Eurasian Collared Dove
Location: Anchorage, AK – Elderberry Park
First Seen: July 26, 2015
Last Seen: September 5, 2015
Discovered by: Beth Peluso
Relative Rarity: First ever report in the Anchorage Area.
Terek Sandpiper
Location: Anchorage, AK – Mouth of Chester Creek south to Earthquake Park
First Seen: June 3, 2015
Last Seen: July 8, 2015
Discovered by: Franklin Clemens
Relative Rarity: The summer, 2015 Terek Sandpiper represents the 8th record for the Upper Cook Inlet Region (previous Anchorage records included singles along tidal flats 18 June 1977, 10-16 June 1979, 14 August 1982, 27-28 June 1984, 6 July to 1 August 1987, 8-9 June 1990, and 8-15 July 1998). Further, and most incredible, all but one of the previous records were of birds found on the mudflats between Fish Creek and Chester Creek – must be some choice mud!
The Terek Sandpiper
Location: Anchorage, AK – Mouth of Chester Creek south to Earthquake Park
First Seen: June 3, 2015
Last Seen: July 8, 2015
Discovered by: Franklin Clemens
Relative Rarity: The summer of 2015 Terek Sandpiper represents the 8th record for the Upper Cook Inlet Region (previous Anchorage records included singles along tidal flats 18 June 1977, 10-16 June 1979, 14 August 1982, 27-28 June 1984, 6 July to 1 August 1987, 8-9 June 1990, and 8-15 July 1998). Further, and most incredible, all but one of the previous records were of birds found on the mudflats between Fish Creek and Chester Creek – must be some choice mud! (that last bit from Buzz Sher)
Common Yellowthroat
Location: Anchorage, AK – Potter Marsh
First Seen: June 24, 2015
Last Seen: June 24, 2015
Discovered by: Barry Zimmer with VENT Tours
Relative Rarity: Listed as “Casual.” Last Anchorage sighting probably June, 2011
Wilson’s Phalarope
Location: Anchorage, AK – Campbell Point Park near the Clithroe Center in Anchorage
First Seen: May 11, 2015
Last Seen: May 11, 2015
Discovered by: Declan Troy
Relative Rarity: Some reports in South central, AK including the Kenai Peninsula and the Goose Bay area in 2014 and 2015. Last seen in Anchorage in 2007, prior to that 2006, and prior to that in 1985.
The Common Murre
Location: Anchorage, AK – Mouth of Ship Creek/Port of Anchorage
First Seen: March 6, 2015
Last Seen: March 6, 2015
Discovered by: Peter Scully
Relative Rarity: Casual in Anchorage (except seemingly in 2015). Another group of eight birds reported by Peter Scully off Pt. Woronzoff on March 7, 2015, Another group of two birds reported by Peter Scully off the Kincaid Park Motocross Track on March 8, 2015. Between three and ten birds seen by many off Pt. Woronzoff on July 17, 2015 and finally another single bird off the Audubon Bench on the Anchorage Coastal Trail on July 29, 2015. 2015 was a banner year for Common Murre in Anchorage, AK!
The Cassin’s Finch
Cassin’s Finch
Location: Anchorage, AK – Chester Creek Nature Trail upstream from Spenard Crossing.
First Seen: January 18, 2015 (positively identified on January 19, 2015)
Last Seen: Early April, 2015
Discovered by: Aaron Bowman, Pat Pourchot, and Jennifer Johnson
Relative Rarity: First Anchorage Record
The Purple Finch
Purple Finch
Location: Anchorage, AK – Chester Creek Nature Trail upstream from Spenard Crossing.
First Seen: January 17, 2015
Last Seen: Early April, 2015
Discovered by: Dick Prentki
Relative Rarity: First Anchorage Record
The American Redstart
American Redstart
Location: Anchorage, AK – R Street Alley
First Seen: August 23, 2014
Last Seen: August 25, 2014
Discovered by: A friend of Christine Maack. First positively identified by Thede Tobish?
Relative Rarity: Rare for Anchorage and South Central, AK. One previous record on June 23, 2002 by Nathan and Stanley Senner.
The Stilt Sandpipers
Stilt Sandpiper
Location: Anchorage, AK – Carr Gottstein Park
First Seen: August 17, 2014
Last Seen: August 18, 2014
Discovered by: Peter Scully
Relative Rarity: Casual. Previous reports of one (1) on September 13, 2013 at Carr Gottstein Park, one (1) on July 23, 2013 at Westchester Lagoon by Dick Prentki, and one (1) in 1998 by Nathan and Stanley Senner.
The Red Knot
Red Knot
Location: Anchorage, AK – Coastal Trail at the Audubon Bench
First Seen: May 25, 2014 by Peter Scully
Last Seen: May 25, 2014
Discovered by: Peter Scully
Relative Rarity: Second Alaska mainland record and the first record for the Anchorage area. Most others reported at Gambell in western Alaska.
Information: Don’t laugh at the picture! The bird was over 600 meters away.
The Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Location: Anchorage, AK – Turnagain Neighborhood
First Seen: November 13, 2013
Last Seen: November 13, 2013
Discovered by: Judith Haggar and W. Keys
Relative Rarity: First Anchorage Record
The Lazuli Bunting
Lazuli Bunting
Location: Anchorage, AK – Campbell Creek Estuary Park
First Seen: October 11, 2013
Last Seen: October 15, 2013
Discovered by: Aaron Bowman
Relative Rarity: A few reports from Southeast Alaska. Most notably in 2008 in Juneau and again in 2009 in Ketchikan. First reported sighting in mainland Alaska and any part of Alaska north of Juneau.
Information:
The American Coot
American Coot
Location: Anchorage, AK – Lake Hood
First Seen: October 6, 2013 by Aaron Bowman, subsequently see by many
Last Seen: October 21, 2013
Discovered by: Aaron Bowman
Relative Rarity: Generally less than annual, but previous reported at Lake Hood in 2012, 2007, and 2004. A few other reports at Potter Marsh in 2010 and 1980.
The Siberian Stonechat
Location: Anchorage, AK – Carr Gottstein Park
First Seen: September 24, 2013 by Aaron Bowman
Last Seen: September 24, 2013
Discovered by: Aaron Bowman
Relative Rarity: Second Alaska mainland record and the first record for the Anchorage area. Most others reported at Gambell in western Alaska.
The Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Location: Anchorage, AK – 4700 Elmore Road (The MOA Permit Office)
First Seen: October 18, 2012
Last Seen: October 19, 2012
Discovered by: Thede Tobish
Relative Rarity: Thede says Palm Warblers are “a common rarity” in Alaska. “1 or 2 are found every year all over the state.” This, however, is only the 2ndrecord in our part of the state. The first was 2 years ago when Luke DiCicco discovered a deceased Palm Warbler on the sidewalk of the Girdwood gas station.
Information: On Wednesday, October 17 2013, Thede posted on AK Birding: “I’ve started checking chickadee flocks for late migrants.” 21 hours later, he found a Palm Warbler.