Seward,
Alaska Sporadic Bird Report
Sunrise
8:18 am, sunset 6:05 pm, length of day 9 hours, 47 minutes; tomorrow will be 5
minutes and 27 seconds longer. It's light until well after 6 pm!
Weather:
Fairly stable pattern the past few days, with mostly overcast skies,
temperature again hovering in upper 20s to low 30sº, and light winds.
Last
night about 10:30 pm I heard a high querulous trill that I've never heard
before. Then I spotted an owl
sitting on a tree branch in a neighbor's yard. It seemed small, about the size
of a SAW-WHET. I suspect it was hunting small rodents that are attracted to
birdseed scattered on the ground. Or maybe the new litter of feral rabbits. It
sat for several minutes, visible in silhouette only by the light of the half
moon shrouded by a thin veil of clouds. Then it suddenly plunged silently down,
and out of sight.
This
afternoon just after 1:30 pm, I checked the mixed birdseed feeder at the bottom
of Suicide Hill. A never-ending flock dominated by raspberry-colored COMMON REDPOLLS with a
smaller percentage of PINE SISKINS crowded around the feeder, chattering
noisily. Bright orange globes of VARIED THRUSHES barged in and out, at least
six for a conservative estimate. They seemed to tolerate one another one minute
and then chased each other off the next. Hidden in the trees, they wheezed and
clucked. A couple WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and a SONG SPARROW hopped around,
also singing when not feeding. It was quite the chorus!
While
checking the surrounding tree branches with my binoculars, I suddenly spied the
SIBERIAN ACCENTOR sitting quietly, looking for a chance to dine. It flew down
to a nearby rock and then made its move to the ground, chasing aside several
Redpolls and Siskins. Then it worked its way around the feeder, determinedly
gleaning bits of dropped suet. The other birds gave it some space, but most
continued to feed nearby.
After
it flew back up in the trees, I found a bright BRAMBLING sitting on a Mt Ash
branch. While I watched, it didn't feed or come to the ground, but it's nice to
know both of these rare birds are still around.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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