Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Sunrise 7:24 am, sunset 8:40
pm, for 13 hours and 16 minutes of daylight. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 30
seconds longer.
Weather: cloudy skies split
asunder to shower warm sunshine for a change! Temperatures in the high 30s and
calm. It was a beautiful spring day.
Easter brought more than
chocolate bunnies and colored eggs! This morning, I heard the distinctive sharp whistles and
creaks of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS next door. It was difficult to find more than a few
hidden high in the spruce boughs, but recently 30 were counted in a yard in
Forest Acres. Over at the hotspot
feeder, one AMERICAN TREE SPARROW joined the COMMON REDPOLLS, PINE SISKINS, and
VARIED THRUSHES gleaning spilled Nyjer and other birdseed from the snow. Still
no sign of the ACCENTOR, and the BRAMBLINGS are hiding as well.
Out at the tidelands, several
100 gulls including GLAUCOUS-WINGED, HERRING, (probably some hybrids), MEW, and
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES raised a ruckus for no apparent reason, except perhaps
they were excited about Spring!
The graceful SHORT-EARED OWL
cruised over the salt marsh meadow, scanning for voles, its broad wings in
contrast to the narrow gull wings. Suddenly I heard a different bird sound and
tracked it to some driftwood and dried beach rye grass. Two LAPLAND LONGSPURS
walked along the log, half-hidden by the grasses. One popped into the open,
posed, then both flew past to land in another grass clump. I hope they found
some seeds or marine invertebrates to eat after their long journey.
March 22: A PIGEON GUILLEMOT
in breeding plumage reported by Lowell Point Road. Ravens are starting to nest.
March 28: I found a male
BELTED KINGFISHER at Stash and Store Pond. This is another sign of spring as
they have been very scarce all winter. The GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH population doubled to two, an unusually low number.
March 29: A few more PIGEON
GUILLEMOTS reported from Fox Island and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES feeding on bait
balls.
March 30: Three GREAT-BLUE
HERONS on rocks by harbor, year-round residents, but great to see anytime.
Soon the trickle of spring
will increase to a flood, just like the melting ice and snow. Welcome, Spring!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment