Tern Lake, Mile 38 Seward
Highway
Sunrise 4:55 am, sunset 11:09
pm for a total day light of 18 hours and 14 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes
and 30 seconds shorter.
Sun,
sun, sun! Yesterday’s high reached 72º, today’s high was 66º at 6 pm, and a low
of 52º at midnight. Tomorrow’s high is forecast to be 82º which is HOT for
coastal Seward.
On the way back from an
errand to Cooper Landing this afternoon, I stopped at Tern Lake for a couple
hours to enjoy the birds. First stop was the Picnic Area where a Tiger
Swallowtail fluttered through on its seemingly random yet purposeful flight. So
many silky white parachutes tumbled from the tall cottonwoods it looked like it
was snowing despite the blue sky and warm temps.
Next stop, the main parking
lot. ARCTIC TERNS looped around the lake, expertly scooping up small fish to
feed to their begging fledglings. While waiting for delivery, two adorable
fledglings preened and loafed on a little log. When the winged food delivery
angel was sighted, they commenced a ratcheting racket, beaks wide open, “Feed
me! Feed ME!”
Whoosh! In flew the angel,
pausing momentarily to transfer the fish, then up and away to get more. This
worked most of the time, but one time the parent overshot its mark, leaving
both babies following the surprise move, still begging with open beaks while
the parent abruptly banked and turned around to try again (successfully.)
I only saw the left fledgling
fed once, while the right fledgling was fed repeatedly. Only when the left baby
finally flew off and landed in the lake a short distance away did the parent
dip down and feed it.
I counted about 20 Terns
flying around the lake, plus there were others resting I could not count. How
wonderful to see these graceful, elegant terns and their babies!
On the far side of the lake,
I spied a COMMON LOON and its two fuzzy brown chicks close to a green, wind-blown
grass and sedge island. The parent dove
repeatedly nearby and fed the babies. They were too far away to determine how
equitable this food service was.
Two TRUMPETER SWANS preened a
short distance away on a higher area that may be their nest site. I was
surprised to see both species here as they are both known for their fierce
territoriality and aggressive defense of home base.
After a while, the Swans
serenely paddled around the point near the Loon family without incident, and lo
and behold! There was a single, light gray cygnet between them! The little
family paddled near the road to feed on the emerging pond plants for a while.
The cygnet looked about the
same size as the three cygnets at Nash Road. At one point, the little guy
inadvertently ran into its parent, poking it in the butt. The goosed parent
leaped ahead, honking in surprise. Whoops! Realizing what happened, calm soon
returned, but it was hilarious to see!
While I was watching the Tern
babies, a GREEN-WINGED TEAL momma with about 8 tiny ducklings swam past. Their
heads were mostly yellow with a strong brown eye-stripe extending from the back
of their dark eyes and a large brown spot below the eye-stripe. The crown was
also brown like a little mohawk, and the brown fuzzy body had large yellow
spots sprinkled around for camouflage.
Then a momma LESSER SCAUP got
brave and also paddled quite close to the road with her 8 little puffy
ducklings. It looked like they still had an egg tooth at the bill tip. Their
faces were mostly light yellow with a faint eye-line through their bright brown
eyes in an otherwise brown head and body. So cute! It was great to see the two
duckling species for comparison.
Just past the Terns, the
other Common Loon appeared, half- submerged like a stealth submarine. It puttered
along, then silently slipped underwater and disappeared.
MEW GULLS dominated the air, both in sound and
numbers. Two babies rested in the sun just around the corner from the Tern
youngsters. One easily flew around and returned.
Suddenly pandemonium broke out.
The Loons yodeled in alarm from their positions across the lake from each
other. Wow! The Terns ramped up their rasping cries and the Mew Gulls tooted
their tinny horns loudly. I looked around and found the perpetrator, a BALD EAGLE. He
flew high across the lake, feigning innocence on his reconnaissance flight,
accompanied by a bomber squad of Mew Gulls and Arctic Terns that made sure he
kept moving along. It took some time for the excitement to subside and the
normal rhythm to return.
I stopped on the east side of
the lake to see a family of RED-NECKED GREBES with 3 zebra-striped chicks
resting in the tangle of pond vegetation along the shore. I was glad to see
them as road construction near the Mile 15 Lily Pad Pond make it hard to visit
the Red-necked Grebe family there.
All in all, a wonderful time
enjoying the Tern Lake treasures!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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