A club in Alaska's beautiful Matanuska-Susitna Valley devoted to watching wild birds
Events
2023 Hatcher Pass Gold Mint Trail Bird Walk
Sunday, June 4 — led by Robin Turk — rain or shine!
Meet at the Little Su Bridge and leave at 8 am to drive up to the Gold Mint Trail Parking lot. It is a 1.5 mile walk to a drained beaver pond where we will turn around. While the trail is fairly short the walk usually takes 3-4 hours while we stop for birds along the way.
NEW this year— learn to use the Merlin Bird ID app and/or the eBird checklist app. These APPS MUST be loaded before you come to the walk. You will need to create an ebird account. There is no cell tower access on Mint trail. The bird apps will work if they are setup before you head out.
We’ll be meeting at the Hatcher Pass entrance observation deck and parking area just after you cross the Little Su River bridge at the entrance to Hatcher Pass. We’ll leave the parking area at 8:00 am to drive up the road to the Gold Mint Trail parking lot stopping along the way to view ponds and river. Some of you may wish to car pool up since there is a $5.00 parking fee (or a State Parks parking pass) at the Gold Mint Trail parking lot. Note: There are restroom facilities at that parking lot.
If you’ve never been to Hatcher Pass, here are the directions: From Palmer: Take the Glenn Highway north out of Palmer until you reach Palmer-Fishhook Road. Turn left onto Palmer-Fishhook Road and take Palmer-Fishhook Road all the way north to Hatcher Pass.
From Wasilla: From the Parks Highway, turn north onto Main Street which changes to Wasilla-Fishhook Road after you pass the Bogard Road intersection. Stay on Wasilla-Fishhook Road north out of Wasilla and follow it all the way until it intersects with Palmer-Fishhook Road. Turn left onto Palmer-Fishhook and follow it into Hatcher Pass.
From Willow: It’s possible that Hatcher Pass Road (Fishhook-Willow) may be open over the top of Hatcher Pass, but unless you know for sure, it would be safer to drive down to Wasilla and take Wasilla-Fishhook Road.
Bring your binoculars, field guide/app, and a spotting scope (if you have one). You might also want to bring some emergency mosquito dope in case we’re attacked.
Most years, we hike north up the Gold Mint Trail for about a mile and a half to the now drained beaver pond that’s next to the trail. We usually break there (some people bring lunch)
2023 Big Day Count – 5 PM Saturday May 20 to 5 PM Sunday May 21.
Big day results! There was a great turnout and records were broken for the most species observed by a team (Justin and Boomer – 98)and the most overall species seen by Justin 112!
Species for Big Day
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Cackling Goos
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Willow Ptarmigan
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk/Harlan’s
Golden Eagle
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden Plover *
Semipalmated Plover
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Dunlin
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson’s Snipe
Red-necked Phalarope
Bonaparte’s Gull
Short-billed Gull
HerringXGlaucous wing hybrid*
Glaucous-winged Gull
Arctic Tern
Rock Pigeon
Great Horned Owl
Boreal Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
American 3-toed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Canada Jay
Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
American Dipper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Northern Waterthrush
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Rusty Blackbird
Pine Grosbeak
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
MatSu Big Day! Here’s your chance to prove your birdabilty and have fun doing it. See details in club email.
The Mat-Su Birders’ Big Day Count is a friendly, low-pressure, springtime club event to see who can record the most species of birds in a 24 hour period. Numbers of birds of each species are not important in this competition, just the number of bird species that you’ve seen. The birds that you count must be alive, wild, and unrestrained.
You can count bird species that you see anywhere in the Mat-Su Borough, and any that you see while you are inside the Mat-Su Borough. A good example of bird species that you can count when you are inside the Mat-Su Borough, but the birds are not, is at Reflections Lake. As you walk around the trail around that lake, where the trail runs along that lake’s south coast/border, if you look to the south, you can see waterfowl on the Knik River. At that location, the Knik River is in the Anchorage Municipality. However, if you’re on the trail around Reflections Lake, inside the Mat-Su Borough, you can count any bird species that you see on the Knik River, even though they are outside of the Mat-Su Borough. I’ve attached a map of the borough. Usually we have a wrap up party/potluck but this year we will not. If folks want to zoom meet we can certainly do that, but Please let me know via email or at the next meeting. We DO need to update our checklist, but a working checklist that you can use to help facilitate your count is on our website https://matsubirders.org/bird-checklists If you see any species that would be considered a rarity in the Mat-Su, if at all possible, try and get a photograph to substantiate your observation. Please turn in your reports by email (matsubirders@gmail.com) or text me (see email for phone number) asap. I will provide a summary the following day.
Popular local starting points for the BDC are at Island Lake (off of Pittman Road), the Palmer Hay Flats at the Hayfield Road access point, Goose Bay State Game Refuge at the end of Knik-Goose Bay Road, Reflections Lake (off of the Glenn Hwy) at the Palmer Hay Flats, the Eklutna Tailrace opposite the Eklutna Power Plant on the Old Glenn Hwy., Hatcher Pass, Jim and Mud Lakes at the end of Maud Road, and the Old Matanuska townsite. If you do plan to access Mud Lake, you need a permit (reinstated for 2021) from Eklutna Native Inc. To obtain a land permit form, email your request to info@eklutnainc.com. Completed permit form and proof of valid and current medical insurance and photo ID required.
May 7, 2023
Annual Goose Bay State Game Refuge Birding Walk onthis Sunday May 07, at 11:00 AM
Our Walk will be led by Tom Cappiello and Suzanne Hayes. We may be a little early for shorebirds but it might be the best place right Goose Bay 2016 with Dan Crowson
now for good birding. Some songbirds are just starting to show up and many ponds in other places are still frozen.
We’ll meet at the parking area on Cameo Dr. which is a right turn off Knik Goose Bay Road before you get to the airport. The parking area is the second turn off to the left about 1 mile down Cameo. (Look for the Refuge sign.) Don’t take the first left, which is about 0.6 mi..
Text or call Tom if you have any questions 907-350-7028
Dress for the weather, you will need knee high or hip boots, as there will be spots where the water will be above the top of hiking boots and it is quite muddy along the way. If you have a hiking stick, that may be helpful. The total distance walking will be roughly 1.75 – 2 miles and we’ll be out for about 2, or so. Also bring your binoculars, scope, field guide book/app, water, snacks, sun protectant, and be ready for a little bit of walking. A lightweight portable chair or stool, one that you’d want to carry a couple miles, can be an added convenience. Usually we don’t need bug dope yet, but bring some just in case.
Sunday June 6 — led by Robin Turk — rain or shine!
Meet at the Little Su Bridge and leave at 7 am to drive up to the Gold Mint Trail Parking lot. It is a 1.5 mile walk to a beaver pond where we will turn around. While the trail is fairly short the walk usually takes 3-4 hours while we stop for birds along the way.
We’ll be meeting at the Hatcher Pass entrance parking area (see .jpeg below) just after you cross the Little Su River bridge at the entrance to Hatcher Pass. We’ll meet at 7:00 AMSunday morning and then drive up to the Gold Mint Trail parking lot about 7:30 AM. Some of you may wish to car pool up since there is a $5.00 parking fee (or a State Parks parking pass) at the Gold Mint Trail parking lot. Note: There are restroom facilities at that parking lot.
If you’ve never been to Hatcher Pass, here are the directions: From Palmer: Take the Glenn Highway north out of Palmer until you reach Palmer-Fishhook Road. Turn left onto Palmer-Fishhook Road and take Palmer-Fishhook Road all the way north to Hatcher Pass.
From Wasilla: From the Parks Highway, turn north onto Main Street which changes to Wasilla-Fishhook Road after you pass the Bogard Road intersection. Stay on Wasilla-Fishhook Road north out of Wasilla and follow it all the way until it intersects with Palmer-Fishhook Road. Turn left onto Palmer-Fishhook and follow it into Hatcher Pass.
From Willow: It’s possible that Hatcher Pass Road (Fishhook-Willow) may be open over the top of Hatcher Pass, but unless you know for sure, it would be safer to drive down to Wasilla and take Wasilla-Fishhook Road.
Bring your binoculars, field guide/app, and a spotting scope (if you have one). You might also want to bring some emergency mosquito dope in case we’re attacked.
Most years, we hike north up the Gold Mint Trail for about a mile and a half to the beaver pond (with Harlequin Ducks) that’s next to the trail. We usually break there (some people bring lunch)
2021 Big Day Count – 5 PM Saturday May 22 to 5 PM Sunday May 23.
MatSu Big Day! Here’s your chance to prove your birdabilty and have fun doing it. If you haven’t done our Mat-Su Big day,
The Mat-Su Birders’ Big Day Count is a friendly, low-pressure, springtime club event to see who can record the most species of birds in a 24 hour period. Numbers of birds of each species are not important in this competition, just the number of bird species that you’ve seen. The birds that you count must be alive, wild, and unrestrained.
You can count bird species that you see anywhere in the Mat-Su Borough, and any that you see while you are inside the Mat-Su Borough. A good example of bird species that you can count when you are inside the Mat-Su Borough, but the birds are not, is at Reflections Lake. As you walk around the trail around that lake, where the trail runs along that lake’s south coast/border, if you look to the south, you can see waterfowl on the Knik River. At that location, the Knik River is in the Anchorage Municipality. However, if you’re on the trail around Reflections Lake, inside the Mat-Su Borough, you can count any bird species that you see on the Knik River, even though they are outside of the Mat-Su Borough. I’ve attached a map of the borough. Usually we have a wrap up party/potluck but this year we will not. If folks want to zoom meet we can certainly do that, but Please let me know via email or at the next meeting. We DO need to update our checklist, but a working checklist that you can use to help facilitate your count is on our website https://matsubirders.org/bird-checklists If you see any species that would be considered a rarity in the Mat-Su, if at all possible, try and get a photograph to substantiate your observation. Please turn in your reports by email (matsubirders@gmail.com) or text me (see email for phone number) asap. I will provide a summary the following day.
Popular local starting points for the BDC are at Island Lake (off of Pittman Road), the Palmer Hay Flats at the Hayfield Road access point, Goose Bay State Game Refuge at the end of Knik-Goose Bay Road, Reflections Lake (off of the Glenn Hwy) at the Palmer Hay Flats, the Eklutna Tailrace opposite the Eklutna Power Plant on the Old Glenn Hwy., Hatcher Pass, Jim and Mud Lakes at the end of Maud Road, and the Old Matanuska townsite. If you do plan to access Mud Lake, you need a permit (reinstated for 2021) from Eklutna Native Inc. To obtain a land permit form, email your request to info@eklutnainc.com. Completed permit form and proof of valid and current medical insurance and photo ID required. Honestly, I don’t know how much this is enforced because it has continued to be used as a shooting gallery.
2019 Big Day Count – 5 PM Saturday May 18th to 5 PM Sunday May 19th.
The 2018 Mat-Su Birders Big Day Count (BDC) is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th and Sunday, May 19th. The Count starts at 5 PMSaturday afternoon and runs through 5 PMSunday afternoon.
The Mat-Su Birders’ Big Day Count is a friendly, low-pressure, springtime club event to see who can record the most species of birds in a 24 hour period. Numbers of birds of each species are not important in this competition, just the number of bird species that you’ve seen. The birds that you count must be alive, wild, and unrestrained.
Starting at 5 PMSaturday you can count bird species that you see anywhere in the Mat-Su Borough, and any that you see while you are inside the Mat-Su Borough. A good example of bird species that you can count when you are inside the Mat-Su Borough, but the birds are not, is at Reflections Lake. As you walk around the trail around that lake, where the trail runs along that lake’s south coast/border, if you look to the south, you can see waterfowl on the Knik River. At that location, the Knik River is in the Anchorage Municipality. However, if you’re on the trail around Reflections Lake, inside the Mat-Su Borough, you can count any bird species that you see on the Knik River, even though they are outside of the Mat-Su Borough.
One area that has raised questions in the past is much of the land between Eureka on the Glenn Highway and the Lake Louise area. If you plan to go to Lake Louise to count species, a few miles after you pass the Eureka Roadhouse enroute to Lake Louise, you will leave the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and enter the Valdez-Cordova Census Area. You continue on until you reach Lake Louise Road, which heads north to Lake Louise. Once on that road, you will almost be at Lake Louise before you reenter the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Any species that you see while you’re in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area cannot be counted.
Historically, the highest overall species’ total for our BDC was in 1993 when competitors saw a total of 104 species. So far, the highest team count was in 2017 with Dan Crowson’s 85 species. However, even if you aren’t able to chase birds all over the Mat-Su Borough, we’d still like to hear what species you see in your yard or neighborhood!
One of the best ways to record the species that you see is to use a copy of the “BIRDS OF SOUTH/CENTRAL MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH, ALASKA” to record what you see. If you don’t have a copy of that checklist, you can download one from our Mat-Su Birders website at <https://matsubirders.org>. There are two Mat-Su lists. One prints on 8 X 14 inch paper, and one that prints on letter size 8 1/2 x 11 paper is missing the cover and legend.
One other thing to keep in mind; if you see any species that would be considered a rarity in the Mat-Su, if at all possible, try and get a photograph to substantiate your observation.
Popular local starting points are the Palmer Hay Flats at the Hayfield Road access point, Goose Bay State Game Refuge at the end of Knik-Goose Bay Road, Reflections Lake (off of the Glenn Hwy) at the Palmer Hay Flats, the Eklutna Tailrace opposite the Eklutna Power Plant on the Old Glenn Hwy., Hatcher Pass, and the Old Matanuska townsite. If you plan to bird Jim and Mud Lakes at the end of Maud Road, it’s best to do it early in the AM, but there may be people camping at Jim Lake. Also, if you plan to bird Mud Lake, you should have a permit from Eklutna, Inc. to use the Mud Lake parking area, either for parking or birding. You can find out how to obtain a permit by going to the Mat-Su Birders’ website and look for the “Birding in Mat-Su” feature on the home page or just follow this to the “MUD-JIM-SWAN LAKES AREA” and read the first paragraph in that article.
There is no Big Day potluck this year. Please email your count to matsubirders@gmail dot com
Plan to join us and kick off the Big Day Count for the Mat-Su Birders’ 4th Annual Goose Bay State Game Refuge Birding Walk at 5 PM Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Our Walk will be led again by Dan Crowson, who has been accumulating bird records from several trips to Goose Bay SGR, including the first Mat-Su records for Wilson’s Phalarope.
Please look at this MAP. We’ll meet at the airport parking area at the end of Knik-Goose Bay Road at 9:00 AM. At 9:15 AM, we’ll all drive around Cameo Drive (the original beginning of Burma Road) to where we’ll park and start birding at the best entrance to the Refuge.
Dan says to dress for the weather, and plan on using knee or hip boots, as there will probably be some spots where the water might be above the top of hiking boots. If you have a good hiking stick, that may be helpful. Also bring your binoculars, scope, field guide book/app, and be ready for some good birding.
As you can see from the MAP, we will meet all the way down at the end of Knik-Goose Bay Road (about 19-20 miles from Wasilla), so allow time for the drive to the meeting place by the Goose Bay Airstrip.
Look forward to seeing some interesting birds!
The Gunsight Mountain Hawk Watch Weekend – Info 2019 Event Sponsored by Anchorage Audubon: April 20 – 21
2018 Sunday, December 16 — Christmas Bird Count… more info here
Sunday, May 6 — Eklutna Tailrace & Reflections Lake
Starting at 8:00 AM at the Eklutna Tailrace parking lot, across from the Eklutna Power Plant, we’ll check out the birds along the Tailrace and in the several ponds on the north side of the Tailrace.
After the Eklutna Tailrace Birding Walk, we’ll head over to Reflections Lake for a birding walk around the lake, including taking advantage of what the new observation tower can show us.
Dan Crowson will be leading both walks, so bring your binocs, bird guide, spotting scope, etc., and dress for the weather.
Below are two maps; the first showing the overall relationship of Reflections Lake, alongside the new Glenn Hwy., and the Eklutna Tailrace area along the Old Glenn Hwy., and the second map showing the layout at the Eklutna Tailrace and where to park.
around. While the trail is fairly short the walk usually takes 3-4 hours while we stop for birds along the way.
