Seward, Alaska
The nine TRUMPETER SWANS at
Mile 1 Nash Road were visible today, feeding near the nest site with a batch of
MALLARDS and possible AMERICAN WIGEONS. When the cygnets stretched, their large
wings were white against their gray bodies. It won’t be long before they are
practicing short flights!
It was lucky to spot them as
often the whole family gathers for a nap at the ’ol nest site, and only one
adult might be visible through the tall grass.
A HARLAN’S HAWK “kee-yuured”
several times near the wetlands. I wonder if they nested in Seward as this has
occurred throughout the summer.
Next stop, Fourth of July
Beach at the end of Nash Road, left on Jellison and right on Delphin, another
right to the parking lot on the west end. Eighteen HARLEQUIN DUCKS in eclipse
plumage bobbed up and down in the waves, diving in synchrony. It’s always a
good idea to check all of them carefully in case one is not a Harlequin. Could
be a young male Steller’s Eider is masquerading as a Harlie, as happened in
2014.
For the past 10 days or so,
Fourth of July Creek has been a hotspot for MARBLED MURRELETS feasting on small
fish. While it was hard to count the tiny divers bouncing up and down in the
waves, I estimated at least 50, maybe more. Their high-pitched whistles rang
out as the families kept in contact. The juveniles looked like a smudgy version
of an adult in winter plumage with lots of white, while the adults were still
in their very dark breeding plumage.
Three DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS swam and dove among the Murrelets. I haven’t seen this species for a
while, and here they were again.
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS mobbed bait balls among the Murrelets. Others sat at the
shoreline, napping. Several took thorough baths in the cold, silty, glacial
water of the river. One would think that living in water would be enough, but
that fresh water must feel really good.
An adult BALD EAGLE hunted
low over the gray waves, wings beating laboriously, taking tight turns, and then
plucked a fish from the water for dinner. Another Eagle watched from a spruce
tree near the shore, a white snowball among the dark branches. Two curious RAVENS
circled overhead.
I did not find the two juvenile
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS today, but have seen them bobbing and feeding along the
river and nearby shallow streams.
The last stop was Ava’s
Place, east on Salmon Creek Road, and first right past the Salmon Creek Bridge
to her blue-roofed cedar sided home and bird feeder bonanza. Three HAIRY
WOODPECKERS snarfed down on homemade suet, including a young male. These
woodpeckers nest nearby.
Several RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES zipped in and out. A crowd of PINE SISKINS feasted at the thistle
seed feeder, barely able to share the bounty. Young Siskins still begged for
food in the trees. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER flitted through the branches, not
needing the feeders, but perhaps glad for the company.
Ava noted that early morning
is the best time to view the most birds. She also reported seeing WHITE-WINGED
and RED CROSSBILLS recently.
All in all, a pretty
interesting afternoon birding on Nash Road!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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