Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 6:38 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 57 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
Sunny blue skies returned today after yesterday’s fat snowflakes with a high of 33ยบ. Snow streamers once again sailed off the mountainsides and peaks, propelled by 25-30 mph north winds with gusts over 35. A lovely day if out of the wind.
Apparently, that’s what the WILSON’S SNIPE thought as it probed in the soft mud at the Lagoon in the lee of the road. The sun shone warm and bright on the nearby snow, reflecting even more heat. A few tentative Sitka willow buds even burst open in an early vote for Spring.
The Snipe moved slowly, poking holes in the snow the length of its long, chopstick bill. When it paused, it bobbed gently as if at sea, looking around. After feeding steadily, it rested next to a clump of dead grass, head and bill tucked under its wing, and became almost invisible.
Driving past, I was looking for the Snipe as I have since Wednesday, but did not expect to find it so easily. Hard to miss the dark, long-billed, stocky shorebird against the white snow. Normally elusive, I managed to watch and photograph it from a respectful distance, getting better views than any summer sighting. Winter birding, especially for a Snipe in the first week of March, has its perks!
In other news, two WESTERN SCREECH OWLS hooted their bouncing ball song from about 6:30 to 7:30 last night along Old Exit Glacier Road. GREAT HORNED OWL, SAW-WHET, and a BOREAL OWL (unusual here), have also been heard in the area recently. I have not yet heard any Owls in town.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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