Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 6:12 am, sunset 9:41
pm, for a total daylight of 15 hours and 29 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes
and 19 seconds longer.
The rain started innocently on
April 20, just frequent sprinkles at first, then spiced with squalls for the
next several days. Yesterday, the south wind cranked up. Dark gray clouds burst
open and dumped heavy rain mixed with sleet and silver-dollar snowflakes that
plummeted heavily to the ground, reverting the landscape back to winter.
Today, continuing rain
squalls washed away the snow, peppering the soggy ground with frequent hail;
very dramatic! More rain/snow showers with slightly less wind are in the forecast
for the next 10 days or more with temperatures hovering in the mid-30s to
mid-40s.
Lousy spring weather means
great birding as the hungry and weary birds touch down and linger longer. As
eager as we are to see them, it is extremely important to give them space so
they are not forced to fly or stop feeding.
Wednesday, April 18: last day
I saw the two TRUMPETER SWAN cygnets feeding peacefully at the Lagoon. Except
for the pair nesting at the Mile 1 Nash Road, I haven’t seen any other adults.
PIGEON GUILLEMOT in breeding plumage. BALD EAGLES sitting on nests.
Thursday, April 19: last day
I saw the DUSKY GOOSE feeding along the waterfront bike path. ROBIN and VARIED
THRUSH singing sweetly after a wet, squally day at 10 pm.
Friday, April 20: report of a
RED-TAILED HAWK perched on an upside-down 5-gallon bucket, watching a feeder in
the forest at mile 7.
Saturday, April 21:
BLUE-WINGED TEAL drake! This is only the second one I’ve ever seen in Seward.
Unfortunately, this was a touch and go bird, not seen again. First RING-NECKED
DUCK drake! First DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, flying overhead like a big, heavy-bodied
black goose. First GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Dozens of GREEN-WINGED TEAL
feeding with NORTHERN PINTAILS, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, and MALLARDS.
Sunday, April 22: Happy Earth
Day! First pair of PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS! Five more GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE, one hopping due to lame foot. Many waves of SANDHILL CRANES, GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED and CANADA/CACKLING GEESE flying north. Report of BONAPARTE’S
GULLS and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER pair.
Monday, April 23: First
SAVANNAH SPARROW! More flocks of cranes and geese! Two DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS on B Street pilings.
Tuesday, April 24: First
NORTHERN SHOVELER pair with many NORTHERN PINTAILS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
MALLARDS. The flock of Geese looked like Snow Geese thanks to the storm, but no
real Snow Geese have yet appeared. NORTHERN SHRIKE hunting between squalls.
Wednesday, April 25: First
TUNDRA SWAN pair! Four ARCTIC TERNS, razzing and celebrating despite the
weather. About 50 SANDHILL CRANES, 150-200 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE with
CANADA and CACKLING GEESE grounded by storm, and pounded by hail. At least one
was an ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE with a white neck ring. What a thrill to see
them fly and hear them calling in unison when stirred up by marauding BALD
EAGLES! Continuing GREATER YELLOWLEGS, PINTAILS, MALLARDS, GADWALL,
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, one or two SHOVELERS, and a SCAUP (yet to be ID-ed.
My hummingbird feeder waits,
filled and ready, prepared in that hopeful, sunny week not long ago. Now, crocuses
and willow flowers (pussy willows) are crushed and bedraggled as are the tender
shoots of other overly- optimistic plants. Migrating birds have to be tough to
endure these conditions. I hope the Hummers
don’t arrive until Spring gets a grip on her temper!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
Photos will be posted later.
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