Highlights of Recent Photo Uploads
Photojournal
Recent Updates (includes older recently published or updated entries – go to the Photojournal page for only recent entries):
Harbor Mountain Road in the Clouds
Spring Flowers in the Rain
Visiting Starrigavan Ridge and Port Krestof
Neighborhood Birds
Migrating Shorebirds and Nesting Dippers
Sun Returns
Radio Show/Podcast
Sitka Nature Show #339 – Laura Kaltenstein
Sitka Nature Show #338 – Andy Szabo and Lauren Eckert
Sitka Nature Show #337 – Zach LaPerriere
Sitka Nature Show #336 – Alice and Chuck Johnstone (encore)
Explore the Archive
Today in Sitka Nature History:
Watching Gulls
May 24, 2021
Overcast, but no significant rain. It was a little breezy this morning, but calm this evening. I didn’t notice an early morning text from Connor until closer to 9am. He … Read more
Sitka Nature Show #211- Lauren Bell
May 24, 2020
Download Radio Show The May 24th show featured a conversation with Lauren Bell, who is studying kelp forest ecology in Sitka Sound as part of her PhD research. We talked … Read more
More Sun, Brief Note
May 24, 2015
The marine stratus burned off by mid-morning, though some clouds lingered around the mountain slopes into early afternoon. I don’t think the temperature reached 60, as there was a bit … Read more
Boat Trip to St. Lazaria
May 24, 2014
The forest service was running a training for local guides to learn some birds, and I was able to participate on some of the activities (some were open to the … Read more
Rainbow in front of Mt. Verstovia
May 24, 2014
I was impressed by the intensity of this rainbow I saw recently, and also by its width. I remember reading that the brightness of a rainbow has to do with … Read more
Morning Walk to Swan Lake
May 24, 2011
Went for an early (for me) morning walk to Swan Lake. Was interested to notice a fledgling Dark-eyed Junco already out and about.
Yellow Warbler
May 24, 2010
Yellow Warbler Singing Recently I have been asking people if they have seen any Yellow Warblers this spring. While not an especially common species along the road system in Sitka … Read more
Daily Observations
May 24, 2008
Connor, Rowan and I hiked up to the ridge on Verstovia today. Weather: It was clear with light winds. Temperatures were 60 or higher, it certainly felt hot in the … Read more
Mt. Verstovia Hike
May 24, 2008
Daily Observations
May 24, 2006
Weather: It was partly cloudy throughout the day with little wind. Birds: There was a Dark-eyed Junco calling today around the house, I later saw him foraging. It is the … Read more
Snow Update
May 24, 2006
Last week I wrote a post on snow with a photo showing where an avalanche had cut loose. Since that time a second avalanche has also released on the same … 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.