Gone Birding June 13, 2011 Bargain Hunter
Bruce Glick and his wife Helen are currently traveling to Alaska where he reports on their travels, including bird sightings.
Skagway and Haines, Alaska
After traveling over 4,000 miles from Millersburg, we arrived at Skagway, our first Alaska destination. Those of you have traveled this route know about the steep descent from the ice-filled lakes and glaciers to the cruise ship town of Skagway. The RV park was conveniently located a block from town and right next to the harbor and the steep mountains. It was easy to walk or bike anywhere we wanted to go.
From our campsite I could hear the songs of Pine Siskins, Orange-crowned Warblers and Varied Thrushes. Stellers Jays stayed around the campground, undoubtedly having learned that people would feed them. At a small park close by, a Dipper claimed a stretch of the fast-moving stream.
A glacier-fed river emptied into the bay( really a long, wide fjord). At low tide, lots of birds could be found in this area, including Arctic Terns, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Bald Eagles, and Harlequin Ducks. I suspect that the terns may be nesting on the gravel at the edge of the river – the birds dive-bombed me until I gladly moved away.
The next day we took a one-day trip to Juneau and back on a fast catamaran called Fjordlands. What a great day – lots of time looking at Hump-backed Whales, Harbor Seals (not in the harbor), Stellers Sea-Lions, and dozens of Bald Eagles. Sea-birds were also in evidence, especially Marbled Murrelets, Common Muerres, Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots, and several species of gulls. We did see one jaeger but couldnt decide which species it was. In Juneau, the capital of Alaska, which can only be reached by boat or plane, a Rufous Hummingbird was visiting a feeder at a home right downtown, close to the ever-present cruise ships.
The following morning we drove our camper onto an Alaska ferry and enjoyed the one hour, 15 mile trip to Haines. Driving there would have taken 250 miles or more. In Haines, the absence of cruise ships created an entirely different atmosphere – much quieter and more relaxed. After finding a perfect campsite at Chilkoot Lake State Park, it was time to do some fishing. Learning how to fish the fast-moving river for Dolly Varden (trout) took some time but was really fun. Salmon are just beginning to show up in the rivers.
Birds around Haines were similar to Skagway but I did see several Fox Sparrows (much darker than ours) and a Red-breasted Sapsucker. About 30-40 Bald Eagles could be seen along the river. In the winter this number jumps to 3,500 or more in the Haines area. That must be quite a sight.
From here well drive up to Haines Junction, passing through British Columbia again and back into the Yukon. Good birding.
Bruce Glick
birderbruce@yahoo.com
