Birds of the Bay Photo Tour

Each May, Kachemak Bay becomes a birding hotspot, hosting more than 200 species. Majestic scenery provides an epic backdrop and photographer’s dream. Large migrating flocks of shorebirds fill the air, iconic sandhill cranes dance in the grasses, and seabirds forage the ocean’s bounty. Here are just a few of the birds you might see:

  • Pulse of mixed shorebirds. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Pulse of mixed shorebirds. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Pacific golden plover. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • American golden plover. Courtesy of Carla Stanley.
  • Least sandpiper. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Roosting Western sandpipers. Courtesy of Sam Wilson
  • Western sandpipers. Courtesy of Sam Wilson
  • Least sandpiper. Courtesy of Judy Heller
  • Rock sandpipers. Courtesy of Diane Briggs
  • Rock sandpipers. Courtesy of Diane Briggs
  • Shorebirds in flight. Courtesy of Carla Stanley
  • Shorebirds in flight. Courtesy of Carla Stanley
  • Pectoral sandpiper. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Stilt sandpiper. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Surfbird. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Whimbrel. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • American pipit. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Dunlin. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Dowitchers. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Red-necked phalarope. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Yellowlegs. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Wilson’s Snipe. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Semipalmated plover. Courtesy of Jennifer Fogle Smith
  • Wandering tattler. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Black turnstone. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Ruddy turnstone. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Black oystercatcher. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Sandhill cranes. Courtesy of Robin Edwards
  • Sandhill crane. Courtesy of Jennifer Fogle Smith
  • Sandhill cranes dancing. Courtesy of Jennifer Fogle Smith
  • Sandhill crane. Courtesy of Jennifer Fogle Smith
  • Sandhill crane. Courtesy of Diane Briggs
  • Yellowbilled loon. Courtesy of Diane Briggs
  • Tufted puffin. Credit: R. Corcoran/USFWS
  • Harlequin ducks. Courtesy of Diane Briggs
  • Northern pintail. Courtesy of Judy Heller
  • Barrow’s goldeneye. Courtesy of Jennifer Fogle Smith
  • Common goldeneye. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Bufflehead. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Pigeon guillemot. Courtesy of Sam Wilson
  • Common murres. Courtesy of Judy Heller
  • Red-faced cormorant. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Arctic tern. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Savannah sparrow. Courtesy of Jennifer Fogle Smith
  • Bald eagle. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Bald eagle. Courtesy of Jennifer Fogle Smith
  • Birders gather at an observation point. Credit: L. Hupp/USFWS
  • Birders. Courtesy of Carla Stanley
  • Birding tour. Courtesy of Carla Stanley
  • Birders on the spit. Courtesy of Carla Stanley
  • Birders at viewing platform. Courtesy of Carla Stanley

Have your own photos to share? Post them on your social media with #KBayShorebird2020.

Check out the Kachemak Bay Bird Checklist for more species: Download