Thursday, January 5, 2012 Unusual Sightings

Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report

Sunrise  9:58 am, sunset 4:07 pm, length of day 6 hours, 9 minutes; tomorrow will be 2  minutes and 38 seconds longer.

Weather:  The wind shifted to the south today, raising temperatures to the mid to upper  20s, a welcome relief from the recent single digits. About a foot of fluffy,  marvelous snow dumped on the town this morning around 6 am, burying freshly  delivered newspapers until spring.  Everyone seemed to be shoveling out and the  busy plows piled the snow into 10-foot mountains along the streets. All day long, a  series of squalls rolled through like a maniac surfing the weather channel. Snow  flurries morphed to hail resembling Styrofoam beads called "graupel", then cleared  with large patches of incongruous blue sky, then back to the gray wall of snow  marching down the bay. More snow showers in the forecast. Let's hope the wind lies  low!

Yesterday, a ski groomer on snow machine discovered a dead RED-NECKED  GREBE on the snow in the middle of Bear Lake, 7 miles from the ocean. Perhaps it  never left the lake where this species nests, and tried to live at the very small open  area at the outlet until an eagle grabbed it and dropped it. Very interesting! 

Also on Wednesday, I photographed the LINCOLN'S SPARROW feeding with  REDPOLLS, JUNCOS, a VARIED THRUSH, BLACK-CAPPED and  CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, and a DOWNY WOODPECKER. 

I wonder where this sparrow has been until now? 

Today, a Coast Guard helicopter circled the bay, continuing yesterday's unusual late  night search by plane, following a report of an emergency flare and possible boater in  distress. This unusual event preceded the uncommon sightings of a PIGEON  GUILLEMOT off Lowell Point Beach, and a very lethargic-looking BLACK- LEGGED KITTIWAKE. The gull seemed cold and slow, broadcasting an "Eat Me"  signal. I doubt it will last long with our hungry eagles on patrol. 

Also spotted along Lowell Point: COMMON LOON, PELAGIC CORMORANTS,  BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, SURF SCOTERS, HARLEQUINS, GLAUCOUS- WINGED GULLS, RAVENS, NORTHWESTERN CROWS, a BALD EAGLE,  and two river otters. 

Towards the end of the ever-lengthening but still short day, I found a moose,  GADWALLS, BUFFLEHEAD, and a scolding DIPPER. Just at dusk, a GREAT  BLUE HERON flew right overhead on its way to its secret roost for the long night. 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter