Friday, October 12, 2018 Bald Eagles et al at Breakfast


Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:31 am, sunset 6:59 pm for a total daylight of 10 hours and 27 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.

A big storm moved in yesterday on a south-southwest wind with gusts to 24 mph and heavy rain. Temps ranged from a low of 44 to a high of 51. A brief respite is in the forecast for Sunday in between lows, then heavy rain returns on Monday, tapering off for the rest of the wet week.

In the dim light about an hour after sunrise today (9:30 am), I checked for wayward seabirds along the roiling bay as white-capped waves crashed into the shore and sent plumes rocketing skyward. There at the outfall of Scheffler Creek was a pair of BALD EAGLES standing in the cold rain on the exposed rocky beach at low tide.

The slightly smaller male stood astride a salmon carcass, vigorously ripping off chunks. A NORTHWESTERN CROW watched intently from a discreet distance. A short distance away, a female eagle stood in the water, also watching, but seemingly disinterested. Finally, she waded through the water past the male, soaking her leg feathers, striding along with determination, her wings up for balance. He paused to watch her go past, ready to defend his meal, then went back to business with his sharp beak.

Wading around in the shallow water but finding nothing for breakfast, she flew back towards the male. He picked up his tattered breakfast and relocated to a new dining spot just a few yards away. No sharing here!

Gutsy crows immediately flew in between the two giant birds to scavenge the tiny fishy scraps from the first spot. A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL joined the breakfast table, watching cautiously for its opportunity. As the table grew crowded with crows, the eagle again moved another few yards with part of his prize, leaving most of a large carcass behind. The crows immediately converged, but the female  eagle made her move to the spot and scattered the unwelcome diners.

She in turn, gobbled down morsels of spawned out salmon while the male flew from one place to another with his motley remnants, seeking peace from the crows. Finally, he again landed near the female and both breakfasted at their respective plates, surrounded by a bevy of emboldened crows. The stressful breakfast continued for several minutes.

First one eagle, then the other had enough and flew off to perch side-by-side on one of the harbor entrance markers, suddenly amicable. The crows wasted no time and immediately converged to attack the leftovers.

The GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL moved in, screeching with outspread wings, temporarily scattering the cawing crows. And thus the bickering, disputed breakfast in the driving rain continued, until I presume, the tide swallowed up the table, dispersed the diners, and washed away the leftovers.

Tough birds all, just trying to make a living on a challenging fall morning.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter




















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