Friday, August 15, 2025 Two Swans Too Many

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 6:13 am, sunset 9:53 pm for a total day length of 15 hours and 39 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 15 seconds shorter.

 

Sunny with a ripping NNW wind at 20-30 mph with gusts to 35. Trees flailed as loose leaves swirled to the ground. Whitecaps roiled the bay, hammering the Silver Salmon Derby boats. Pleasant temperature ranged from a low of 48 to a high of 62. Fair tomorrow with a continuing strong NNW wind.

 

This morning at Mile 1 Nash Road there were two Swans too many. The dominant TRUMPETER SWAN pair though without cygnets, still claimed ownership of the coveted wetlands nursery. 

 

One Swan, likely an offspring, nonchalantly preened and nibbled on horsetails just out of reach, feigning complete indifference, baiting them. The other, more cautious, waited in the background.

 

These two adults were recently seen feeding at the Lagoon in town, a favorite diner for our resident Swans. Apparently, they decided on a change of venue and “went home” to hang out with the folks.

 

The “folks” would have none of it. The indignant pair, side by side, consulted for many minutes, discussing the intruder, bobbing their long white necks. First one, then the other, then together, and faster and faster, they vocalized in angry honks. They really worked themselves up into a lather.

 

Just as the furious Swan launched his intimidating charge, black feet slapping the water, powerful wings stroking towards the intruder, long neck and spear-like bill open and honking, my phone rang and I had to answer it.

 

Meanwhile, the charge routed the nearby target who wisely fled to the rear of the pond. Looping around, he blasted the more timid bystander into flight as well. Greatly satisfied, he returned to his appreciative mate and they celebrated with high fives and much honking. 

 

I was so sorry I was unable to photograph the drama. 

 

The surplus Swans, however, impudently remained in the rear of the establishment. As I left, the owners were paddling purposefully, side-by-side, heading their way. More drama in the works for this continuing saga!

 

Over at Fourth of July Beach, noisy BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES plunged into the milky glacial water pouring into Resurrection Bay from Godwin Glacier. The strong freshwater lens held its tongue-like shape against the strong wind, waves, and currents.

 

Afognak Beach featured three GREATER YELLOWLEGS poking along the wrack line, perhaps a family group. Pink and Chum salmon surged past to spawn in the small but important Afognak Creek and pond, off-limits to human fishers. 

A BELTED KINGFISHER dove for its prey; BALD EAGLES soared above, RAVENS croaked, and a young BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE flashed its iridescent new feathers as it strode confidently along the beach.

 

What a lovely day!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 Exit Glacier

Seward, Alaska

This afternoon, on another spectacular summer day, (three in a row!) I enjoyed another ebike ride on Exit Glacier Road. I rode along the mighty Resurrection River, in a valley carved by the ancient glacier, and through the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Chugach National Forest, and Kenai Fjords National Park public lands. 

 

Exit Glacier, though visibly retreating, was still an impressive sight. The rock-strewn medial moraine flowed down the icy center in sinuous curves; rugged blue seracs met the gray, scoured, bedrock cradle.

 

As I zoomed in to check my photos, I was surprised to find a group of adventurers standing on the glacier, tiny dark figures dwarfed by the surrounding looming ice and crevasses. A handy reference for scale.

 

At the glacier overlook, visitors snapped photos and marveled at the river of ice flowing imperceptibly from the Harding Icefield in a self-made cradle between rugged mountains.

 

A mom gently guided her little girl back to the waiting car. I wondered where Exit Glacier will be when this little one is an adult?

 

Though I am witnessing the inevitable exit of this aptly named glacier, I appreciate being able to visit frequently, and take photos and marvel like a tourist.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 The Very Late Violet-Green Swallow Family

Seward, Alaska

On Saturday, August 2, the parent VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS seemed to be urging their reluctant babies to join them. They circled the airspace in front of the east-facing nest box, calling repeatedly, “Jump! Jump! It will be fun!”

 

One bright-eyed youngster peered out of the nest box opening, leaning far out as if about to take the big leap, then popped back into safety. No dice. What will finally trigger these reluctant babies to launch and discover their incredible and joyous gift of flight?

 

I could almost hear the conscientious parents sigh as they resumed swooping around catching insects to deliver to the eager, wide-open bills (at least two.)

 

Again on Sunday, the bright-eyed eager babies peeped enthusiastically, still stuck in the box, and still receiving deliveries by both parents. I noticed, in the brief exchange, that sometimes the parent fed the baby hogging the opening, then quickly reached past to deliver to one behind. 

 

On Monday, August 4, I didn’t observe much activity. Finally, one anxious little head appeared in the next hole, but I didn’t see any food deliveries. Had the frustrated parents abandoned their babies and fled? 

 

On Tuesday, August 5, there was no activity. It was an abrupt change. While I felt glad they had finally left, I felt sad to not watch the newly fledged youngsters perch precariously on the nearby cables and practice take-offs and landings. Or see the amazing mid-air food transfers from the competent adult to the fluttering fledgling. Maybe in their haste to get gone, they just practiced en route. 

 

Bon voyage, beautiful Swallows! Hope you have a good winter and a safe journey back!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, August 1, 2025 Shorebirds, Merlin, Trumpeter Swans Bathing

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 5:40 am, sunset 10:30 pm for a total day length of 16 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 53 seconds shorter. 

 

Mostly sunny today with temps ranging from 49 to 60, a brisk south wind, and rain in the forecast for this evening and tomorrow morning.

 

It seemed quiet in the bird world today, but upon reflection, I found many special birds after all.

 

About four LESSER YELLOWLEGS strode along the tide flats and another couple waded in the wetlands plucking morsels. Ten DOWITCHERS busily probed like sewing machines in the shallows. A WILSON'S SNIPE burst from the sedges and upon landing a short distance away, again became invisible.

 

A MERLIN perched precariously at the tip of a spruce, swaying in the wind. When it zoomed off, I did not see what it was pursuing, anything from a dragonfly to a shorebird.

 

I watched a frenzy of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES plunging after baitfish near shore at Fourth of July Beach. Several DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew in to join two PELAGIC CORMORANTS for the feast. 

 

Ten HARLEQUINS bobbed on the waves and dove in synchrony nearby. MARBLED MURRELETS piped up shrilly then dove with a tiny splash. Three Sea Otters floated nonchalantly on their backs, lazily paddling backwards as they dined.

 

The big surprise was the TRUMPETER SWAN pair at the Nash Road Mile 1 wetlands. I believe they hang out here in the summer, even without cygnets, as it is a known haven with good eats. But they mostly remain hidden in the tall vegetation in the back, their long necks only occasionally visible like white periscopes.

 

Today, however, was bath day showtime in the middle of the pond. While one Swan enjoyed lunch, the other bathed with gusto. 

It preened sedately at first, delicately fine-tuning this and that. Then suddenly, it plunged its head underwater, shimmied side to side, and flipped over, water drops flying everywhere, enormous black webbed feet flailing in the air. What an undignified sight!

 

Surfacing, it then proceeded to stroke partially underwater, thoroughly drenching its wings and back. At times, it looked like a Swan’s head and neck stuck on a bedraggled down comforter. It’s hard to wash those many pounds of buoyant feathers!

 

The wash, rinse, and repeat cycled several times, interrupted by quiet preening. Abruptly, it just took off, pattering on the water like a maniac motorboat, wings flapping, flinging spray, barely able to rise. Almost as soon as it cleared the surface, it splashed down again towards the back of the pond and resumed preening, dunking, and spraying water.

 

Meanwhile, the other Swan cruised out of the greens and it too, began preening and bathing, though not as vigorously as the first. Both stretched and flapped those magnificent, powerful wings several times.

 

I left them to enjoy their bathing, happy for the entertainment and to see them again.

 

Back home, “my” two VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS circled around, calling. I heard the staccato begging of at least one baby still in the nest box and watched a parent fly in for a little fast-food delivery. This is a very late brood; I have not seen any other Swallows in several weeks. I wish them well!

 

Busy bird day, after all!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, July 28, 2025 Ravens digging fish, and a BIG ONE!

Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 5:30 am, sunset 10:40 pm for a total day length of 17 hours and 9 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 42 seconds shorter.

Another spectacular day today with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. Temperatures ranged from 50-67 by mid-afternoon.

A minus tide again lured me into a mid-morning walk along the tide flats at Afognak Beach. 

A BALD EAGLE adult stood in a freshwater channel, preening and drinking, keeping cool. Two GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS fought over a pathetic pink salmon carcass that was little more than a rag. Flounders left interesting arrow-shaped depressions in the sand where they had rested before the tide dropped. 

Out near the low tide line, 20 RAVENS and some GULLS busily excavated with their bills, flinging sand from jagged pits about 4” deep. I watched several successful fisher-diggers grab a buried Sand Lance and toss it down the hatch. 

It is amazing to me that the fish can breathe while buried in the sand, and that the birds know how to find them using this ingenious fishing technique.

MARBLED MURRELETS called to one another with piercing, loud contact calls, I presumed between family members. “I’m here! Where are you?” It’s always great to see and hear these unusual, tree-nesting, commuting Alcids.

While strolling along the water’s edge admiring the sea treasures, I heard an explosive exhale and looked up in amazement to see a Humpback Whale breaching halfway out of the water just offshore!!! It crashed back into the water with a tremendous splash and disappeared!

I snapped a few photos as it resurfaced for air, revealing several deep scratches on its side in front of the dorsal fin.

In all the times that I had scanned the water watching KITTIWAKES, PELAGIC and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, MARBLED MURRELETS, and Harbor Seals I did not notice any spouts. That whale had to breach right in front of me to get my attention. I spent a lot more time waiting and walking along the edge but it headed off into the distance. 

Time was suspended in another way as I happened to be there just before the tide changed. The wavelets ran up and down the shallow beach, but neither advanced nor retreated. Then, imperceptibly at first, they reached a little farther and a little farther, and soon it was clear that the tide was coming in. 

How fun to feel connected to the tides, the ocean, and the invisible moon, a mighty cycle so regular I can read the change on a tide table.

Update: the next day I saw a single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 

July 19, 2025 Violet-green Swallows, Arctic Terns, Steller's Jay babies

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 5:10 am, sunset 10:59 pm for a total day length of 17 hours and 49 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 7 seconds shorter.

Cloudy with temps continuing around 46-57º and calm. Warmer temps in the mid-60s and sunshine in the forecast for next week.

After saying farewell to my hummers on July 11, I almost took down the feeder. But at 6 pm on July 16, a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD hovered in front of my kitchen window looking at me as if to say, “I’m still here!” I immediately made a new batch of sugar solution. There it was the next morning at 9 am, sitting and sipping. That was the sweet finale; I haven’t seen any since.

“My” VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS are still using the nest box. They are about a week behind the other neighborhood Swallows. I enjoyed watching the gorgeous dad taking a little time for himself to preen and bask in the sunshine on July 17. 

What appears to be a black and white bird when swooping above is truly eye-popping when illuminated from behind in the sun: brilliant green back, violet rump, iridescent blue on scapulars, white face with large, alert eyes, tiny black bill, and immaculate white front. 

The babies should be fledging soon.

The ARCTIC TERNS have already left their nests and headed out to sea, all except three adults and one last baby who I only saw walking on the beach. It’s a late bloomer who no longer enjoys the protection of the colony to fight off predators. Two SHORT-BILLED GULLS remained nearby but I did not see any young. 

I watched the five adults leap into action against first one adult BALD EAGLE then a second as the marauders flew low across the beach with a little snack in mind. The ferocious smaller birds dive-bombed the Eagles and loudly screamed bird profanities until they drove them off. 

Then a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL flew in range and the defense also proved successful. What a treacherous time for the baby!

Were the Short-billed Gulls exhibiting altruistic behavior? I wonder why they remained, and joined in the defense like the Three Musketeers, “All for one and one for all!” I hope the little one will soon become a skilled aviator instead of a sitting target and start the long migration to Antarctica.

Also spotted, a small flock of peeps, including LEAST and SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS, and two LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Otherwise, it was pretty quiet.

This afternoon, while walking up to the gate at Lowell Canyon Road, I held the Merlin app towards an unusual woodpecker sound I did not recognize. AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS! I saw a flutter through the dense cottonwood leaves and heard several babies vocalizing from both sides of the road, but was unable to see them. On my way back 15 minutes later, I heard nothing.

Back home, I found two adorable baby STELLER JAYS snoozing on the back deck, blue-gray balls of downy feathers with bright blue wing and tail feathers and a tiny dark crest. They still have their gaping baby bills. O, they were so tired! They hardly stirred when I suddenly appeared, then quickly dozed off again. It won’t be long before they become alert, perky rascals.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter