Sporadic Bird from Seward, Alaska : Sunday, December 18, 2016 Seward Audubon Christmas Bird Count update

Seward, Alaska
Updated to account for Northern Shrike on Count Day.

A warm front moved in Friday afternoon, delivering sn’rain on our recent 4” of fluffy, calendar-perfect snow. As I cautiously crept home Friday night on treacherous, icy streets, windshield wipers slapping, I dreaded the next day’s Seward Christmas Bird Count. I packed extra rain gear, umbrellas to share, and warm gloves to replace wet ones in anticipation of the dismal forecast.

In the dark on Saturday morning, I anxiously peered out the window. I was stunned to see the giant orb of Jupiter glowing in the clear sky, and the waning moon heading to bed over the western mountains, with a smattering of clouds. The day continued calm and mild with the temperature hovering around 35º all day. I love it when the weather forecast is wrong in our favor!

Our CBC volunteer numbers were especially low this year due illness, emergencies, vacations, and the absence of several key regulars who now offer their expertise to other lucky Count Circles. Undaunted, the remaining 10 field counters and 4 boat crew headed out at 9:30 am to enjoy a spectacular day, while 5 feeder watchers counted throughout the day.

At day’s end around 4 pm, we reconvened at the Resurrection Art Coffee House to turn in data and share highlights. Hands down, the overall highlight champions were two hardy ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS, who have survived cold rain, brutal cold, harsh winds, and most of all, 18-hour nights. This is the first time any hummingbirds made the Seward CBC.

Fifteen ROCK PTARMIGAN were another first, scored by an intrepid mountaineer who snowshoed up and down the mountain for 5 hours and 5 miles for these elusive birds.

The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER disappeared on Count Day, but was seen for Count Week, another first for Seward.

The most bizarre sighting was not a bird, but a bird diner: A drowned Mt Goat that likely met its death by a tragic fall off an icy cliff, had floated into the Count Circle. Bald Eagles, gulls, and other birds feasted on this unusual bounty.

Bird highlights for the boat crew: 2 CRESTED AUKLETS, only the second time on the Seward CBC, 99 MARBLED MURRELETS, a high number, 116 BUFFLEHEADS, also a high number, 15 COMMON LOONS, 2 PACIFIC LOONS, 1 PIGEON GUILLEMOT, and 2 GREAT BLUE HERONS.

No Common Murres or Yellow-billed Loons were seen. The Alaska Sealife Center birders noted that after the terrible Murre wreck this past winter, both the Murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes experienced a nesting failure this summer. Very troubling news, and just one of the trends documented by this Citizen Science project.

Thanks to the numerous recent puddles, my team enjoyed watching ROBINS taking baths in the street and in yards. We counted 43, and more were counted elsewhere. RAVENS and NW CROWS feasted on a load of fruit that apparently fell from the sky; very interesting!

Another false herald of spring, the VARIED THRUSH, popped up at several feeders. Two rare, but no longer unusual, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were counted by separate Feeder Counters.

One team found an immature BALD EAGLE with a USFWS right leg band, and a single AMERICAN PIPIT, only the second time for this species. Another team was very excited to find a large raptor, but could not nail down the species. They also found 7 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

Of note, only 1 PINE SISKIN was counted, and no COMMON REDPOLLS. In 2002 we counted 796 Siskins, and in 2006, 967 Redpolls. The feeders and alders seemed lonely without these irruptive species, though the savings on seed costs are considerable.

Ten more species were found during Count Week (with two more days to go) including:

A GREEN-WINGED TEAL hen, feeding with much larger MALLARDS, 35 ROCK SANDPIPERS, a male AND female HOODED MERGANSER, and two BOREAL CHICKADEES.

The TRUMPETER SWAN family was unfortunately not seen on Count Day, but showed up the day after for Count Week, another first for Seward’s Count. The two parents and three cygnets were joined by another white adult, possibly an older sibling. It was exciting to see them after a long absence. This species has shown up for 4 previous Counts.

Summary: 55 species on Count Day, 10 so far for Count Week, with a few reports pending.

Special thanks to Captain Mike Brittain who once again provided the Dora for the boat team survey, and to all the dedicated volunteers who helped to make this count possible, and to Resurrect Coffee House and Art Gallery for their hospitality.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

2016 Alphabetical Checklist Seward Christmas Bird Count

Auklet, Crested

Blackbird, Rusty

Bufflehead

Chickadee, Black-capped

2CW Chickadee, Boreal

Chickadee, Chestnut-backed

Cormorant, Pelagic

Creeper, Brown