Recent Sightings
January 9, 2011 - 1:54pm | 
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May 9, 2013 A Western Tanager was seen on Lutak Road. A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet and Red-Breasted Sapsucker were sighed in the Small Tracts area. This Orange-Crowned Warbler was seen at a hummingbird feeder near Mt. Riley.
May 7, 2013 Humpback whale Dottie paid a visit to Lutak Inlet. This whale is notable for the scars on its back and white on the dorsal fin. Three Common Loons, 3 Horned Grebes and 3 Ring-Necked Ducks were also sighted. Along with numerous Rufous Hummingbirds, a Yellow Warbler was trying to get to the sweet nectar in a hummingbird feeder. The beautiful song of Hermit Thrushes was heard. A large flock of Yellow-Rumped Warblers along with a couple of Orange-Crowned Warblers were seen foraging in the alders near grasses on the beach. Four Great Blue Herons were seen at Picture Point. And the bears are out. Bear tracks were seen at the golf course and bear scat on Lutak Road.
Dottie the whale photo by Ron Horn
May 6, 2013 Over fifty thousand birds observed along Mud Bay Road and Lutak Road!!! Most of these were gulls in for the hooligan, but there were also about 20,000 ducks. Huge rafts of Surf Scoters are in Lutak Inlet. Also in the Lutak-Chilkoot area were Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, numerous pairs of Marbled Murrelets, 3 Common Loons and 3 Humpback Whales. The Violet-Green Swallows have also returned.
Bonaparte Gulls with Hooligan.
May 5, 2013 A couple hundred ducks at Chilkat today including Green-Winged teals, and 2 Northern Harriers, 8 Ravens vocalizing and pairing up, Bald Eagle soaring and gulls gathering and overhead back and forth. Marbled Godwits, that fly al the way from New Zealand, arrived along with Long-Billed Dowitchers and Dunlins. A Red-Breasted Sapsucker was observed along with Hairy Woodpeckers. Songbirds everywhere. The raptors are returning also. Peregrine Falcons, Merlins and Red-Tailed Hawks have been seen.
May 4, 2013 At least 50 Goldeneyes were seen in Lynn Canal in front of a large raft of Surf Scoters and two Harlequin Ducks. At the Chilkoot River, two nesting eagles, one of them sitting in nest, other chasing off an Osprey that was hunting nearby. Just after, we spotted some Mallard ducks (two males and a female) fishing in the river, which moments later were dive-bombed by a Peregrine Falcon. We also spotted a male Northern harrier flying upstream toward the lake.
May 3, 2013 In Lutak Inlet at the cove between the RV Park and McGuires there were Shovelers, Pintails, Widgeons, Green Winged Teals and Mallards. Near the ferry terminal there were White Winged Scoters and the usual murrelets and golden-eyes. At the end of River Road were Pintails, widgeons, green winged teals, mallards, eagles, gulls and a hawk. Hooligan had arrived to this point as well. Hooligan were also found in the Chilkoot river.
May 2, 2013 A Pine Grosbeak was observed at a 4th Avenue feeder.
May 1, 2013 Horned Larks were observed downtown.
April 30, 2013 An American Pipit was seen at Tanani Point.
April 29, 2013 A Great Blue Heron was sighted at Mud Bay, and a Great Grey Owl at a feeder off FAA Road.
April 28, 2013 Hundreds of Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finches have been seen along the Chilkat River flyway. They are in flocks of a couple of a hundred. The photo below will help to identify this migratory bird.
Photo by Ron Horn
April 26, 2013 Four Wilson's Snipes and a Townsend's Solitaire were in the grasses on the beach along Lutak Road. A Northern Harrier (aka Marsh Hawk) was also cruising the beach and a White Crowned Sparrow at the feeder.
April 24, 2013 A Moose was reported on Moose Lane. Two Bears have been reported in the FAA Road area.
April 23, 2013 Several people observed the return of Red-Breasted Sapsuckers to their summer territories. A Trumpeter Swan was seen at 11 Mile.
April 22, 2013 700 ducks in the Chilkat River near River Road. They were there in the morning, but had moved on my afternoon. They were mostly Mallards, along with some Pintails, Shovelers and scaups. There were also Snow Geese and Canada Geese. There was also about 8 Ravens making quite a racket while 4 Eagles circled above. A Northern Harrier burst out of the trees and the ravens and harrier engaged in aerial battles.
April 20, 2013 The fish causing the gathering of gulls, eagles and sealions were identified as capelin.
April 19, 2013 Rufous Hummingbirds, Black-Bellied Plovers, Myrtle Warblers, Northern Shovelers and Savannah Sparrows have joined the migration.
April 18, 2013 The migration continues in Chilkat Estuary/River Road area. In addition to the Snow Geese, Canada Geese, Mallards, American Widgeons, and Northern Pintails, a Gadwall was sighted. There are hundreds of noisy Common Redpolls flitting about along with Varied Thrushes and Robins singing to stake their territories. Joining the chorus were Pacific Wrens (aka Winter Wrens) and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. Throughout the area, eagles are returning to their nesting territories. You can see the pairs sitting together near their nests. There are hundreds of Surf Scoters in Lutak Inlet along with Mallards, Mergansers, and Buffleheads and Goldeneyes. If you watch carefully, you can see their mating dances.
April 17, 2013 It was a busy day in the Chilkat Estuary/River Road area. There were large flocks of seagulls and about 60 Steller Sealions, implying an influx of fish. The species of fish have yet to be identified. In addition, 60 Snow Geese including one rare blue phase Snow goose (see photo below) and 11 Canada Geese were seen foraging along the river bank. There are also flocks of Mallards, American Widgeons, Green-Winged Teals and Northern Pintails. And a mosquito!
Photo by Kathleen Menke
April 14, 2013 A pair of Mallards, 6 robins and eleven Canada Geese were seen in the river Road area.
April 2, 2013 Pintails and Shovelers were observed at the golf course. Seveeral people have observed large flocks of Redpolls and Pine Siskins.
March 30, 2013 A Song Sparrow was singing at the museum and a Varied thrush was singing at 26 mile.
March 16, 2013 Two people driving the Haines Highway saw a Great Gey Owl and a Red Fox. An unusual sighting of a group of Common Murres was seen in Portage Cove. Lots of Magpies have been sighted at Small Tracts.
March 8, 2013 Stellar's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Common Redpolls and Harris' Sparrow were seen at a feeder in Klukwan.
March 7, 2013 a day of whales! An Orca cow and calf were observed breaching in Portage Cove. A little later, two Humpback Whales were spotted close to the cruise ship dock.
March 2, 2013 Two robins in breeding plumage were seen at Tanani Bay. This is early, but not record breaking. We also had overwintering robins this year. The overwintering ones are pale by comparison to the ones in breeding plumage. Skunk Cabbage is poking up in the Allen Road area. This is about a month early for the last 15 years. Pussywillows are out across from the Police Station. A Barred Owl and a Pygmy Owl have been heard calling, and a woodpecker claiming territory along the flank of Mt. Ripinsky above Allen and Piedad Roads.
February 27, 2013 Recently flocks of Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins and White-winged Crossbills along with a Bohemian Waxwing and a Pine Grosbeak were seen in the Cemetary Hill area. There have been many sightings of White-winged Crossbills this winter throughout the townsite and Mud Bay area.
February 26, 2013 Wolves were heard howling near the Fairgrounds and wolf tracks were seen in the vicinity.
February 22, 2013 A Red-Breased Nuthatch was observed near the ferry terminal. There have been a larger than usual number of these birds this year.
Photo by Ron Horn
February 18, 2013 Hooligan have been sighted by several observers at several locations along the Chilkat River. Fish and Game examined some and found them to be small (60-70 mm versus >100mm normally). There was a mix of males and females and the females had roe, so they are spawners. The question remains: why are they here now? Are they the normal population who have arrived early or another population?
Photo by Brad Ryan
February 16, 2013 Orca sighted swimming against the tide in Lutak Inlet. It looks small; perhaps a juvenile.
February 12. 2013 A wolf was seen at Pyramid Island at low tide, and a pack of wolves were heard across the Chilkat River. The wolf was observed for about 45 minutes trotting along the shoreline and returning to the island.
February 11, 2013 Several people have observed White-Winged Crossbills this winter. the two most recent sightings were in town (several dozen birds) and along the lower Chilkoot River. Also in the townsite, a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatches were seen. This is a good year for these nuthatches. There have been unusually large numbers sighted here as well as in the lower 48.
February 6, 2013 A Varied Thrush was heard singing. The observer was surprised to hear the bird this early in the year, but it sang again and confirmed the sighting.
February 4, 2013 A large flock of Redpolls foraging near 6th and Dalton.
February 3, 2013 Three skiiers observed a very sluggish Black Bear. They watched it walk into the trees, then backtracked it. It had just emerged from its den at the base of a large tree. The den opening was very small, but obviously adequate.
February 3, 2013 A flock of Steller's Jays were observed along First Avenue. The observer remarked that this was early for jays to be there. In years past, jays haven't shown up until later in the spring.
January 31, 2013 Three coyotes and a wolf have been observed in the Piedad Road area. A local dog was injured by one of the coyotes. A limping coyote was seen later, so apparently the dog injured the coyote as well.
January 31, 2013 In Chilkat Inlet, several porpoises were observed moving fast northward, followed by 3-4 sea lions, and a couple seals. Shortly afterwards two Orcas were observed cruising north.
Photo by Michael Marks
January 30, 2013 A Downy Woodpecker was seen at a feeder on Young Road along with chickadees and juncos. A flock of Snow Buntings was observed near Jones Point Road. There were some reddish juveniles in the flock. This is early to be seeing these migrants.
January 26, 2013 Eight magpies, some ravens, and an eagle were observed on Young Road.
January 24, 2013 The mystery of the Stellar's Jays and Black-Billed Magpies continues. Folks at Porcupine and Mosquito Lake report that jays have not been seen this year. This is highly unusual. One observer reports not seeing jays for the first time in 19 years. On the other hand, both jays and magpies have been reported in town and along Mud bay Road. in addition to absent jays, very few juvenile goshawks have been reported this year.
January 23, 2013, Overwintering Robins were observed feeding in the bushes at the Fort. Bear tracks and a bear have been sighted in the Small Tracts area.
January 19-20, 2013 Two Humpback whales were seen in Tanani Bay.
January 20, 2013 On a bird watching trip the following bird were observed: 30 Mallard, 200 Surf Scoters, 6 Buffleheads, 166 Barrow's Goldeneyes, 19 Common Mergansers, 13 Bald Eagles, 36 Glaucous-winged Gull, 50 unidentified gulls, 46 Marbled Murrelets, 3 Black-billed Magpies, 1 Common Raven, 19 Chestnut-backed Chickadees, 5 American Dippers, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 and 20 White-winged Crossbills.
January 18, 2013 A large gray wolf was seen on Lutak Road at Tanani Bay
January 13, 2013 This Hawk owl was observed near the confluence of the Klehini River, up a slough. Flew back and forth across the slough. Very patient with us watching. Feel pretty confident that is was a hawk owl as seen by our photos. (Photo by Betsy VanBurgh)
December 10, 2013 A Harris's sparrow has been reported at a feeder in Klukwan since November. This is a first time sighting for this bird.
November 28, 2012 A Rough Legged Hawk was observed at Chilkoot Lake.
November 25, 2012 A Short-Eared Owl has been seen hunting near the bottom of Cemetary Hill. It is a light colored owl that hunts in daylight sometimes like a Northern Harrier.
November 20, 2012 A couple of tourists reported seeing two Trumpeter Swans run two juvenile eagles off a salmon carcass. The swans then proceeded to chow down on the salmon.
November 3, 2012 On First Avenue a Red-Winged Blackbird was observed on the water side of the road perched in branches. The bird flew down to the road to pick up some gravel? Another one flew across in front of a car in town.
October 11, 2012 Three orphaned Brown Bear cubs are still hanging around Lutak area.
October 10, 2012 An Anna's Hummingbird was visiting a feeder on Lutak Road on October 8, 9, and 10. Occasionally these hummers are seen late in the year. Are they on their way south from farther north?
October 10, 2012 Redbreasted Nuthatches were observed at feeders in the Skyline and Piedad areas. They seem to be more numerous this year.
October 9, 2012 The Mud Bay woodchuck turned out to be an arctic Ground Squirrel. The Chilkat forest Investigators set up a camera trap and identified it. Unfotunately it got hit by a car.
October 1, 2012 There are many gulls and eagles at Chilkoot River. There were at the very least 30 Common Mergansers near the lake. Along with these mergansers, in the marshes at the end of the river, there were over 20 Bald Eagles and more than 200 gulls of various species. Plenty of the eagles were still juvenile.
Photos submitted by Skye Posey
September 23, 2012 A Yellow Shafted Flicker (subspecies of Northern Flicker) was seen near Carr's Cove.
September 19, 2012 A Pacific wren (formerly a Winter wren) was observed near the recycling center.
September 15, 2012 A Sharp Shinned Hawk flew across the road at Mud Bay. A Kestrel was perched atop a street lamp near the old elementary school. A Mourning Dove ws observed flying overhead.
August 29, 2012 A woodchuck (or maybe a marmot) has been hanging out along the Chilkat River beach near Mud Bay Road.
August 27, 2012 Three orphaned Brown Bear cubs seen at Tanani Bay beaches.
August 25, 2012, A Common Nighthawk was observed flying over the track field catching insects on the wing.
August 25, 2012, Two orphaned Brown Bear cubs have been raiding carrot gardens in the Mud Bay area.
August 17, 2012, Three small Brown Bear cubs have been patrolling Lutak Road. There have been several sightings of these cubs without their mother.
June 27, 2012 A Black and White Warbler was seen across from the school. This could be a first for Haines. If anyone sees it, please try to photograph it to verify the species.
June 25, 2012 Juvenile Red-Breasted Sapsuckers were seen in their nest near Chilkoot State Park entrance.
June 21, 2012 Activity at several Bald Eagle nests suggests that eggs have hatched.
June 20, 2012 Three subadult Brown Bears have been seen along Lutak road. A single subadult with a green ear tag, and a pair (one with a blue ear tag and the other with pale fur).
June 17, 2012 A dead Raven was found at the chilkat center.
June 15, 2012 Bohemian Waxwings were seen at the fort.
June 13, 2012 A Eurasian Collared Dove was observed downtown.
June 1, 2012 A Wandering Tattler was seen at Letnikof cove.
May 29, 2012 A Caspian Tern was sighted near River Road.
May 28, 2012 White Boreal Toad observed at the Valley of the Eagles Golf Course.
May 23, 2012 Wilson's Warbler near small Tracts
May 22, 2012 Wilson's warblers and White-Crowned Sparrows seen at small tracts. Lesser Yellowlegs observed near Buster's sawmill.
May 20, 2012 "Spotted this lone Red Knot hanging around the 3 Hudsonian Godwits on Saturday early afternoon. He/she seems to go everywhere the Hudsonian's go - hangs around close with them."
May 19, 2012 A blonde sub-adult Brown Bear was seen on Beach Road. Three sub-adult Brown Bears have been seen frequently along the lower Chilkoot River. One is tagged and is the male cub of BMJ. The other two are its two siblings. All were born in 2010 and have recently been separated from their mother.
May 18, 2012 Observed near River Road, Hudsonian Godwit, Osprey and Semipalmated Plover. Also more eagles sitting eggs have been reported.
May 17, 2012 Observed on Small Tracts Road and Mud Bay Road: American Golden Plovers, Whimbrels, Horned Grebe, Black Bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Mew gulls, Herring Gulls, Glaucous Winged Gulls, Ring Necked Duck, Common Loon, Rufous Hummingbird, Chestnut Backed chickadees, Dark Eyed Juncoes, Pine Siskins and a Hudsonian Godwit.
May 17, 2012 Eagles are starting to sit on eggs. Three active nests were observed. They are starting late this year. Two swans were seen swimming at 8 Mile. Two sub-adult Brown Bears (no ear tags) were seen without their mother. They are two of ten cubs born in 2010 that frequent the lower Chilkoot River. We may be seeing several "teenage" bears on the Chilkoot this year.
Photo by Pam Randles
May 16, 2012 There was an Orange Crowned Warbler near the museum and a Whimbrel at the Presbyterian Church.
May 15, 2012 Western Wood Peewee, Myrtle Warbler, blue phase Snow Goose and a bunch of Whimbrels reported in town.
May 14, 2012 There has been a Snow Goose hanging around Small Tracts Road grazing. "Lone snow goose waddling around in a field. Relatively calm when we walked up to it." A Mountain Bluebird was also sighted at 16-17 Mile, and a flock of 40 or more sandpipers (Western or Semipalmated) were seen in the pass.
Photo by Pam Randles
May 13, 2012 Semipalmated Sandpiper hanging around the Golf Course.
May 12, 2012 A flock of about 15 Whimbrels were seen near the Presbyterian Church. A Townsend's Warbler was observed at Viking Cove - "been hearing them for a few days, finally saw one".
May 6, 2012 Flocks of White-Crowned and Golden-Crowned Sparrows have been flying around town. A Black Bear was seen near 22 Mile Haines Highway.
May 5, 2012 Seven Pelagic Cormorants were observed at Carr's Cove.
May 4, 2012 Boreal Toads have been observed at the golf course.
May 4, 2012 A Hudsonian Godwit was seen late morning on the 4th out at Chilkoot River mouth at the end of the spit. They winter in NW Queeensland Australia. A substantial migration, I'd say.
Photos by Mike Van Note
May 4, 2012 In Skagway by the airport, 22 geese - Snow Geese, Ross Geese and possible hybrids- along with American Wigeons, Green-Winged Teals, Bonaparte's Gulls.
May 4, 2012 Steller Sealions are in Upper Lynn Canal by the hundreds. They usually start to arrive in Mid-April and are around for the hooligan and herring runs until about mid-May. Department of Fish and Game mark some of them to study survival, reproduction and movement. Below is a picture of sealion W57 who was born in 2003 near Sitka. The largest count so far this year is 1200. The largest count ever is 1500. Our population is the largest in the world.
Photo by Kathleen Menke
May 3, 2012 On the Chilkoot side, about 3 dozen Steller sealions, 30 or more Harbor Seals, hundreds of gulls (Bonaparte's, Mew, Herring, Thayers), eagles, ducks (Mallard, American Wigeon, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Pintails. In Portage Cove, about 2000 Surf Scoters with some Pintails mixed in. On the Chilkat side, hundreds (at least) of migrating ducks, a flock of about 400 sandpipers including Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Pacific Golden Plovers. An Osprey and 4 Pelagic Cormorants at Pyramid Island.
May 3, 2012 Ducks strung out on near shore of Chilkat estuary--upstream, downstream, and right across from River Road includes:120 green-winged teals, 65 American wigeons, 42 pintails, 18 mallards, 4 Northern shovelers. Plus my first sighting of shorebirds this season: 2 Dunlins. 6 greater yellowlegs at outlet of Holgate Creek. 200 gulls (mixed species) circling out mid-Chilkat upstream (as if hooligan are in). 50 least sandpipers (pecking around in mudflats and shallow ponds alongside River Road, flitting together as a single entity and landing in close for a really good look at them). A couple hundred unidentified (not enough light) ducks still hanging out in a long stretch in the river, along the shoreline. A couple hundred gulls still circling farther upstream for hooligan
May 2, 2012 Hooligan have arrived! Herring have been here for a few days. The hooligan were spotted at 6 mile on May 1, and at the Lutak bridge om the morning of May 2. This morning a prematurely born Harbor Seal was found above the high tide line. HARK was called and arranged for the baby to be shipped to the Seward Sea Life Center. It was shipped to Juneau, then Anchorage, and veterinarians were on hand to aid the young seal on its way to Seward.
May 1, 2012 Just above the River Road turnaround, Pintail City - 520 Pintails, 38 Green-winged Teals, 18 American Wigeons, 10 Northern Shovelers and 6 Mallards.
April 30, 2012 Golden Plovers observed at Mud Bay, and swallows at Rainbow Glacier camp. Marbled Murrelets were seen at Tanani Point. Along Lutak Rd, Horned Grebes, Humpback Whales, Common Loon, Harlequin Ducks, a Shoveler, Barrow's Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers were observed. Observed in Chilkat Estuary just south of Holgate Creek, 90 Pintails, 16 Green-winged Teals, 6 Mallards, 6 Shovelers, 4 Bald Eagles, 2 Mew Gulls, 2 Ravens carrying nesting materials and a Northern Harrier.
April 29, 2012 Northern Harrier spotted at Carr's Cove. Just south of River Road, 120 Mallards, 14 Pintails and 14 Green-Winged Teals. At Jones Point 120 Snow Geese feeding along the shoreline..
April 28, 2012, Along River Road, 80 Mallards, 10 Green-Winged Teals, 8 pintails and 80 Bonaparte's Gulls were observed.
April 27 (some ducks heading out, first snow geese in) 180 mallards (male and female), 14 pintails (male and female), 14 green-winged teals male and female, 120 snow geese (far west side of Chilkat estuary)
April 26, 2012 (largest group yet) All birds are north of Pyramid Island and south of Jones Point in the Chilkat Estuary, mostly on the sandflats or in the shallows, from near shore to mid-river, except snow geese today are gathered all on far west side of the Chilkat. 170 pintails (male and female), 160 mallards (male and female), 110 green-winged teals (male and female), 12 Shovelers (male and female), 12 American widgeons (maie and female)
April 26, 2012 A Greater Scaup was observed at Carr's Cove.
April 25, 2012, Chilkat Estuary, 170 mallards (male and female), 14 American wigeons (male and female), 12 shovelers (male and female), 10 green-winged teals (male and female), 8 pintails (male and female)
April 24, 2012 Winter Wrens have arrived and are singing.
April 23-25, 2012, Brown Bear, BMJ and her three, large three-year-old cubs have been hanging around the lower Chilkoot River.
April 24, 2012 at Chilkat Estuary, 140 mallards, 16 green-winged teals, 12 pintails
April 23, 2012 Lots of Bonaparte's Gulls were observed along the lower Chilkoot river below the bridge. Could that mean hooligan?
April 23, 2012 At 8 Mile Mud Bay Road, a Rufous Hummingbird was seen.
April 22, 2012 Great Blue Herons and Boreal Toads have both been sighted. the herons were flying over Mud Bay and the toads were up the highway. The female Ruby-Crowned Kinglets began to arrive.
April 22, 2012, Chilkat Estuary, 80 mallards (male and female), 320 green-winged teals (male and female),12 pintails (male and female)
April 15 - 22, 2012 at the head of Mud Bay during Bird Bander training. Canada Geese, Northern Harrier, American Robins, Merlins, Bald Eagles, Chestnut-Backed Chickadees, American Kestrels, Mallards, Common Ravens, Wilson's Snipe, Varied Thrush, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Northwest Crow, Herring Gulls, Red-Tailed Hawk, Rufous Hummingbirds, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Song Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Golden-Crowned Sparrow, Semipalmated Plover, Mew gulls, Slate Colored Juncos, Steller's Jays, Great Blue Herons, Sharp-Shinned Hawk and Fox Sparrow.
April 21, 2012 Red Emporer tuilips in the school test gardens emerged. Five Great Blue Herons were observed at Rainbow Glacier Camp.
April 20, 2012 Skunk Cabbage began to emerge.
April 19, 2012 at the Chilkat Estuary at the bottom of Cemetary Hill, 16 pintails (maie and female), 1 pair mallards, 1 pair American widgeons, 1 pair buffleheads, 1 pair green-winged teals,1 ring-necked duck
April 19, 2012 approximately 4 pm, Bonaparte's Gulls were observed just downstream from the Lutak Bridge over the Chilkoot River.
April 17, 2012 American Kestrel sighted on a shed roof near the Recycle Center.
April 16, 2012 Greater Yellowlegs seen at Tanani Bay.
April 15, 2012 The first mosquito was sighted. These are the large and slow ones. More to come.
April 14, 2012 Male Ruby-Crowned Kinglets began to sing.
April 12, 2012 Dark-Eyed Juncoes (both the Oregon and Slate Colored varieties) arrived.
April 10, 2012 Bear tracks on Lilly Lake Road and Rufous Hummingbirds moving up the Chilkat Peninsula.
April 10, 2012 Butterflies and big fuzzy bees are beginning to show up.
April 9, 2012 Bear tracks at Lutak.
April 4, 2012 "There was a pair of hooded mergansers in Lutak Inlet this morning (well up until noon when I left the area). They were mainly down where the new building and small cabins are along the road. There was also a juvenile loon down towards the RV park near the Chilkoot River inlet."
April 4, 2012 The rush begins! robins, swans, kingfishers and surf scoters have all been observed.
April 1, 2012 A Robin was seen at Mud Bay. Several Sooty Grouse ( Blue Grouse, Hooters) have been heard throughout the valley.
April 1, 2012 Robin observed at 26 mile "Robin was flying up from the road and to a nearby house. I'm ninety percent sure that it was a robin. It had a red breast and dark brown wings.".
April 1, 2012 Two pteryodactyls and an archeopteryx migrating north on this date.
March 30, 2012 Robins first heard in Haines.
March 29, 2012 Signs of spring! Little pussy willow buds are beginning to show. A redpoll was observed at a feeder on Barnette St. Varied Thrush may have been heard.
March 27, 2012 Robins arrived in Juneau and Pelican.
March 24, 2012 Lutak Inlet. There is quite a bit of activity at the mouth of the Chilkoot River. Two local residents found a capelin washed up on the beach. They also heard a Hooter (Blue or Sooty Grouse) in the forest and saw a hawk. There were about 400 Surf Scoters in the inlet. They are gathering to fuel up for the summer and to choose mates. Pigeon Guillemots are also back and gathering near the docks where they nest. Quite a few eagles are on the Chilkoot side of the mountain. Other residents such as ravens, crows, gulls and Common Mergansers are hanging out in Lutak Inlet.
March 23, 2012 Six Mallards observed at Chilkat estuary.
March 21, 2012, Observed at 21 Mile Chilkat River, "four Common goldeneyes, three males and one female plus a pair of trumpeter swans. Interesting faces of two of the male common goldeneyes. Could one be a juvenile?" [Ed. Note: yes}
March 17, 2012 Pygmy Owl hooting in the forest above Piedad Road.
March 11, 2012 Northern Shrike at the Tank Farm beach. "Driving along the road and spotted this little fella sitting on a wire on the water side of the road. Watched him for about 5 seconds before he flew off towards the water behind some trees."
February 26, 2012 Red-Breasted Mergansers seen by the Chilkoot River Bridge. [photo Ann Puffer]
February 22, 2012 Hooligan were seen near Klukwan.
February 19, 2012 Lutak Inlet. Quite a number of Red-Breasted Mergansers, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Mallards, Marbled Murrelets, and hundreds of gulls (Mew, Glaucous Winged, Herring/Thayer) plus the usual magpies, crows, ravens and eagles
February 18, 2012 A bit fuzzy pix, but this cute owl was perched in a small cottonwood on the beach at the house. Species unknown. [Ed, Note: looks like a Northern Pygmy Owl]
February 18, 2012 Portage Cove. Along with the usual dozens of Barrow's Goldeneyes, Ravens, Crows, Magpies and Gulls, a Common Loon, several Longtailed Ducks, Buffleheads, and two Red-Breasted Mergansers were sighted.
February 18, 2012 Driving up the Haines highway yesterday there were tons of eagles in the trees and on the river banks. An odd site for this time of year.
February 15, 2012 Northern Shrike sitting on a phone wire by the Senior Center.
February 14, 2012 Recently deceased Harbor Seal on the beach north of Pyramid Island. Birds were just starting on it.
February 14, 2012 Four Red-Breasted Mergansers and three Buffleheads (one male) sighted in Tanani Bay/Lutak area.
February 1-14, 2012 February Observations Tanani Point--first two weeks from Kathleen Menke. Groups of two to four sea lions observed on three separate days. One harbor porpoise pretty close in and rolling through the water. A raft of goldeneyes (several dozen, male, female, youth). Several harlequins, some in pairs, some singly. Common mergansers, male and female in pairs, two sets, and one female single. Lots of gulls, but didn't ID them as to species. [Ed note: most likely candidates are Mew, and Glaucous-winged] I believe much of what we see at Lutak/Tanani Point this time of year is directly related to the significant productivity of the Chilkoot Watershed. Oh yeah, and this little guy on the Tanani beach also. I believe it is a fox sparrow. [Ed. note: Yes. This guy is a red (taiga) phase fox sparrow. We get both red and sooty (Pacific)]
February 12, 2012 Seen along Lutak Road Long-Tailed Duck, Common Loon, goldeneyes, mergansers, mew and glaucous-winged gulls and eagles. An eagle swooped down and caught a duck. The Great Blue Heron was seen hunting at Schnabel's pond again.
January 31, 2012 Snowfall has reached 286 inches or 23.8 feet in town and 262.6 " or 21.9" at the border.
January 21, 2012 Great Blue Heron was sighted at Southeast Roadbuilders this afternoon.
January 13, 2012 Great Blue Heron was seen at 3 Mile in the morning.
January 6, 2012 From November 1, 2011 to January 6, 2012, Haines had 17.4 feet of snow! And we're only half way through winter. Record breaking snows this winter.
January 1, 2012 (about) Two Sitka Black-=Tailed Deer seen near the Tank Farm.