Photos: In Anchorage, springtime is for the birds

With the advent of spring, migratory birds have been returning to Southcentral Alaska. While many popular birding spots like Potter Marsh are still ice-covered, others are thawing, welcoming birds and birders alike.

“Many ducks and geese should be coming back now, including scaup, green-winged teal, shovelers, Canada geese, wigeons, tundra swans and more,” said Pat Pourchot, a local birder and former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

“There have been cackling geese (smaller than our local Canada geese) reported at Cuddy Park and a redhead (duck) reported at Spenard crossing (where Spenard Road crosses Chester Creek),” Pourchot said in an email. “This is great time to look for ‘new’ birds daily!”