Gone Birdin'

June 22, 2023

It was breeding season in Alaska and as such, baby birds were in full force. I spent the day birding two Anchorage hotspots: Potter Marsh and Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

Potter Marsh

Potter Marsh sits right off of Seward Highway and is wonderful for its accessibility. I birded from pull-offs along the highway, but there’s also a parking lot leading visitors to a boardwalk.

The Trumpeter Swan couple above was accompanied by at least six of their young, though only two are photographed here.

Red-necked Grebes were also on baby duty. If you look closely, you can see a young grebe nestled in her parent’s back feathers on the left.

Meanwhile, Short-billed Gulls alternated between perches and their nests.

Arctic Terns carry out an impressive annual migration, flying pole to pole from the Antarctic to the Arctic Circle. The bird on the left is trying to guzzle down a stickleback fish, but the fish’s protruding spines are caught at the edge of his beak. Lil’ guy got it down eventually.

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is another fantastic birding spot in Anchorage. There are several access points in town, including one at Kincaid Park.

A flock of Canada Geese enjoyed the water…

…while a Short-billed Gull tended to her chicks.

A few minutes later, I found a Red-necked Grebe sitting at attention on her nest…

…as a neighboring Arctic Tern perched over the water.

The breeding season brings warmth, color, and new life to the world— my favorite things about this time of the year. Happy (baby) birding 🐣!

Want the latest? Subscribe for notifications!