Seward, Alaska
Sunny, 56º, south breeze 12 mph, hazy to south, blue sky above. 18 hours, 11 minutes
daylight, tomorrow will be 3 minutes, 31 seconds longer.
Peregrine Joe alerted me to a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH singing its little heart out for a mate out at Exit Glacier. I have never seen or heard this warbler, so I drove out to the "Welcome to Kenai Fjords National Park" sign just past the bridge over Resurrection River, parked at the pullout, and walked back a half block.
He was loud and persistent, singing from a young cottonwood on the south side of the road. The leaves are getting big enough to hide this dark, streaked little bird, but on occasion, he flew to a higher vantage point where I got a very good view.
WILSON'S SNIPE, YELLOW WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, MYRTLE WARBLER, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, HERMIT THRUSH, ROBIN, and FOX SPARROW were also singing or flitting through the undergrowth, except for the snipe of course, who was doggedly diving and flying up yet again, still trying to impress his lady love.
On my way out I watched as a moose grazed peacefully in the main river gravel bars with Exit Glacier in the background, before disappearing completely into the alders.
Back towards town on Nash Road , the two TRUMPTER SWANS tended to their huge nest quite close to the road. I learned that the female, or pen, lays 1 egg every 2 days until she has 5 or 6, up to 9 eggs. She incubates them for about 32 days, while the male, or cob, stays
nearby and helps to defend the nest. Watch for cygnets to hatch from mid-June on.
A ROBIN's blue eggshell was found blowing in the wind yesterday. Baby bird alert! Keep those cats inside!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Sporadic Bird Report reporter
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