Jun 18, 2013 - 'Sploring!

Date: June 18, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: brilliant sunshine Temperature: start 54º High 74º an all time high record for Homer Wildlife count: Bear (scat only) Year List: 256 Birds: Black-billed Magpie, Song Sparrow, Lesser Scaup, Golden-crowned Sparrow, American Robin, Alder Flycatcher, Common Snipe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-necked Grebe, Bald Eagle, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Orange-crowned Warbler, We had a very relaxed morning, with breakfast out at the Sourdough Bakery and Café. We had tried eating there on...

Jun 17, 2013 - Day trip by boat to Seldovia

Date: June 18, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: brilliant sunshine, almost no wind Temperature: start 51º High 75º Wildlife count: Sea Otters Year List: 256 Birds: Song Sparrow, Common Murre, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Bald Eagles, Common Raven, Northwestern Crows, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Tufted Puffin, Pigeon Guillemot, Black-billed Magpie, Steller Jay, Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows This was an absolutely stunning day for a boat ride. The skies were bright blue and there was very little day breeze. We left Homer Harbor on...

Jun 16, 2013 - One Crazy Mixed-up Sunday!

Date: June 16, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: sunshine Temperature: start 48º High 68º Wildlife count: Sea Otter, Year List: 255 Birds: Black-billed Magpie, Sooty Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Bald Eagle, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Savannah Sparrow, Sandhill Cranes, Trumpeter Swan, Lesser Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Common Murre, Tufted & Horned Puffins, Pelagic...

Jun 15, 2013 - Busy day at work

Date: June 15, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: foggy till evening, then sunshine Temperature: start 48º High 58º Wildlife count: heard a lot about moose right in the VC grounds Year List: 255 Birds: Sandhill Cranes & Colt, Lincoln Sparrow, Sooty Fox Sparrow, Crow, Bald Eagle, Raven, Orange-crowned Warbler, Alder Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Sparrow, We enjoyed our day at work, speaking to lots of excited people. At the end of the day, we realized that both of us had spent the day on our feet and that we were tired. Had a Fat...

Jun 14, 2013 - Bird walk at work

Date: June 14, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: sunny, some morning fog Temperature: start 45º High 61º Wildlife count: Moose, Pine Squirrel, Porcupine Year List: 255; Life list: 368 Birds: Lincoln Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Sandhill Cranes & Colt, Green-wing Teal, Pintail & ducklings, Sooty Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Sparrow Four guests returned to the VC this morning requesting a bird walk, so it was my turn, and what fun we had. We saw all kinds of things and were out for almost 2 hours. A highlight was to see...

Jun 13, 2013 - Busy day at work

Date: June 13, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: sunshine, but heavy fog around midday. Temperature: start 48º High 62º Wildlife count: Pine Squirrle Year List: 253 Birds: Sooty Fox Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Crow, Eagle Ravens It was a very busy day at work today – spent a lot of time with folks interested in birding, and there was only Rachel on duty with us and she had lots of work to do. We had a great time sharing with the guests. Our plan was to drive out...

Jun 12, 2013 - Back to work

Date: June 12, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: sunshine, then fog Temperature: start 50º High 59º Wildlife count: Year List: 252; Life list: 367 Birds: Hermit Thrush, Bald Eagle, Alder Flycatcher, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Yellow Warbler We walked to work on this beautiful morning, identifying a life bird, the Alder Flycatcher in the trees at the Visitor’s Center. It was a pretty crazy day, work on more learning in the bookstore, LOTS of people with many questions. Each...

Jun 11, 2013 - Exit Glacier, Sea Life Center, Kenai NWR, home

Date: June 11, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: mostly sunny Temperature: start 61º High 73º Wildlife count: Mosquitoes Year List: 251 Birds: Varied Thrush, American Robin, Tree Swallow, Hermit Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Steller’s Jay, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Violet-green Swallows, Common Raven, Bald Eagle, Black-billed Magpie, Northwestern Crow, Trumpeter Swan, Arctic Swan, Mew Gull, Red-tailed Hawk, We began the morning early with a hike out to Exit Glacier, a little over 2 miles round trip. The very first thing...

Jun 8, 2013 - Drive out East End to Circle Lake Road

Date: June 8, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: sunny Temperature: start 52º first time above 50 High 64º Wildlife count: porcupine, Moose & twin calves Year List: 244 Birds: Northern Harrier, Black-billed Magpie, Golden-crowned, Sooty Fox, Song, and Savannah Sparrow, Swainson’s & Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Sandhill Crane, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, We walked to work again this morning and only worked the morning shift – how neat! I found a place to have my hair cut here...

Jun 7, 2013 - Marsh birding

Date: June 7, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: sunny Temperature: start 43º High 63º Whoohoo! Wildlife count: Sea Otters Year List: 244 Birds: Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Bald Eagle, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Magpie, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow We worked a ½ day this morning – I think the young workers felt sorry for us old folks! After a quick bite of lunch, we completed the laundry and ironing to get our uniforms in ready shape, then sat outdoors and soaked in the sunshine. Dinner was grilled...

Jun 6, 2013 - Walking the Marsh & Presentations

Date: June 6, 2013 Tonight’s Location: Homer, AK Weather: bright sunshine Temperature: start 43º High 61º Wildlife count: Moose, Sea Otters Year List: 244 Birds: Black-legged Kittiwake, Semi-palmated Plover, Sand-hill Crane, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Bald Eagle, Glaucous-winged & Herring Gulls, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Savannah Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler Our first trek this morning was out onto Beluga Slough and it was fascinating. The vegetation changes completely with only an inch change in elevation because that...

Jun 5, 2013 - Homer, AK

We left Seward about 10:30 am and drove the 173 miles to Homer. We are parked up on Homer Spit. Take a look at a map and you will understand where we are parked. The only wildlife today was a moose along the highway. We are overlooking the Kamishak Bay. No whales sighted but lots of sea birds and eagles. In one of the pictures above you will see a helicopter on the deck. Guy must have just gotten it. Got a kick out of watching him do take offs and landings. Hope he has enough sense not to fly with high winds as he will probably park it in...