I was told that late July was the warmest month in Barrow. It sure hasn't been showing lately, especially the last two days. Winds gusting up to 40mph and snow showers have been pelting the town, making for very cold wind chills. However, the winds are from the west, and very strong and have persisted for almost two days now, and are supposed to continue until Friday morning! On Thursday, after a day of west winds, I went about town hoping for some westerly vagrants. I couldn't turn up much at all, but here is a picture of a Yellow-billed Loon. Hard to get a good digiscoped shot in snow and foggy weather.

After some massive data entry and inventory, I decided to check what the second day of westerly winds blew in. The first good bird was a Yellow Wagtail, at the same spot as the only other one I have seen this season. It flew up and I got it in flight, where the wind carried it a ways and I was unable to relocate it. I will look for it tomorrow.

As I continued to sort through juvi Semipalmated Sandpipers and ratty looking Glaucous Gulls, a Herring Gull (3rd year I think) caught my attention. I snapped a few pictures, once again in less than ideal conditions. It has a dark eye and a fairly dark mantle, looking good for Vega Herring Gull I believe.

Just a little ways past the previous Herring Gull, another breeding plumaged adult Herring Gull allowed me to take some decent pictures. This one has a bright red orbital ring and a chunky build, perfect for Vega Herring Gull. Here is a picture.

The Slaty-backed Gulls should be on their way... I hope. I forgot to mention, the long-staying Swainson's Hawk was also battling the wind gusts today as well.

There is still one Pectoral Sandpiper nest on our plots. It is the only shorebird nest left we have active, and it was still incubating when last checked, and the eggs were still a few days away from hatching. Tomorrow it gets checked again, it will be interesting to see if it made it through this weather; a lot of the Dunlin chicks we are monitoring did not make it. Here is a cool Snowy Owl shot I took.

Two more members of our crew leave on Friday, leaving me and the two crew leaders left to finish up the season. Tomorrow is moving and storing day, and after that, data entry and birding! These west winds have to bring in some more goodies.

I guess one last note, my friend and I found an empid flycatcher a few days ago hanging out in the NARL area. Why did it have to be an empid!? We only got quick looks at it while chasing it around for a while as it was very flitty and would not sit still. We agreed it looked good for Alder Flycatcher, but it never sang and I never could refind it.

Keep your fingers crossed for western vagrants, I have a few on the mind!

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