St. Paul Island, Alaska: A Plethora of Rarities
Senior Guide Jake Mohlmann has been finding more than just first North American records during his time on St. Paul Island, located in the Pribilofs of Alaska. This page features a series of 'shorts,' images and brief descriptions of the windblown vagrants that found their way to the island this season. Thanks to fellow St. Paul birder and Wings guide Rich Hoyer for his generous contributions to this page (pictures by Rich unless otherwise noted).
Red-necked Stint is a regular rarity on St. Paul Island, and
this fall two lingered for much of early September
at Antone Slough. Characteristic are the duller wing coverts, short, thick legs and
bulging forehead.
Little Stint is much rarer, but one hung out for several
days in early September with the Red-necked Stints.
Compared to them, note the longer bill and legs and swept up rear end of the bird.
This Red-flanked Bluetail was an exciting find on September
13, the earliest fall date ever in Alaska.
This Brambling was one of three that appeared in
mid-September, the white rump always a reliable field mark in flight.
(photos by Jake Mohlmann)
This Yellow-browed Warbler, found on September 18, represents
the fifth record for North America and the first for Saint Paul Island.
The highly contrasting kinglet-like wingbars separate this species from
all other Old World Phylloscopus leaf warblers except Pallas's, from
which it is separated by its lack of a pale rump and bright central
crown stripe. It has a distinctive call note too, and it called several
times while flitting among the ferns and Angelica thickets of Zapadni
Ravine.
Though very rare elsewhere in North America,
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is a very common migrant on Saint
Paul Island.
It is sometimes seen in groups of over 20 daily after mid-August
and through September.