June 18, 2018. Birding Trip Day 11. Denali to Anchorage.

We birded around our Denali cabins and a few miles back out on the Denali Highway looking again for nesting interior-Alaska species that we had missed (Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet).

From there, we headed back towards Anchorage on a shorter route this time. The day was quite wet, so we didn't stop as much as we might, but we stopped for lunch at Subway and our route took us into a forested area that burned a few years ago. In the burned forest, we saw nesting American Three-toed Woodpecker and Black-backed Woodpeckers, plus nice looks at several Boreal Chickadees. Both of these woodpeckers specialize on burned forests where beetles come in to take advantage of the freshly dead trees.

We had too much fun along the way, so we arrived in Anchorage in time for a late dinner.

Night in Anchorage (Coast International Inn).

Trip Map.