Tustumena Lake, Alaska

Next stop was driving down the Tustumena Lake Road to the lake.  The is the largest freshwater body on the Kenai Peninsula.  It is glacial fed and features 45 degree water temps and it is notorious for sudden severe winds.  Once at the boat launch I saw a Red-breasted Merganser pair flyby and some shorebirds fly across the lake but far enough away that I couldn't ID them without a scope.  Then I decided to walk along the edge of the lake for a bit.  I was surprised to have some Bonaparte Gulls (life bird) dive bombing me which usually means there is a nest nearby.  As I walked a little farther I saw a Yellow Legs on a little island of rock.  Then I saw a Bonaparte Gull with 2 chicks behind it.  How great it is to see the chicks.

Bonaparte Gull with chicks

Out & about on a Sunday afternoon

Today included a trip on the Skimmer Salt Marsh Safari. My first trip on the boat since last fall where we saw lots of migrating spring shorebirds plus some that stay here to breed. The highlight of of the trip for me had to all of the Whimbrel feeding in the salt marshes.  There was a family of American Oystercatchers with chicks though we didn't get to see the chicks.  Several times we saw American Oystercatchers doing flybyes.

When going home I stopped to bird along Ocean Drive going towards Cape May. Here I saw Dunlin, Yellow Legs, Dowitchers, Willets and lots of Laughing Gulls.

Dunlin (pictured above)    Greater Yellow Legs (pictured below)

FOS Osprey & Greater Yellow Legs

I have been going frequently to Rt 147 by the bridge into North Wildwood looking to see if the Ospreys had returned yet to their nests. After work today I decided to go past on my way home and was finally rewarded with seeing 3 Osprey.  My favorite nest had one Osprey nearby. It'll be great to see all of them back, on nest and having youngesters. After checking out the Osprey nest I went over to Nummy Island where I saw some Red-throated Loons, Brant, American Osytercatchers, several varieties of gulls cracking mussels on the roadway and a Greater Yellow Legs.

Greater Yellow Legs