Southeast Alaska Birding Trail Petersburg

Blaquiere Point

Watch for the Band-tailed Pigeon (casual) in May.

Blaquiere Point is located on the southern end of Mitkof Island about 1 mile before the end of the highway. There is a small boat/kayak launch ramp for people accessing the Stikine River Delta, where you can observe the rich brackish waters of the Stikine River Delta. Due to the long sight distances across the delta, a spotting scope can be beneficial. The Dry Straits area has extensive mud flats that are exposed at lower tide levels. The high tide from Frederick Sound meets the high tide from Sumner Strait near here. If paddling north into Frederick Sound, plan to paddle away from the ramp just before high tide. If you’re paddling into LeConte Bay, plan to leave at least one hour (depending on the high tide) before high tide to get across the 5 miles of tide flats.

Certain times of the year can yield especially productive birding. During the eulachon run in early April, mergansers, gulls, eagles, and other birds congregate on the flats for this early rich food source. When the water is low, birds can be concentrated near the point, with the eagles sitting on the mudflats, whereas at high water they are dispersed and more difficult to locate. Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes congregate on the flats in mid to late April, and shorebirds come through in late April to early May. Blaquiere Point can provide an economical and logistically easy place to view, although these birds can be more closely seen if you are out on the flats, such as at the US Forest Service Little Dry Cabin. The fall migration is spread over a longer period with shorebirds beginning to come through in mid-July, and waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes beginning in September.

The alder and conifers on the uphill side of the road provide good habitat for warblers, flycatchers, and thrush, and Sooty Grouse can be heard in the spring calling from the hillsides. An unusual species would be the Band-tailed Pigeon (casual) in May.