Toll Free: 1-800-725-3327
In State: 907-262-5218
E-mail: marlows@alaska.net

cabin lodging, fishing, birding, wildlife

Birding Tours
Call for Special Package Prices
  • Pelagic
  • Land Based
  • Drift Boat
  • Alpine
  • Annual Small Group Tours

We bird the entire Kenai Peninsula and provide pelagic birding tours on the eastern side of the peninsula out of Resurrection Bay in Seward. Our trips are by vehicle, hikes, canoe, kayaks, powerboats and drift boats. We offer backyard birding to pelagic trips. Small group birding trips to other areas in Alaska  can be added to the Kenai Peninsula outings and customized to fit what the group is looking for in an Alaskan adventure.

Our most popular pelagic birding trip is on Resurrection Bay out of Seward. Our daughter Leanne and her husband Dan operate The Seward House, providing you with ocean view suites. On these personalized trips, expect to see thousands of seabirds including horned and tufted puffins, thick billed and common murres, shearwaters, black oyster catchers, auklets, murrelets, kittiwakes, red faced cormorants, bald eagles and many more species. Whales, mountain goats, bear, sea otter, sea lions, and porpoises are usually seen on these trips as well.

Our birding trips by drift boat pass through remote stretches of the Alaskan wilderness. We usually see 30 to 50 or more species of birds as well as a wide variety of other wildlife on a delightful, relaxing, quiet drift boat trip through a remote stretch of the Kenai River.

Wildlife viewing opportunities abound. You'll have the pleasure of seeing moose; eagles soaring overhead and bays and inlets teeming with life. This trip can even be combined with fishing. The opportunities are endless because whatever your passion for the outdoors, we have it here on the Kenai Peninsula. We look forward to seeing you on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska's vacationland.

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We do our birding all the way from Anchorage to Seward to Homer, and concentrate most of our birding trips in the Soldotna area. We do birding and wildlife viewing by road, hikes, power and drift boats, and canoes.

The following bird checklist is from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge list as shown on the USGS web site and the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. For a variety of bird lists, try the following web site: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/index.htm

As the preface to the list indicates, birding in Alaska is relatively new, even though some of us have been birding for many years. This list is currently being revised by the Wildlife Refuge staff. Our list of birds seen on our trips is more extensive, and some of the ones they list as casual or accidental we have in our yard, or we often see on our trips. Our birding list as of the end of 2007 is now at 510 naturally occuring species in Alaska.  If you have specific birds in mind, we will do our best to help you find them. We can help everyone, of all levels of expertise to find and enjoy our Alaskan birds.

BIRD LIST

Blackbirds Dippers Grouse Kinglets Ptarmigan Terns
Bunting Doves Gulls Larks Raptors Thrushes
Chickadees Ducks Herons Loons Sandpipers Warblers
Cormorants Finches Hummingbirds Nuthatches Shorebirds Woodpeckers
Cranes Flycatchers Jays Owls Sparrows  
Creepers Geese Jaegers Petrels Swallows  
Crows Grebes Kingfishers Plovers Swans  

Abundance Key
Loons
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata* U U U
Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica* U U U
Common Loon Gavia immer* C C C

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Grebes
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus* U C C
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena* U C C

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Petrels, Cormorants, Herons
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa I R
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus* U U U
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias I

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Swans, Geese, Ducks
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus C C
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator* C C C R
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons A U U
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens A R
Emperor Goose Chen canagica I I I
Brant Branta bernicla R I R
Canada Goose Branta canadensis* A C C
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca* A C C
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos* A C C R
Northern Pintail Anas acuta* A C C
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors R I R
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera +
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata* C U C
Gadwall Anas strepera R I R
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope R
American Wigeon Anas americana* A C C R
Canvasback Aythya valisineria R I R
Redhead Aythya americana R R
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris* R R R
Greater Scaup Aythya marila* C U C U
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis R R
Common Eider Somateria mollissima +
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus* U U U I
Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis + I
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra R R R
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata* C C C
White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca* R R R
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula* C C C C
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica* C C C U
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola R R U
Common Merganser Mergus merganser* C C C C
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator* U U U

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Raptors
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Osprey Pandion haliaetus* R R R
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus* C C C C
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus* C U C
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus* C C C
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis* U U U U
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis C C C
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus* R R
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos* U U U
American Kestrel Falco sparverius I
Merlin Falco columbarius U U U U
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus* R R R I
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus R R R I

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Grouse, Ptarmigan
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus* R R R R
Spruce Grouse Dendragapus canadensis* C C C C
Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus* C C C C
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus* U U U U
White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucurus* U U U U
Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus +

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Cranes
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis* A C C

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Plovers, Sandpipers, Shorebirds
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola U R
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica U R
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva U U
Semi-palmated Plover Charadrius mongolus* C C C
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus R
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca* C C C
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes* C C C
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria* U U U
Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus* U U U
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia* C C C
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus C U C
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica* C C U
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica +
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres R R
Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala R R
Surfbird Aphriza virgata U R R
Red Knot Calidris canutus I
Sanderling Calidris alba R R
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla U R U
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri U R U
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla* C C C
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii R R
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos C U C
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata R
Rock Sandpiper Calidris ptilocnemis I
Dunlin Calidris alpina U R
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus C C C
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus R
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago* C C C
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus* C C U

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Jaegers, Gulls, Terns
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus +
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus* C C C
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus U R R
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan +
Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus +
Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia* C C C
Mew Gull Larus canus* A A A
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis I I I
Herring Gull Larus argentatus* C C C
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens* A A A
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus R R R
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla R R U
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini I I
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea* C C U
Aleutian Tern Sterna aleutica* R R R

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Doves
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Mourning Dove Zenaidura macroura I I

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Owls
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus* C C C C
Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca I I
Northern Hawk-Owl Surnia ulula U U U U
Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa R R R R
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus* U U U R
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus* U U U U
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus* R R R R

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Hummingbirds, Kingfishers
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus R R R
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon* U U U I

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Woodpeckers
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber R R R
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens* C C C C
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus* C C C C
Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus* C C C C
Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus* R R R R
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus* R R R R

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Flycatchers
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus borealis* U U U
Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus* U U U
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum* C C C
Say's Pheobe Sayornis phoebe* R R R

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Larks
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris* U U U

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Swallows
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor* C C R
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina* C C R
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia* C C C
Cliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota* U U U

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Jays, Crows
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis* C C C C
Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri R R R I
Black-billed Magpie Pica pica* C C C C
Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus R R R R
Common Raven Corvus corax* C C C C

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Chickadees
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Black-capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus* C C C C
Boreal Chickadee Parus hudsonicus* C C C C

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Nuthatches, Creepers, Dippers
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis U U U U
Brown Creeper Certhia americana* U U U U
American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus* U U U U

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Warblers, Thrushes, Kinglets
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa* R R U R
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula* C C C R
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe R R R
Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi I I I
Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus* C C C
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus C C C
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus* C C C
American Robin Turdus migratorius* C C C
Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius* C C C
American Pipit Anthus rubescens* C C C
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus* U U U R
Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor* U U U R
Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata* C C C
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia* U U U
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata* C C C I
Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi* U U U
Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata* U U U
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis* U U U
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla* U U U

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Sparrows
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea* U U U
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis* C C C
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca* C C C
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia* R R R
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii* C C C
Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla* C C C R
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys* C C C R
Harris' Sparrow Zonotrichia querula +

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Finches, Bunting, and Blackbirds
Common Name Scientific Name S S F W
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis* C C C
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus C U
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis* U U U U
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus* U U U I
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch Leucosticte tephrocotis* U U U
Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator* U U U U
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra R R R R
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera* U U U U
Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea* C C C C
Hoary Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni R
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus* C C C C

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Abundance Key

Birds nesting locally are identified with an *.

Seasons: (across the top)

S=spring (Apr-May) S=summer (Jun-Jul) F=fall (Aug-Oct) W=winter (Nov-Mar)

Abundance: The abundance of each species is listed by the following letters:

A = Abundant I = Irregular
C = Common + = Accidental
U = Uncommon ( ) = never observed on KNWR
R = Rare      

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Birding Links:

 

Birding Forum - The Net's Largest Birding Community Dedicated To Wild Birds
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=21213

Birding Trip To Nome, Alaska
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Hotspots/Alaska2001/nome.html

Alaska Department of Fish & Game's Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge:
http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/wildlife/region3/refuge3/creamers.htm

A to Z for Birders
http://www.a2z4birders.com/birds

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r7/kenai.htm

ABA American Birding Association:
http://www.americanbirding.org/

Excellent bird photo gallery:
http://camacdonald.com/birding/DesJardin/index.htm

World wide birding and lots of information:
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/birding.htm

Project FeederWatch:
http://birds.cornell.edu/PFW

Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
1-800-843-2473 feederwatch information

Homer Shorebird Festival:
http://www.homeralaska.org/shorebird.htm

Alaska Birdhouse Construction:
http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/wildlife/geninfo/birds/birdhaus.htm

Alaska Bird Observatory including bird quiz:
http://www.alaskabird.org/

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/default.htm

Birding Site by two Danish birders and brothers, Ulrik and Christian Svane.
http://www.travellingbirder.com/

The Fatbirder (UK) Birding Webring is a collection of quality birding web sites that are based in the United Kingdom.

Visit the webring homepage for more information, or click here to add your site to the ring.

A complete list of all the sites in the webring is available by clicking here.

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Marlow's On The Kenai
P.O. Box 2465 P
Soldotna, AK 99669
1-800-725-3327
907-262-5218
E-mail: marlows@alaska.net

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