Seward, Alaska
Just when it seemed like all
the songbirds had abandoned Seward, I found a Sitka Willow bustling with a family of
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, and
PINE SISKINS. The female tree was loaded with tiny insects and the birds were
only too happy to perform extermination services.
I watched a Pine Siskin glean
a black insect from the underside of a willow leaf. The Chickadee pounded a
small dead branch with its tiny bill, then extracted an insect larva for lunch.
The Townsend's Warblers chipped constantly, as they flitted from one branch to
another, snacking and remarking on the bounteous feast.
An Orange-crowned Warbler
perched precariously on a nearby cow parsnip, upside down, sideways, and on top,
gleaning insects from among the developing seeds.
Two speckle-breasted young
ROBINS hopped about in the grass, looking for invertebrates, happy to find a
worm.
It was quite an unexpected
treat to both hear and see these busy songbirds. I hope the willow feast will
fuel them for many miles on their journey south.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment