Seward,
Alaska Sporadic Bird Report
About
25 birders braved the winter roads to converge on Seward for the annual
Anchorage Audubon Seward Field Trip. Both the weather and birds cooperated to
provide a wonderful day of birding for all. Most folks more than tripled their
annual bird list, several nabbed Life Birds. The list below totaled 44
species.
First
stop: A YELLOW-BILLED LOON cruised in the boat harbor between the boardwalk and
the ice, the first of several we would see during the day. A dying COMMON MURRE
flopped and struggled on the ice, a sad sight.
We
walked over to the Uplands to scan the numerous seabirds in the bay. I was amazed to see the
male HOODED MERGANSER, looking handsome and relatively small, hanging out with
the SURF SCOTERS, GOLDENEYES, MERGANSERS, and other seabirds. This is the first
time I have seen him in salt water. We are assuming it’s the same one as he was
not found in Clear Creek a short time earlier, but we'll have to keep
cross-checking. Other highlights: another YELLOW-BILLED LOON and a female
GREATER SCAUP. Aaron B spotted a THAYER'S GULL and HERRING GULLS with his keen,
trained eyes.
Next
was a productive feeder for PINE GROSBEAKS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, COMMON REDPOLLS, PINE SISKIN, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS. A
talkative RAVEN attracted 6 MAGPIES, a sure sign of something interesting. Sure
enough, they had staked out a loose black cat that was also birding.
On
our way to Ava's along the highway, we passed a momma moose and her gangly
yearling punching through deep snow to reach willows. The highlights at Ava's
were two raptors; a MERLIN perched in its preferred location at the top of a
spruce, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK sitting in another spruce and farther down.
I
have never seen such immobile HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKERS. They were one with
the tree trunks. The GROSBEAKS and REDPOLLS gathered silently in the
cottonwoods, watching, watching. Suddenly the MERLIN, that had disappeared,
sliced low overhead from behind, making an unsuccessful pass at lunch. Soon
after the frozen birds became animated and relaxed a bit though they remained
on alert.
Another
momma and yearling rested in the snow next to Salmon Creek; if they saw a
dipper, they didn't say.
At
Mile 5 Nash Road we parked by the boat basin. It was amazing to have so many
birders searching diligently, finding so many wonderful birds, and yet have
more pop up. Highlights included 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, a
pair of BLACK SCOTERS, rafts of SURF SCOTERS, 3 PACIFIC LOONS, YELLOW-BILLED
LOONS, COMMON LOON, 2 MARBLED MURRELETS, and many healthy-looking COMMON
MURRES.
Directly
under us next to the sheetrock piling, we enjoyed fabulous views of a COMMON
MURRE snorkeling then diving. The water was so clear, we could see it
"fly" underwater. A young sea otter floated calmly close by, looking
at us with mild interest and total lack of concern, then turned and drifted
slowly back for the paparazzi madly clicking away.
The
last official stop was a downtown feeder. The nearby dense spruce and hemlock
tree boughs concealed a very quiet STELLER'S JAY. We searched for raptors
without success to explain this odd behavior. Soon, a tiny CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEE flitted from the trees to the feeder, ringing up another Life Bird
for several. As we watched and waited, a flock of about 18 GRAY-CROWNED
ROSY-FINCHES circled overhead. They eventually settled in the top of the nearby
cottonwood and ever so gradually worked their way lower and lower. Finally,
they descended on the flowerpot feeders, giving everyone a great look at this
beautiful finch.
Of
note, was a brown-cheeked individual whose gray hood did not extend to the neck
like the others. Thanks to Aaron Lang who confirmed that this is the
"INTERIOR" GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH, subspecies
"tephrocotis". It should be wintering in southern BC and farther east
and south, but has regularly been found in Homer. He also pointed out that it
has a more reddish-brown breast, belly and mantle, stout bill, and is slightly
smaller.
For
a nice tutorial with photos on the Gray-crowned Rosy-finch subspecies in
Alaska, please visit his website at
<http://www.birdingak.com/201101/25/gray-crowned-rosy-finch-subspecies-in-alaska>
As
with most birding, there's a dose of serendipity and the more you look, the
more you see. It was a pleasure to have the trained eyes of more experienced
birders help others "see" the birds. Thanks to everyone for a very
special day exploring Seward's birds!
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
2012
Audubon-Seward Field Trip February 18, 2012
Mallard
Greater
Scaup, female
Black
Scoter
White-winged
Scoter
Surf
Scoter
Harlequin
Duck
Long-tailed
Duck
Common
Goldeneye
Barrow’s
Goldeneye
Common
Merganser
Red-breasted
Merganser
Hooded
Merganser
Pacific
Loon
Common
Loon
Yellow-billed
Loon
Horned
Grebe
Red-necked
Grebe
Pelagic
Cormorant
Bald
Eagle adult
Sharp-shinned
Hawk
Merlin
Mew
Gull
*Herring
Gull
*Thayer’s
Gull
Glaucous-winged
Gull
Black-legged
Kittiwake
Common
Murre
Marbled
Murrelet
Rock
Pigeon
Downy
Woodpecker
Hairy
Woodpecker
Steller’s
Jay
Black-billed
Magpie
Northwestern
Crow
Common
Raven
Black-capped
Chickadee
Chestnut-backed
Chickadee
Red-breasted
Nuthatch
Song
Sparrow
Dark-eyed
(Slate-colored) Junco
Gray-crowned
Rosy-Finch
Pine
Grosbeak
Common
Redpoll
Pine
Siskin
TOTAL
SPECIES: 44
*
only a few birders saw the scope birds (spotted by Aaron Bowman)
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