Southeast Alaska Birding Trail Saxman

Rotary Beach Park

Good birding location for waterfowl, seabirds, and migrant shorebirds.

Rotary Beach Park is a nice beach along the Tongass Narrows only a few miles from Ketchikan and close to Saxman. This is a popular recreation site for searching tidepools and swimming. This is also a good spot for those with an eye towards the sky as it is a good birding location as well for waterfowl, seabirds, and migrant shorebirds in the spring. Over 100 species have been detected at this location. Common sightings include: Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Western Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Pelagic Cormorant, along with a variety of gulls, loons, and other species.

Directions:

Located at mile 3 South Tongass Highway.

Red-necked Grebe.
Red-necked Grebe. Photo: Donna Dewhurst, USFWS

Birding Resources:

Bird Species Checklist:

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