Sitka 6/13--RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, Swainson's Thrush, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Townsend's Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow

Photo: Shari Zirlin

Sitka is, let us say, an unprepossessing town, too small to have a cruise ship dock--we had to be "tendered in" by one of the lifeboats that do double-duty as water taxis.

Shari had signed us up for a birding watching tour and while I realize that these sorts of shore excursions are geared toward the lowest common denominator, I didn't expect the tour guide to be in that cohort. Not only did I know more about birding than she did, I knew more about Alaska birding than she did.

However, get us to a place with birds and we'll do okay. The trip was to a wetlands of the Starrigavan Estuary. They were especially wet since it rained almost the entire time we were there. We heard lots of birds, starting in the parking lot. No matter what we heard, the guide identified it as Swainson's Thrush. I did hear a thrush very similar to a Veery. According to Sibley, that was the Swainson's.

The big moment of the day was when I saw a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER land on a tree trunk, giving us "field guide looks." There were a few serious birders on the trip, & one of them, Anne, from Texas, was as thrilled to see it as we were. One more--Williamson's--and we'll have all the world's sapsuckers.

There were a couple of novice birders from Singapore with us--everything they saw was a life bird. I envied them, in a way. A sweet moment was when one of them spotted a Lincoln's Sparrow sitting on the branch of a tree. 
As I said, the weather was lousy--they don't call it a rain forest for nothing--but after the trip we made our way via shuttle bus to Sitka National Historic Park--site of a great battle between the Russians and Native People (guess who won) to look totem poles that have been there for about 100 years. There we happy to find a few Chestnut-backed Chickadees and 1 spectacular Townsend's Warbler. The warbler was hopping around in low brush and branches & I was looking through two sets of rain splattered lenses, but all at once it popped into view, perfect & bright, & I almost jumped out of my shoes.

So given the conditions, I thought Sitka was successful & productive stop.

Sitka

Common Merganser	Starrigavan Estuary
Common Loon	Starrigavan Estuary
Great Blue Heron	Starrigavan Estuary
Bald Eagle	Outside Crescent Bay
Belted Kingfisher	Starrigavan Estuary
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER	Starrigavan Estuary
Common Raven	Starrigavan Estuary
Tree Swallow	Starrigavan Estuary
Barn Swallow	Starrigavan Estuary
Chestnut-backed Chickadee	Sitka Nat. Historical Park
Swainson's Thrush	Starrigavan Estuary
Hermit Thrush	Starrigavan Estuary
American Robin	Starrigavan Estuary
Varied Thrush	Starrigavan Estuary
Townsend's Warbler	Sitka Nat. Historical Park
Lincoln's Sparrow	Starrigavan Estuary

Here I am, low man on the etc.