Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird
Report
I stopped by the Mile 15
pullout on Alaska Highway 9 on my way to and from Anchorage to check on the
TRUMPETER SWAN family. In the morning, the six swans were barely visible back in
the tall horsetails, but it was great to know they were still there and doing
well.
On the way home at 9:30 pm,
under heavy cloud cover, it was already dusky, but the swans were out in the
open water at the edge of the horsetails. The four cygnets, still gray but with
increasingly longer necks, fed busily on insects clinging to the aquatic
plants. When not feeding, they preened those itchy emerging feathers.
Occasionally one would
stretch its tiny wings; hardly more substantial than a skinny chicken's. An
adult showed how it should look: magnificent, powerful, and glorious. Baby
tried, mom (or dad) showed how. I sure hope they have enough time before
migration to grow those little stubs into functional wings!
As I watched, a tiny
duckling, all alone, paddled purposefully across the pond, dodging around and
through the obstacle course of giant pond lily leaves. I did not see any adults
or other ducklings. Brave little one!
In other swan news, I did
spot one pair of adult swans at the Turnagain Arm pond. And as of Sunday, the
Trumpeter Swan pair was still feeding at Mile 1 Nash Road. No cygnets.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment