Sunday, January 8, 2012 Three-toed Woodpecker


Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report

Sunrise 9:55 am, sunset 4:13 pm, length of day 6 hours, 17 minutes;  tomorrow will  be 3 minutes and 3 seconds longer.

First full moon of 2012 tonight, if the thickening clouds permit viewing.  

Weather: Partly cloudy today, temps in the mid 20s, blowing snow, roiling bay. More clouds and a chance of snow in the forecast.  

Today was a great day for a hike to Tonsina Point through the calm, quiet, snowy woods. The high tide surfed up the beach, making it temporarily  inaccessible. A DIPPER paddled busily about the middle of Tonsina Creek, acting for all the world like a tiny diving duck. Several real sea ducks, BUFFLEHEAD, dove at the creek's mouth and in the incoming surf. 

COMMON REDPOLLS flocked around the alders, quickly gleaned seeds  and  moved on.    

Deep in the Enchanted Forest, festooned with green mosses and lichens, a female AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER methodically worked her way around a  thick tree branch, clearing snow and flicking bark all in one move. I haven't seen this  species in a long time; they aren't common here. Her photo is small as I only had my point-and shoot. 

Happy Birding! 
Carol Griswold 
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 







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