MURRES and other “common” birds

I sort of hate it when a  bird I've never seen before is called "Common …" but since we saw hundreds and hundreds of this bird on a tour of Katchemak Bay it's apparent that "Common Murre" is an appropriate name.

 

 

 

What's definitely not common is this bird's ability to "walk" — or more aptly, "dance" on the water.  

That is such an amazing behavior to watch.  

Here's a closer look.

 

 

 __________

Below is a look at some other common — or maybe not so common — birds.  We saw hundreds of these two kinds of birds on the piece of floating real-estate called (surprise) "Gull Island".    

 

If these birds have a round black spot on the bottom of their wings, then they are  Kittiwakes  - a bird found pretty much only in Alaska (according to our tour guide).  

If they have no black spot, then they are a glaucous-winged gull found in pretty much every landfill in every state (again according to our guide, but we all know this).       I have seen the black spot clearly several times, but it is definitely harder to get  excited about this lifer.  

 

This boat trip from Homer to the little island village of Seldovia was a great experience.  

Other birds we saw (not lifers) included puffins, oystercatchers, eagles — more eagles — there are  so many of them in Alaska (I'll have a post about that another week).  

 

And, though the picture below isn't about birds, I think most birders enjoy viewing all wildlife, so just because I love these guys, I think I 'otter' end  this way:

 

 

 

 FOR WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.  Thank you Stuart.