Homer Spit, Alaska, USA

Homer Spit is a narrow, flat peninsula that stretches 7.2 km into Kachemak Bay, Alaska, USA. It is located on the Kenai Peninsula, the smaller and easternmost of the two major limbs extending from Alaska’s southern coast out into the Pacific. The spit includes a significant-sized harbour, and is home to a fishing fleet. Some of its successful fishermen originally arrived as hippies in the 1960s. For many years, Jean Wheeler, a former rodeo trick rider, used to feed Bald Eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalusduring the winter. It is still a great place to see them at any time of year, even though feeding is now prohibited. Where Bald Eagles feed on fish there are bound to be gulls. Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens and Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactyla are among the commonest. Homer Spit is also a good site for waders, with Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleucaand Surfbird Aphriza virgatastanding out when Arnoud and René paid a visit. This was to be the final stop on their three-week tour of Alaska.

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Homer Spit, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, 21:43, 20 June 2004 (Arnoud B van den Berg). Two three-note calls, then a variety of other calls from a male perched at a nest in a tall spruce grove. Background: Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata, Short-billed Gull Larus canus brachyrhynchus and Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus.

Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens, Homer Spit, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, 08:14, 21 June 2004 (Arnoud B van den Berg). Long calls and other sounds of a group foraging on fish remains.

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca, Homer Spit, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, 22:32, 20 June 2004 (Arnoud B van den Berg). Tuu-tuu flight calls and alarm calls. Background: Short-billed Gull Larus canus brachyrhynchus.