Seward,
Alaska Sporadic Bird Report
A
strong north wind sucked the heat right out of this sunny spring day. It froze
again last night, and the high of 46ยบ just felt like winter in the wind. Spring
is like that!
Nevertheless,
it was a great day to bird. The cannery on Lowell Point Road was screaming with
gulls: GLAUCOUS-WINGED, MEW, and KITTIWAKES. It looked like a giant down pillow
had exploded over the water. Two fancy-eyebrowed DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
paddled cautiously on the perimeter.
On
the east side of the bay, I photographed one lonely LEAST SANDPIPER as it waded
and picked through some floating vegetation next to Spring Creek. MEW GULLS
commandeered the earthquake trees by the recently opened wetland pond, making
their presence known. Pairs of COMMON MERGANSERS and BARROW'S GOLDENEYES dove
in the pond.
I
was surprised to see SWALLOWS soaring and dipping overhead. I finally managed
to follow them with the binocs and discovered they were FOS CLIFF SWALLOWS. The
creek provided flying insects; I hope they found plenty. A dozen HARLEQUIN
DUCKS eased off the rocky outcrop, reluctantly abandoning their sunbath, to
join about 40 more bobbing just offshore.
Low
tide at Fourth of July Beach enticed two BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS to feed on the
rocky intertidal zone where more HARLEQUINS sunbathed. I stayed high on the
footpath behind the beach rye to leave them undisturbed. The pond is still
frozen, but probably not for long.
Back
in town by Scheffler Creek, I spotted a single WANDERING TATTLER striding along
the tideline, poking and prodding the intertidal rocks. This is FOS for me, but
one was reported a bit earlier.
A
male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER preened and bathed while his bride busily dove and
snorkled right by the shore. Waves from a tugboat surprised her and she emerged
rather miffed, upset enough to paddle right towards an unsuspecting pair of
BARROW'S GOLDENEYES and aggressively chase them off.
While
enjoying that show, I noticed a very large white bird closer to the Uplands. I
checked closely and realized it was a juvenile YELLOW-BILLED LOON preening its
very white belly. A COMMON LOON napped nearby. I drove over to the Uplands and
crept closer. The young yellow-billed loon preened continuously. It was comical
to see him on his back with his foot sticking straight out, going in circles,
then up and flapping his wings. The newly emerging feathers must feel weird,
maybe they tickle? as the bird removes the sheaths to let them out. Flying
practice is coming soon!
The
adult Common Loon just napped in the sun, out of the wind. I could see one leg
way in the back paddling lazily, no place to go and all day to get there. Only
once did it raise its head, eye half open, to peer around and then tucked its
head back in the warm feathers. Such peace in sharp contrast to the vigorous
preening and flapping next door!
Later,
on the evening walk around 10 pm, I heard two adult BALD EAGLES crying nearby
and watched them flap laboriously in a circle, gradually rising higher and
higher. The swelling moon gleamed in the lavender sky, Venus shone bravely
behind Mt Marathon, her light almost overwhelmed by brightness of the recently
set sun. The eagles continued to circle above the moon, becoming tiny specks,
around and around, soaring without effort. Instead of warbler neck, I had eagle
neck, looking straight up! I kept them in sight all around the block and left
them drifting and circling peacefully back towards the mountain. What a lovely
evening for a little spin, eagle-style. They could see the whole world from up
there.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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