugach State Park.

  1. Metropolitan Anchorage Area
    1. Coastal Areas
      1. Port of Anchorage
      2. Ship Creek Mouth
      3. Elderberry Park
      4. Westchester Lagoon Area
      5. Lynn Ary Park
      6. Point Woronzoff
      7. Point Campbell Park
      8. Elmendorf Fish Hatchery
      9. Kincaid Park
      10. Carr-Gottstein Park
      11. Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area
      12. Westchester Lagoon
      13. Potters Marsh
      14. John’s Park
    2. Coast to Mountain Belt
      1. Ruth Arcand Park
      2. Oceanview Bluff Park
      3. Alaska Botanical Gardens
      4. Windsong Park
      5. Cuddy Family Midtown Park
      6. Business Park Wetlands
      7. Waldron Pond
      8. Far North Bicentennial Park
      9. “R” Street Alley
      10. Al Miller Memorial Park
      11. Spenard Crossing
      12. University Lake Park
      13. Cuddy Family Midtown Park
      14. East Chester
      15. Hillside Park
      16. Cheney Lake Park
      17. Goose Lake Park
      18. DeLong Lake Park
      19. Campbell Tract/Far North Bicentennial Park
      20. Russian Jack Springs Park
      21. Tikishla Park
      22. Arnold L. Muldoon Park
      23. Baxter Bog Park
      24. Chester Creek Greenbelt Park
      25. Davenport Fields??
      26. Government Hill
      27. Connors Lake Park
      28. Pop Carr Memorial Park
      29. Al Miller Memorial Park
      30. Little Campbell Lake Park
      31. Hillside Park
      32. Arctic Valley Road
      33. Arctic Valley Road – Large Overlook
    3. Mountainous Areas
      1. Glenn Alps – Flattop Hill
      2. Wolverine Peak Trailhead
      3. Dome Trailhead
      4. Potter Valley
      5. Bear Valley
      6. Glen Alps
      7. Stuck-again Heights
      8. Arctic Valley Ski Area
  2. Areas South of Anchorage
    1. McHugh Creek Park
    2. Crow Creek Road
    3. Alyeska Resort
    4. Potter’s Marsh
    5. McHugh Creek
    6. Indian
    7. Bird Creek
    8. Moose Flats Picnic Area
    9. Beluga Point
    10. Windy Corner Trailhead
    11. Bird Point
    12. Girdwood Junction
    13. Road Side Lakes South of Girdwood
    14. 20 Mile River
    15. Whittier Road Junction
    16. Portage Creek
  3. Areas North of Anchorage
    1. South Fork Eagle River Trailhead
    2. Eagle River Nature Center
    3. Eagle River Duck Pond
    4. Thunderbird Falls Trailhead
    5. Knik Arm – Fire Creek Estuary
    6. North Eagle River
    7. Birchwood
    8. Chugiak


Anchorage Birding Guide – Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area

Posted on by September 1, 2017

At a glance

Go here for

Good viewing access to the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge

Address

terminus of Selkirk Drive, Anchorage, AK 99502

Latitude and Longitude

61.1336 north latitude, -149.9665 west longitude (61.1336, -149.9665)

Description

This 60 acre former homestead is Anchorage’s newest park.  Opening on October 11, 2013 with wide acclaim, the natural area also boasts Anchorage’s first and only record of a Lazuli Bunting. Those visiting from the lower 48 states won’t be amazed at a Lazuli Bunting, but there are only a handful of records for all of Alaska and this one Lazuli Bunting was the first and only record for Anchorage, so it was a big deal.  Discovered on the opening day by Aaron B. who also was on hand to guide people through the just opened Natural Area.… Read the rest

Anchorage Birding Guide – Cheney Lake Park

Posted on by August 18, 2017

At a glance

Go here for

Ready access to Red-necked Grebes.  Decent chance at Common Loon and/or Pacific Loon.

Address

2245 Baxter Road, Anchorage, AK 99504

Latitude and Longitude

61.2003 north latitude, -149.7630 west longitude (61.2003, -149.7630)

Description

A beautiful lake surrounded by forest on the east side, the Chugach Range further on, and a very nice path that encircles the lake, Cheney Lake park offers a very low key location to whittle away an hour or two looking for Anchorage birds with good chances for Red-necked Grebes, Black-capped Chickadees, Hairy Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadees with a fair chance for a Common or Pacific Loon in the spring.

 

Until 1972, this area was a gravel extraction site. It later became a man-made lake.… Read the rest

Anchorage Birding Guide – Carr-Gottstein Park

Posted on by August 12, 2017

At a glance

Go here for

Convenient walking access to the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.  Walking access to shorebirds.  Chance to watch raptors actively hunting prey in the marshland that borders the mudflats.  Chance at an Asian or otherwise rare vagrant, especially in the fall.

Address

3130 Discovery Bay Drive, Anchorage, AK 99515

Latitude and Longitude

61.1175 north latitude, -149.9375 west longitude (61.1175, -149.9375)

Description

Carr-Gottstein Park lies within a 16-mile-long section of coastline in Anchorage, Alaska, stretching from Point Woronzof to Potter Creek lying within the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.  The vast majority of the refuge is located on intertidal floodplains of glacial silt, with a smaller portion consisting of coastal wetlands, bogs, wooded areas, and Potter Marsh, a popular wildlife viewing area.  … Read the rest