Seward,
Alaska Sporadic Bird Report
Sunrise
5:08 am, sunset 10:41pm, length of day 17 hours, 33 minutes; tomorrow will be 4
minutes and 22 seconds longer.
Weather:
Cool and overcast continues after several sunshiny cool and windy days. Temps
in the high 30s in the morning rose to high 40s. Lawns are greening up and tiny spring green leaves brighten the landscape. The rain held off for the most
part, as did the wind, making for a very pleasant day to bird with the Trail
Lake Lodge Elderhostel group.
With
all the weekend activities and increased action along the beach, it was amazing
to find a WANDERING TATTLER feeding at the low intertidal zone just south of
Scheffler Creek's outlet. One led
to two, then suddenly there were four WANDERING TATTLERS and a BLACK TURNSTONE
(FOS) standing on the same rock! Bright HARLEQUIN DUCKS swam warily along the
shore, watching out for dogs and beach walkers. A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE flew past.
NORTHWESTERN CROWS ferried morsels from the intertidal zone to the leafing
cottonwood trees for lunch.
Just
offshore, we spotted a PIGEON GUILLEMOT in full breeding plumage, a dashing
black body accented with a bold white wing patch. Two pairs of MARBLED
MURRELETS posed then dove. An ARCTIC TERN landed on a protruding piece of
driftwood; a very white-breasted ~2 year old BALD EAGLE surveyed the scene from
the old pilings nearby.
Farther
out, the gulls feasted at the seafood processor's outlet pipe: GLAUCOUS-WINGED,
MEW, and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES in abundance. A harbor seal poked its head up
to look around. Much farther out, only seen in the scope, an adult
YELLOW-BILLED LOON in breeding plumage and a juvenile swam together.
The
meadow by the airport concealed 4 WHIMBRELS, busily probing for worms and other
invertebrates with their long curved bills. They were almost the same color as
the dead grasses. A MERLIN flashed overhead, heading for the cottonwoods on the
side. Unseen, a FOX SPARROW sang its cheerful song.
Out
on the completely thawed pond (about time!) many ducks dove, paddled, preened,
and napped: GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN
PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK (2), GREATER SCAUP, and COMMON MERGANSER.
Several
small flocks of shorebirds flew overhead including LEAST SANDPIPERS. Two
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, larger versions of the LEAST, fed busily in the sedges
near the ducks. The haunting winnowing of the WILSON'S SNIPE drifted down from
the speck bird plummeting from the sky. ARCTIC TERNS flew buoyantly over the
pond, diving for tiny fish; a pair rested on the small islet where they may
nest again this year. Two VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS flew erratically overhead,
snatching invisible insects midair. This cold weather has been hard on them; I
hope they find plenty to eat from now on!
Exit
Glacier/Herman Leirer Road just opened to the Resurrection River Bridge.
Another surprise awaited where we parked near the bridge. A GREAT HORNED OWL
hooted softly from the dense spruce forest! I have hardly heard one all winter
and now, in mid-May in broad daylight, it's hooting!
A
pair of SOLITARY SANDPIPERS frolicked on the bank across the river near a large
patch of snow. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS called from its spot nearby. Two COMMON
MERGANSERS dove in the river at the bend. Moose
tracks decorated the silt beneath the bridge. ROBINS and VARIED THRUSHES sang
from the treetops. A bright male YELLOW-RUMPED "MYRTLE" WARBLER warbled and gave us very good looks,
including a brief landing on top of the "Welcome to Kenai Fjords National
Park" sign. I learned that this species eats myrtle berries on at least part of its wintering ground, hence the name. Overhead, a COMMON REDPOLL blew raspberries as it flew, but
regretfully, did not land. Tiny RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS belted out their impossibly loud song. How do they do that?
An inky black bear was spotted on the recently thawed mountainside; 4 mountain
goats adorned the opposite heights. Scopes sure are handy for not only bringing
in the details, but for showing others the hard to describe wildlife locations.
The trails at Exit Glacier remain under 3-4 feet of snow so we didn't go there.
Back
on Nash Road at the mile 1 wetlands, two adult TRUMPETER SWANS stretched down
deep, accompanied by a pair of AMERICAN WIGEONS grabbing scraps.
Out
at mile 5 Nash Road, a cormorant rested on the pilings near the public boat
launch. Closer inspection revealed a light-colored bill, slightly thicker than
a Pelagic's. Sure enough, it was a RED-FACED CORMORANT nervously watching us,
but not willing to fly. Very cool to find this juvenile without having to
travel to the Chiswells! The bird book says it takes 2 years to maturity so
next year it should be an adult. A single WANDERING TATTLER rested quietly on the rocks near the cannery, almost invisible. Also spotted offshore, a nice PELAGIC
CORMORANT with its thin dark bill and "pencil neck" for comparison, an adult COMMON LOON in breeding plumage, and more HARLEQUINS.
What
a great day to bird with a wonderful group of folks!
After
dinner, I drove out to Lowell Point in hopes of seeing the Humpback whale that
was reported earlier. No luck, but I did find about 10 surging Steller's sea
lions, and a sea otter eating dinner. A pair of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS worked
along the low tide zone accompanied by many GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. Dozens of
HARLEQUINS swam close to shore. A
pair of MARBLED MURRELETS and a PIGEON GUILLEMOT paddled farther out. I heard
the euchalon (hooligan) are in, so it will be interesting to see if the whale
hangs around and if more sea lions and seals come to the moveable feast.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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