Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Brambling, Lincoln Sparrow, and Rusty Blackbird

Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report

Another cold clear day, with temps in the 20s and a north wind.

Robin C reported 6 ROBINS, 6 JUNCOS, and a single RUSTY BLACKBIRD at the horse corral this afternoon. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS sang like it was spring from the tops of the cone-laden spruce trees at Two Lakes Park.

Lots of bird action at Lowell Point this afternoon too. While I was intently searching the alders and spruce along the road, looking for little birds like juncos and perhaps a brambling or two, a gangly GREAT BLUE HERON suddenly flapped from one spruce tree to another, then disappeared into the branches so only the tip of its long bill and a bit of lanky belly were visible.

The young spruce and alder clump across the road seemed alive with sparrows. The musical song of the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW attracted my attention first. I found two, then a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and a DARK-EYED JUNCO. They took turns hopping up on a branch in the sun. Why couldn't the Brambling do that, I wondered. Then a LINCOLN'S SPARROW popped up for its turn. I haven't seen a Lincoln's for a while.

More action high in the spruce tops drew my attention to the PINE SISKINS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and JUNCOS. Ah ha! There was that colorful fellow! In the sun, mostly unobstructed, busily feeding on spruce seeds for more than a millisecond.  All my criteria except for close. Nonetheless, it was great to see the BRAMBLING again. Then off he flew, the sun went down, and that was that!

In other news, yesterday, Jim H reported a KINGFISHER in the north harbor around 10 am, 2 GREAT BLUE HERONS on the pilings by the Alaska Sealife Center, a pair of MARBLED MURRELETS at Caines Head and another pair at Tonsina around 1 pm.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter









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