Sunrise 8:46 am, sunset 5:38
pm for a total day length of 8 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes
and 19 seconds longer.
Despite
a gloomy forecast for snow turning to rain, the clouds took a little vacation today
and let the warm sun roll unimpeded across a brilliant blue sky. The temp rose
to a spring-like 41ยบ that nullified the north wind’s feeble efforts. By late
afternoon, the tiniest, token light rain fell for a few minutes, heralding the
arrival of a dark load fresh from the Gulf of Alaska. Snow showers are back in
the forecast, but we shall see!
I
searched unsuccessfully for the phantom Killdeer and ended up enjoying a walk
on the ocean bottom/tide flats at low tide. NW CROWS noisily rummaged through
the scattered, exposed blue mussel beds, extracting delicacies for lunch. One
crow flew quite high and dropped its mussel only to swoop after it and adroitly
catch it midair, then powered back up and dropped it again and again in a fine game of drop
and catch. Very entertaining, I imagine, except for the reclusive clam.
A
female BALD EAGLE stood in a tidal stream up to her belly. We unfortunately
interrupted her fishing or bathing and she soon flew over to shore to join her
smaller mate at the top of a spruce tree. It was amazing to watch her
delicately preen her feathers with that massive, bone-crunching yellow beak.
In
the distance, I spotted a flock of about 30 SNOW BUNTINGS flitting here and
there, searching for grit and maybe grub. No luck spotting the small flock of DUNLINS
which were seen on Sunday, or the ROCK SANDPIPERS.
I
hated to leave, but one can’t argue with an incoming tide reclaiming its bed.
So I checked out Spring Creek Beach from North Dock.
The
STELLER’S EIDER and the female GREATER SCAUP were there with the usual
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, SURF SCOTERS, COMMON MERGANSERS, HORNED
GREBES, PELAGIC CORMORANTS, MARBLED MURRELETS, a dozen or so COMMON MURRES, 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, a lone PACIFIC LOON, a few BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES,
MEW GULLS, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. The seafood processing plant was not operating
today, so the seabird and gull numbers are way down.
While
scanning for seabirds, I heard some crossbills approach and saw them land in a
nearby alder thicket. I slowly strolled over to find four RED CROSSBILLS! These
are quite uncommon in the area compared to the abundant White-winged
Crossbills.
Two
greenish females obliged my curiosity by flying down to a rusty stack of pipes
where they pried and poked at old barnacles with their phenomenal crossed
bills. The two tropically-hued males watched from a cottonwood and one actually
tried to drive the other away. Too soon, they regrouped and dashed off. Quite
the treat!
Glassing
the bay again, I spotted the characteristic rooster tails of 10-20 Dall’s
porpoises as they surged after fish. There were many pods of these speedsters
all down the bay. Even in the distance by Fox Island, the showy white spray was
easy to spot, illuminated by the sun.
Tonight,
I will listen for the steadfast beeping of the SAW-WHET OWL that has been
calling the last several nights. Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day
approaches!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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