Highlights of Recent Photo Uploads
Photojournal
Recent Updates (includes older recently published or updated entries – go to the Photojournal page for only recent entries):
Exploring a Bog with UV Light
Sitting with Ptarmigan on Verstovia
Loop Around North Sitka Sound
Stranded at Inner Point
Early Spring Walk to Totem Park
Low Tide at Sage Beach and John Brown’s Beach
Radio Show/Podcast
Sitka Nature Show #337 – Zach LaPerriere
Sitka Nature Show #336 – Alice and Chuck Johnstone (encore)
Sitka Nature Show #335 – Adam Haberski (encore)
Sitka Nature Show #334 – Mary Goddard
Explore the Archive
Today in Sitka Nature History:
Spring Birds and Flowers
April 22, 2022
Generally overcast with a little bit of rain late in the day. Temperatures in the low 50s, but without any direct sun the wind felt chilly. I headed down to … Read more
Sitka Nature Show #155 – Phil Mooney
April 22, 2018
Download Radio Show The April 22nd show featured a conversation with Phil Mooney, retired biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. In this conversation Phil shared several stories … Read more
Morning Walk, Afternoon Fire
April 22, 2017
This warm spring day seemed like a good opportunity to work on burning a pile of rotting wood (much of it pulled out of the dirt in the berm) that … Read more
Returning Rain
April 22, 2016
The pattern of dry weather with plenty of sun drew to a close today. Rain was forecast for after 4 this afternoon, but it was after 8pm before enough rain … Read more
Chilly Breeze
April 22, 2015
Yesterday evening’s clearing skies carried over into this morning. Although the sun is now rising around 5:30am, there was still frost on the ground in places shaded from the sun’s … Read more
Lengthening Days
April 22, 2014
This week the daylight seems to have caught me by surprise. I guess it’s already a month past equinox, but for some reason I hadn’t adjusted to the reality of … Read more
Raven Show #2
April 22, 2012
Download Guest was Scott Brylinsky and we talked about birds, moths, bats, and spring greens, among other things. As always, thanks to all who listened. I’m scheduled to do the … Read more
Scaups and Paragliding
April 22, 2008
Daily Observations
April 22, 2007
I took a walk around the beach at the park this morning, then later in the morning, into early afternoon, I went over to Japonski Island to look around at … Read more
22 April: Walk to Totem Park
April 22, 2007
Daily Observations
April 22, 2006
Not much time to get out this weekend since I have a project I need to get done, but I did make time for a short walk to Totem Park. … Read more
Migrating Geese
April 22, 2005
I saw a couple of flocks of geese migrating north today. The larger of the two must have been 100 or more. I counted up to twenty and had not … Read more
Winter Wrens
April 22, 2003
The winter wrens have a pretty loud voice for such a small bird. Their song is pretty long and complex sounding. I recorded one singing in front of the house … Read more
Selection of random posts from the past 25+ years.
- SitkaBirds email List (subscribe here)
- SitkaBirds List is an e-mail list for birding around Sitka. It serves as to share photos and ask questions about birds or birding in Sitka. Also to notify others of sightings that may be unusual or of interest. If you are interested, please subscribe here. There is also a Sitka Birds Facebook Group (while both are active, the Facebook group has more active participants).
- Sitka Natural History Seminar Series
- To be notified of upcoming talks in the series, you can (subscribe here) to receive the announcements
- The Birds of Sitka, Alaska by J. Dan Webster.
- A comprehensive summary of published historical records (including looks at museum specimens) for the Sitka area.
- Species Checklists for Southeast Alaska (links below are currently only intermittently active, I have some work to do on that site)
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- Birds
- Mammals
- Vascular Plants
- Bryophytes
- Lichens (incomplete)
- Pre-2007 Photojournal
- Photos and journal entries from 1998-2006 (on a different site – I eventually intend to migrate entries to this one)
- Sitka Trails (on another site)
- A trail guide I am working on for trails on the Sitka Road system. It was on (or just off of) many of these trails where I took many of the photos seen here. I started redoing it in early 2024, but haven’t completed the remodel.
THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION TO COME HOME SOON! CLASS OF ’94 KARI NILES (BLANKENSHIP)
This is an amazing effort, already well underway! As a botanist/naturalist, I naturally went straight to the plant page. Two hemlocks! You are so lucky. Thanks for the great photos and site!
Thanks for the great site. Was referred to by Marge Ward and Marlys Tedin (my aunt). I’m a displaced native (not a blood native, just born there) Now living in Chicago. Your site really tugs my strings to get back there for an extended period of time. Keep it up. Your photography is really coming along! Hard to take a bad shot around that area, if you are “in it” as much as you are. Keep hiking and sending pics. I’ll be there soon!
I had a friend send me some of the sound clips you have made. Wonderful! Do you have a mailing list in which you send out info from time to time? if so, please put me on it! great work! pat
An eastern kingbird: St. Lazaria Island, 2 July 2010…. made forays from its foraging perch in a lone mature Sitka spruce on a slope otherwise dominated by rye grass and salmonberry.
Thank you for posting all this photos, and keeping updated your quest of knowledge and beauty. I feel like walking with you on this wild path, day by day, you who wander, in this distant country. Magic of internet.
Up In Pelican…Have had a Short-eared Owl around, and a small flock of
Lapland Longspurs. Don’t see them often !
Thanks for the report from Pelican – nice to hear what’s going on in some of the less populated areas of the region!
Dear Naturalist,
Do yoy know of a database containing observations of all kinds of species (but certainly mammals and birds are of utmost interest) in the Sitka area? (or perhaps all of southeast Alaska).
I’m writing from Denmark. I once visited Sitka, it was a brief stay, but I hope to return next spring.
Best regards Mads Kusk
Mads – check out Southeast Alaska Natural History Wiki – there are other sources that have a bit more depth for some things, but that’s probably the best single source for what you’re looking for.
Thanks for all your hard work on this site. I have you in my RSS feed and read every post!
Thanks Rab – I appreciate your interest and encouragement!
Thank you for identifying my many plants on iNaturalist. I had no service for 10 days so just took pictures to upload later. The plant life in Yakutat is quite different from the plant life is south Texas. I was however pleasantly surprised to find a number or plants that were native to both.