After about a week of steady
feeding and frequent sightings, my RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD has not been seen since
July 23. Another feeder in town reported her hummingbirds seemed to have
departed by July 19.
Today, however, about 7 miles
south of Seward alongside a creek feeding into Resurrection Bay, I spotted a
hummingbird feeding on one of the last blooming red columbines. It seemed
larger than a Rufous Hummingbird, though small is small. A possible candidate
is an Anna's Hummingbird, a quarter inch larger at 4". Regardless of what
species, it was a big surprise and thrill to see a hummer in the wild at this
late date. A CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE cheerfully inspected a spruce branch for
insects.
Also spotted along the kayak
trip, several adult and juvenile PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, MARBLED MURRELETS,
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 7 HARLEQUIN DUCKS in eclipse plumage, and BALD
EAGLES.
MEW GULLS plundered the
freshly laid eggs of the returning Dog/Chum Salmon spawning in Tonsina Creek.
Two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, sans spots, flew along creek, then landed and
emphatically jerked their heads up and down in their weird but characteristic
manner while bobbing their tails. It's a wonder the spots don't fall off sooner!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment