Seward, Alaska
What a delightful surprise to
find a fluffy Sooty/Pacific FOX SPARROW in my yard today, sitting on the brush
pile, talking quietly to itself. I noticed the tail feather tips were a bit
frayed, but otherwise one would not suspect it just finished an amazing
migration across the continent.
Cornell’s All About Birds
website notes that Alaska’s Fox Sparrows migrate at night from southeastern USA as far as Florida, regularly crossing large expanses of water (!) This large,
handsome sparrow soon found the suet feeder and fed on scraps on the ground.
Welcome home; hope you nest nearby!
Two BOREAL CHICKADEES took
turns at the suet feeder above; nice to see them again after a few months.
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES fed at the feeder and grabbed large chunks from the
loose suet below. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES zipped in and out, and a female DOWNY
WOODPECKER investigated a nearby branch while waiting her turn. SLATE-COLORED
and OREGON JUNCOS hopped cautiously through the brush to the suet.
The JUNCOS are trilling like
little bells. I was very pleased to hear the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW hidden in the
spruce branches singing a rather tentative version of “O, Canada, Canada,
Canada!” VARIED THRUSHES sang from their hidden perches, their numbers up from
last week. Not to be left out, the resident SONG SPARROW and bright red PINE GROSBEAKS tossed out a few
verses as well.
The vacationing choir members
are working hard to get back in time to rehearse and join the grand Alaskan Spring
Symphony. I’ll be listening and cheering!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
PS. First of Season MILBERT'S TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY, AND MOSQUITO. Just in time to pollinate all those waiting blueberry flowers!
PS. First of Season MILBERT'S TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY, AND MOSQUITO. Just in time to pollinate all those waiting blueberry flowers!
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