The Deskbound Birder: Alaska - 6th June (Day 10)

Monday 6 June 2016

Alaska - 6th June (Day 10)

Today was primarily a driving day and when we awoke to rain we were quite relieved that this was not the weather we had been provided with yesterday when we were looking for Smith's Longspur. We headed out of the Denali Highway Cabins at 05:30 driving the highway south from Paxton. We were quickly out of the mountains into a surprisingly flat landscape dominated by spruce forest, a brief stop produced a Red-tailed Hawk of the very dark form known as Gunlocks Hawk, and 25 Bohemian Waxwing. We birded Gulkana Airport where a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek is present but we had no luck with this. However, the birding around the lakes to the east of the airport was excellent and we had great views of a Slavonian Grebe on nest, Alder Flycatcher, Northern Waterthrush, Lesser Yellowlegs and, in terms of rarity, best of all two Rusty Blackbird, a species that is rapidly declining. We then drove on south to the Tolsona Wilderness Camp ground where a Great Grey Owl nest has previously been present but we had no luck and the birding here was dominated by thousands of mosquito but we did see Northern Flicker and Boreal Chickadee. A lunch stop at the Sheep Mountain Lodge where Boreal Owl is occasionally present in nest boxes was once again met with disappointment. On outwards towards Anchorage on persistent rain and strong winds we searched the spruce along the highway for Hawk Owl but with no luck. So, a three owl dip day and with the rain falling we headed to Anchorage, checked into the Motel 6 and went for dinner at the Rustic Goat before crashing at around mid-night after a few too many beers.