Seward Alaska Sporadic Bird
Report
Much quieter today; no Swans
or Cranes. Chilly NNW wind continued. Beautiful lenticular white clouds sailed
off mountain tops, creating lovely, unusual patterns against the blue sky.
Lowell Point Beach had only
one bird, a RED-NECKED GREBE in breeding plumage. A pair of MARBLED MURRELETS
bobbed in the waves and dove along Lowell Point Road. A nice flock of BARROW'S
GOLDENEYES bathed in Lowell Creek while the gulls were elsewhere.
Two pairs of AMERICAN WIGEON
dabbled close to shore in the Scheffler Creek area. The drake's handsome green
crown swash ignited in the sun, very flashy. Two pairs of GADWALL swam nearby.
An adult BLACK SCOTER drake
joined the first winter male, a pair of BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, a male SURF
SCOTER, and a few HARLEQUINS just a short ways offshore. A cloud of GULLS
swarmed the seafood processor's ground-up fish feeder by the buoys.
Five ARCTIC TERNS whizzed
around the tidelands, performing aerial ballet at top speed. Three NW CROWS patrolled the beach,
alternating with 5 RAVENS. A juvenile BALD EAGLE stood quite still in the beach
rye grass, hidden like a tiger. Unfortunately, I did not see it in time to turn
away, and it flew off, only to be harassed by an adult MEW GULL. Maybe it
sought peace from the aggressive gulls by concealing itself in the grass.
Only two GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE seen. Reports of SNOW GEESE in area, but did not see them.
NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, MALLARD, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and SHOVELER numbers
seem to be increasing. One WILSON'S SNIPE flew up from the wetlands.
The snow and ice continued to
sublimate and melt, exposing more and more ground and open water, a welcome
sight for the incoming visitors. Snow is in the forecast, but IT CAN'T LAST.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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