Takshanuk Watershed Council

Keep Those Observations Coming!!   Click here to let us know your sightings

February 19, 2012 Lutak Inlet.  Quite a number of Red-Breasted Mergansers, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Mallards, Marbled Murrelets, and hundreds of gulls (Mew, Glaucous Winged, Herring/Thayer) plus the usual magpies, crows, ravens and eagles 

February 18, 2012 A bit fuzzy pix, but this cute owl was perched in a small cottonwood on the beach at the house. Species unknown. [Ed, Note: looks like a Northern Pygmy Owl]

February 18, 2012 Portage Cove. Along with the usual dozens of Barrow's Goldeneyes, Ravens,  Crows, Magpies and Gulls, a Common Loon, several Longtailed Ducks, Buffleheads, and two Red-Breasted Mergansers were sighted.

February 18, 2012 Driving up the Haines highway yesterday there were tons of eagles in the trees and on the river banks. An odd site for this time of year.

February 15, 2012  Northern Shrike sitting on a phone wire by the Senior Center.

February 14, 2012  Recently deceased Harbor Seal on the beach north of Pyramid Island. Birds were just starting on it.

February 14, 2012  Four Red-Breasted Mergansers and three Buffleheads (one male) sighted in Tanani Bay/Lutak area.

February 1-14, 2012  February Observations Tanani Point--first two weeks from Kathleen Menke.  Groups of two to four sea lions observed on three separate days.  One harbor porpoise pretty close in and rolling through the water.  A raft of goldeneyes (several dozen, male, female, youth).  Several harlequins, some in pairs, some singly.  Common mergansers, male and female in pairs, two sets, and one female single.  Lots of gulls, but didn't ID them as to species. [Ed note:  most likely candidates are Mew, and Glaucous-winged] I believe much of what we see at Lutak/Tanani Point this time of year is directly related to the significant productivity of the Chilkoot Watershed.  Oh yeah, and this little guy on the Tanani beach also.  I believe it is a fox sparrow. [Ed. note:  Yes.  This guy is a red (taiga) phase fox sparrow.  We get both red and sooty (Pacific)]

February 12, 2012  Seen along Lutak Road Long-Tailed Duck, Common Loon, goldeneyes, mergansers, mew and glaucous-winged gulls and eagles.  An eagle swooped down and caught a duck.  The Great Blue Heron was seen hunting at Schnabel's pond again.

January 31, 2012  Snowfall has reached 286 inches or 23.8 feet in town and 262.6 " or 21.9" at the border.

January 21, 2012  Great Blue Heron was sighted at Southeast Roadbuilders this afternoon.

January 13, 2012  Great Blue Heron was seen at 3 Mile in the morning.

January 6, 2012  From November 1, 2011 to January 6, 2012, Haines had 17.4 feet of snow!  And we're only half way through winter.   Record breaking snows this winter.

January 1, 2012 (about)  Two Sitka Black-=Tailed Deer seen near the Tank Farm.

December 30, 2011  Eagle 88 sighted across from the school.  was he headed back to Juneau?

December 13, 2011 A winter drama took place across from the school.  There was a cow moose with a young calf.  The small calf looked to have been born late in the season.  Students trying to collect data on ground frost saw the moose and had to leave the area a couple of times.  On Dec. 7, the mose were not around.  On Dec. 8,  they went back and the cow acted very aggressively towards them.  She stood her ground and her ears went back.  The students left.  The next day, Dec. 9,  the moose was gone.  A few days later, the students noticed a dead animal where the cow moose had acted so aggressively.  It was a dead calf moose.  From the looks of the tracks and the carcass, the calf had apparently starved during the deep snowfalls.  Two ravens were squawking loudly as the students looked at their food cache.  There were no tracks except moose tracks; no wolf, no bear, no coyote, no fox.  Apparently the birds had opened up the carcass, and the students could see very little fat on the moose calf.  There were deep holes where the cow had walked around protecting her dying calf.

December 12, 2011  Two Trumpeter Swans and a cygnet were seen in the Chilkat River, along with 510 eagles.

December 9, 2011  An eagle with a white secondary wing feather was seen along the Chilkat River along with a wolf and otter tracks.

December 8, 2011  A marten was seen trotting down to the Chilkat River and catching a salmon.

November 30, 2011  This month we had eleven feet of snow!

November 17 & 18 Eagle 88 was sighted on the Chilkat River near 21 Mile.

November 15 Three wolves were sighted in the 26 Mile area, 1 black and 2 gray.

November 1, 2011 A subadult eagle with an injured eye was seen at 21 Mile.  Six eagles with injured or missing eyes have been seen in the Council Grounds area from 19-21 Mile.

October 28, 2011 An eagle with a missing eye was seen at 21 Mile.

October 24, 2011 Eagle 24 was sighted at Mark's Park.  Eagle 24 was banded at the Juneau Airport where she was nesting.

October 24  1264 eagles were counted along Chilkoot and Chilkat Rivers. White Tips, an eagle with white wing tips, was seen at about 15.5 Mile and 14 Mile.  White Tips has white talons and some red flecking on its head feathers.

October 20, 2011  Two yearling black bears sighted at Lutak.  One has a limp.

September 18, 2011 135 eagles were counted along Chilkoot and Chilkat Rivers.

September 15, 2011  A pulse of Chum Salmon reported by Fish and Game coming up the Chilkat River.

September 12, 2011  43 eagles were counted along Chilkoot and Chilkat Rivers.

September 5, 2011 88 eagles counted along the Chilkoot and Chilkat rivers.  45 were at Chilkoot mud flats.

September 3, 2011  Sighted along Lutak road.  A River Otter and two kits, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Harlequin and Surf Scoter ducks staging for their flight south and lots of Brown Bears with cubs.

August 29, 2011  Eaglets fledged from Tanani nest.

July 12, 2011 Three Arctic Loons sighted in Lutak Inlet.  Also sighted were a small group of Surf Scoters.  Gathering to fly south?  Large numbers of Red-Backed Voles have been seen throughout the area this year.  Eaglets are getting large enough to be seen in nests.

July 9, 2011 An adult female eagle was found dead in the nest at 21 Mile

July 8, 2011 Boreal Toads sighted at Chilkoot Lake and Carrs Cove.

July 7, 2011  Thanks to Ron, Judy and Terry for picking the Yellow Sweetclover (an invasive species) from the Letnikov dock area.

June 2011 Caspian Terns are being sighted more frequently in the Chilkat Valley.  Check our database for more information.

June 10, 2011  It seems to be a good year for reproduction.  There are juvenile animals everywhere.  Many birds are fledging now including  Robins, Siskins, Crows, Dippers.  There also seem to be large numbers of Red-Backed Voles.

June 9, 2011 Chilkoot River American Dipper chicks fledging today.  One is out of the nest and another still in the nest as of 10 am today.  Parents were feeding both.

June 6, 2011 Tank Farm Eagle nest attacked by 7 crows, but eagle pair kept them away from chicks.

June 4, 2011 Lutak Road Eagle eggs hatched.

June 2, 2011 Eurasian Collared Doves were seen at 8 Mile Mud Bay Road and along Lutak Raod, as well as in town.

June 1, 2011 Tank Farm Eagle eggs hatched.

May 31, 2011  A pair of Blue-Winged Teals were seen at 8 Mile Mud bay road.

May 30, 2011 A pair of Western Tanagers have been sighted along Mud Bay Road. The male was not quite in breeding plumage.

May 28, 2011 Hermit Thrushes have started singing.  At the Chilkoot River, a large number of juvenile Bald Eagles have been hanging out.

May 28, 2011 Chilkoot River at low tide.  There were a large number of juvenile Eagles on the river - 25 juveniles to 6 adults.  Also a large number of male ducks - 37 Harlequins  and 7 Ring Necked Ducks with no females in sight.  There were several other species of ducks and gulls fishing as well, along with seals.  Bird songs were everywhere.  Flowers in bloom included  Shooting Stars, Marsh Marigolds, Red Elder and some Salmonberries. And Dandelions of course.  Chocoloate Lilies will be blooming soon.

May 27, 2011 Blackpoll Warbler seen feeding on insects in willow and aspen trees in the downtown area.  Whimbrels seen at Moose Meadows.

May 25, 2011 Humpback Whales were seen in both Letnikov and Lutak.

May 23, 2011 The carcass of a 9.5 foot long juvenile orca washed up on the beach at Lutak Inlet.

May 21, 2011 Brown Bear cub of the year has been seen wandering alone along Lutak Road.

May 20, 2011 A beaver was seen at the Lutak Road bridge over the Chilkoot River.

May 19, 2011 A cow moose with two newborn calves were resting in the school garden near the gym.

May 14, 2011 Hooligan were observed at the upper end of Chilkoot Lake.  There were spawned out fish and live fish.

May 11, 2011 Lutak was hopping today.  Horned Grebes, Common Loons, Pigeon Guillemot, Green-Winged Teals, Mallards, and Shovelers.  Rufous Hummingbirds are becoming more numerous in town, zinging and squabbling around feeders.  

May 11, 2011 the carcass of a rare subspecies of Merlin was found.  It was a Pacific Black Merlin, Falco succlyi, rather than the more common Taiga Merlin, Falco columbarius.

May 8, 2011 About 8 Snow Geese were seen by several observers grazing in the grass at the mouth of the Chilkoot River.  This is a rarity.  Usually Snow Geese fly over on the Chilkat side only.

May 7, 2011 Townsend's Warblers have returned.

May 7, 2011 The Hooligan run is reported by several people to be the biggest they have ever seen.  Very early estimates from the Mark-Recapture study indicate perhaps ten million.  Last year the estimates were about one million.

May 6, 2011  Busy day in the lower Chilkat River.  Several hundred Surf Scoters were foraging above Pyramid Island, as was a Humpback Whale.  Pairs of vocal Marbled Murrelets and Pigeon Guillemots were also seen in Letnikof Cove.

May 3, 2011 Grebe sp. seen in Carr's Cove.

April 29, 2011 More Snow Geese were seen flying up the Chilkat River near Mud Bay Road.

photo by Ron Horn 

April 28, 2011 Arctic Terns seen near River Road at Mud Bay Road.

April 26, 2011  Lots of wildlife were seen on the Chilkat River near River Road and Mud Bay Road.  a Pintail and Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long Billed Dowitcher, Black Bellied Plovers,  and Snow Geese.

photos by Ron Horn

photo by Ron Jackson

April 24, 2011 Sea Centipede seen at the small boat harbor.  Several have been seen in the small boat harbor, some small and some large.  They are polychaete worms, and they are not usually not as numerous as they have been this year.

April 23, 2011: The Hooligan and Herring are in!  Hooligan arrived at the Chilkat River

April 22, 2011 River Road Birding Outing: 14 species, 86 birds.  Black-Bellied Plovers, Golden Plovers, Western Sandpiper, Pintails, Mallards, American Wigeons, Shovelers, Green Wing Teals, plus ravens, gulls, eagles. Singers included Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Varied Thrush, American Robins, Pine Siskins.

April 21, 2011 Wilson's snipe seen at 6th and Dalton Sts.

April 18, 2011 Golden Eagles and Bald Eagle seen up in the pass.  Northern Harrier  seen at Carr's Cove.

photo by Ron Horn

April 16, 2011  Two Bear sightings reported.  One at Chilkoot Lake and the other in town near FAA Road.  Steller Sealions seen near Carr's Cove.

photo by Ron Jackson

April 16, 2011 Brown Bear sighted at Chilkoot.

April 16, 2011 Lutak Road Bird Outing: Surf Scoters, White-Winged Scoters, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Red-Breasted and Common Mergansers, Black Oystercatchers, Marbled Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemots, Belted Kingfisher, Buffleheads, american Wigeons, Mallards, Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls and other unidentified gulls, Northwestern Crows, Ravens, Varied Thrush, Steller's Jays, White-Winged Crossbills, Common Redpolls and heard Blue Grouse.

April 15, 2011 Ring-Necked Duck  seen at Chilkoot Lake.

photo by Ann Puffer

April 14, 2011 About 75 Snow Geese were sighted at 9 Mile on the Chilkat River.

April 13, 2011  About 100 Canada Geese were seen moving up the Chilkat River.

April 12, 2011 Pigeon guillemot and Harelquin males sighted in Lutak Inlet.

April 5, 2011 White-Winged Crossbills and a cormorant were sighted.

April 3, 2011 Harlequin Ducks are back for the summer.  Look along the waterline in Lutak Inlet for the beautifully colored males.

April 2, 2011 Eurasian Collared Doves were sighted at 6th and Dalton.  They only started coming to Haines in 2009.  They were introduced to Cuba from Eurasia about 100 years ago and have been moving north and west ever since.

April 2, 2011 Fox Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows are back and singing.  On a rocky ledge, a pair of Common Ravens have laid their eggs.  Photos by Ron Horn

March 30, 2011 Northwestern Crow with a white tail spotted near the senior village. Photo by Ron Horn

March 26, 2011 Stellar Sea Lions are feeding in Lutak Inlet.

March 26, 2011  Rufous Hummingbirds have started to arrive!  They are a bit early.  They usually arrive between March 31 and May 2.

March 25 ,2011 There have been several sightings in Lutak Inlet:  Red-Breasted Mergansers, Common Mergansers, a small raft of Surf Scoters, Redpolls, White-Winged Crossbills, Eagles and a Humpback Whale.

March 22, 2011 Robin heard singing at Chilkoot and seen at Small Tracts.

March 21, 2011 Snow Buntings were seen flying up the Chilkat River.

March 18, 2011 Winter Wrens have arrived and started singing.

March 17, 2011  A 9' long male Sleeper Shark washed up on the beach on Mud Bay Road.

March 10, 2011 Lutak Inlet is alive with wildlife. This morning at 10 am there were literally thousands of gulls - Mew Gulls and Herring/Thayer gulls feeding on Lanternfish and possibly squid.  There were also about 20 Harbor Seals and Steller Sea Lions, plus about 50 Barrow's Goldeneyes and 3 eagles.  

March 9, 2011 Lanternfish (Northern Lampfish) reported in Chilkat Inlet, Lutak Inlet, Tanani Point, and Yakutania Point in Skagway. Photo courtesy of Taiya Inlet Watershed Council.

March 7, 2011  When we have sustained north winds in Lynn Canal, it can stir up the waters and odd organisms can show up.  This squid was caught at the small boat harbor.  The ruler is 6 inches long.  Photo courtesy of ADFG.

March 7, 2011 Large numbers of gulls as well as seals, eagles and ducks have been feeding on Lanternfish in Lutak Inlet.  A pair of Red-Breasted Margansers were also seen in Lutak.  Photos by Ann Puffer.

March 6, 2011  Robins and Hummingbirds are starting to move north.  The farthest north Robins have just crossed the Canadian Border into British Columbia.  The farthest north hummers are reported in Happy Valley, Oregon.  See the report on Journey North.

March 4, 2011  SPRING IS COMING!  Well, it is beginning to come.  Red-Winged Blackbirds have been sighted in Juneau and a Varied Thrush was heard singing in Haines.  A Yellow-Shafted Flicker was also sighted.

Feb. 14, 2011  Haines' Tulip Test Garden emerged a month early.  Then the snow came and covered it.  See the report on Journey North.

Feb 12 2011.  The owls are hooting.  Recent sightings (soundings?) include Boreal, Great Horned, Saw-Whet and Pygmy Owls.

Feb. 11, 2011.  Five Eagles feasting on fish at the pullout above the airport.  Can anyone identify the fish?

February 10, 2011.  Hawk Owl seen at 7 mile..

February 5, 2011.  Northern Pygmy Owls have been calling above Piedad Road and at Mosquito Lake area.

January 31, 2011.  Orcas were sighted feeding just south of town, and Capelin were observed washed up on the beach.  The capelin may be the reason for the sea mammal sightings.

January 26, 2011, Several people have noted porpoises. seals and seabirds feeding in the Portage Cove area. If anyone gets a sample, please let us know or contact Fish and Game..

January 25, 2011. Pelagic Cormorant sighted near Carr's Cove.

January 30, 2011.  Red-headed Woodpecker sighted at Paradise Cove.

January 19, 2011, Humpback Whale, Chilkat Inlet

January 18, 2011  More Moose:  Lots of hoof prints in the Paradise Cove area.
                                 Overwintering Robins:  Seen in the downtown and Fort
                                                                              Seward areas

January 16, 2011 Moose:  Seen at 8 Mile Haines Highway.

January 2-16, 2011 Bohemian Waxwings:  A large flock has been hanging out in                                                                                            downtown Haines eating berries.  

January 8, 2011 Pygmy Owls: Pygmy Owls have been heard calling at Mosquito Lake.  

January 2, 2011 Robins:  Overwintering Robin was sighted at the Chilkat Center.  

January 9, 2011 Ravens:  Has anyone noticed any changes in the Raven population or                                                 any movements in the Raven populations?  

January 2, 2011, Northern Shrike seen  hunting Pine Siskins near Mosquito Lake.