Sunrise 7:01 am, sunset 8:50
pm, for 13 hours and 49 minutes of daylight. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24
seconds shorter. Temps in the low 50s. Unleaded gas shot up 11¢ this weekend to
$4.38.
Weather: Ominous charcoal
gray skies eased in this morning, bringing scattered showers and increasing
winds. White caps roiled the bay ahead of a huge storm blowing in from the
Aleutians. Strong winds and a flood watch are posted for the Seward area
tonight as the trees toss and shake in the gusts and rain pelts the windows.
It's an exciting time!
One little gift of the storm
blew in this morning. In the upper sedge/grass meadow at the head of the bay, I
spotted a single black and white shorebird sailing low, hardly flapping. Its
behavior reminded me more of a tiny harrier than a shorebird. Finally, it
landed in the grasses a short distance away. I carefully walked over and
refound it. It seemed unafraid and flew just a short distance to a nearby
puddle where it walked about, pecking at invisible food items. The juvenile
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE preened quickly, then resumed walking about the puddle,
often crouching low as if stalking its prey. These are very common in the bay
right now, but I wonder how many are inland like this one?
A BALD EAGLE juvenile
launched from a stump, scattering young GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS intent on feeding
on salmon carcasses. Perhaps this eagle recently dined on breast of gull; the
feathers and wings were strewn up and down the driftwood dining table. The
cycle of life spins along.
On the eve of the storm,
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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