Overcast
with light sprinkles, north wind, and 48º today! This is a strange and scary
winter: no snow, ice on lakes and ponds wavering between frozen and liquid,
willows and alders are starting to bud out. Green grass is easy to find, and
the rest of the landscape is shades of brown.
No
Golden Eagle today for me, but the HOODED MERGANSER was back in the half open
Lagoon, looking mighty pleased with himself, accompanied by an adoring COMMON
GOLDENEYE female.
I
added three species to my 2015 list today at the head of the bay: a single
NORTHERN SHRIKE, just a glimpse and then gone; a single SNOW BUNTING, who
should not be alone; and 7 ROCK SANDPIPERS feeding at the tide’s edge.
I
capped off the dim but exciting afternoon with a visit to the Alaska Sealife
Center. I felt like Aladdin in Ali Baba’s cave, so many riches and all mine for
the taking! The pair of SMEWs are so interesting to look at; the male is simply
stunning. And the KING EIDER is, a one little visitor called him, a “rainbow
bird.” He purred and cooed like a dove, though the lovely females were not
impressed. What a great place to see the adorable LONG-TAILED DUCKS up close,
and watch the antics of the puffins.
I
had to skip the seals and sea lions, (like Aladdin I couldn’t see everything),
but the moon jellies were mesmerizing. What a tremendous, inspirational
facility; the wonders of the ocean universe await your visit.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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