Seward,
Alaska
Another
blue-gray day, the clouds weary of their heavy burden and glad to release it.
After yet another downpour, the curtains parted to let a shred of blue sky peek
through. Parked at Ava’s, birding from the car, I spotted a smaller bird in a
nearby cottonwood with the chunky PINE GROSBEAKS and one ROBIN. She was busy
feeding off something on the cottonwood buds.
I
fired off a series of shots to study closely at home. As I suspected, PURPLE
FINCH! She (or first year male) has a broad white eyebrow, dark cheek patch and
white stripe below, no eye ring, and white undertail without any streaks.
This species has been seen in Seward before,
several years ago, but is not a regular. Its winter range is supposed to be in
southern BC down along the Pacific coast to Mexico. I have records for January 25, 2006 Ava’s, April
12, 2007 Ava’s, and January 1, 2008 AVTEC.
The
species is listed as “rare” in the 2014 Checklist of Alaska Birds, “Annual or
possibly annual in small numbers; most such species occur at the perimeter of
Alaska, in season; a few are scarce residents.”
I
hope she hangs around!
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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