Wednesday, December 11, 2019 Thick-billed Murre closeup, 4 Great Blue Herons

Seward, Alaska

44º today, even with a north breeze! Crazy!

John Maniscalso kindly shared a photo of the Thick-billed Murre taken yesterday from a boat. The faint white bill-line can be seen. I did not refind the Murre today.

At 10 am, I watched a GREAT BLUE HERON flying high over the Lagoon towards the bay. I wondered if it had spent the night roosting in a nearby spruce tree. A few hours later, I found four Great Blue Herons perched comfortably on the guy wires of the blue coal dipper. One was so relaxed, it was preening. Very versatile birds!

In town at the Madison and Second hot spot, I received a report of Red (Interior) FOX SPARROW visiting on Monday with 3 young GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS that have been there all fall. One has to wonder if this handsome Fox is the same bird that lingered last winter.

Yesterday, the homeowners watched 4 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS with golden-yellow bills, hopping around the underbrush under the suet feeder. Also a VARIED THRUSH, a ROBIN, a dark SONG SPARROW, about 12 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, a DOWNY WOODPECKER, a couple of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Most of the birds swept in, grabbed a bite, and left in a loose flock. Timing is everything!

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

For a few photos, please visit my blog at https://sporadicbird.blogspot.com






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