Friday, March 23, 2007 Snow Buntings to Robins

Seward Alaska

Sunrise 7:50 am, sunset 8:19 pm, length of day 12hours, 29 minutes;

tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.

 

Weather: 25º with brisk north to west winds 15 to 30 mph with stronger

gusts, 100% gray overcast, trying to snow. More of the same forecast

for the weekend.

 

Winter and spring are duking it out, both trying to go out and come in

like a lion. The persistent snow cover, measuring over 14 feet out of

town, and 2 to 3 feet in town, keeps the feeders busy. Large numbers

of PINE GROSBEAKS, PINE SISKINS, and COMMON REDPOLLS

continue to drain black oil sunflower seeds from feeders, especially

those out of town.

 

Ava called in over 200 songbirds yesterday at her 30' porch feeder,

mostly grosbeaks, scattered only when the MERLIN or SHARP-SHINNED HAWK drops by for a meal. A few VARIED THRUSHes and ROBINs have survived the winter so far and pop up in town periodically to verify the news.

 

Also on March 22, at Spring Creek Beach at mile 5, Nash Road, 26

SNOW-BUNTINGS flashed black and white in a flock, gleaning beach rye seeds from the snow, even as the wetland pond ice is breaking up in

large, geometric slabs. 5 other black and white flashers, the BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, scavenged nearby, probably a family.

 

The year-round resident DIPPER hopped off the ice into the chilly

water to grab a bug or two, and then sang about it, heedless of the

weather. The resident BALD EAGLE pair sat on the nest as if to try it

out, and then both left to hunt from other perches.

 

Other eagle pairs have been reported sitting on or near their nests too, although it is too early for eggs.

 

Over in the bay, several pairs of HARLEQUIN DUCKS preened on the rocks and abandoned boat hull or swam in a loose flock mixed with BARROW'S GOLDENEYES and 6 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Farther out, were small rafts of BLACK SURF SCOTERS numbering about 50 in all, also a few HORNED GREBES still in their winter plumage, and PELAGIC CORMORANTS.

 

One sure sign of spring, despite the wintery weather, is the arrival

of the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and larger numbers of

GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW gulls first seen on March16. The herring are on a spawning mission, drawing these birds into the bay. 

 

Over 30 Steller sea lions are also in the bay feeding on the herring and are easily seen from Lowell Point Road and along the Greenbelt. Over 20 Dall's porpoise were seen in the inner bay, sending up their flashy

rooster tail sprays on March 3rd, also probably following the herring.

 

Look for the GADWALLS feeding in the lee of the south side of the new harbor uplands; 8 were counted on March 19th. This is still a good

spot to find COMMON MERGANSERS, and both GOLDENEYE species.

 

Peregrine Joe reported a female HOODED MERGANSER on March 16th at the pond at Mile 3 by the Stash and Store sign. Apparently she did not linger.

 

On March 20th, both Long Bill and Scissor Bill, the NORTHWESTERN

CROWS, were seen feeding at the Safeway parking lot, even as USGS

researchers were in town looking for them. Both birds seemed healthy,

despite their deformed bills.

 

Unusual NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL behavior noted on March 3rd in town: the owl perched on the flood lights of a home near the bird feeder and was seen snatching a redpoll for lunch in the daytime.

 

There have been a few other reports of city saw-whets staking out bird

feeders in town during these very cold spells. I wonder if their normal prey of voles and shrews are scarce and they are forced to eat birds and thus be active in the daytime?

 

Think Spring and Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Sporadic Bird Report reporter