Friday, April 4, 2025 FOS Savannah Sparrow

 Seward, Alaska

After four days of sunshine, dark clouds returned and delivered a half inch of rain. The forecast calls for an inch tomorrow, then possible rain mixed with SNOW until next Saturday. The silver-lining storms may also bring spring migrants.

 

An unusually still, resident SONG SPARROW perched resolutely on a driftwood snag, droplets beaded up on its waterproofed feathers and beak. Similarly, a resting, disheveled BALD EAGLE looked forlorn but resigned as a light rain pattered down. 

 

Suddenly, a small bird scurried ahead in the flattened beach ryegrass. Longspur? Pipit? When he reappeared, the bright yellow eyebrow revealed a First of Season (FOS) SAVANNAH SPARROW!  The sand on his bill indicated foraging, no doubt hungry after his long migration from California, or southern US and Mexico. His future mate and neighbors will soon join him; can’t wait to hear their territorial songs and chips.

 

The Mile 1 Nash Road resident TRUMPETER SWAN pair returned in late March to claim this prime nesting habitat. Coincidentally, last year’s four no-longer-cherished cygnets are now fending for themselves. This leads me to suspect the adults are the same successful parents. Nest building should start soon now that the pond is mostly ice-free.

 

On another ebike ride on Exit Glacier Road on April 2, I heard my first BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE singing its sweet spring song in the park. A FOS bumblebee droned over to say “hello!” right to my face, and another buzzed around me at the NPS bridge. On the April 3 ride, I heard then saw a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET flitting like a warbler among the bare alder branches by the bridge. 

 

A pair of Eagles has again staked out the lone cottonwood nest along Exit Glacier Road. Despite the summer activity from the campground below, the Eagles have a strong attachment to this nest site near the river. They raised two eaglets last year; it will be interesting to watch them again this year.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 Exit Glacier Road solitary songster

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:22 am, sunset 8:42 pm for a total day length of 13 hours and 19 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.

 

Hazy sunshine today, temperature 36-47, and diminished NNW wind of 5-9 mph made for a very lovely spring day. 

 

I ebiked Exit Glacier Road this afternoon for the first time this year. Feeling privileged, I rode through the gap in the vehicle gate at Bridge Creek and right down the center line or wandered from one lane to the other. This freedom won’t last long! 

 

Winter just recently retreated, leaving scattered snow piles in the woods. Except for the willows bursting into bloom, the other trees and shrubs seemed dormant. 

For most of the miles, I heard only peaceful silence. Approaching the Glacier Overlook, I was thrilled to see Exit Glacier for the first time since October, clad in white from her head to her toe, glistening in the sunshine. Glazed snowy mountains framed the famous glacier flowing from the Harding Ice Field.

 

Scraped ice covered the road down the hill to the bridge marking the boundary from the Chugach National Forest to Kenai Fjords National Park. Then the pavement poked through for another half mile until deeper snow discouraged me from continuing to the Nature Center. With a few more days of sunshine, and help from the snow plow, the way should be open soon.

 

Just after I turned around, I heard a distant RAVEN and a WOODPECKER calling (Downy?). Then, a sweet song interspersed with harsh buzzy sounds. I walked my bike closer and listened. Closer, closer. Then I spotted the songster near the top of a leafless tree. As I hoped, a NORTHERN SHRIKE! It allowed me to enjoy the serenade for many minutes before it flew off towards the river. I wondered what it found to eat and sing about in this wintry landscape. Tough bird!

 

While I’m looking forward to hearing the first Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Varied Thrushes followed by the rush of other songsters, the solitary, singing Shrike made my day.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, March 27, 2025 Sea Ducks

Seward, Alaska

The forecast erred in our favor! Sunny with haze and a brisk north wind!

 

Around 10:45 am I walked into dawn as the sun lumbered up above the nearby mountains at Fourth of July Beach. Small rafts of sea ducks dove along the beach just offshore on the rising tide, initially in the shade and then in the brilliant sunshine. 

 

BARROW’S GOLDENEYES raised their bills high in courtship and males chased each other, some attacking from underwater. Similarly, HARLEQUIN DUCKS chased, courted, and preened. A single LONG-TAILED DUCK chose to hang out with the Harlequins. Such a delight to see this handsome duck up close as the raft eased warily closer to the beach where I stood semi-concealed. 

 

A bit farther out, a raft of about 12 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS snorkeled and dove. Nearby, three HORNED GREBES paddled about. I also spotted a few COMMON GOLDENEYES near the breakwater.

 

This was the largest variety of sea ducks that I have seen here in a long time, even considering the absence of Surf Scoters.

 

All of these sea ducks overwinter in Resurrection Bay, but most of them migrate to freshwater ponds and rivers to breed. Their disappearance will be yet another sign of Spring.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Great Blue Herons, Swans, Western Screech Owl

 Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 8:28 pm, for a total day length of 12 hours and 29 seconds. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.

 

Light wind and rain this morning then overcast with temps in the low to high 30s. More of the same for the next few days then a bit of sunshine in the forecast. Snow is melting fast and ice on local ponds is soft and shrinking. 

Many Sitka willows are in bloom; buds swell on blueberry and elderberry bushes. Green beach ryegrass spears poke through last year’s bleached skeletons. Spring is easing her way into the landscape.

 

Today at the old coal dock I found seven GREAT BLUE HERONS preening and napping. Six were lined up side by side on one railing while the seventh stood apart like a supervisor. Where do these large, secretive herons go when they are not hanging out here in plain sight? Birds of mystery.

 

Migratory gulls including GLAUCOUS-WINGED, a few HERRING GULLS, and KITTIWAKES, have arrived to join the resident SHORT-BILLED GULLS. BALD EAGLES are only too happy to do a nonchalant fly-over to stir them up and raise the decibels of their cries. Sounds of Spring!

 

TRUMPETER SWANS linger at the mouth of creeks and, to the surprise of many new observers, paddle in the bay. Somehow, they found food including eelgrass to sustain them through the winter. It’s wonderful to see the nine-month-old cygnets thriving and as large as their parents.

 

A friend reported a WESTERN SCREECH OWL hooting at 2:30 am at Mile 7 Seward Highway. A tad late/early for me, but worth a try on Exit Glacier Road past the locked gate, on Old Exit Glacier Road, or in the Lost Lake Subdivision.

 

Now is the ‘tween time as we wait, watch, and listen expectantly for migrants to arrive and fill our hearts with joy. Any day, any day…

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Monday, March 17, 2025 Singing Shrike

Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 8:08 am, sunset 8:06 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 57 minutes as we approach SPRING EQUINOX on March 20. Looks like we will exceed equal night and day sooner with 5 minutes and 30 seconds more day length tomorrow.

 

March returned us from spring to winter with scattered snow showers and more seasonal temperatures in the mid-teens to mid-20s. Snow is forecast for the rest of the week but may well be sn’rain as temps rise above freezing. Whatever it is, it won’t last long. Crocuses are up and ready to bloom no matter what.

 

This morning, in bright sunshine and a chilly north breeze, I heard and then found a cheery NORTHERN SHRIKE singing in an alder, sheltered from the wind in the lee of a spruce woods. On and on it sang, a bubbly tune, casting all cares to the wind. What a treat to be a guest (tolerated) to the performance.

 

A few days ago, on a calm day, I watched as a handsome drake BUFFLEHEAD flew several feet above a mirrored reflection of snowy mountains in a stream. As he passed over the water, ripples radiated in his wake, the mighty mountains shimmering in response without being touched, invisibly connected to the small duck.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, March 6, 2025 Sunshine, Rock Sandpipers and one Dunlin

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 6:38 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 57 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.

 

After a week of rain, sn’rain, slush, and yesterday, about 4” of wet snow, today dawned bright. Gauzy clouds lingered against the snowy mountains, reluctant to leave. Welcome, warm sunshine illuminated the spectacular scenery all around. The wind napped, resting up for tomorrow’s forecasted NNW winds 10-20 mph, and clouds.

 

Midday low tides opened up access to Afognak Beach where I enjoyed watching 24 ROCK SANDPIPERS and one DUNLIN chitter and forage along the ebbing tideline. They stuck together like grannies at a garage sale, anxious to see what treasures everyone else was finding, worried about missing out. A few SHORT-BILLED GULLS wandered among them, towering over the busy shorebirds.

 

MALLARDS dabbled in the intertidal streams and a horde of AMERICAN CROWS plundered the freshly washed tidelands. An adult BALD EAGLE cried stridently from a treetop. All seemed to rejoice in the gorgeous, calm day and reprieve from the dismal weather.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter