Seward, Alaska
Tuesday, April 14: Partly cloudy, 37-48º, SSE wind at 5 mph.
Right on schedule, the first three ARCTIC TERNS arrived, spotted by Tasha and John M, napping on a red buoy just outside the harbor entrance. What a journey they accomplished! Can’t wait to greet one in person!
I spotted a GLAUCOUS GULL, two GREATER YELLOWLEGS at the head of the bay that morning, and a hen RING-NECKED DUCK feeding with several BUFFLEHEAD and COMMON MERGANSERS at the Lagoon.
Luminous Venus set over Mt Marathon at 10:30 pm accompanied by the steady beeping of a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. The stars are fading fast.
Wednesday, April 15: light rain, 40s, calm.
A cacophony of deafening gulls announced the herring spawning event at Spring Creek Beach. Tiny white spheres completely encrusted tumbled algae at the water’s edge and lay singly along the ebbing tide lines in delicate rows. The gulls went berserk, trying to eat and scream at the same time in their excitement.
In all this sea of white and gray feathers, mostly GLAUCOUS-WINGED, HERRING, and MEW GULLS, were surprisingly few immatures. I found a THAYER’S GULL and two GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, looking a bit dazed and trying to figure it all out.
At least a dozen newly arrived DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, many with fancy eyebrow plumes, rested on the breakwater with one, much smaller, PELAGIC CORMORANT. After a while, they dove in and starting fishing, several catching what looked like silver, herring-sized fish. A dozen HARLEQUIN DUCKS and one handsome RED-BREASTED MERGANSER dove nearby.
A Harbor Seal quietly surfaced then submerged. Three Steller Sea Lions noisily cruised past. An adult BALD EAGLE surveyed the melee from various posts, scattering the mob after every fly-over. Despite the rain, it was an exciting scene!
Later that afternoon, 13 CANADA GEESE were reported at the head of the bay, but didn’t stick around. I enjoyed watching an enthusiastic sea otter dive for mussels from the harbor dock and smack them down with gusto. Crunchy eats!
Thursday, April 16: Sunny, calm, 46º
Newly arrived, 4 NORTHERN SHOVELERS napped soundly at the head of the bay. GREEN-WINGED TEAL numbers are up, joining the NORTHERN PINTAILS, GADWALL, and MALLARDS. MEW GULLS loudly proclaimed territories, jockeying for the best spots.
Then I heard a familiar chirp. I searched far and wide, high and low and finally found my first ARCTIC TERN far out at the tide’s edge, flying buoyantly then splash-diving into the water after a fish. Then I found five more, joyously patrolling the tide-line, home at last.
The ice on the pond is reluctant to give up, but the leads are ever widening. Soon, the anadromous Three-spine Sticklebacks will return and provide courtship presents and meals for the Terns.
As the day warmed up, a queen bumblebee droned past. Also recently emerged from hibernation, two Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterflies fluttered past then landed to bask in the sun. The pattern on their wings looks like a fierce owl face. Don’t mess with me!
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was reported today in town. I quickly boiled 4 cups of water and added one cup of white granulated sugar, washed the hummer feeder, and hung it up after it cooled. No need to add red food coloring, which may cause tumors.
So much to appreciate and so much to look forward to!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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